Hi Fi Racks Podium (equipment rack) review

Equipment support Award winner 2011. The Podium will give your kit all the support it needs Tested at £460

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Equipment support Award winner 2011. If you want to treat your kit to a listenable rack, you must audition this

Pros

  • +

    Tonally balanced

  • +

    good detailing

  • +

    well made

  • +

    very easy to build

Cons

  • -

    Nothing of note

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

Sleepy Oakham in Rutland is the original home of Ruddles beer (now brewed elsewhere, sadly) and it's certainly pretty enough when driving through it, but the town isn't really known for its contribution to the world of hi-fi.


After looking at Hi Fi Racks' Podium rack, we think that might change. The attractive Podium is sturdily made from solid oak, with each shelf being a mighty 4cm thick.

Our sample had a smooth lacquer finish, and was easy to build, taking no more than 20 minutes from start to full assembly and needing no tools.

Can support up to 90kg
The design of this rack is rather unusual in its use of isolation spikes between solid wooden layers, but once assembled it sits firm, and Hi Fi Racks says it can easily support up to 90kg of kit.

Once placed on the Podium, Cyrus's Award-winning CD 8 SE CD player is fed the Ramsey Lewis Trio's energetic Wade In The Water.

See all our hi-fi rack reviews

It serves up a muscular sound that times well, and is able to handle production dynamics and subtleties with ease.

This is a fast-paced rack that will give your kit a full sound along with a wide soundstage. Detailing here is also more than capable, and right on the nose for the money.

Tonally, the Podium doesn't disappoint the listener either, with a propulsive, firm bass, smooth and fluid midrange and well-integrated treble.

An easy listen
You'll hear, too, that the sound isn't as hard as that you can find with some metal and glass racks, with a softer edge that helps to make listening easy. There's little, if anything, not to like here.

For your money, you get an enjoyable sound that isn't going to wear on you any time soon, coupled with a product where quality control has obviously taken centre stage.

It's time to put the town of Oakham back on the map.

Follow whathifi.com on Twitter

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

Read more about how we test