My favorite audio stand: The beautiful and affordable Sanus AFA Accurate

I have not written about audio/video furniture in a while, but when I do I make sure everyone knows that a furniture store is the LAST place to buy stands for your audio and video gear.  Every stand I have seen in a furniture store is a piece of furniture first and a functional equipment holder second. A good audio stand is open on the back (and preferably along the sides as well) to allow for adequate cooling and to provide access to make and change connections.

Unfortunately, the best audio furniture, from companies like BDI and Salamander Designs, tends to be very expensive… nosebleed-inducing expensive, actually. Fortunately, there is a great audio rack available for under $130: the Sanus AFA Accurate Stand.

The AFA Accurate looks great, is very sturdy, and assembles in minutes without tools.  I’ve been using one in my main audio system for years and have always been very pleased with it.  The picture above is from Jan H.’s system, waiting for her new Pro-ject The Classic turntable to be delivered.  Jan is a Sound Advice reader in my home town of Pittsburgh who hired me as a consultant to build a system for her.  (You will be reading about her system and the setup process in a future post.) Jan ordered the stand upon my recommendation and once she saw it holding her equipment for the first time, she raved about it.  What she didn’t appreciate is how much easier it makes to set up and make changes to a sound system (because I did all the work, of course!)

The Sanus AFA Accurate is a real piece of audio furniture, not something designed as an afterthought by a company that makes couches and end tables. For only $130 it is one of the best buys you can make.

Another recent experience reminded me there’s actually a decent TV stand to be found at Walmart.  That sounds like a good subject for another post!