I've given up on finding something that fits my 26" wide center, 400 DVD and 300 CD changers. So a friend and I just finished building this BDI 'clone' to fit my needs - total cost of materials ~$350.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=133891&d=1234932121Nice job as I was in the same boat with my 27.5" x 7.5" center channels. Also, my APC power conditioner is deep so I needed a deep center section. Originally, my design was EXACTLY like yours - one piece with stationary shelves and wood framed doors with stainless handles like BDI.

My inspiration then became the JSP Bolero because it had more dimension and depth. Also, I wanted separate side cabinets so that I could rewire the components on the side cabinets without having to move the entire piece. I also have holes from side to side for wiring so that I don't have a mess of wires on back. Additionally, I wanted the side cabinets raised to add dimension and I can conceal cooling fans at the bottom. Finally, I wanted to be able to take it apart for moving or expansion or upgrades, so I did not use glue. Right now, it looks a little plan, mainly due to the black paint on black tinted glasses and no stainless handles. It will be espresso one day!

Mine ended up being red oak plywood on black paint. Originally, I wanted to stain it espresso like the JSP Bolero, but I could not find the right stain nor could I find anyone to mix it correctly.

The tough part... I built it with a hammer, drill, chisel, hand saw and sander. I did not have a table saw and fortunately, Home Depot made most of the cuts for me. They were not perfect cuts, so I had to make it work.

When I do get more space, I will buy a table saw and rebuild it as one piece with a 1" top to give it a more solid look. I might also consider adding framed doors with the stainless handles. I will also consider building a concealed based - trap door - to hide the wires moving from the side cabinets to the power conditioner in the center cabinet. It's just a matter of taking out some pieces and screwing in the new pieces. This time, it must be stained espresso somehow.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=136765&d=1237097795

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=136766&d=1237097795

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=136767&d=1237097795

Rating on thenerds (http://www.resellerratings.com/store/TheNerds_net).com

These guys seem very shady, although they have some good comments too. Looks like it is hit or miss.

Sort of a general question for you all...

What influences your budget for your A/V furniture? Are you following a sort of ratio? For example, "My budget for A/V furniture is x% of my budget of $x." I know WAF (wife approval factor) is there as well, but I was wondering if there was any sort of "formula" people are following. For example, my recent TV stand search goes hand-in-hand with my search for a new TV. My budget for the TV by itself is around 20% of my overall budget for the whole A/V system, with the audio portion occupying about 75% of the budget, leaving 5% for the TV stand.

So...anyone out there care to share their thoughts, like how much of their A/V budget to date went for the furniture? No need for dollar figures, maybe just a ratio like I had would be nice. I am wondering if it's just a matter of "put the money where it is most important to you" or if people are following a certain ratio.

Thanks!

I didn't approach it the same as you. I don't work with a buget so much. I do what makes sense and I'm fairly diciplined. When my old TV started to show signs of immenent failure I went looking for a TV to reasonably suit my needs. Then came the satellite upgrade to support that (HDTV upgrade). Next came the HT that completes the package. I'm still looking at furniture, it has been the hardest part so far.

My percentages :
63% TV
22% TV sound system (HT)
15% Furniture (hi end projected-not yet bought, could endup being half this)
Not included is the ultimate cost of satellite upgrade to go along with above but it's about $15/ month extra.

What influences your budget for your A/V furniture? Are you following a sort of ratio?

So...anyone out there care to share their thoughts, like how much of their A/V budget to date went for the furniture? No need for dollar figures, maybe just a ratio like I had would be nice. I am wondering if it's just a matter of "put the money where it is most important to you" or if people are following a certain ratio.

It’s difficult to apply a rigid formula to the process. I create an overall budget and back it all up from there.

For my purposes, this budget has to cover a display, receiver, 7.1 speakers and a cabinet for the components. The display will go on top of this cabinet or above it attached to a wall mount, not to mention cables, surge protector, etc. Then, it all comes down to prioritizing (and working with the WAF of course :p) and making everything fit together within the budget, constantly compromising.

That said, I’m in the final stages of completing my project and doing the math, it works out to be about 15% for a cabinet and a wall mount. It is what it is. ;)

I did not set out a budget ahead of time, really.
I just got one piece at a time then saved up for the next thing.
As you can see I exercised more constraint in some areas than others
here's my cost breakdown:

TV= 19.5%
Stand/bracket=12%
speakers=18.2%
AVR=7.6%
PS3=7.6%
Sub=35%

a_ok2me: Great job! Painted Oak? The finish came out nicely! Very impressed.

Just got this from walmart for my condo & my Sammy 50".
http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/72/89/01/02/0072890102225_500X500.jpg

I chose this open design over 1's with doors or shelves because I already had a nice A/V rack that will contain my other equipment.

2 concerns:

1) Do ppl ever consider putting their A/V racks somewhere other than next to the flat panel (I was thinking opposite the flat panel near my couch)? Examples of?

2) Am a little worried that the stand's depth is not very much @ 15.5 inches for a 12.4 inch base on the flat panel

I'm finding it almost impossible to find a corner stand or cabinet that will accomodate a 50" plasma for a reasonable cost. I'd like to spend no more than about $500 or $600.
Is there anything out there? I can find plenty of good cabinets but they aren't designed to fit in a corner and as a consequence they extend too far away from the walls.

a_ok2me: Painted Oak?I know...tried several coats of stain, even had a shop mix one to look like espresso but it turned out looking like brown mud paint. I gave up and stripped everything down and spray painted it black and clear coated it. You lose all the grains - it sucks and I have too much black going on...the tinted glass, plasma, speakers a/v equipment, PC.

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=/qid=/ref=br_1_5/189-3846820-1490267?ie=UTF8&node=12277801&frombrowse=1&index=tgt-mf-mv&rank=price&asin=B000J657DK&rh=&page=1
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41WmrACZa5L._AA400_.jpg

You're probably going to laugh at me, but I'm rocking this cheap $40 tv stand in the bedroom with a 50" plasma. The stand is rated for 85 pounds and the tv is about the same. I've had it for 7 months and it's just fine, but for whatever reason I just don't know if I can trust it with a $1000+ tv. Someone wrote on the review which makes me feel slightly better..



What would you do if you were me? Stop worrying or bite the bullet and spend $150+ on a new stand?


I'm thinking of getting the same stand for a 46" LCD... Cheap works for me. Although I do like that Bolero console at Costco. Still, it's an XBOX 360 more in price :)

How much depth do u all allocate for the base of a flat panel?

I ordered a new stand that has a depth from front to back of 15.5" - width of 63" & weights 54lbs.
From the specs on the Sammy website, my 50" plasma T5054 has:
depth of 12.4" - width of 49" - TV + base weights in 97lbs.
The new stand will be up against a wall & the wall will be behind the TV.

Is this an acceptable area front to back for the base so that the TV won't tip over?
In this example I would have about 3.1" left over to split between front & back for the base.

This will be the first time I am using the base because of my new living arrangement (no hanging in apt per land lord).

I know...tried several coats of stain, even had a shop mix one to look like espresso but it turned out looking like brown mud paint. I gave up and stripped everything down and spray painted it black and clear coated it. You lose all the grains - it sucks and I have too much black going on...the tinted glass, plasma, speakers a/v equipment, PC.

I think it looks fantastic. I suck at staining/painting.

I also purchased an N702 (Black) with all the cooling fans and shelves. The build is fantastic and customer service is outstanding. I will also be ordering an N701 for my vacation home.

Can anyone here comment on using the Standout Designs pieces with back panel off? It appears that an Emotiva amp won't fit (according to specs on Emotiva site and specs on SD site). Especially if you consider the depth of connections on the back of the equipment. Or comment on whether you think I could cut out a portion of the back panel to get the required depth. Thanks.

I just received the N702 in Cinnamon, so thought I'd share a photo and my thoughts about it. The photo makes it appear a bit more "reddish" than it actually looks in person. (We're doing some remodeling/painting, hence the plaster on the walls):

http://www.webapalooza.com/images/after_2_web.jpg

On top is a Panny 50PZ850U and Mirage Nanosat speakers.

I was *this* close to buying one of the Amish-made plasma TV stands in solid oak when I found out about Standout Designs here on AVS. Yes, it cost more than the Amish models, and frankly it's not quite up to the Amish level of craftsmanship in terms of the way the wood is joined (Amish would never use screws to fasten on the top, for instance). It is solid wood though (the cinnamon finish employs maple, but the espresso and black finishes employ ash).

What it came down to for us is that the N702 is roomier than some of the Amish pieces, especially in terms of depth, which gives us a few more inches of room at the back for cables and wires (especially important for our receiver). The N702 also comes with an easily removable back, with large gaps at the top where you can install optional exhaust fans, plus vented glass shelves, and drawers with inserts that are custom-sized for storing DVDs and CDs. If the Amish made such a piece, I would have jumped on it.

I went all out and upgraded to the extra drawer (in lieu of leaving the top shelf open for the center speaker), plus I added vented glass shelves and the exhaust fans. It's a solid piece of furniture, that's for sure. Easily weighs 200lbs. without my gear.

I should also mention that a local retailer carries the BDI product line, which my wife and I went to see. I was especially interested in the Novia 8429 after seeing it online, but I was not at all impressed in person. It's clearly not solid wood, and the veneers they use felt very cheap and "plasticky" to me. For essentially the same price (around $1,800), I got a nearly equivalent piece of furniture (in terms of size, styling, and design), except mine is made of solid wood and has all the extra bells and whistles.

My wife and I are just beginning to appreciate what quality furniture is now that we're in our 40s, and although it may be more expensive we don't mind paying for quality if it will essentially hold up forever with proper care. I fully expect that this will be the last TV stand I ever buy (well, unless we move into a bigger house someday and I need to set up a 2nd home theater ;))

I see Standout Designs is running a sale, thru today apparently (oh-well), but does anyone know if they have the extended back yet? My AVR is too deep for the current 702, unfortunately. Close, but...

BDI Icon 9429. I like it so far.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s306/amill94/IMG_0928.jpg

BDI Icon 9429. I like it so far.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s306/amill94/IMG_0928.jpg
Very nice stand (and equipment, love the Martin Logan sound). I almost bought one, but alas, the BDI Icon 4929 was not quite tall enough for me on the shelves. I had some e-mail back and forth with BDIusa (extremely responsive company, by the way), and the shelves on the 4929 are configurable, as follows:

Total Height: 15.75" (of which about 1/2" is the adjustable shelf)
Configurations: 4.25" middle and 11" bottom
6.25" middle and 9" bottom
8.25" middle and 7" bottom

What I needed, unfortunately, was about 8.25 + 8.25". So close.

The component depth on the units is 18.5".

Can anyone here comment on using the Standout Designs pieces with back panel off? It appears that an Emotiva amp won't fit (according to specs on Emotiva site and specs on SD site). Especially if you consider the depth of connections on the back of the equipment. Or comment on whether you think I could cut out a portion of the back panel to get the required depth. Thanks.

I have an e-mail off to Standout Designs, asking if/when the extender panels will be available. It's the weekend now, so I don't expect to hear back from them, but if I get something, I'll try and remember to post it.

My situation is similar to yours, components just a little big for the depth of the furniture cabinet. There are some posts and so forth saying essentially that you could roto-zip out some openings or whatever in the back. The problem with doing that, of course, is that if you have big components, they're probably hot components (my Onkyo AVR would certainly qualify, it's pretty hot even in open air), and while Standout has a nice fan arrangement, for it to work properly, you need it pulling across the components, and punching holes in the back just screws that all up. If it's close for you (for me, it's not), you could look at right angle connectors on the cables (they even make right angle banana plugs, although just going with open wire to lugs is going to be the least space). Remember also bend radius on the cables, particularly anything optical.

For some unknown reason, depth is a really sore point on a lot of TV stands, even the open air ones, granted there, the cables can all sort of hang out the back, or you can cheat a bit, hang the equipment knobs out in front (gains you generally a half inch or so, or you could go to the feet, maybe another inch or so, not like the door has to shut, but looks a little less tidy). My problem is a big center speaker (23.5" wide x 8+" tall) with a AVR that's 8.625" tall, 18.1" deep (with cables, bends, probably closer to 19.5"). Not much on the market seems to accommodate both. The standard rack equipment from Studiotech and Salamander doesn't like anything that's not 19" width (i.e. my center speaker). Tried to talk Studiotech into making a taller HF-33 for me, but I guess with it all off-shored, that wasn't possible. Shame really, would have paid a lot for that. And most of the Glass/Metal stands from BDI and others are not tall enough.Tried to get Boltz to make a wider metal stand, or figure out how to hook two together, those are built very solid, but they're into this glass/metal phase, and nothing there has enough shelf space. There are some Jon Alexander stands that might work, still pondering that.

And I am still pondering the Standout Designs N702, as that's so very close to fitting my equipment, and I like the fact that they've given some thought to cooling, and that they use solid wood. Not to say that BDI doesn't have nice wood stands, the Cassini 8629 is pretty close to what I need (19" depth, so close). Studio Tech used to make the U-22TX, which would have been also pretty close to big enough. Salamander makes some back extenders, so one of its semi-customs might ultimately be the only way for me to go.

But I do wish that the TV-stand manufacturers allowed for another inch or two of component depth, than is current industry practice. Real mismatch that high-end AVRs don't fit.

