Echogear EGAV-PROF20 Open-Frame Rack Review

The frame is all steel and stands 35 in tall, which gives you 20U of mounting height for switches, patch panels, shelves and AV components. It carries 600 lbs free-standing and 200 lbs when hung on a wall, so a loaded network closet stays put.

Two mounting modes out of the box

You can set it on the four included leveling feet or bolt it to a wall. Nothing else is needed to choose between a floor rack and a wall rack.

Shelves included

One 1U vented shelf 15.12 in deep and one 2U vented shelf 18 in deep come in the box. They hold the gear that has no rails of its own: a NAS, a modem, a console, a small switch or an AV component.

Open design and vented shelves

Air moves through the frame from every side, and the shelves are perforated, so warm gear gets airflow instead of sitting in a closed box.

Hardware in the box

You get 25 rack mounting screws, shelf backstops, hook-and-loop straps and the hardware to stack two frames. Assembly is required, and the brand states it takes under 20 minutes; the instructions are thorough.

Stackable

Two assemblies can be stacked to reach 40U when your gear outgrows one frame.

What buyers on Amazon report

Buyers on Amazon most often praise the build quality, the sturdiness and how easily the rack goes together, and many describe it as good value and versatile for home lab and AV setups. One customer notes it works well for organizing an AV closet. Mounting hardware and fit draw divided opinions, covered below.

The hole pattern is the limit that catches most buyers. The front and rear faces have threaded holes, while the square holes are on the side faces. Standard networking gear and server rails that expect cage nuts on the front face will not mount the way their owner expects; one owner on a forum describes cutting the hooks off server rails to screw them into the threaded holes, or turning the whole frame 90 degrees so the square holes face front.

Depth is fixed

The frame is 20.39 in deep outside, with a maximum component depth of 19 in, and the depth does not adjust. Deep servers and long AV receivers are out.

Servers need their own rails

The rack includes no server rails. You source rails for your server brand before the server goes in.

Opinions on fit are mixed

Buyers on Amazon are divided on fit: some report that standard networking equipment sits tight or needs workarounds. Check the width and depth of each piece against the 19 in limit before you buy.

Opinions on mounting hardware are mixed

Some buyers on Amazon wish the box held more screws than the 25 included, especially on a larger build. Extra rack screws are sold separately.

Wall mounting has real requirements

Stacking stops at two

Two assemblies stack to 40U; the frame is not built to go higher.

No top panel and no lock

An open frame gives no security and no dust protection. That is the nature of the format, not a defect.

Accessories are separate

Casters and the swing-out wall mount are sold separately, not included.

The same open-frame rack comes in two other heights. The EGAV-PROF15 is the 15U version, 26.25 in tall and 20.4 in deep, and the EGAV-PROF10 is the 10U version, 17.5 in tall and 20.4 in deep. Both keep the 20.42 in width of the 20U frame, so they hold the same 19 in deep gear and differ only in how much mounting height you get. Choose the 15U when 20U is more height than your stack needs but 10U is too little, and the 10U for a small network closet or AV shelf with only a few components. The 10U version is rated for up to 150 lbs when mounted on a wall.