Name: Salamander Designs A3/M Archetype
Brand: Salamander Designs
SKU: 537A3M
Price: 529.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.5 (31 reviews)

by Crutchfield's Ralph Graves

Practical design

With the Salamander Designs A3/B Archetype, you've got sturdy storage for a small A/V system. The three shelves are supported by threaded steel posts. Lug nuts hold the shelves in position, and can be adjusted to any height. The sturdy, 3/4"-thick shelves are made of low-resonant MDF (medium density fiberboard). The top shelf can support a TV up to 40" and weighing up to 150 lbs. The two lower shelves can also each support 150 lbs. of gear. Salamander Designs proudly manufactures its Archetype line in the U.S.A.

Product highlights:

for use with TVs up to 40"
3 maple veneer MDF shelves (each):
- usable space: 18"W x 10-1/4"D
- supports up to 150 lbs.
4 black steel threaded posts
23"W x 28"H x 16"D
warranty: limited lifetime
assembly required
MFR # A3/M

What's in the box:

3 Shelves
4 Rods
24 Hex-nuts
24 Metal washers
24 Rubber washers
Assembly Instructions

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Researched by Crutchfield's Stacey B.

Features & specs

General Features
Type	Audio Stand
Stand Style	Stand
Color	Maple
Number of Shelves	3
Number of Adjustable Shelves	3
Number of Drawers	None
Assembly Required	Yes
Main Materials	MDF Steel
Wire Management	Yes
Height (inches)	28
Depth (inches)	16
Stand Weight Limit	450 lbs
TV Shelf Weight Limit	150 lbs
TV Shelf Width	18-3/4
TV Shelf Depth	16
Parts Warranty	Limited Lifetime
Labor Warranty	Limited Lifetime

Product Research

Features

Archetype Series: Salamander's Archetype series of stands is an innovative, infinitely adjustable, modular shelving system for audio/video equipment that allows you to create a wide array of shelving possibilities.

Solid Construction: Salamander's Archetype series stands use solid hardwood shelves (black shelves are powder coated MDF) which are supported by full length, solid steel threaded posts (also powder coated). The wood shelves are put together using an equalization process which requires the wood panels that make up a single shelf are glued together with grains opposing one another to prevent warping. Shelves are fastened with hex nuts and metal washers in a gun metal finish and neoprene gaskets to provide resonance damping.

Note: All of the Salamander Archetype series stands are hand-built in the USA.

Audiophile-Grade: The Archetype series of stands was designed with the Audiophile in mind. Metal washers and neoprene gaskets sandwich shelf corners in order to isolate components. The use of dissimilar materials in it's construction further reduces resonant frequencies. Also available are MegaSpikes (537SPIKES, sold separately) to further mechanically isolate racks from environmental vibrations.

Modular System: You can stack shelf units together with optional couplers (537STACK, sold separately) or add individual shelves (537SSB, sold separately) as you need them. The shelf system's maximum overall height should not exceed 64". Available in 2, 3, & 5 shelf systems.

2-Shelf (23"W x 20"H x 16"D): Salamander Designs A2/B Archetype 2-Shelf System
3-Shelf (23"W x 28"H x 16"D): Salamander Designs A3/B Archetype 3-Shelf System
5-Shelf (23"W x 36"H x 16"D): Salamander Designs A5/B Archetype 5-Shelf System

Adjustable Shelves: The Archetype series shelves are infinitely adjustable. The threaded rod allows you to adjust your shelf heights from a minimum of 1" to a maximum recommended of 20" between shelves. Each shelf measures 18.75" wide between the posts and 16" deep. Each shelf can support up to 150 lbs.

Open Architecture Design: The Archetype series stands utilize an open architecture design to allow for superior component venting and simple cable management.

Optional Accessories: The use of optional Bookends, Drawers, and Casters (all sold separately) further enhance the stands capabilities.

Additional Applications: In addition to holding your AV gear, these stands can be used bookshelves, end tables/side tables, night stands, computer/printer stands and any other use for open shelving.

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5 questions already asked

Can the height of this cabinet be modified to be lower?

scott Oct 23, 2023

1 answer

The included rods are not intended to be cut/shortened, which would be necessary to lower the height of the entire shelf unit. You can adjust the height of the middle shelf.

zachary Oct 23, 2023 (Staff)

Is an additional add-on shelf available, with hardware?

john Apr 04, 2021

4 answers

Don't believe so. There may be a Salamander 4 shelf on the Crutchfield web-site

stephen May 02, 2021

Yes, I have purchased several additional shelves. The shelf kits include the required nuts, washers and additional rubber washers needed for installation.

robert e. Apr 29, 2021

Yes, I have an extra in mine. See the accessories link and it will probably have the shelf. (It says here I can't include a link) I

mike Apr 29, 2021

Hi! The answer to your question is yes. You can purchase the SS/B single Archetype shelf and add it to your stand. That's what I did. The single shelf comes with all the accessories you'll need to add it to you stand.

devon Apr 29, 2021

What is the total vertical usable space? According to the specs, from floor to the surface of the top shelf is 28.25". Subtract 0.75" for each of the three shelves, and you get 26". However, we need to know the height of the feet to get the total vertical space. I have measured all my components and I need a total of 24.6" in the interior shelves. Is there that much space available among the two middle shelves?

robert Feb 25, 2017

1 answer

I just measured from the top of the bottom shelf, to the bottom of the top shelf and have 25", that includes having the center shelf. So looks like with the shelf it would be really tight for you. They make a larger shelf as well. I use min with a 100 pound 7 channel amp on the bottom shelf, CD player on the middle and large (but light compared to the amp) pre-processor.

john Feb 25, 2017

Does this have adjustable feet for leveling?

john Aug 18, 2016

5 answers

No, the unit comes with rubber caps. They do sell steel spikes for about fifty five bucks which are adjustable.

geoffrey r Aug 20, 2016

No. The feet are just rubber stoppers on the ends of threaded poles. You can adjust the threaded height on the shelves to make minor accommodations, though

christopher Aug 20, 2016

Not really...the shelves are sandwiched by rubber washers and bolts you adjust via the threaded legs. They provide a level so whatever height you prefer your shelves to be leveling them individually is a cinch.

albert lawrence Aug 20, 2016

The feet themselves aren't, strictly speaking, leveling. But the shelves themselves are infinitely leveling -- each corner's height is continuously adjustable using the nuts that hold those corners in place. So the feet are fairly stationary, but the unit itself allows precise leveling both front-back and left-right. BTW, despite that flexibility in leveling, the unit is still very stable and rigid.

george Aug 19, 2016

The feet are not adjustable but the shelves are. They come with 2 'Bubble' type leveler tools to help you get it just right. We have 2 A3/B's on the bottom connected with 2 A2/B's on the top. Makes for a very strong stand with lots of space.

randall Aug 19, 2016

If the shelves are made of hardwood as mentioned I will purchase the maple option. If they are MDF as mentioned I will not. It is confusing. Thanks for your help ???

tommy May 02, 2022

1 answer

The shelves are maple veneer MDF.

abby May 05, 2022 (Staff)

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