I'm thinking of getting the same stand for a 46" LCD... Cheap works for me. Although I do like that Bolero console at Costco. Still, it's an XBOX 360 more in price :)

If the Target is OK, you might have a look also at Lowe's. They have some component put-it-together shelving that comes pretty close to the Target look, but might be a little heavier-duty. $40 buck stand isn't worth it if the plasma ultimately collapses it, and Plasma's aren't the lightest thing in the world.

Personally, I think the BDI Mirage is a slight knock-off of my design. Then again, mine is a knock-off of both the JSP Bolero and BDI Avion:D...

http://www.bdiusa.com/theater/mirage.shtml

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=136765&d=1237097795

BDI Icon 9429. I like it so far.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s306/amill94/IMG_0928.jpg

Sweet setup, amill94!

I concur with positive comments on BDI. I ended up with a BDI Icon 9428 in silver to blend in with my Mythos stuff. Given it's glass shelves, I wanted it to be overly sturdy for the Pioneer 151 that I was going to put on top--this was the only stand I could find that would meet that criteria and have room for my center and receiver on the two shelves.

Funny thing was, once the stand arrived (and getting it down two flights of stairs was fun, let me tell ya' :D), my wife said she thought my 151 would look great on the wall. So, I ended up having to get a Sanus articulating mount.

Now, that heavy duty stand just supports a center channel on the 200-lb rated top (with the components underneath). :o

For bsavitz--

Check out the Anelli Corner TV Console at riverside-furniture.com. It's a bit wider and a bit taller than most corner units and sells for about $600 to $750.

hey everyone, i've been looking to get some furniture for my kuro and figured i'd ask here for some help. I found this Whalen stand (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8387113&type=product&id=1179876185999) at BB but my problem is that i have a Polk csi5 center speaker, which is rather large and no one at best buy could tell me for sure how much room i would have under the tv to fit the speaker (8" tall) anyone here has that stand that could take some quick measurements?

Also, there is this Sanus (http://www.amazon.com/SANUS-SYSTEM-Panel-Platinum-Furniture/dp/B000BCZ97Q/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2DNR0JIONMJW9&colid=S6XS9DVMMZA2) stand from Amazon that should work. Although im partial to the Whalen.

And the Balboa stand (http://www.target.com/Balboa-Park-TV-Stand/dp/B0012H4I7G/qid=1237849775/ref=br_1_11/183-5374127-3224212?ie=UTF8&node=172870011&frombrowse=1&pricerange=&index=target&field-browse=172870011&rank=pmrank&rh=p_36%3A%24100-%24199&page=1) from Target. I guess i could get it and screw the stand of the kuro to the top for added stability, but that would be a last resort since its not really that appealing to me.

Silly huge center speakers :rolleyes:

Can you please tell me just what company makes this piece? Thank you.

h8hoos, if you mean the Anelli Corner unit, it's made by Riverside Furniture. That's the manufacturer's Web site listed in my previous message.

Thought I would put up a pic of my stand. It is made out of Alder by a company called RKadia furniture. I thought they did a really good job on it, and it matches some other furniture that we have. Everything fits in really nice. My center is behind the center bottom drawer. It'll look even better in my mind when I can finally pick up the 58" panny I've been saving up for.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_aeQE5_2Xzdg/Sck2r9vk7UI/AAAAAAAADEc/ltBv4YPG998/s800/DSC01869.JPG

Monster used to make real high quality stuff called MDesign. I remember seeing some that were piano black to match the Elite plasmas. Expensive as ... of course.

http://www.mdesignlife.com/productPage.asp?pin=1909

My situation is similar to yours, components just a little big for the depth of the furniture cabinet. There are some posts and so forth saying essentially that you could roto-zip out some openings or whatever in the back. The problem with doing that, of course, is that if you have big components, they're probably hot components (my Onkyo AVR would certainly qualify, it's pretty hot even in open air), and while Standout has a nice fan arrangement, for it to work properly, you need it pulling across the components, and punching holes in the back just screws that all up. If it's close for you (for me, it's not), you could look at right angle connectors on the cables (they even make right angle banana plugs, although just going with open wire to lugs is going to be the least space). Remember also bend radius on the cables, particularly anything optical.


You can leave the back panels off the N702 very easily. They just slide into a groove in back and use 3 screws to hold them in place.

As for the fans, I have fans on both sides and here's the deal: there is a slot cut in the bottom front edge of the unit, just behind the door on the "floor" of the unit. So when the fans are on fresh air is drawn into the unit from the bottom front and exhausted out the top of the back.

I also have the vented glass shelves, which have a hole cut out of the center of them, about 4"-5" in diameter. This also helps with air flow.

The fans have a sensor to detect increases in temperature. Allegedly they kick on when the temp hits 86 degrees, then shut off when the temp drops back to 81 degrees. In my experience, the fans aren't quite that "smart", and they will kick on when it gets warm, then off when it gets cool, then on again, then off again, and so on in a fairly constant pattern. This suggests that the fans kick on when a certain temp is reached, and then turn off when the temp falls 1 degree below that, hence the constant on and off. They're fairly quiet so it's only annoying after you've turned the rest of your system off and you're sitting quietly in the room -- then you can faintly hear them cycling on and off until your equipment cools off.

The fans also have a sensor wire that you can clip to a piece of equipment to make the fans kick on as soon as that particular piece of equipment hits 86 degrees. In the case of your amp/receiver, that's going to be pretty quick, so the fans will generally be running the entire time the amp/receiver is on.

The panel that the fans are mounted in rests on top of the back panel, so if you remove the back panel then the fan will have nothing to support it. Then again, if you're removing the back panel you have no need for the fans anyway.

The bend radius of the cables is a good point, too. I had a 10AWG HDMI cable that was just too thick and stiff to bend and feed through the cable management holes in the N702, which are perpendicular to the back panel. So all of your cables and wires need to make a 90 degree turn before they can exit the cable management holes in the N702. If they can't make that radius bend, then you have no choice but to leave the back panels off.

Talk to ABT and told then what this was going for over at Crutchfield delivered to my door with no tax and they beat the price by about $50. ABT lists it for near $1600 and delivery to my living room in as little as 2-3 day (local delivery in Chicagoland area) for roughly $1450.

After looking at this and many others this seemed to fit my bill as well the wifes non equipmenty looking requirement.

With my bigger center channel though many furniture types would not work and the Novia 8428 was the only one that had the dimensions to handle it.

I will update when I receive it. I scheduled next week as I was busy but they wanted to do it this weekend!

For those of you who have an open rack, how do u hide the bevy of cables dangling in the back.
Specifically when the cables show in the gap between the flat panel & the base AND the rack's shelfs back up to the back of the TV?

I have an e-mail off to Standout Designs, asking if/when the extender panels will be available. It's the weekend now, so I don't expect to hear back from them, but if I get something, I'll try and remember to post it.

My situation is similar to yours, components just a little big for the depth of the furniture cabinet. There are some posts and so forth saying essentially that you could roto-zip out some openings or whatever in the back. The problem with doing that, of course, is that if you have big components, they're probably hot components (my Onkyo AVR would certainly qualify, it's pretty hot even in open air), and while Standout has a nice fan arrangement, for it to work properly, you need it pulling across the components, and punching holes in the back just screws that all up. If it's close for you (for me, it's not), you could look at right angle connectors on the cables (they even make right angle banana plugs, although just going with open wire to lugs is going to be the least space). Remember also bend radius on the cables, particularly anything optical.

For some unknown reason, depth is a really sore point on a lot of TV stands, even the open air ones, granted there, the cables can all sort of hang out the back, or you can cheat a bit, hang the equipment knobs out in front (gains you generally a half inch or so, or you could go to the feet, maybe another inch or so, not like the door has to shut, but looks a little less tidy). My problem is a big center speaker (23.5" wide x 8+" tall) with a AVR that's 8.625" tall, 18.1" deep (with cables, bends, probably closer to 19.5"). Not much on the market seems to accommodate both. The standard rack equipment from Studiotech and Salamander doesn't like anything that's not 19" width (i.e. my center speaker). Tried to talk Studiotech into making a taller HF-33 for me, but I guess with it all off-shored, that wasn't possible. Shame really, would have paid a lot for that. And most of the Glass/Metal stands from BDI and others are not tall enough.Tried to get Boltz to make a wider metal stand, or figure out how to hook two together, those are built very solid, but they're into this glass/metal phase, and nothing there has enough shelf space. There are some Jon Alexander stands that might work, still pondering that.

And I am still pondering the Standout Designs N702, as that's so very close to fitting my equipment, and I like the fact that they've given some thought to cooling, and that they use solid wood. Not to say that BDI doesn't have nice wood stands, the Cassini 8629 is pretty close to what I need (19" depth, so close). Studio Tech used to make the U-22TX, which would have been also pretty close to big enough. Salamander makes some back extenders, so one of its semi-customs might ultimately be the only way for me to go.

But I do wish that the TV-stand manufacturers allowed for another inch or two of component depth, than is current industry practice. Real mismatch that high-end AVRs don't fit.

I heard back from Standout Designs, always a good sign that the company is responsive to e-mail, they're off working out something that has an extension out the back of roughly 2", should then end up able to have components of 21.5" depth. So it's coming. They're not sure exactly when, but maybe May/June, so not that far away now.

For those of you who have an open rack, how do u hide the bevy of cables dangling in the back.
Specifically when the cables show in the gap between the flat panel & the base ADN the rack's shelfs back up to the back of the TV?
There are a number of options on open TV stands, frequently in real viewing conditions (at night, with the components on the stand), the cables will not be all that noticeable (I personally don't look at them as a big deal, if you don't want to see stuff, build it all into a closet). But assuming you want to "hide" them, frequently people run them down one of the back legs (use tape or one of the plastic/velcro arrangements), or they make plastic flexible pipes with slits. One note on these, test sound quality/if there's any feedback through the cables, if you package them up together, don't want to adversely impact the sound or video quality (HDMI is relatively immune).

Here is one option:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=105&cp_id=10520&cs_id=1052004&p_id=2354&seq=1&format=1#largeimage

http://images.monoprice.com/productmediumimages/23541.jpg

(hopefully they don't mind me posting a sponsor's link). It's a sleeve or tube. Some run these down the middle (not much difference between that and the bars or cable hiders on an open stand, or at least some stands), and others run them down one of the cable legs.

Here's an example of how to run it down a leg:

http://www.jonalexander.com/d5058.jpg

http://www.jonalexander.com/d5058.jpg

As you can see, not much showing, and these are pretty bare shelves, easier to hide things when the shelves are fuller.

Here are a few of my set ups:

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i11/primetime6/LivingRoomTV.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i11/primetime6/Den.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i11/primetime6/Den3.jpg

Has anyone had experience with Performance Furniture?

www DOT performancefurniture DOT com

It looks like similar quality to Standout Designs. Unfortunately, there is no cooling options but I like the designs a little better. It's more expensive also.

Zach

Has anyone had experience with Performance Furniture?

www DOT performancefurniture DOT com

It looks like similar quality to Standout Designs. Unfortunately, there is no cooling options but I like the designs a little better. It's more expensive also.

Zach

It looks nice, except for the fact that it's missing glass doors. I guess some people don't want to see their equipment, but I don't think I could operate my home theater if I couldn't see the lights and LED indicators telling me how everything was set.

Has anybody used furniture sliders to move their stand (e.g. you need to get to the back to move cables around). I am thinking of getting a Salamander Synergy, I know they have wheels but my equipment is so heavy I thought that it may be hard tomove on carpet, especially with a big tv on top (58" or 60").

Although I don't have personal experience with the Synergy on carpet, you can't beat the efficiency of the wheel. :)

BDI has been known for their quality STANDS and CABINETS. I have the AVION which i've seen recently at SALE prices. Yes, BDI is not cheap but ON SALE the features of the cabinet are worth the money!
Some of the features of the AVION are integrated speaker and media storage, hidden wheels, cable management, and easy access back panels.
The unit also has Stabilizers on each wheel, which are useful for floors that are not level. Another great feature is the glass in the front can be changed to Speaker Mesh inserts if you wish. You can use an IR remote through the smokey glass
The stand is made of MDF and is as heavy and solid as wood.

DEFINITELY WORTH CHECKING OUT!

The stand is made of MDF and is as heavy and solid as wood.

I don't think particle board is really a selling point.

Wish that there'd be a good way to "cat-proof" my home theater. All of the sudden, I find my elderly cat with a huge fur coat stepping onto the entertainment center, on top of my X360, looking into my Samsung A750 LCD, because of how glossy it is, he thinks he sees another cat, and winds up meowing at himself. I keep having to drag him off of there and back on the bed, and constantly restraining him. I hate to hurt his feelings and set him straight, but boy oh boy, I don't want him ruining anything like this. He better hope that the X360 won't suffer RRoD if he shed any fur in there...boy, I dunno what to do to control that old grump of a cat.

- Use dust covers when you are not using your equipment.
- Spray cat repellent on av stand/around equipments and on power cords
Just hope the cat doesn't scratch the tv screen :eek:

Really nice stuff guys. I will post a picture of my stand soon I found it at Target on sale none the less. I just have to get enough post first just joined.

This is a really really long thread but im pretty sure I found the info here a little while back. What I am looking for is the consensus top brands of tv wall mounts. I was thinking there was 1 or 2 at the top and another that was close but like half the price of the others. Does anyone know this information or a link to where I can find it.

Thanks

How much depth do u all allocate for the base of a flat panel?

