Guidance in choosing a cabinet

Because of the almost limitless variations that we can offer in terms of drawer configuration, wood finish, base and handles we thought a few words to guide you through the process of specifying the cabinet best suited to your requirements would be helpful.

The first step is to decide what you wish to store and approximately how many discs, videos, LPs or tapes you have in your collection. Do think about making some allowance for expansion. By the simple process of dividing your collection size by the drawer capacity (see summary below) for each format you will arrive at a number for each drawer type. It is then a question of seeing how best this number of drawers can be accommodated within a cabinet size.

By far and away our most popular option is the single size unit. If we take CDs as an example then this will offer 3 x CD drawers for collections up to 270 discs. Perhaps you have fewer discs and one drawer would suffice. You then have the option of storing 40 videos in the remaining two drawers or replacing one drawer with 2 x tape drawers for a unit capable of holding 90 discs, 20 videos and 104 audio cassettes.

A larger collection will necessitate additional drawers - a 4 or 5 x CD unit for example or a double height or width cabinet with 6 x CD drawers. The largest standard sized unit is a double height and width cabinet with 12 x CD drawers offering a maximum capacity of 1080 discs but larger units are available such as a triple width 21 CD drawer unit to hold 1890 discs.

Audio Cassette Tape Storage
One CD/DVD drawer is equivalent in size to two drawers for the storage of audio cassette tapes. Both would feature two drawer fronts although CD/DVD drawers can feature a single drawer front.

2 x cassette tape drawers	Single CD/DVD drawer with two drawer fronts	Single CD/DVD with single drawer front

Vinyl - LP Storage
We can produce dedicated cabinets for LP storage or in combination with CD, Video, DVD, MiniDisc or audiocassette storage.

LPs occupy a space equivalent to 2 CD drawers in height (4 x single drawer fronts) and within a standard cabinet width over 100 LPs can be accommodated. Internally we can fit divides, resembling thin croquet hoops, which section the space into three. Externally we can fit a drawer look - alike door that is identical in appearance to actual drawer fronts or leave open fronted.

TV Cabinets
Unless the sound from your television is diverted through external speakers we do not recommend hiding your television away in a cabinet. Modern TV sound often relies on rear projection of sound elements to give a full aural picture and a cabinet just gets in the way!

All the cabinets illustrated are more than sturdy enough to take a TV standing on top and of course the other equipment such a Video, DVD, Satellite decoder, digital box, games console and home cinema amplifier can be housed below.

Internal and External Breaks
Any cabinet that exceeds 4 CD drawers (8 drawer fronts) in height requires a horizontal panel division to tie in the cabinet sides and to ensure the smooth running of the drawer slides. This division shows on the front and sides of the cabinet (see illustration below left) but may be partially hidden by specifying an internal break (see illustration below right) at no additional cost. The cabinet sides are then flush with two continuous side panels and the break only appears between the drawer fronts only.

External Break

Internal Break

Rear Panel from Equipment Range
This shows a standard rear panel from our ‘Pure Equipment’ range. The principle features are

- a series of three upper ventilation holes to ensure good air circulation within the cabinet interior

- a removable access panel to make equipment set up straight-forward - two power in and loudspeaker cable out holes at the base of the back This configuration can be altered to suit your requirements

– for example larger ventilation holes or a larger access panel etc.

Guidance on Pure Equipment and Combination Cabinets
The simplest way to ensure that you arrive at the correct cabinet to suit your needs is to measure the equipment you wish to store and then phone us, however, if our office is closed then the information below may help:

Dimensions
Equipment storage cabinets share the external dimensions of drawer storage cabinets but are standardly 50mm (2") deeper, front to back. We recommend that you allow at least 25mm (1") ventilation gap above each piece of equipment and a 25mm (1") width allowance to each side.

Internal dimensions are detailed below:
Width
Without a door fitted the maximum usable width on a standard cabinet is 463mm (18 1/4"). This figure varies in cabinets with doors, only in the immediate area of the hinge fixing. This reduces to 430mm (17") with a wood type door and 440mm (17 1/4") with a glass door. Sizes return to the maximum outside of these areas. Instructions are supplied with your cabinet on both the removal and replacement of the door to ensure that equipment installation is straightforward. Do remember that if the standard width is insufficient we will make you a wider cabinet.

Height
Made to suit the equipment to be stored but as an example Single size 498mm (19 1/2") Equivalent to special size 4 drawer 664mm (26 1/8") Shelf thickness is 16mm (5/8")

Depth
Without a door the maximum usable depth, front to back, is 400mm (15 3/4"), but this can be specified deeper in intervals of 50mm (2")