When we say Titan AV gear is built tough, we mean it.
So, we put our range of cantilever rack shelves to the test — with weights, cameras, and zero marketing fluff.
From our compact 200mm model to the deeper 400mm shelves, we wanted to find out how much weight each can safely handle before deflection or failure. Because when you’re mounting expensive gear, you shouldn’t have to guess.
What Is a Cantilever Rack Shelf?
A cantilever shelf is supported at one end only — like a diving board, a balcony, or Frank Lloyd Wright’s legendary Fallingwater house, which hangs dramatically over a waterfall.
In rack terms, a cantilever rack shelf mounts to the front rack rails only, leaving the rear unsupported. It’s simple, quick to install, and ideal for light gear like routers, audio processors, or accessories.
The trade-off? Cantilever designs naturally experience deflection — a bit of downward flex under load. The key is how much flex happens before things start to bend or fail.
Deflection: Explained Simply
“Deflection” just means how much something bends under weight.
Think of a diving board when you stand at the end — it dips slightly, then returns to normal when you step off.
A little deflection is totally fine (and even expected). Too much, and the shelf starts to permanently bend or your gear may slide off. That’s where we draw the line.
🧪 Our Real-World Tests
Every Titan AV cantilever shelf was tested the same way — gradually loaded in 1 kg increments up to 20 kg. Some shelves reached their safe deflection limit early, while others showed no signs of failure even at the maximum weight.
The 1RU 400 mm shelf, designed for extra reach, hit its deflection limit quickly and showed permanent bend at around 10 kg. The 1RU 280 mm model held strong to 16 kg — four times its rated load — before showing signs of strain. Our 1RU 200 mm shelf remained rock-solid at its 7 kg SWL and still hadn’t failed at 20 kg.
Stepping up in size, the 2RU 400 mm shelf maintained integrity up to 20 kg with around 8 mm deflection, while the 2RU 280 mm and 2RU 200 mm versions both went the full 20 kg plus without failure. Even the 1RU 350 mm sliding shelf held 20 kg structurally — its drawer rails simply began to pinch at full load, so its 10 kg SWL is set for smooth operation, not strength.
Across the board, the results show consistent, predictable performance: every Titan AV shelf performed safely within its rated load — and several proved they could handle far more.
We don’t recommend pushing the limits — or trusting unrealistic competitor specs without proof.
Why Proof Matters
Some brands throw out big numbers with no evidence. We publish the real ones — because we’ve tested them.
Titan AV shelves flex predictably, recover reliably, and stay within deflection limits where it counts. That means your gear stays safe, your rack stays solid, and your confidence stays high.
What We Learned
Titan AV’s cantilever shelves perform exactly as engineered — honest, predictable, and safe within their rated loads.
Shorter shelves carry more weight per RU; deeper shelves deliver reach and accessibility.
Even under full 20 kg testing, none failed suddenly or catastrophically — just controlled flex and measurable recovery.
Final Thoughts
Your rack deserves hardware that’s tested, trusted, and transparent.
The Titan AV cantilever shelf range delivers verified performance across every size — because Built Strong means Tested Strong.