I ordered a new stand that has a depth from front to back of 15.5" - width of 63" & weights 54lbs.
From the specs on the Sammy website, my 50" plasma T5054 has:
depth of 12.4" - width of 49" - TV + base weights in 97lbs.
The new stand will be up against a wall & the wall will be behind the TV.

Is this an acceptable area front to back for the base so that the TV won't tip over?
In this example I would have about 3.1" left over to split between front & back for the base.

This will be the first time I am using the base because of my new living arrangement (no hanging in apt per land lord).

I'm not sure what the concern is but if the base fits on the top of the stand it's not tipping over unless you try to tip it over. If it fits, essentially you are working with the same thing as if you put it on the ground with an "infinite" surface. Yes it can fall over but "extra" space isn't going to help that.

I'm not sure what the concern is but if the base fits on the top of the stand it's not tipping over unless you try to tip it over. If it fits, essentially you are working with the same thing as if you put it on the ground with an "infinite" surface. Yes it can fall over but "extra" space isn't going to help that.

Before I was worried about having enough space to provide stability.
In practice however, it is truly as you say.

Guess sheer mass & gravity provides more stability than surface area surrounding.

Just got this from walmart for my condo & my Sammy 50".
http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/72/89/01/02/0072890102225_500X500.jpg

I chose this open design over 1's with doors or shelves because I already had a nice A/V rack that will contain my other equipment.

2 concerns:

1) Do ppl ever consider putting their A/V racks somewhere other than next to the flat panel (I was thinking opposite the flat panel near my couch)? Examples of?

2) Am a little worried that the stand's depth is not very much @ 15.5 inches for a 12.4 inch base on the flat panel

link to that bench?

link to that bench?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10628581

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10628581Omnimount also makes that Moda stand in a longer 63" version--and a matching 3-shelf audio tower too: http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_constraint=3944&ic=48_0&search_query=omnimount+moda

For those concerned about the 18 3/4" depth of the Standout Designs l Horizon n702 and the tall Radius TV stands. There is now an extender option available to extend the useable depth for components to 23".

Extender
--------
http://www.standoutdesigns.com/store/pc/Back-Extender-for-Tall-Radius+Horizon-p317.htm

Horizon n702
------------
http://www.standoutdesigns.com/store/pc/Horizon-N702-Solid-Wood-TV-Console-p180.htm

i know it's BB but i would like some input on if anyone here would actually buy this. some reviews say some sagging issues. one person had one or two emotiva amps on the bottom shelf and says no issues with sagging. the height for the shelves are perfect for me. 8 1/2 inches. i can get this right now for 230 with tax. i have a mitsubishi wd-52725. 130 pounds or so plus a 40 pound receiver and a 20 pound center channel which is on top of the tv but down the road i plan on getting an led lcd tv or whatever is out at that time that is excellent. 58 -60 inch tv. but my dlp will be on it til then.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8193554&type=product&id=1165609791326

I think it will come with a cloth grill to put a center channel but actual i don't know really so i will try

Hi,

I am buying a 50" panny plasma for my theater and am looking for a mobile stand mount (about 50-60" high) so I can roll it to the side while watching something on the pj screen. I need it just for the tv. I have to say that there isn't much choice available and most stands are too expensive and/or just fugly.

Has anyone something that fits my needs. Any recommendations highly appreciated :) I am fine with a diy idea, given that detailed description and all parts are available; no welding though.

Well heres our new TV stand which is just sitting kinda in the middle of the room waiting for our Sharp LC-52E77U [Which is ready for pickup around Thursday or Friday]

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=143139&stc=1&d=1242740209

$200 @ BB Canada [Reg $250]

Hopefully it will fit in the corner [we measured many times] where the RPTV currently sits.

For those interested in the standout designs n702 stand.. it's now on sale (it's being replaced with a newer model w/ some slight tweaks, slight being the key word it seems), and free shipping till may 31st. This seems like a helluva deal that I won't pass up (the free shipping alone is a very nice savings). The new model looks like it's one inch deeper, and some other tweaks. I was going to purchase the n702 already, as it's a much nicer looking piece (looking at pics) than the BDI type stuff, which makes it a no brainer for me. But, now the question is..

Is it really worth having an extra inch, some wheels, and an easily removable back piece (the n702 plus)? Also, do many of you who own the n702 even have the back panel on? I think if I got the n702 or the n702 plus, I would be inclined to leave the back panel off to let the heat escape. Is there a real downside to leaving the back panel off? I guess maybe light can shine through the back and you can see it through the glass doors?

My main components are a ps3, dvr, and receiver, which generate a decent amount of heat. Maybe it's just me, but I would think leaving the back off would be just as if not more effective than having the cooling fans, no?

For those interested in the standout designs n702 stand.. it's now on sale (it's being replaced with a newer model w/ some slight tweaks, slight being the key word it seems), and free shipping till may 31st. This seems like a helluva deal that I won't pass up (the free shipping alone is a very nice savings). The new model looks like it's one inch deeper, and some other tweaks. I was going to purchase the n702 already, as it's a much nicer looking piece (looking at pics) than the BDI type stuff, which makes it a no brainer for me. But, now the question is..

Is it really worth having an extra inch, some wheels, and an easily removable back piece (the n702 plus)? Also, do many of you who own the n702 even have the back panel on? I think if I got the n702 or the n702 plus, I would be inclined to leave the back panel off to let the heat escape. Is there a real downside to leaving the back panel off? I guess maybe light can shine through the back and you can see it through the glass doors?

My main components are a ps3, dvr, and receiver, which generate a decent amount of heat. Maybe it's just me, but I would think leaving the back off would be just as if not more effective than having the cooling fans, no?

I just bought the Radius with about the same deal. Real quality furniture and U.S. made.
I bought the fans and shelf upgrade but haven't installed the fans yet. The backs come off real easily and with the smoke colored doors you might be hard pressed to see the backs.
The wire routes through the middle sections so you can interconnect either side with the other.

I saw a stand similar to the one in the following link for $200 except it does not have the drawers at the bottom. It's a Memorial Day clearance through the 27th. Not the right size, cabinet space and style for me, but maybe for others.

http://www.kinwaiusa.com/livingroom.html
Go to: TV Stand => JAS108

Thanks for the info laserjock, I was wondering how the wires were routed based on some pictures.. I think I will end up going with the smoked glass on whichever stand I go with.

Has anyone purchased the Standout Designs e7022 stand, or is it a brand new piece they just came out with? It has a slightly more modern look than the n702/plus, which is nice, and it's slightly smaller/less bulky. The downside is that of course it's more expensive. Tough choice..

Anyone purchased one? I'm strongly considering it over the n702..

Thanks for the info laserjock, I was wondering how the wires were routed based on some pictures.. I think I will end up going with the smoked glass on whichever stand I go with.

Has anyone purchased the Standout Designs e7022 stand, or is it a brand new piece they just came out with? It has a slightly more modern look than the n702/plus, which is nice, and it's slightly smaller/less bulky. The downside is that of course it's more expensive. Tough choice..

Anyone purchased one? I'm strongly considering it over the n702..

According to the website, the e7022 starts shipping in June, so probably you'll have to wait a bit for someone to comment (at least someone that has one). From what I could make out at the website, I'm not sure it's all that different, style-wise, hard for me to read it as more contemporary or anything significant. The overhangs are maybe a bit less. It is a shorter unit, slightly wider, looks like they tweaked a bit there. The fans look a little better setup that the n702 (generally bigger = quieter). I haven't priced it all out, but they're probably pretty close, when you factor in the fans, etc. There does look to be one disadvantage to the unit in that the drawer pulls are at the bottom, so that you have to reach down further.

If I were making further suggestions to Standout, they would be:

1. Offer an extended depth option on the e7022 (similar to the n702)
2. Offer option for all-glass door (that would be more contemporary)
3. Offer option for flush front drawer (")
4. Charging $49 for black knobs/legs is kind of penny-ante
5. Looks like it could also use more holes for wires

But anyway, for the price, solid wood, finish options, it does look like Standout is quite a nice deal, especially with the free shipping through end of month.

According to the website, the e7022 starts shipping in June, so probably you'll have to wait a bit for someone to comment (at least someone that has one). From what I could make out at the website, I'm not sure it's all that different, style-wise, hard for me to read it as more contemporary or anything significant. The overhangs are maybe a bit less. It is a shorter unit, slightly wider, looks like they tweaked a bit there. The fans look a little better setup that the n702 (generally bigger = quieter). I haven't priced it all out, but they're probably pretty close, when you factor in the fans, etc. There does look to be one disadvantage to the unit in that the drawer pulls are at the bottom, so that you have to reach down further.

If I were making further suggestions to Standout, they would be:

1. Offer an extended depth option on the e7022 (similar to the n702)
2. Offer option for all-glass door (that would be more contemporary)
3. Offer option for flush front drawer (")
4. Charging $49 for black knobs/legs is kind of penny-ante
5. Looks like it could also use more holes for wires

But anyway, for the price, solid wood, finish options, it does look like Standout is quite a nice deal, especially with the free shipping through end of month.
pwjone1, Do you have a Standout stand or just looking still?

Well heres our stand with all of our equipment on it =P

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=143993&d=1243671278

So I had the following requirements for a TV Console/Stand:

Had to have a minimum of 5 (Preferrably 6) shelves for the following devices:

Onkyo TX-SR803
PS3
XB360
Wii
Directv HD DVR
Monster 3500 Power Conditioner.

So I went to a bunch of stores and we just couldn't find anything that worked and was cost effective; I love some of the pieces you guys have purchased, but cost is also a limiting factor.

In the end, we went to a place called City Furniture and bought this: Price was $299 plus delivery and I think its pretty reasonable:

http://www.city-furniture.com/images/rl_nate_tv_espresso.jpg
We only bought the TV stand, not the whole entire unit. Oh the middle piece is actually either solid wood or you can replace with glass as we will use.

Opinions? Also, on which shelve should I put the respective gear? I imagine the Onkyo on the top shelf of the middle and the power conditioner underneath or vice-versa?

pwjone1, Do you have a Standout stand or just looking still?

Still looking, although I did some interim stuff, so the stack would be more manageable in the mean time. Standout was very nice about e-mailing that they were working on something by way of an extender, and I wasn't sure I was going to wait, but it worked out that way. Partly, I was waiting for Standout to do the extended back, which they said they were working on and would have soon, and my setup really has too much depth in the receiver to fit the older unit, without the extension. I debated redoing all the connectors, which are banana plugs, or cutting out the wire area, but that kind of would be defeating the purpose, and probably muck up the airflow, which, given how hot my AVR runs, really is not an option in a unit like the Standout (although I did acquire a Rotozip, so it would be a lot easier to do now). Partly, I still need a component stand for the Audio components (CD players/recorders, some noise reduction equipment, turntable, amps, etc.), not everything would fit below the TV, so I'd like to get something matching, off to the side (and Standout makes a bookcase, and it's close to being able to do something like that, but not exactly, not enough depth, so I've also been off looking at other stands, and if anyone has a matching one, etc.). And Partly, maybe even mostly, I've been too busy with other projects (air travel and such, nice to actually be home for a whole weekend). We did have one furniture acquisition, in the mean time, I'm trying to level it properly this weekend:

http://www.andrewmuggleton.com/Images/furniture/Console-Anigre-300.jpg

This actually is going just outside the TV room, and we had to move quickly because it was on a most excellent sale, but it does give you an idea of the style of things we like, although fair warning, I can buy pretty much anything for the TV room, WAF is not a problem (lucky about that), and I probably tend to think more about functionality (do things fit on the shelves, nothing is going to collapse from the weight, nothing fries from being too hot), before style, comes with being an engineer I guess.

Getting back on topic, one thing I'm curious about, since I am very close to pulling the trigger, is if anyone has the Standout designs extension in place, and could post a picture. Here's the one from their web site:

http://www.standoutdesigns.com/store/pc/catalog/g_extender.jpg

Looks like a CAD drawing. What I'd like to know more about, is how the piece fits in the back. The web-site says "Mounts below optional fan panels." I am thinking, that might not be exactly the best arrangement, something where the full cabinet was extended would work better, but the AVR is going on the bottom shelf, so probably would work. Fans would probably still pull enough, even offset. My AVR is just slightly over 18" in depth, add another couple of inches for banana plugs, maybe another inch for wire bend radius (although I could, in a crunch, just direct wire or go 90 degree connectors, but that's a pain, and buying a lot of new connectors/cables gets expensive) and routing. Effectively I'm looking for either an open back with a shelf depth of say 18.1+", or enclosed about 22", or more. I do have a bit of time, as the Standout extension doesn't ship until June, same as the new stand. I will probably procrastinate at least that much longer:)

So I had the following requirements for a TV Console/Stand:

Had to have a minimum of 5 (Preferably 6) shelves for the following devices:

Onkyo TX-SR803
PS3
XB360
Wii
Directv HD DVR
Monster 3500 Power Conditioner.

So I went to a bunch of stores and we just couldn't find anything that worked and was cost effective; I love some of the pieces you guys have purchased, but cost is also a limiting factor.

In the end, we went to a place called City Furniture and bought this: Price was $299 plus delivery and I think its pretty reasonable:

http://www.city-furniture.com/images/rl_nate_tv_espresso.jpg
We only bought the TV stand, not the whole entire unit. Oh the middle piece is actually either solid wood or you can replace with glass as we will use.

