Keep light equipment from tipping up from cable weight?


I have some lighter audio equipment that get easily overweighed down by weight of cables plugged into the back of it. What techniques do yall employ to keep lighter weight audio equipment (speaker switchers, VU meters, small DACs) from having their fronts tip upwards do to the weight of cables behind them?

 

Thank you in advance!

icanthear
  1. Place damping weights on top of the component.  Brass with a thin elastomer base works well.  At the inexpensive end, a bag of sand also works.
  2. Support the cable just before it enters into the component by placing something under it that will support the weight several inches behind the component.  I have used foam pipe insulation with the cable inside of it like going thorough the center of a donut.  The insulation comes in different thicknesses and is usually slit down the side so it is easy to position a cable in the middle.  There are other DIY and for-purchase supports you can consider.  Use your imagination.
  3. Do both 1 and 2.

Blue tack on the feet of your light equipment. Available at any hardware store and most groceries. 

I had a very light component in my system once and built a support structure for the cable out of, of all things, Tinker Toys.  I know it sounds bizarre but it did the job!

Double-faced tape on the feet, zip ties (in a range of 'attractive colors'....

I've a couple of items that suffer from the noted, but have been able to tuck them under or behind cables that keep them stable...

...and there's always Blu-Tak....

Gift wrap a brick....

I just put a box of ammo on top.  Heavy and dense, they keep everything in it's place.

A chunk of whatever is lying about wrapped in electrical tape. The tape prevents unwanted scuffing of the equipment.

There are a variety of colors of electrical tape available for those with O.C.D.

Blu-Tak is my Blu-Tak is my go-to. Other brands can leave an oily smudge or damage the finish of the component below. Gorilla double-sided tape works well and is much grippier, but also pretty close to permanent. 

Mitch2 #2 is what I use. A similar alternative is moving the component forward on a shelf so the cord is supported by the length of the shelf behind the component.

All of the above. Similar problem with a heavy Transparent PC into my Zenith MK3. I have a Herbie’s Tenderfoot underneath the plug to prevent it’s coming loose (the plug also has a few wraps of plumbers tape). It also prevents the Zenith from tipping due to the weight of the power cord   Between the pc plug and the Tenderfoot is a metal “cradle” like the top unit from a FURITECH NFT support bout cheaply from Alibi which supports the application perfectly.  
 

Unfortunately A’gon doesn’t allow pics so I can’t show you. Email me if you want pics  

 

i also a Tenderfoot under the back of my Chord DAVE to keep it stable and prevent the front from tipping up.  There are two Tenderfoot sizes depending on how tall your unit is.  They can be combined.  There is also a wooden height extension.  
 

These weigh about a pound.

I purchased one for my wife last year (anvil is cool/box is cardboard).

http://www.alloykats.com/acmeanvil.html

 

DeKay

I purchased one for my wife last year (anvil is cool/box is cardboard).

http://www.alloykats.com/acmeanvil.html

I've found Acme products to be very reliable.

 

I misunderstood your issue - thought you were talking about loose plugs.

I use lead bricks and spray paint them to my color "scheme." Added benefit is that with sufficient mass the component sounds quieter.

A well fed cat can do wonders,

But keep them off the turntable,

All the best,
Nonoise

@nonoise ...noticing the TT'd kitty's already focusing on the cart head, but dizzykittez' are a riot...

They hit the floor, run off in a curve due to 'listing', and will run into something eventually....

Best part?  It wasn't my turntable or LP...👍

Hilarious Nonoise but it also gave me minor PTSD if one of my cats literally running across my Basis turntable in use destroying my upper level ZYX cartridge in the process. Cats are escorted out of the room anytime the turntables dust cover gets removed since then. Lesson learned….

I use a VPI brick, or one of  the late Lloyd Walker's Valid Points. Both are heavy enough to keep components from tipping.