Ideally your rack should be in another room or total isolated from the speakers (eg, in a closet behind closed doors). Since, for most of us, this is impossible, here are some alternate solutions (from best to worst)
1. On a side wall beyond the first reflection point of the speakers or the front wall (wall on the opposite end of the room from where the speakers set)
2. On a side wall behind the speakers
3. In a corner behind the speakers
4. Between the speakers
Whatever you do, do not place the equipment rack on the side wall parallel to your speakers-- this is the worst possible place; even worse than between the speakers.
I've had pretty good luck with the corner location, but my speakers sit about five feet out into the room and my rack is "open". The advantage of this location is that the rack doesn't sit between the speakers and the interconnect length is minimized. My power amp sits on the floor between the speakers which also keeps the speaker cables short
Experiment and see what works best for you (within your budget constraints for cable length).
1. On a side wall beyond the first reflection point of the speakers or the front wall (wall on the opposite end of the room from where the speakers set)
2. On a side wall behind the speakers
3. In a corner behind the speakers
4. Between the speakers
Whatever you do, do not place the equipment rack on the side wall parallel to your speakers-- this is the worst possible place; even worse than between the speakers.
I've had pretty good luck with the corner location, but my speakers sit about five feet out into the room and my rack is "open". The advantage of this location is that the rack doesn't sit between the speakers and the interconnect length is minimized. My power amp sits on the floor between the speakers which also keeps the speaker cables short
Experiment and see what works best for you (within your budget constraints for cable length).