Opinions? Also, on which shelve should I put the respective gear? I imagine the Onkyo on the top shelf of the middle and the power conditioner underneath or vice-versa?

For the price, it looks quite reasonable, of course fit and finish are a big factor, but you saw the unit in person, so that's presumably to your standards.

I do have a couple of observations:


If I were on a limited budget, not sure I'd be buying a Monster power conditioner, but I can appreciate that sometimes one acquires stuff, even expensive stuff, and the economy changes, and one decides, well, let's not keep spending so much. Just reign it in for a while. I imagine people are shifting to lower priced PC stands, or are getting much more picky about getting something of quality for the money.
But my second observation, is that unless that cabinet has fans or is very well ventilated (or both), or you live in Northern Canada, heat could be a problem for you. I too have an Onkyo AVR, slightly different model, but even in an open air stand, it's hot as heck. Burn your hand hot. And the PS3 runs hot (I hate it when the fans kick in, especially on high), OK for games, but lousy if you're watching a movie. And the Xbox is also kind of thermally challenged.


In terms of where to put the components, general rules of thumb are center speaker closest possible to the screen (sounds better on axis), in the center. Watch the shelf capacity, particularly for heavier components, like the AVR, there you'll have to know the shelf material. MDF (Particle board) under too much weight can sag or even fail, so heavier usually goes on the bottom. But otherwise, particularly for components controlled by remotes, you want to go higher in the cabinet, makes it easier to control if it's nearer the axis of the TV (which is presumably remote controlled). Less frequently used components lower (harder to reach).

One of the things that the nicer TV stands generally have, is some accommodations for thermal management. Standout Designs and Diamond Tech generally have fans, either standard or as an option. Granted, you can add fans to most any stand, and if you're judicious in your selection, maybe even get better fans than the furniture manufacturers use (there's quite a bit of technology now, above/beyond the standard muffin fan, that can move varying amounts of air quietly). I posted some links previously. BDI generally has a lot of slots, but is less active about it's power management. And the open stands have less of a problem, although sometimes even those need fans, if the shelves run too tight. But some of the other, furniture store typical stands, may have good WAF, but are just too enclosed, not enough air flow, and the components in them can get hot, and hot electronics increases the failure rate quite a bit. Summer is coming around, that's usually worth another 10 degrees or so, humidity, believe it or not can also be a factor. So you might want to get a thermometer, the little $10 digital ones for refrigerators are probably adequate (although not entirely accurate in the range we're talking), but stick it in the cabinet, let things cook for a bit (maybe watch Top Gun with the speakers turned up, doors shut), see what your temperatures get up to. Don't think I'd want to run much North of 100-110 (F), and anything above 125 is probably just asking for an outright failure. Measure towards the top of the stacks, it's somewhat additive. And as always, YMMV.

I appreciate the response.

I have the Monster power conditioner from years ago (bought it for super cheap on an online sale)

My gear has always been in non-ventilated shelving and its worked decently, but I may invest in some coolers just in case :)

This thread is great. A lot of information but I am still not able to decide and figure out what I want. I have a 46" Sharp LCD and the following components:

1. DirecTV DVR
2. DVD Player
3. Onkyo SR606 receiver (came with the HTiB 7100)

I have no need for storing media (DVD or CDs). Ideally, I want to put the center speaker also since the Sharp has a low stand and I can not keep it on the top without blocking a good part of the screen at the bottom.

What are my options? I want black or espresso finish? Any views/suggestions greatly appreciated. My budget is really a max of $300 though $200 is preferable :-)

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4256065

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10891273

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=9907223

http://www.target.com/Plasma-TV-Stand-Black-42/dp/B000JZ3UTY/qid=1243823133/ref=br_1_9/186-0381587-2091558?ie=UTF8&node=194360011&frombrowse=1&rh=p%5F36%3A%24200-%24499&page=1

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Morristown-42-inch-Black-Wood-TV-Console/3458985/product.html

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=994&f=12144

Thanks a lot for your help and pointers. The problem I have is that I have 4 items to place and I guess the center speaker can not be center then? I prefer closed from the sides since wife doesn't like the open/glass types (Costco Whalen model).

Guraaf

Thanks a lot for your help and pointers. The problem I have is that I have 4 items to place and I guess the center speaker can not be center then? I prefer closed from the sides since wife doesn't like the open/glass types (Costco Whalen model).

Guraaf

who cares what the wife likes...how can you not like this? $199 at bj's wholesale

http://www.polkaudio.com/images/showcase/500_1_big.jpg?rand=295690244

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10628581

Yep - except for my 50" Sammy, I went with the 63" version to provide more lateral symmetry. :)

Easy to assemble & I like the open look for my modern urban crib. ;)

This thread is great. A lot of information but I am still not able to decide and figure out what I want. I have a 46" Sharp LCD and the following components:

1. DirecTV DVR
2. DVD Player
3. Onkyo SR606 receiver (came with the HTiB 7100)

I have no need for storing media (DVD or CDs). Ideally, I want to put the center speaker also since the Sharp has a low stand and I can not keep it on the top without blocking a good part of the screen at the bottom.

What are my options? I want black or espresso finish? Any views/suggestions greatly appreciated. My budget is really a max of $300 though $200 is preferable :-)
Thanks a lot for your help and pointers. The problem I have is that I have 4 items to place and I guess the center speaker can not be center then? I prefer closed from the sides since wife doesn't like the open/glass types (Costco Whalen model).

Guraaf

Try searching the Savante Shemore (again from Costco) in this thread and see if this is something you may like (enclosed stand). Had i seen this earlier, this would have been my stand. I saw this at costco and was kicking myself on why i threw away the box for my Whalen stand. Anyway, the whalen was cheaper and still work aesthetic wise in my new living room. I just have to train my one year old not to touch the components (like not to jam disc in my PS3..yikes...he did it a few times..) It's about $350 plus if i remember correctly.

Here's the links for an earlier posts.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=15488191#post15488191

Hey DH4645 or anyone familiar with stands w/ built in mounts. Do the brackets only fit to preset sizes? Or do they slide adjusting to any measurement.

Like this Bello FP-8501 for example
http://www.bello.com/index.php?partition=show_product&prod_id=223&categ_id=39

The manual says if your TV's mounting holes are a certain distance you have to use a particular bracket. Like 600 x 400 mm or 800 x 400mm. Problem is the 54 Plasma I'm looking at, has holes at 500 x 300 mm and this size isn't listed in the manual. Would this still work?

Hey DH4645 or anyone familiar with stands w/ built in mounts. Do the brackets only fit to preset sizes? Or do they slide adjusting to any measurement.

Like this Bello FP-8501 for example
http://www.bello.com/index.php?partition=show_product&prod_id=223&categ_id=39

The manual says if your TV's mounting holes are a certain distance you have to use a particular bracket. Like 600 x 400 mm or 800 x 400mm. Problem is the 54 Plasma I'm looking at, has holes at 500 x 300 mm and this size isn't listed in the manual. Would this still work?

i'm not sure i can fully answer your question, other than the stand i bought z-line vitoria (http://www.amazon.com/Designs-ZL564-44MU-Vitoria-Entertainment-Integrated/dp/B0013J0GG0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1244116276&sr=8-1) ($199 at bj's wholesale) had the adjustable brackets as you can see in the amazon picture and came with a ton of different bolts to fit different tvs.

Yep - except for my 50" Sammy, I went with the 63" version to provide more lateral symmetry. http://www.entertainment-place.info/smile/img/2464/*************************

Easy to assemble & I like the open look for my modern urban crib. ;)

Wow, 63. Nice!

the internal width is 20 15/16" and my center speaker is 22.05", you are able to but it in between the cutouts that separate the centre section but that means that the centre speaker would be recessed 4 or 5 inches.

Here is the link
http://www.studiotech.com/products/component_cabinets/ultra_u-22t/index.html

the internal width is 20 15/16" and my center speaker is 22.05", you are able to but it in between the cutouts that separate the centre section but that means that the centre speaker would be recessed 4 or 5 inches.

Here is the link
http://www.studiotech.com/products/component_cabinets/ultra_u-22t/index.html

Well, you're brave. Studiotech did make a wider version of the u-22, you might give them a ring, see if they can do anything for you there. I found them also quite responsive to e-mail.

I suppose I should point out, there are offerings from Standout and BDI that have room for your speaker.

i'm not sure i can fully answer your question, other than the stand i bought z-line vitoria (http://www.amazon.com/Designs-ZL564-44MU-Vitoria-Entertainment-Integrated/dp/B0013J0GG0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1244116276&sr=8-1) ($199 at bj's wholesale) had the adjustable brackets as you can see in the amazon picture and came with a ton of different bolts to fit different tvs.

The z-line vitoria is actually one I'm considering. Is there anyway you could check your manual if it would fit the new 54" Panny V10 plasma? I don't have the TV yet but the mount holes in the tv are either 500x300mm or 400x300mm (I've asked Panasonic tech support and a current owner on this forum and got two different answers, so not sure what's right.) Are there brackets for either of these sizes?

The Z-line website says it can only take up to 50" tv, other sites that sell it say up to 60"??

Linon Mission 48" Wide TV Stand (Dark Brown)

http://shop.bjs.com/-269-99-less--40-Online-Instant-Coupon-on-Linon-Mission-48--34--Wide-TV-Stand--Dark-Brown--TV-Stands---Lifts_stcVVproductId67270810VVcatId477492VVviewprod.htm

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=144586&d=1244319780

Not expensive at $230 shipped price. But not available in stores so can't take a look at it. Anyone used it before? Does it take equipment easily? Quality? Build? Looks? Any views appreciated. Thanks.

Guraaf

The z-line vitoria is actually one I'm considering. Is there anyway you could check your manual if it would fit the new 54" Panny V10 plasma? I don't have the TV yet but the mount holes in the tv are either 500x300mm or 400x300mm (I've asked Panasonic tech support and a current owner on this forum and got two different answers, so not sure what's right.) Are there brackets for either of these sizes?

The Z-line website says it can only take up to 50" tv, other sites that sell it say up to 60"??

i'll try and remember to look for the manual tonight when i get home from work, but i doubt a new model tv will be in my manual from last year. maybe try and find the thread for that tv on this website and ask someone there what the sizes are.

i'm pretty sure it said it was only up to a 50", but if the holes on the tv line up with the bracket and the tv doesn't weigh more than the max, i don't see why it couldn't hold a bigger tv.

edit: when you click on the vitoria picture in zline designs website, the details says up to 60" and 150 lbs, so that plasma is within those specs. now u jest need to find out about the hole sizes

subscribed again...i accidentally clicked the unsubscribe link

Has anybody used furniture sliders to move their stand (e.g. you need to get to the back to move cables around). I am thinking of getting a Salamander Synergy, I know they have wheels but my equipment is so heavy I thought that it may be hard tomove on carpet, especially with a big tv on top (58" or 60").

I have a model from Standout Designs, and it has feet but no wheels. The feet are recessed from the edges a bit, so they're tough to get to (wish I'd done it before I hooked up all my gear!) We have hardwood floors, so sliders were a necessity.

I used furniture sliders that I bought at Home Depot. They're the pale blue ones that have a little lip around the edge so that they "cup" the foot and the furniture doesn't slide off the slider. We've moved the unit into the adjoining room 4 times so that we could paint, and those little sliders worked like a charm. No damage to the floor, even though it easily weighs close to 400 lbs. I left the sliders on permanently in case we ever need to move it again.

Well, you're brave. Studiotech did make a wider version of the u-22, you might give them a ring, see if they can do anything for you there. I found them also quite responsive to e-mail.

I suppose I should point out, there are offerings from Standout and BDI that have room for your speaker.

I just emailed Studio tech, they will start shipping in July a wider version called the U-22TX which has a wider center which is 25" wide. So I am all set.

For those concerned about the 18 3/4" depth of the Standout Designs l Horizon n702 and the tall Radius TV stands. There is now an extender option available to extend the useable depth for components to 23".

Extender
--------
http://www.standoutdesigns.com/store/pc/Back-Extender-for-Tall-Radius+Horizon-p317.htm

Horizon n702
------------
http://www.standoutdesigns.com/store/pc/Horizon-N702-Solid-Wood-TV-Console-p180.htm

The new "N702 Plus" is an extra 1" deeper than the N702 (22" vs. 21"). But if you really need 23" of depth, then get the N702 at the closeout price and pick up the extender.

For those interested in the standout designs n702 stand.. it's now on sale (it's being replaced with a newer model w/ some slight tweaks, slight being the key word it seems), and free shipping till may 31st. This seems like a helluva deal that I won't pass up (the free shipping alone is a very nice savings). The new model looks like it's one inch deeper, and some other tweaks. I was going to purchase the n702 already, as it's a much nicer looking piece (looking at pics) than the BDI type stuff, which makes it a no brainer for me. But, now the question is..

Is it really worth having an extra inch, some wheels, and an easily removable back piece (the n702 plus)? Also, do many of you who own the n702 even have the back panel on? I think if I got the n702 or the n702 plus, I would be inclined to leave the back panel off to let the heat escape. Is there a real downside to leaving the back panel off? I guess maybe light can shine through the back and you can see it through the glass doors?

My main components are a ps3, dvr, and receiver, which generate a decent amount of heat. Maybe it's just me, but I would think leaving the back off would be just as if not more effective than having the cooling fans, no?

