Sound Solver: modular desktop audio infrastructure

Sound Solver is a new line of modular audio furniture built for listeners who take cable routing, component spacing, and mechanical stability as seriously as the electronics themselves. The line introduces a structured approach to organizing small desktop systems, near-field monitoring rigs, and headphone-centric chains. Each rack uses thick laser-cut acrylic, threaded steel hardware, and interchangeable brackets to create a rigid platform that keeps electronics ventilated and easy to access. With multiple sizes, expansion kits, and a simple headphone hanger, the system can scale from a two-component chain to a multi-tier workstation.

Acrylic shelf architecture

At the center of the Sound Solver line are its acrylic shelves. The material is selected for its rigidity and dimensional stability under load, which helps keep components level even when arranged across wider tiers. The shelves are laser-cut for uniform thickness and clean edges, which prevents micro-vibrations from transferring between stacked devices. Small variations in surface finish—common in acrylic cutting—are minimized through controlled machining speeds and post-cut finishing.

Both medium and large rack formats use the same underlying shelf geometry. The difference lies in width: medium shelves accommodate compact DACs and amplifiers, while large shelves support wider chassis and multi-button front panels without overhang. This sizing makes it possible to maintain consistent spacing across a desk without compromising airflow or cable access.

Internal and external bracket systems

Each rack frame uses 3D-printed brackets engineered for consistent compression across the vertical rods. Two bracket systems are available—internal and external—each designed with a specific use case in mind.

Internal brackets keep the structure streamlined, with hardware tucked beneath the shelves. This is useful in headphone-focused chains where space efficiency and discrete cable routing matter. External brackets offer additional lateral clearance, which benefits users with wider DACs, multi-bay streamers, or multi-chassis stacks. The external system also simplifies shelf removal since the brackets remain accessible even when the rack is fully built.

Both bracket types rely on multi-point clamping pressure, which distributes load through the shelf edges instead of concentrating it at a single point. This reduces torsion and helps maintain rigidity as more tiers are added.

Scalable shelf expansion

The add-a-shelf kits—available in both medium and large sizes—extend the usable surface area of existing racks without replacing the frame. Each kit includes the acrylic shelf, bracket set, and hardware needed to integrate directly into an existing Sound Solver stack.

Because the vertical rods are threaded along their entire length, new shelves can be positioned with millimeter-level precision. Users can reserve lower tiers for components that produce heat or require more airflow, while placing lighter devices such as network bridges or preamps on upper tiers. This approach keeps the rack adaptable to changing systems and component rotations.

Dedicated headphone storage

The headphone hanger rounds out the line with a simple mounting system designed to support a wide range of headphone headbands without compression. The hanger uses a smooth-radius arc to distribute contact pressure, reducing the risk of creasing, and mounts cleanly to the rack hardware or to a flat desk surface. This gives listeners a way to keep a primary headphone within reach without adding clutter or reducing rack stability.

Mechanical stability and vibration control

Each unit includes soft isolation feet chosen for consistent durometer and predictable compression under load. They lift the rack slightly above the desk surface, breaking the direct vibration path from typing, controller devices, or low-frequency resonance. The feet also protect desk surfaces from abrasion, especially when rearranging or rotating the rack during cable changes.

The combination of acrylic rigidity, steel hardware, and controlled compression helps maintain a stable platform for electronics that benefit from consistent mechanical grounding, such as sensitive DACs or analog preamps.

Availability

The full Sound Solver line—including medium and large racks, internal and external bracket variants, add-a-shelf kits, and the headphone hanger—is available now on Apos Audio.