Take the deepest component you own, measure it including any feet, knobs or handles that stick out, then add clearance behind it for connectors and the bend of the stiffest cable you use. That total is your minimum interior depth, and it is usually two to four inches more than the component's published depth.
B&A gear enclosures are 19.5 to 20.5 inches deep depending on model, inside a cabinet 22 inches deep overall.
How to measure properly
- Measure the component, not the spec sheet. Published depth sometimes excludes rear-panel connectors, front knobs or feet. Put a tape on it.
- Add the connector. A right-angle plug adds little. A straight IEC power cord, a banana plug, or a chunky RCA barrel adds an inch or more before the cable even starts to bend.
- Add a bend. Heavy speaker cable and stiff power cord will not turn sharply. Allow enough that the cable curves rather than kinks.
- Check the door. On a cabinet with framed doors, the usable depth is measured to the point where the door closes, not to the front edge of the top.
The mistake that costs people a return
Buying to the component's published depth. A 17 inch receiver in a 17 inch bay does not fit in any useful sense: it fits only if nothing is plugged into it. This is the single most common reason a media cabinet gets sent back, and it is entirely avoidable with a tape measure and five minutes.
The related mistake is measuring only the deepest component. If your deepest unit is the amplifier but your tallest is the turntable, both numbers have to be satisfied by the same cabinet, and they are usually satisfied by different bays.
Height is the other constraint
Interior height is where B&A models actually differ. Depth is nearly constant across the range; bay height is not.
| Model | Overall | Each gear enclosure |
|---|---|---|
| Majestic | 70 or 82 w × 22 h × 22 d | 19.75 w × 17.25 h × 20.25 d |
| Monarch | 70 or 82 w × 24 h × 22 d | 19.75 w × 17.25 h × 20.25 d |
| Horizon | 72 or 82 w × 24 h × 22 d | 19.75 w × 19.375 h × 20.5 d |
| Haven | 72 or 82 w × 26 h × 22 d | 19.75 w × 20.5 h × 20.5 d |
| Pennington | 74 or 84 w × 22 h × 22 d | 19.75 w × 16.75 h × 19.5 d |
If you own tall components, or you want to stack two units in one bay with clearance between them, start from the Haven or the Horizon rather than assuming any console will do.
If none of the standard depths work
Every B&A console is built to order, so interior sizing is a conversation before the build rather than a compromise after delivery. If your components need something outside the standard bays, send the make, model and dimensions and Brian will tell you what he can build. See also when to order a custom console.
Frequently asked
How deep are B&A media console equipment bays?
Between 19.5 and 20.5 inches depending on the model, in a cabinet 22 inches deep overall. Every bay is 19.75 inches wide.
How much clearance should I leave behind an AV receiver?
Enough for the connectors you use plus a gentle bend in the stiffest cable. In practice that is usually two to four inches more than the receiver’s published depth, which is why a bay the same depth as the component does not work.
Talk to the person who builds them
Send your component list and the space you have. Brian will tell you which console fits, or whether it needs to be built to a different size.
Figures on this page are B&A's own published specifications, taken from the current product pages and the ordering and warranty terms. Equipment clearances should always be taken from your own component manuals.