I installed the back panels on my N702, since my equipment doesn't generate tremendous amounts of heat. I replaced the regular screws with thumb screws to make it easier to remove the back panels on the rare ocassions that I need to modify connections. Plus I have the fans and vented shelves, so air circulation is not a problem.

No downside to leaving the back panels off, other than you might see the wall behind when looking at the front of the N702 (depending on which doors you have and the color of your wall). Plus the increased dust factor, of course. ;)

We've had our N702 for about 4 months now, and we love it. It's rock-solid and built to last a lifetime. My only complaint would be that it doesn't come in a wider variety of stains. Everyone who's seen it has asked us where we got it. We recently hired an interior designer to help us work on a "home makeover", and even she asked about it. I take that as a stamp of approval. :D

N702 and the BDI AVION are alomost alike. Both tn the same price range. BDI has a couple extra features. check it out.

Well, I finally pulled the trigger a couple weeks ago and ordered the new Majestic e7022 from Standout Designs. I should be receiving it in a couple weeks, and I'll take some pics and post them up here as well as give my mini-review. While it's definetly not cheap, I figure I will keep this thing forever, and if the quality is as good as people say, no need to ever replace it.

N702 and the BDI AVION are alomost alike. Both tn the same price range. BDI has a couple extra features. check it out.

"Almost" is the key word. I guess "almost" can mean different things to different people, with varying levels of importance.

Based purely on web site photos, my wife and I liked the BDI models just as much as the Standout models. But once we saw the BDI models in a local showroom, we were really disappointed in the laminates used and the overall "plastic" feel to them. BDI is certainly a big step up from the self-assembled furniture you buy at Target or IKEA, but it's still a big step down from Standout Designs or Amish-made.

Price doesn't really factor in, since they're all in the same ballpark. If styling and features are your top priority, then BDI or Salamander Designs might fit the bill for you. But if solid wood and quality craftsmanship are what you're after, then go with Standout or Amish-made.

web,

That's the impression I got based on the pictures (of the Standout) and seeing the BDI Avion in person. For ~$1500 for the avion, I was very disappointed with the seeminly so-so quality of the stand. Yes it has nice features/etc, but the workmanship/quality looks like a step below the Standout. For that kind of money, I want a real quality piece that I won't have any complaints over.

I looked at a bunch of different pieces (some by hooker and many other furniture manufacturers), and they just simply didn't have the damn space for a center channel. Otherwise, bang for the buck, I thought a hooker piece I saw was probably the best bang for the buck while still having a nice quality piece of furniture.

Anyone have experience with the Avista Numina 32"-55" Flat Panel Swivel TV Mount and Stand from Costco? (sorry can't post links yet) It is available for $249.99 online with shipping included.

Am considering a 50 inch Plasma (likely Panasonic P50G10). I'll have a center speaker, small media player (Popcorn Hour), AT&T U-verse DVR, and perhaps a game console or two.

Well everyone I finally got everything done for my living room setup. I think it came out pretty clean.

hi tgenius,

looks great!! what TV stand is that and how much did it cost? i probably missed your posts earlier.

regards,
guraaf

"Almost" is the key word. I guess "almost" can mean different things to different people, with varying levels of importance.

Based purely on web site photos, my wife and I liked the BDI models just as much as the Standout models. But once we saw the BDI models in a local showroom, we were really disappointed in the laminates used and the overall "plastic" feel to them. BDI is certainly a big step up from the self-assembled furniture you buy at Target or IKEA, but it's still a big step down from Standout Designs or Amish-made.

Price doesn't really factor in, since they're all in the same ballpark. If styling and features are your top priority, then BDI or Salamander Designs might fit the bill for you. But if solid wood and quality craftsmanship are what you're after, then go with Standout or Amish-made.

Yes STAND OUT is wood but it's not Mahogany . it's just ordinary wood. As for the quality craftsmanship, I see craftsmanship but I don't think I would call it quality.
As for the BDI when you say it feels like plastic, It's not wood its MDF.

BOTTOM LINE: It's all about taste and fitting a decor. So there really is 100 pros and cons to both BDI and STAND OUT. If you like it that's all that matters.

hi tgenius,

looks great!! what TV stand is that and how much did it cost? i probably missed your posts earlier.

regards,
guraaf

It was purchased at City Furniture (I don't know if they are national or local to south FL) but in any event cost was $299.

Yes STAND OUT is wood but it's not Mahogany . it's just ordinary wood. As for the quality craftsmanship, I see craftsmanship but I don't think I would call it quality.
As for the BDI when you say it feels like plastic, It's not wood its MDF.

BOTTOM LINE: It's all about taste and fitting a decor. So there really is 100 pros and cons to both BDI and STAND OUT. If you like it that's all that matters.

Relax -- I never said it was mahogany. And I'm not sure what you mean by "ordinary wood". Solid wood is solid wood. Standout uses Pennsylvania maple and ash. The Amish will use just about everything (maple, ash, cherry, oak, hickory, beech, elm, walnut, mahogany, etc.) After owning the N702 from Standout for 6 months now, I can attest that it's a quality piece. A step down from the Amish pieces, for sure, but it's definitely a beautifully put together piece of furniture.

I realize that BDI uses MDF, and that was a serious drawback to us when we were shopping for a piece. If it were priced about half of what Standout's pieces cost, I could understand. But at essentially the same price point, we were hard-pressed to find a reason to buy something that's not solid wood.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both solid wood and MDF/veneers. Like I said before, if looks are most important to you then you can get some sharp looking MDF pieces. But we wanted something natural, something where we could see the grain, something that looked like a real piece of furniture, something that would last the rest of our lives, something we could leave to our heirs.

Different strokes for different folks, as they say. It's all good. ;)

Here is some good info on Veneer as opposed to solid wood that I posted for another post. MDF can be just as good if not better in a lot of ways. Not to mention that MDF is made from recycled wood and Veneers save many many many trees from being cut.

Check it out for yourself.
http://www.furniture.com/Common/magazine/shopper/veneers/veneers.asp?se=633795516682337500&se=633806751424681250

Here is some good info on Veneer as opposed to solid wood that I posted for another post. MDF can be just as good if not better in a lot of ways. Not to mention that MDF is made from recycled wood and Veneers save many many many trees from being cut.

Check it out for yourself.
http://www.furniture.com/Common/magazine/shopper/veneers/veneers.asp?se=633795516682337500&se=633806751424681250

Good article -- thanks for posting it. I've owned all kinds of furniture, including solid wood, MDF, particle board, and probably some other pieces of questionable origin. :rolleyes: There are pros and cons to each, just as there is with HT equipment.

I've been buying furniture for close to 25 years now, and in the final equation I favor solid wood over anything that's "wood-like" or "wood-based". No slam against anyone who chooses otherwise -- it's just a personal preference I have after owning a little of everything.

Some people like to put most of their budget into their HT equipment and save money on the furniture, whereas I tend to go the other way. My reasoning is that the furniture will still be around in 20+ years, but my HT equipment almost certainly won't be (or at least I hope not!) ;)

Yes STAND OUT is wood but it's not Mahogany . it's just ordinary wood. As for the quality craftsmanship, I see craftsmanship but I don't think I would call it quality.
As for the BDI when you say it feels like plastic, It's not wood its MDF.

No reason to get all defensive man, jeez. He was merely expressing his opinion that the standout stand seemed of better quality than the BDI. My e7022 will be arriving on Friday, and I'll be happy to post pictures and give my honest opinion. I'm no carpenter, but I can make a reasonable comparison. I bought the standout stand because of the reviews and the pictures/etc. It SEEMS to be of a better quality than the BDI (and I'll make a final conclusion after I get it), which is why I purchased it.

Like webap said, I first hand saw the Avion at a local store, and was disappointed with it personally (for the money). The construction did not match the price, which is why I shyed away from it and looked elsewhere. My mother purchased a nice hooker tv stand/etc. from a local store and I personally felt that the quality of that piece (I think it cost ~$1k), was of better QUALITY than the Avion. Now, it certainly doesn't have all the features of the Avion, but it's also significantly less $. So again, to each his own, but if something is of lower quality than another piece, that's a fact. No reason to get your panties in a bunch. I reserve judgement till I get the standout piece, but it sure as hell better be better quality than the Avion or I'll be mighty disappointed.

Here is some good info on Veneer as opposed to solid wood that I posted for another post. MDF can be just as good if not better in a lot of ways. Not to mention that MDF is made from recycled wood and Veneers save many many many trees from being cut.

Check it out for yourself.


thanks

Does anyone have a nice example of a rack you'd want in your living room, next to your 50" mounted on the wall? I think that's a good idea for my next place,and I want it open air for airflow and remote IR - as well as the aesthetics of my Pioneer stuff :)

My fiancee isn't up for the idea of open air, she doesn't like to see the components. But we have a little blockage on some of the IR receivers on our stuff, since our current setup has wood slats in the glass on the front. I'd like fully open rack to the side of the panel while it's mounted, in our next condo someday.

Just need to convince her, so I need a really slick looking example :)

maybe something like this:

http://www.studiotech.com/products/component_racks/performance_series_ps-6/index.html

Needs to hold:

Pioneer SC-05
Pioneer 51FD Blu-ray
Tivo HD
PS3
Xbox 360
Wii
Surge Protector (current have a rack-type double-din)

I'm a little late posting my review of the standout e7022 (finishing up moving), but in case anyone else was interested in the furniture, it's a gorgeous piece of furniture and I absolutely love it. Like webapalooza said, it's very well made, solid wood, with fine attention to all the details. I was originally going to go with the n702, but figured I'd just jump for the extra "features" of the new majestic piece. Comparing it to the avion, it certainly seems like a "step up" imo, but perhaps that's largely because I prefer real wood vs. mdf and the design itself.

A couple things I love about the stand are the wheels built into the bottom, which makes it easier to pull out to adjust/connect the cables. The removable wood backing pieces (so you can access the back of the receivers) are a great design, since they're removable with thumbscrews, and each have separate pieces, so you don't need to remove one huge backing piece. I think there are 6 wood backing pieces total, 2 for the left/middle/right. The ventilation system was missing a Y cable which they're sending out today, so I'll mention how that works later on.. but without it the heat buildup isn't bad if you leave a back panel off.

Overall, I'm very happy with the stand. It's certainly NOT cheap, but I figure I'll be keeping it for a lifetime, and thus figured I'd "splurge" a little vs. buying another cheaper stand. It's one of a few stands that has the space for a good sized center channel, which is what I needed. Sorry for no pictures, I'll post them up tonight.

Thanks for the review Mikeoz. Do you or anyone else know what the actual differences are between the N702 plus with whisper upgrade versus the e7022?

Here is some good info on Veneer as opposed to solid wood that I posted for another post. MDF can be just as good if not better in a lot of ways. Not to mention that MDF is made from recycled wood and Veneers save many many many trees from being cut.

Check it out for yourself.
http://www.furniture.com/Common/magazine/shopper/veneers/veneers.asp?se=633795516682337500&se=633806751424681250



Veneers and MDF are not the same thing, that article doesn't really even talk about MDF.
If you want your furniture made out of sawdust and formaldehyde then that's fine, I'm going to go with wood ;)

Thanks for the review Mikeoz. Do you or anyone else know what the actual differences are between the N702 plus with whisper upgrade versus the e7022?

Easiest thing to do I would say is goto the site and compare all the specs. The most obvious difference is that the e7022 is a little shorter compared to the n702 plus (can't fit as many components), only has one glass shelf for each side (n702 has two), has a slightly more modern look to it (I think at least) with the silver feet, and comes with the center drawer (n702 plus doesn't come w/ the drawer). A couple other small differences is that the e7022 comes with the vented glass shelves and 120mm fans in the rear vs. 2 80mm's (which in theory should be a little quieter). I'll mention how loud the fans are when I get the cable from them and can hook them up.

I was originally going to purchase the n702 plus, but liked the look of the e7022 a little more (and the additional cost wasn't too bad considering it included some "upgrades" per say). It's a tough call which one to go with.. but I'd say go with whichever will fit all your components.

Easiest thing to do I would say is goto the site and compare all the specs. The most obvious difference is that the e7022 is a little shorter compared to the n702 plus (can't fit as many components), only has one glass shelf for each side (n702 has two), has a slightly more modern look to it (I think at least) with the silver feet, and comes with the center drawer (n702 plus doesn't come w/ the drawer). A couple other small differences is that the e7022 comes with the vented glass shelves and 120mm fans in the rear vs. 2 80mm's (which in theory should be a little quieter). I'll mention how loud the fans are when I get the cable from them and can hook them up.

I was originally going to purchase the n702 plus, but liked the look of the e7022 a little more (and the additional cost wasn't too bad considering it included some "upgrades" per say). It's a tough call which one to go with.. but I'd say go with whichever will fit all your components.


Thanks Mike, I did compare them but didn't catch all the differences...that's very helpful. I think the n702 plus fits my needs better especially regarding the height since I am kind of tall and find most TV furniture to be too low. I also have a lot of components and will probably add more. Black n702 plus with smoked glass and center grill is looking good to me.

Here are some pics of the e7022 from standout designs. Note: The stand isn't quite this red.. The speakers I have are the polk rti line. http://i40.tinypic.com/13yhybs.jpghttp://i39.tinypic.com/2v1oj88.jpghttp://i39.tinypic.com/2eywc9c.jpghttp://i44.tinypic.com/28t8l0z.jpghttp://i41.tinypic.com/6tl9hi.jpg

Looks great! Makes me even more glad I ordered the smoked glass.

does anyone know of a good TV stand for a bedroom that is a matte white? I cant find one anywhere?

