Have you noticed how many wires are needed to set up even the simplest of home theater or stereo systems these days? If you have 3 or 4 components the back of the cabinet can turn into a quagmire of knotted cables that makes Einstein's hairdo look orderly. And ... forget about tracking down a problem or adding something new without calling in the carpenter to bash a hole in the wall of the next room so you can see the back of your equipment.

Enter the rotating A/V rack by EAS Inc. It comes in sizes ranging from 30" to 72" high and tucks nicely into a cabinet with 20" of clear width. This is a heavy duty rack that slides out on multiple rails and then rotates so that you can access the back of the equipment. Believe me ... this is not a luxury item ... but a necessity in today's A/V cabinet.

Installation is really quite simple and the quality of the product is excellent. All you need is a drill, screwdriver, tape measure and a little bit of time to put the unit together and fasten it down. Much simpler than a barbeque or computer desk believe me. Once installed just adjust the shelf heights to suit your equipment ... load it in ... swing it around and plug away :-) One of the nicest features is the cable management system which consists of velcro strips across the complete width of each shelf. This allows you to get everything wired and functioning and then zipped up tight so you can see through the quagmire and show off your wiring skills to your friends and neighbors. If you are in the business of installing A/V equipment one of these racks makes your job much easier and leaves your customers (and their friends and neighbors) impressed by your tidiness and skill.

A few things to consider if you are building or buying a cabinet for your A/V equipment.

• Be sure to leave enough clearance at the back of the cabinet for the rack, equipment (some of the newer receivers are quite deep) and a big clump of wire that hangs down.
• Be sure to leave enough clearance for the width of the rack to clear hinges and catches.
• Leave extra length on your speaker wires etc. so they can pull out and rotate.
• Put a 110 volt outlet at the back of the cabinet ... high up and to one side.
• Drill a bigger cable access hole than you think you need ... more wires will come in the future to haunt you :-(
• The equipment will generate heat in a closed cabinet. Provide for cooling with ventilation ... larger systems may need a fan.

Rotating A/V racks come in a few different configurations including the Avräk which doesn't pull out but just rotates within the cabinet and the Avständ which is a stand alone rotating cabinet. Decorative front plates are also available if you want to give the installation a totally finished look. Prices range from $750 to $1300 for the Avträk depending on the height and configuration. You can order directly online too. EAS has an excellent website with all of the details you need to know about their equipment including installation details and dimensions.