Large record cabinets
A large record cabinet, 90 cm wide or more, brings the turntable, the amplifier, sometimes the speakers and a good part of the collection together on one surface. It anchors a living room wall and leaves room for the records still to come.
Sideboards with compartments, units on metal legs, long consoles: the dimensions and, where known, the record capacity are listed on every product page.
Choosing a large cabinet for your collection
Once a collection passes a hundred records, a large cabinet saves you from multiplying storage pieces. In return, you need to check the space, the weight and the layout carefully.
Measure the wall
Measure the available width, taking sockets, radiators and doors into account. Leave a few centimetres on each side to move around and plug in your equipment. Check the depth too: a 40 cm deep cabinet comes further into the room.
Record capacity
Allow roughly 1 cm of width for 3 to 4 records, depending on their weight. Where the manufacturer gives it, capacity is listed on the product page: Vaugirard, 100 cm on metal legs, holds up to around 220 LPs; Saint-Ouen, 90 cm, up to around 110 LPs, with LED lighting.
Arranging the top
On a long top, place the turntable at one end and keep it away from the speakers if they share the cabinet. The amplifier goes in an open compartment, ideally below or beside the turntable to keep cables short.
Load
A hundred records weigh a lot. When a maximum load is given, it’s often broken down by shelf and by compartment: spread the records accordingly and don’t exceed the stated values.
Ventilation
Keep space above and behind the amplifier. A large cabinet standing against the wall must let air and cables through: don’t push it right up against the wall if the equipment is at the back.
A two-person job
A large cabinet is easier to assemble with two people. Clear enough floor space, protect the floor, and check that every parcel has arrived before you start: a large piece can be delivered in several shipments. Once assembled, move it empty, never loaded with records, then level it before setting up the turntable.
Height
A low large cabinet, around 48 cm, can also take a TV: see our TV and hi-fi unit range. A taller piece, like the 87 cm Ménilmontant, puts the turntable at hand height.
If space is tighter, compare with our small record cabinets.