I am not looking to spend alot maybe $200. I will only have a cable box and maybe a dvd player. I am going to get a 32" or maybe a 37" to put on it.

Here are some pics of the e7022 from standout designs. Note: The stand isn't quite this red.. The speakers I have are the polk rti line.

Very nice. I know what you mean about the way it looks more red in photos -- so does the photo I posted of my N702 (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=15929849#post15929849).

Since that photo was taken we've painted the room a medium tannish-brown, and the contrast does bring out the redness in the N702 a bit more. But it's a nice contrast between the walls and the couch (which is also a tannish brown).

Ya the lighting was a little funky, I should've snapped the photos during the day when there was a ton of light, but ah well, no big deal. Anyway..

After tinkering w/ the stand for almost a week now and adding more components, I have a couple more thoughts.. I got the Y cable for the rear fans, and they're nice and dead silent. They're 120mm fans (like normal pc fans), so should they start to crap out/make noise one day, they should be simple to replace. Although the stand isn't as high as the n702, I find that there's still plenty of room inside the cabinets, and if you don't have thick/big components (like say a receiver), you can easily stack two components per shelf (so you can fit say 4 components on one side). I was slightly concerned that I might want more shelving space like the n702 when I ordered, but it turned out to be plenty. There are also an abundance of places to run cables between the different interior cabinets and out of the stand, which is very nice.

If I had one gripe about the stand, it would be the slight pita of reattaching the removable rear wood backing pieces. Finding the exact angle/positioning of the backing pieces so that the thumbscrews go in easily is a bit of a pita. I'm very careful about no crossthreading the threaded inserts, and getting the thumbscrews to be angled correctly is a bit of a pita. If there was any suggestion to them I could/would make, I'd suggest some sort of steel dowel inserts w/ a grooved opposing piece of wood or something like that which would make the process of reattaching the back panels a snap. Otherwise, so far so good, and no complaints at all.

Everyone, I need some help.

I've been searching, but I can't find one...

I need a stand that is as close as possible to these dimensions as can be found:

Width: 45"

Height: 30"

Depth: 15"... or so



The width and height are the most important. I don't care about depth very much.

Going wider than 45" is OK, as well. But it really has to be at least 45"... or maybe 44", but that's probably pushing it.




Oh, and I'm perfectly happy with a crappy Wal-Mart esque stand. I just want something with these dimensions.

I just found this thread now that I'm looking for a piece of furniture for a new-to-us house. It's going to take me forever and a day or two to go through all of the pages seeing if anyone has posted something similar to what I'm looking for, so I figured it would be best to just ask.

I'm looking to house a 50" Panasonic plasma on a bench style stand which will have the ability to stack my receiver, dvd player, cable box, PS3, and possibly my centre channel speaker.

I'm set on finding a piece that has drawers for CD/DVD/BluRay/Game storage. To me drawers seem to best make use of space, and also hide the unsightly media. A dark wood finish would be preferable.

Something like this, but I'd prefer one spot for the components, and drawers on either side;

http://www.webapalooza.com/images/after_2_web.jpg
Thanks for any suggestions!

Anyone have any experience with Parker House Furniture? I'm particularly interested in their Media Systems/Wall Units. Here's the one I'm currently considering: http://parker-house.com/parkerapp/image.php?album=album-293&image=TUS_550-3_closed.jpg&x=850&lightbox=true

http://parker-house.com/parkerapp/image.php?album=album-294&image=TUS_550-3_open.jpg&x=850&lightbox=true

I was originally going to bite the bullet and get the Castleton Wall Unit from Diamond Case Designs (VERY PRICEY). I can save myself several thousand by going with the Parker House unit, but just wanted to make sure it's decent quality. I do understand that the Diamond Case Design will be a higher quality. However, I don't know if it's worth the extra $$.

Does anyone have the BDI Cielo 9329? If so, with the middle shelf on the lower peg, what's the useable height? I have a Paradigm CC-570 center that is 8.5"+ high and I want to know if it will fit. Thanks!

http://www.bdiusa.com/theater/cielo_9329.shtml

So I've been searching for a few days now for this stand. Does anyone have an idea of the brand/name or where I can buy this at? My wife is pretty dead set on this...

I have attempted to contact the album owner with no luck as of yet.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/morgrar/3524693333/

So I've been searching for a few days now for this stand. Does anyone have an idea of the brand/name or where I can buy this at? My wife is pretty dead set on this...

I have attempted to contact the album owner with no luck as of yet.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/morgrar/3524693333/

I can't say for sure, but it resembles the Amish-made units. The leaded glass doors is what makes me think so. Of course it could also be a custom piece, in which case you're s.o.l. :(

Anyone have any experience with Parker House Furniture? I'm particularly interested in their Media Systems/Wall Units. Here's the one I'm currently considering: http://parker-house.com/parkerapp/image.php?album=album-293&image=TUS_550-3_closed.jpg&x=850&lightbox=true

http://parker-house.com/parkerapp/image.php?album=album-294&image=TUS_550-3_open.jpg&x=850&lightbox=true

I was originally going to bite the bullet and get the Castleton Wall Unit from Diamond Case Designs (VERY PRICEY). I can save myself several thousand by going with the Parker House unit, but just wanted to make sure it's decent quality. I do understand that the Diamond Case Design will be a higher quality. However, I don't know if it's worth the extra $$.

Not that it matters to you, but I couldn't find any info. on either product regarding the materials used. That's usually a sign it's not solid wood, or it's solid wood with wood veneers. Again, that might not matter to you, but I thought I'd mention it. They are nice units, though.

Has anyone ever tried attaching this to their existing stand or dresser?

http://www.bello.com/index.php?partition=show_product&prod_id=186&categ_id=57

I would like to adapt this to my current setting as an alternative to wall mounting my tv.

I can't say for sure, but it resembles the Amish-made units. The leaded glass doors is what makes me think so. Of course it could also be a custom piece, in which case you're s.o.l. :(

Straight from the source (Thanks for visiting my Flickr, hehe):

It's available from a local retailer, Furn-A-Kit, but it's available online at consumerwarehouse dot com. (I have been reading posts on AVSForum for a long time, but never posted, so I can't post the link itself. I'll update that photo on my Flickr with the link to order the stand online).

m0rgue PM'd me back on Flicker. I may have to pick one of these units up eventually. I can't find it locally so I will be forced to have it shipped..

m0rgue PM'd me back on Flicker. I may have to pick one of these units up eventually. I can't find it locally so I will be forced to have it shipped..

Just remember to set aside an hour or two for assembly. A dozen different type of screws and a lot of hand cranking if you're not using an electrical screwdriver. Good luck! I hope you order it and like it as much as I do.

Straight from the source (Thanks for visiting my Flickr, hehe):

It's available from a local retailer, Furn-A-Kit, but it's available online at consumerwarehouse dot com. (I have been reading posts on AVSForum for a long time, but never posted, so I can't post the link itself. I'll update that photo on my Flickr with the link to order the stand online).

It's consumserswarehouse, btw. Here's the link:

http://www.consumerswarehouse.com/shop/default.aspx?store=furnakit&catcode=FCG&prodID=SU-404867

It's composite wood, but the price is right for those on a budget.

I'm rather fond of these modular pieces from Omnimount. The pricing is real world too.

http://www.omnimount.com/Products/Home%20Theater%20Furniture/Moda%20Collection/Link%20Series/

This set is not too shabby either.

http://www.omnimount.com/Product/Home%20Theater%20Furniture/Moda%20Collection/High-End%20Wood/Silhouette%2065/

Does anyone have the BDI Cielo 9329? If so, with the middle shelf on the lower peg, what's the useable height? I have a Paradigm CC-570 center that is 8.5"+ high and I want to know if it will fit. Thanks!

http://www.bdiusa.com/theater/cielo_9329.shtml

Got an answer by emailing BDI. Here's a schematic of the interior space:

Speaker mounting question (double posted - really sorry about this):

I bought the following speaker mounts from monoprice:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10828&cs_id=1082804&p_id=3011&seq=1&format=2

But I cannot seem to get the correct machine screw to fasten the surround speakers to the mount. Did anyone face this problem or issue? What screws did you buy? 1/4" or M6?

Thanks in advance,
Guraaf

Anyone have one of these, or something similar to? Looks slightly too high for my liking, but I really like the idea.

http://www.furniturebutler.net/store/i/is.aspx?path=/images/Golden_Oak/Capp-Plasma-Lift.jpg&lr=t&bw=400&w=400&bh=400&h=400

Golden Oak -Cappuccino CPEPLIFT

A remote control button is pushed. A small door opens, and your sleek Plasma monitor appears – turned on! – ready to be enjoyed. This crafty console features a quiet, motorized lift that displays and hides your monitor on command. Fits all 42" and most 50" Plasmas.
Other features include a top front panel that pops opens to reveal your strategically positioned surround sound components and provides convenient storage for remotes. Front console doors come with interchangeable wood, glass and speaker mesh panels while side cabinets open to offer slide-out media storage.

36.75" x 26.25" x 44.875"

Speaker mounting question (double posted - really sorry about this):

I bought the following speaker mounts from monoprice:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10828&cs_id=1082804&p_id=3011&seq=1&format=2

But I cannot seem to get the correct machine screw to fasten the surround speakers to the mount. Did anyone face this problem or issue? What screws did you buy? 1/4" or M6?

Thanks in advance,
Guraafyou didn't say what kind of speakers you have. They would determine the thread size you need. Why not contact the manufacturer of your speakers?

Anyone have one of these, or something similar to? Looks slightly too high for my liking, but I really like the idea.

http://www.furniturebutler.net/store/i/is.aspx?path=/images/Golden_Oak/Capp-Plasma-Lift.jpg&lr=t&bw=400&w=400&bh=400&h=400

Golden Oak -Cappuccino CPEPLIFT

Sounds great... until you realize you have to have a flawless cable management system to make it work. Behind my TV stand it looks like snake mating season! :eek:

Suggestions please, I'm going for a 65" Plasma the weight is 198 lbs. The stands I've been looking at are rated at 130-150 lbs top shelf. I would like to have it 17"-19" high and a place for my center speaker which is 8" by 24" and try to keep the price at $300-$400...
Thank you

Suggestions please, I'm going for a 65" Plasma the weight is 198 lbs. The stands I've been looking at are rated at 130-150 lbs top shelf. I would like to have it 17"-19" high and a place for my center speaker which is 8" by 24" and try to keep the price at $300-$400...
Thank you

Are you handy?

I am considering building my own. What I plan to do is to make the 4 corner postes out of 6x6 cedar posts and use 3/4 good one side plywood for shelving. I would cut the plywood to size and glue 2 of the pieces together. Then fill holes, sand and spray paint. This would be a very strong shelve. With a little bit of design, you should easily be able to add a shelve for the centre channel. For me, I might just buy a separate stand for the centre channel.

Thanks everyone for the good info. I have skimmed almost all 100 pages, and am almost ready to make my purchase. We found a great deal on an Avion 8527 locally (scratch and dent I think), but from some of the discussion I am unsure of the Avion vs. the Standout 7022 or 702. I was leaning towards the Standouts because I would like to know it will last as long as I still like it.

Has anyone had the BDI for many years now (not sure when it came out) and have a feel for how many years one can expect from it reasonably? Being MDF, I worry it might be closer to 5 than 50, so for an extra 50% the Standout sounds more compelling for a much longer life.

Any thoughts are appreciated. I will probably have to move today or tomorrow if I want to get the deal on the Avion, so I may just bite the bullet and hope it lasts.

Thanks everyone for the good info. I have skimmed almost all 100 pages, and am almost ready to make my purchase. We found a great deal on an Avion 8527 locally (scratch and dent I think), but from some of the discussion I am unsure of the Avion vs. the Standout 7022 or 702. I was leaning towards the Standouts because I would like to know it will last as long as I still like it.

Has anyone had the BDI for many years now (not sure when it came out) and have a feel for how many years one can expect from it reasonably? Being MDF, I worry it might be closer to 5 than 50, so for an extra 50% the Standout sounds more compelling for a much longer life.

Any thoughts are appreciated. I will probably have to move today or tomorrow if I want to get the deal on the Avion, so I may just bite the bullet and hope it lasts.

I have had a 8527 ES for a while now and there are no negative indications. I think the previous posters in this forum are just bashing MDF because THEY prefer to only buy solid wood. Which is fine, but they shouldnt turn everyone else off to perfectly fine furniture, just because of their preference. MDF will last decades when cared for properly just like solid wood. The MDF isnt visable either its just what the inner core is made out of. It has a thick veneer over it. I think the darker avion is a european oak wood. I'm not sure about that, but it looks good.

90% of kitchen and bathroom cabinets have MDF cores. Even the high-end ones like Merillat are Veneers over MDF. I wouldnt worry about it. MDF cores became popular in the 70's for furniture and I have a aunt who still has her same furniture and it looks fine to me 30 years later. Haha

I have had a 8527 ES for a while now and there are no negative indications. I think the previous posters in this forum are just bashing MDF because THEY prefer to only buy solid wood. Which is fine, but they shouldnt turn everyone else off to perfectly fine furniture, just because of their preference. MDF will last decades when cared for properly just like solid wood. The MDF isnt visable either its just what the inner core is made out of. It has a thick veneer over it. I think the darker avion is a european oak wood. I'm not sure about that, but it looks good.

