Atlantic 38435623 Oskar Media Tower 756 CD (Maple)

I purchased two of these Oskar media storage units last year and was very satisfied. I needed a third one for recent expansion, but Atlantic/Oskar has redesigned this unit without explanation and without improvement. The overall frame is the same: height, width and depth. While the total number of adjustable shelves are the same (30), the size and weight of the shelves have changed. In the units I bought last year, the shelves were were 1/2" thick and were 5.5 inches deep, the full depth of the shelving unit. The new shelves are only 3/8" thick and 4.5 inches deep. The old shelves weighed 14 oz, and new shelves weigh 8.5 oz, so the total package weight dropped by 10 pounds, which may have been the motivation for the redesign. The mounting holes have also shifted, so the shelves from the new and old units are not interchangeable.

What is the big deal you may ask? With a 5.5 in depth, DVDs sit completely on the shelf. With only 4.5 inches, the DVDs overhang by about half and inch. With a thinner profile (3/8"), the shelves are more likely to sag over time. The 1/2" shelves have shown no sign of sagging in the past year.

We did not see this design flaw until we put the media unit together. We plan on returning it to Amazon.

I ordered this unit, thinking it was the Atlantic Oskar 1080 (product number 38435418). It's NOT. The shelves are cheaper, thinner, and poorly finished. Overall, a far inferior product, clearly a cheap replacement for the earlier "Oskar 1080." Only thing is, they are clearly trying to pass the new, chintzier one off as the same shelf. A bit sleazy.

It really pisses me off when a company like Atlantic substitutes an inferior product for an existing one, without making it clearer --for instance, by changing the product name or picture. The box, when it arrived, said something like "formerly called Oskar," but it's a bit late to find that out, when it's already at your house!

Don't buy this one -if you're going to get a "1080-CD" rack, find the "other" Oskar, with the product number 38435418. I think Best Buy still has them.

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I don't understand a lot of the negative reviews on this product. I just got mine yesterday and it worked out perfect. It's sturdy (wall brackets work great) and was super easy to put together. Only took me about 45 minutes. For the price, I think it's a great deal. Looks great too. All the people complaining either don't know how to put things together or fly through the instructions too fast to catch the details. It's a sturdy peice of furniture for the price and does exactly what it's suppose to do. If you need a good media storage unit at a good price, don't hesitate on this one. Only reason I didn't give if 5 stars is because it doesn't do my laundry no matter how many times I yell at it :p

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As someone who has many thousands of CD's and DVD's, and the racks to go with them, I feel that I can address this product with a good degree of experience and knowledge. In short, I feel that one can't beat this price for a product of this type. Granted, it's not a custom piece of wood furniture, but it is not meant to be. It's particle board covered with wood grain veneer. If recognized for that, it looks good, and is well-made for that type. Some reviewers have mentioned that the shelves are less deep than the older Oskars, and that their CD's stick out. This is true, but for me, it's a non-issue. In fact, I find that it's actually easier to grasp a case when they stick out a bit from the shelf. I have an older Atlantic Oskar, and the quality seems about the same, which is to say that the finish is good, and the pieces fit together properly. If one is patient, and takes the time to look at the illustrations and directions, then assembly shouldn't be a problem. Some reviewers have mentioned two issues which I do find worth addressing, though. One is that it is important to give extra care and attention to the alignment of the back wall piece. The appearance of the right angles can be deceptive, so make sure that there is solid wood under it before nailing. Also, do make sure to support the two halves of the unit when flipping it over to nail on the wall backing. Some books or towels will support the weight. Additionally, if you're looking for an exact match with the older model, then yes, they probably won't match up to a perfect degree, due to shelf heights. The item arrived in a single 70 lb. box, so be aware of the weight. As one other reviewer mentioned, since there are countless little balls of broken styrofoam, be sure to unpack it where clean-up won't be a problem. Finally, I would highly recommend this product if you need some large-capacity storage at a great price.

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Despite reading reviews, I still bought this. I wish I didn't. I bought one of these a few years back at Best Buy. Best Buy no longer carries it. I needed another one due to my growing media collection. This product is made much more poorly than the previous model. The top half leans and nearly fell apart till I attached the cheap backing to it. I don't believe the backing should support it, but it does. The shelves are the MAJOR downgrade. The shelves are thinner and only 4.5" deep. The shelves look stupid because they are no longer flush with the rest of the shelf. Also nearly everything I place on the shelf now overhangs the shelves. The is a poorly made shelf and I DO NOT recommend it. Just read the reviews.