90% of kitchen and bathroom cabinets have MDF cores. Even the high-end ones like Merillat are Veneers over MDF. I wouldnt worry about it. MDF cores became popular in the 70's for furniture and I have a aunt who still has her same furniture and it looks fine to me 30 years later. Haha

Thanks. I went down and looked at it last night, and you are right. The darker one (which I wanted) does look nicer than I expected from some of the posts. I do see what they mean on the lighter one though, the smooth finish made it feel like a laminate to me. The dark one had actual texture to it. At 33% off, and with only some very subtle scratches, I decided to get it. If in 5 years it isn't working out, I will at least have a better idea of what I need in a real wood console. Now I just need to figure out my power situation. I don't like the look of my current surge strip(jammed next to my DVRs in the bottom center), and my white APC UPS looks not so great through the smoked glass.

Thanks. I went down and looked at it last night, and you are right. The darker one (which I wanted) does look nicer than I expected from some of the posts. I do see what they mean on the lighter one though, the smooth finish made it feel like a laminate to me. The dark one had actual texture to it. At 33% off, and with only some very subtle scratches, I decided to get it. If in 5 years it isn't working out, I will at least have a better idea of what I need in a real wood console. Now I just need to figure out my power situation. I don't like the look of my current surge strip(jammed next to my DVRs in the bottom center), and my white APC UPS looks not so great through the smoked glass.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r16/michanecash/0703092031.jpg

cool. here is a picture of mine (BDI 8527 Espresso). Cherry wood is naturaly very smooth. If you look closely you can see that the wood grain matches all the across the front. Because its a veneer you can get a grain pattern throughout the different panels. A salesperson pointed that out to me.

A white APC huh? yeah that would kind of stick-out. I eventually want to get a monster power conditioner just because of how cool they look. Mcintosh makes a cool looking one two but you need alot of $$$.

BDI 8527 is a great unit. Veneer is very nice. Cooling vents., wheels, stabilizer bars and wire management make this an awesome unit.

A white APC huh? yeah that would kind of stick-out. I eventually want to get a monster power conditioner just because of how cool they look. Mcintosh makes a cool looking one two but you need alot of $$$.

A bit off topic but...IMHO buy a silver APC H15 from that 'oholics site for 150 clams then add a Tripp-Lite Omno 1000 LCD with battery backup built in. A hundred clams at Costco. You'll have best performing and least expensive A/V power conditioner combo on the market.

The deal with the APC which virtually no other power conditioner has is voltage regulation. That is, when and if you have voltage sags on your incoming power line the APC will boost the sagging voltage up to 121 volts. You won't believe what a constant 121 volts does in contributing to pulling absolutely consistent video performance out of your HDTV. I run a Pioneer plasma and the set's performance varies only with the quality of content being provided by the original broadcast, film or video source.

The deal with the APC which virtually no other power conditioner has is voltage regulation. That is, when and if you have voltage sags on your incoming power line the APC will boost the sagging voltage up to 121 volts. You won't believe what a constant 121 volts does in contributing to pulling absolutely consistent video performance out of your HDTV. I run a Pioneer plasma and the set's performance varies only with the quality of content being provided by the original broadcast, film or video source.OT - I have the J15 and I only have the option to have the batter kick in if the voltage falls below 100V or over 134V. This has never happened before. Basically voltage regulation is useless for me and it's not the 'real' voltage regulation that you are thinking about. I'm sure the H15 does not have a battery to help it maintain voltage.

As far as I'm aware, all the brands such as Panamax and Monster has voltage regulation depending on the model. But I don't know if it's 'real' regulation.

My modified double Ikea LACK tv stand (22"x22"x58") in birch veneer for my bedroom setup. Total cost about $140.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/Wineappler/DSC03799.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/Wineappler/DSC03801.jpg

Our Pacific Palisades neighborhood is one of the most expensive property areas per square foot of any home in the United States. However, our electricity supply is under the control of the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. "Maintenance" on this power grid, most components of which were originally added 60 years ago in the late forties has degraded to such an extent that now the City employees are happy when they can make our power a go-no go proposition. That is, when we have a complete power outage they fix it.

Well, we have continuous power outages, sometimes even daily when I'm working at home on my computer. I have a second APC H15 hooked up to my computer system. I have a Fujitsu 17" laptop plugged into it. I can be typing and hear the H15's power switch relay click off while my laptop of course still keeps running on its own battery.

I had originally bought the 1000ma Tripp-Lite with battery back-up first because of the perceived price/performance ratio in view of the fact that I wanted the battery back up feature more than I thought I needed the spike, surge or power line filtering of the Tripp-Lite's "conditioning". What I found after installing the Tripp-Lite was that its built in LED display told me the voltage in our home always varied between 101 and 116 volts! Also, still without the APC, it was easy to see the difference on my Pioneer plasma between the Tripp-Lite's filtration and no filtration on my 101-116V power line. Finally, when I added the APC with its voltage regulation feature (which I do not see advertised on the Monster or other units BTW) the picture quality attained its highest performance level ever (I am also a certified ISF calibrator.)

cool. here is a picture of mine (BDI 8527 Espresso). Cherry wood is naturaly very smooth. If you look closely you can see that the wood grain matches all the across the front. Because its a veneer you can get a grain pattern throughout the different panels. A salesperson pointed that out to me.

A white APC huh? yeah that would kind of stick-out. I eventually want to get a monster power conditioner just because of how cool they look. Mcintosh makes a cool looking one two but you need alot of $$$.

I'll post pictures once I get it set up a bit better. In the meantime, I hit my first challenge already.

With my PS3 in the upper right, we got about an hour into a movie when the fans in the PS3 ramped up to about the volume of a 777 jet engine. I opened the front door and it was almost too hot to touch. A few minutes with the right side (exhaust) of the PS3 sticking out the front and it calmed down quite a bit, but this is obviously a problem. Does anyone have experience trying to run a PS3 in the 8527 (or any other enclosed cabinet)? I think I might have to look for options to add fans to the back, but am not sure if that alone would help, or if I can manage such a task without destroying my new toy. The PS3 might be replaced by a media PC if I ever get it working as well as the PS3, but even then that will probably put out a bunch of heat as well. Any thoughts?

As for power, I will look at the Tripp-Lite to see if it will meet my needs. Not sure about the H15 yet, because my next budget item is some rear speakers that I can somehow hang from the ceiling.

I'll post pictures once I get it set up a bit better. In the meantime, I hit my first challenge already.

With my PS3 in the upper right, we got about an hour into a movie when the fans in the PS3 ramped up to about the volume of a 777 jet engine. I opened the front door and it was almost too hot to touch. A few minutes with the right side (exhaust) of the PS3 sticking out the front and it calmed down quite a bit, but this is obviously a problem. Does anyone have experience trying to run a PS3 in the 8527 (or any other enclosed cabinet)? I think I might have to look for options to add fans to the back, but am not sure if that alone would help, or if I can manage such a task without destroying my new toy. The PS3 might be replaced by a media PC if I ever get it working as well as the PS3, but even then that will probably put out a bunch of heat as well. Any thoughts?

As for power, I will look at the Tripp-Lite to see if it will meet my needs. Not sure about the H15 yet, because my next budget item is some rear speakers that I can somehow hang from the ceiling.

Thats just the PS3's design. They are horrible at keeping cool. It is a common complaint of the PS3. I believe I read that the newer PS3s have a quieter fan in them. I read that when researching the cabinet that people have problems with onkyo's and PS3s getting hot in the cabinet. But if you go to the the owners forums for these products, anyone with an enclosed cabinet seem to have this problem. I would take the back panel out if you have done so yet. you may even want to try placing it on the bottom panel since heat rises. Having it on the top shelf may have it sitting where the hot air is exiting. just a thought...

I think there are a couple of posting on here about how to make your own fan. Newegg.com has a pretty good selection of fans for pretty cheap.

If you're going to run something like the ps3 (or anything really that gives off substantial heat like a receiver/etc), you most definetly should either A. Leave the backing off so heat can vent out the back, or B. Install fans so they can vent the heat. There's simply no other way around it. Electronics need cooling. Period.

I don't think it's a problem with poor cooling/loud fans as it is a problem of lack of ventilation in the stand. If you guys think the ps3 is bad, you obviously haven't heard an xbox360. I personally can't hear my ps3 in my standout stand, but it has fans that are temp controlled in the rear that work great. (If you have a 60GB model, and you're really worried about heat, you can certainly sell it and buy a newer model that uses the smaller die size processors. I did a kill a watt test on my old 60gb vs. 40gb and the 40gb uses almost half the power, which means less heat.) When I first got the stand I was lazy about attaching the temp probes, and the fan hit "jet engine" speed w/o me noticing right away. Again, this is perfectly normal.. electronics need ventilation. I have my ps3 and HK on one side of my stand with a 120mm fan that vents, and the ps3 now never gets to an audible level.

Until you get a fan setup installed, I'd be sure to leave the backing off. It's not only bad for the ps3, but bad for your receiver.

If you're going to run something like the ps3 (or anything really that gives off substantial heat like a receiver/etc), you most definetly should either A. Leave the backing off so heat can vent out the back, or B. Install fans so they can vent the heat. There's simply no other way around it. Electronics need cooling. Period.

I don't think it's a problem with poor cooling/loud fans as it is a problem of lack of ventilation in the stand. If you guys think the ps3 is bad, you obviously haven't heard an xbox360. I personally can't hear my ps3 in my standout stand, but it has fans that are temp controlled in the rear that work great. (If you have a 60GB model, and you're really worried about heat, you can certainly sell it and buy a newer model that uses the smaller die size processors. I did a kill a watt test on my old 60gb vs. 40gb and the 40gb uses almost half the power, which means less heat.) When I first got the stand I was lazy about attaching the temp probes, and the fan hit "jet engine" speed w/o me noticing right away. Again, this is perfectly normal.. electronics need ventilation. I have my ps3 and HK on one side of my stand with a 120mm fan that vents, and the ps3 now never gets to an audible level.

Until you get a fan setup installed, I'd be sure to leave the backing off. It's not only bad for the ps3, but bad for your receiver.

I have an older Xbox in the Avion and have not had any problem with heat. The playstation is notorious for loud fans and running very hot, no matter what it is stored in.

kill a watt

lol :D

I am getting a new 58" plasma and thus need a new stand. I was wondering on the advantages/disadvantages of getting a stand with a built in mount vs. just getting a wall mount bracket?

Basically something like this: http://www.techcraft.net/4105/detail.asp?product_id=1656

vs.

Something like this: http://shop.videosoniclab.ihoststudio.com/images/products/30041%5B1%5D.jpg


I think I would prefer getting the stand that comes with a mount attached to a series of shelves rather than just the wall mount bracket, but I wanted to know if there are any disadvantages in doing so? Would a wall mount bracket give me anything that a stand w/ mount would not?

Does anyone here own a tv stand with a built in mount? If so do you like it?

Thanks

I am getting a new 58" plasma and thus need a new stand. I was wondering on the advantages/disadvantages of getting a stand with a built in mount vs. just getting a wall mount bracket?

Basically something like this: http://www.techcraft.net/4105/detail.asp?product_id=1656

vs.

Something like this: http://shop.videosoniclab.ihoststudio.com/images/products/30041%5B1%5D.jpg


I think I would prefer getting the stand that comes with a mount attached to a series of shelves rather than just the wall mount bracket, but I wanted to know if there are any disadvantages in doing so? Would a wall mount bracket give me anything that a stand w/ mount would not?

Does anyone here own a tv stand with a built in mount? If so do you like it?

ThanksI just picked up a 42" LCD set and a stand with mount for my son.

After putting it all together I found that the stand/mount combo has the following advantages:
1. No need to tear up the wall with mounting the set and running wires behind the wall.

2. No concern about the wall mount holding the weight. This shouldn't be an issue unless you are either very clueless about how to mount the wall bracket, or, are mounting into something like brick or stone. Wood studs are your friend.

3. Wire management was covered in my stand/mount. No fishing wires and needing to install an outlet for power behind where the set was going.

4. Rotating the set. My stand sits out from the wall a bit, so the set can be rotated to a pretty wide angle, if needed. The set has a PC hooked up, and this makes it easy to angle the set towards the location of the wireless mouse and keyboard.

Wall mounts look great, when properly done. They are more permenant, due to the holes needed in the wall for the set and cables. The stand/mount is more portable, if you decide to move or rearrange the room at some later date.

I was very pleased at how well the stand/mount went together and how easily the set mounted. The stand is very stable and provides room for my components like cable box, blu ray, etc.

People's tastes are different. I find this to be one of the finest offerings for plasma furnitue.

I have an older Xbox in the Avion and have not had any problem with heat. The playstation is notorious for loud fans and running very hot, no matter what it is stored in.

I have an older xbox as well, and wouldn't personally leave it in an enclosed space w/o ventilation, but to each his own. Just because the piece of electronics continues to work doesn't mean it's good for it. I have a friend who leaves his in an enclosed cabinet (xbox1), and the thing gets hot to the touch. HDD's WILL fail prematurely due to heat. It's no secret that heat kills electronics. Anyone that actually gives a damn about their electronics wouldn't put them in an enclosed box (especially if they're used for long periods of time).

I think it largely depends on the piece of electronics, but the only thing that I wouldn't be concerned about leaving on w/o ventilation is a dvr and/or a dvd player (since they don't give off too much heat).

I do chuckle when people say the ps3 is "notorious for loud fans and running very hot." It seems some people don't understand physics and expect the impossible. Again, I have my ps3 in my stand and can't even hear it. Maybe you had a bad experience with a defective one. Mine runs damn near silent and cool. If you want to hear "loud" I suggest you play a friend's 360. "Jet engine" is a very appropriate description.

I actually think DVRs need as much ventilation as anything else. I have an open stand (due to spacial limitations, not choice), and my comcast moto dvr still runs hot to the touch. Many of my friends have complained about this with their DVRs also. Since they too have a hardrive, they will generate quite a bit of heat.
A DVD player should do fine regardless, but even still, better safe than sorry.
It just doesn't make sense to spend hundreds (and in most of our cases, thousands) of dollars on electronic equipment, and then not take the small amount of time and money necessary to take care of everything. Spending a few bucks and a few hours setting up decent ventilation will help all equipment (ps3 and xbox alike) runner quieter, cooler, and more efficiently, and will definitely provide peace of mind.
I've got my eye on a Standout stand as soon as I move into a house with a more conducive living room (I guess in the 70's the furniture was pointed at something other than the tv?!?), and I won't hesitate to spring for proper ventilation. I also don't want to spend that much money on a stand and then have to leave the back off. If fans and vents can do the trick, it will be well worth the extra time and money.

My modified double Ikea LACK tv stand (22"x22"x58") in birch veneer for my bedroom setup. Total cost about $140.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/Wineappler/DSC03799.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/Wineappler/DSC03801.jpg

This looks great, btw. Pretty classy looking for the money spent. I want something more enclosed for cable management and storage, but I think your stand is great for something open but not so industrial.

Anyone else see this stand at Costco?

http://www.baysidefurnishings.com/products/entertainment/st66cwsf.html

http://www.baysidefurnishings.com/shared/product-images/ST66CWSF.jpg

It looks really good in person. It was $479 at my Costco. It includes the wall mount for the TV. The wood felt high quality and it comes pre-assembled. The top and bottom shelves on both sides are pull out with wire mesh grating underneath for ventilation (square holes underneath for airflow). I really liked the high-quality feel to the doors and drawers. They "self-close" which was kinda neat. It also comes with glass and mesh inserts for the doors which you can use instead of the wood paneling. Think I might have to pick it up.

If anyone is considering buying a Bell'O TV stand you should think twice about it. I bought the AVSC-2124 stand that was of really poor quality. You would think they didn't have any quality assurance at all if you saw the tv stand.

They had welded the wrong size bracket onto the front frame or had included the wrong size support bars. The weld was also placed inside of he L bracket so the support bar isn't even able to set flush with the frame regardless of the fact that the bar doesn't fit the bracket. Also the wood panel attached to the metal frame was really poorly glued on and was popping off the frame at the corners.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2538/3767182789_6509dac2c0.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2474/3767182699_1ff2aea6d2.jpg

Very true protechie.. It's probably a wise idea to have proper ventilation for dvr's as well. I tend to neglect mine a little, since I don't "own" it myself, and it has a ****** 160gb hdd (fios). Also, if you keep the room fairly cool, it doesn't get THAT hot in the stand (at least it doesn't seem like it to me).

I would like to hear everyone's thoughts on TV stands that don't necessarily cover the entire width of the TV. For example, having a 50" TV on a 45" stand, etc...

Like several others, I have a larger center channel in the system at 20.9" W x 9.1" H. None of the manufacturers I have found have a "stand w/ center channel opening" that really met my needs, most of them peak out at about 8.5-9" for the center channel opening. My search has been narrowed down to a few Salamander products. Here is my question:

The TV I am looking at is 48.9" wide. I am trying to stick to a budget for the TV stand, and I have two options:
(1) A stand that is 44.5" wide but includes the riser needed for my center channel speaker at a price I can stomach. TV would overhang on each side by about 2.2". (Twin20 w/ Riser) With this solution, get everything I would like in a stand now.
(2) A stand that is wider at 65" but I would have to delay purchasing the riser until a later date due to elevated cost. (Triple 20 now, Riser later) The Riser for the Triples is more expensive than the Twin Riser ($369 versus $299). With this solution, looks better in terms of aesthetics/security, but cost will be higher.

The equipment going in the rack: Blu-ray player, receiver, Wii, power conditioner, center channel (to be purchased later, but want to plan for it with TV stand).

A part of me says get the Twin solution so I get everything I need now. The TV would overhang slightly, but not that much that I think it would be dangerous...am open to your opinions/feedback. The Triple would look better/more secure, but I don't know if it's overkill for my storage needs, and cost is a consideration too.

I never thought I'd be waffling over this decision so much, but here I am today. So, if you gurus could offer your feedback on these two questions:
1) Do you think having a TV that is wider than the stand looks tacky/hideous/dangerous etc? In my situation do you think it is something to worry about?
2) Of the two solutions posted, the Twin or the Triple solution, which one would you choose?

Thanks everyone

I don't think it looks tacky to have the tv overhang. Some may disagree, but I think it looks fine. However, I would still say get the wider stand. If you're debating this much, it's probably because you want the wider one but don't know if you can justify it. Even with the Twin you're still going to be spending some money, so you might as well take your time, spend just a little more, and get what you actually want. Plus, if I understand you correctly you don't actually have the center channel yet, so you could always hold off on that until you can afford the stand to match.

Good points protechie, thanks for your response.

I do not have the center channel, but I was trying to figure it in ahead of time so I didn't buy a stand and then not have a solution for holding the center channel. I guess what I could do is buy the Triple 20 and then buy the riser at the same time that I get the center channel. Thanks again for your reply, sometimes it helps to have someone just make a simple assessment of it.

-Tyler

I picked up a Whalen stand from BB. I'm liking the cherry :)

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9276099&type=product&id=1218073530898

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/Dizmal/DSC03192.jpg


Much better than the old rack adn TV. Plus I get to use my Digm Studio's again!! :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/Dizmal/DSC02359-1.jpg

Does anyone have any recommendations on a nice looking tv stand that fits the following criteria:

- 50"-52" width
- Has a shelf that has enough space to fit a 9" center channel
- Has another shelf that has enough space to fit a 8" receiver

Does anyone have any recommendations on a nice looking tv stand that fits the following criteria:

- 50"-52" width
- Has a shelf that has enough space to fit a 9" center channel
- Has another shelf that has enough space to fit a 8" receiver

You need to maybe give us a little more info.


What style do you like (contemporary, traditional, wood, glass/metal, ...)?
What's the weight of the TV?
For the center speaker, is the 9" horizontal or vertical?
I assume the 8" is the vertical on the AVR, but width, depth, & weight, and what's the clearance for air?
Idea on the budget range ($200-300, $800, $1600, or ?)


If the dimensions are vertical, you're likely to run into some difficulties. The look a lot of stand manufacturers are trying to achieve is low profile. Style thing, I suppose, WAF, whatever, but they make what we buy, so we must like it. Granted, some low profile stands, when you watch them from a recliner, you mostly see your toes, maybe the trend has gone a bit too far. What you want is something where when you're sitting, the TV isn't too high, you don't want to be looking upwards for too long, so there are trade-offs. Still, there are some stands with adjustable shelves, or that tolerate higher components. Here's just one example:

http://www.jonalexander.com/cgi-bin/image/templates/d5058.JPG

http://www.jonalexander.com/d_5034.html

This is from Jon Alexander, and a lot of their stands support higher components, and most are open, so the components have room to breath. Believe me, during summer, breathing is a very good thing. They have variants with different numbers of shelves. And their units are extremely sturdy, not the glass/steel stuff down at Best Buy where you have to be very careful about weight limits. Now, chances are, while the look is pretty good to my eye, you might be after something completely different. CSN Stores (http://www.tvstands.com/) is always a good resource for raw search, but they don't carry everything. So give us a few more hints, and maybe we can get closer to what you want.

Good points protechie, thanks for your response.

I do not have the center channel, but I was trying to figure it in ahead of time so I didn't buy a stand and then not have a solution for holding the center channel. I guess what I could do is buy the Triple 20 and then buy the riser at the same time that I get the center channel. Thanks again for your reply, sometimes it helps to have someone just make a simple assessment of it.

-Tyler

I sympathize with your problem. My wife and I always loved the look of the old Boltz TV stands, here's an example:

http://www.boltz.com/tours/tvGallery/images/room.jpg

Granted, maybe a bit funky, acquired taste, but these things are strong as all get-out, open, you could pick different shelf heights so custom tailor, and have matching equipment racks. Problem is, what killed the deal for us really, is Boltz never built them wide enough for current TVs. I even e-mailed them to see if there was a way to combine two stands, or get one custom built, never panned out. Newer stuff is OK, but not nearly as tailorable or strong, and they may have to rename the company Weldz. :)

Some things to think about is the TV you'll have next, and having space for all the components present and future. A new TV will likely be still wider. While the LCD price point sweet spot right now is in the mid to upper 40" range, there are certainly a lot of 52"-55" TVs out there, and even maybe 65" will be cost effective in the not too distant future. A good stand can be an investment, might last through a couple of TVs. Factor also the components that need to go on the stand, growth there over the years. A TV that overhangs, well depending on the traffic, that might not be too good, but it also wastes a lot of space. Wider is generally going to be better, so long as it fits in the space. You can fit more components, the spacing would be better, etc.

Very true protechie.. It's probably a wise idea to have proper ventilation for dvr's as well. I tend to neglect mine a little, since I don't "own" it myself, and it has a ****** 160gb hdd (fios). Also, if you keep the room fairly cool, it doesn't get THAT hot in the stand (at least it doesn't seem like it to me).

I had a hard disk failure on a Scientific Atlanta (i.e. Cisco) 8300HD (160GB DVR), and if I had to guess, it was somewhat heat related. You might go, no big deal, they replace it, but TWC's replacement was a 8300HDC with Navigator, not a day doesn't go by I don't wish I had the old unit back. Lost all the recordings, also. Looking at the diag panels on the DVR, the internal hard drive runs quite hot, even in open air. Hot is death to hard drives.

- The style doesn't really matter. I've seen different stands of different styles that I've like
- The weight of the TV is 80lb
- The center speaker is 9" vertical
- The receiver is 8" vertical
- I'm willing to spend up to $800

You need to maybe give us a little more info.


What style do you like (contemporary, traditional, wood, glass/metal, ...)?
What's the weight of the TV?
For the center speaker, is the 9" horizontal or vertical?
I assume the 8" is the vertical on the AVR, but width, depth, & weight, and what's the clearance for air?
Idea on the budget range ($200-300, $800, $1600, or ?)


If the dimensions are vertical, you're likely to run into some difficulties. The look a lot of stand manufacturers are trying to achieve is low profile. Style thing, I suppose, WAF, whatever, but they make what we buy, so we must like it. Granted, some low profile stands, when you watch them from a recliner, you mostly see your toes, maybe the trend has gone a bit too far. What you want is something where when you're sitting, the TV isn't too high, you don't want to be looking upwards for too long, so there are trade-offs. Still, there are some stands with adjustable shelves, or that tolerate higher components. Here's just one example:

http://www.jonalexander.com/d_5034.html

This is from Jon Alexander, and a lot of their stands support higher components, and most are open, so the components have room to breath. Believe me, during summer, breathing is a very good thing. They have variants with different numbers of shelves. And their units are extremely sturdy, not the glass/steel stuff down at Best Buy where you have to be very careful about weight limits. Now, chances are, while the look is pretty good to my eye, you might be after something completely different. CSN Stores (http://www.tvstands.com/) is always a good resource for raw search, but they don't carry everything. So give us a few more hints, and maybe we can get closer to what you want.

- The style doesn't really matter. I've seen different stands of different styles that I've like
- The weight of the TV is 80lb
- The center speaker is 9" vertical
- The receiver is 8" vertical
- I'm willing to spend up to $800

OK, this helps, thanks for the additional info.


TV weight 80lb

This is good. Some TVs go above 100#, but at 80#, most stands should work.


Center Speaker 9" vertical


OK, this could be a bit of a problem. 9" is higher than a lot of racks can do. Most (but not all) centers are not bipolar, they mostly fire out the front (some Definitive's fire out the side/top, so you actually need another inch or two on top for them to breath). Generally then too you can run into problems with the width. You can find a lot of stands that fit into one of four categories:


Single Column - supports are at the end of the stand, so components and speakers can be put anywhere in between (width may be somewhat limited with this setup, but it is very flexible)
Dual Column - Adds a middle support, usually centered, which can be a problem for a center speaker, if you're trying to fit it in the stand
Three column - A very common approach, has two supports, center top area is for the center speaker
Stands where TV "Floats" above, either on an extended mount, or wall mount - this allows the center to go on the top shelf


The Jon Alexander (http://www.jonalexander.com/) stand above is an example of the single column approach, see just above, here's another:

http://www.jonalexander.com/T4523.jpg

Comes in different colors, so you should be able to nominally find something suitable. It has 9" clearance on shelves, roughly. A bit more than usual, but you have pretty tall components, that will be somewhat limiting. Knocks a lot of options out of the running.

Another TV single column stand approach that might work for you is where the center shelf is adjustable. This is frequently the case in the BDI (http://www.bdiusa.com/theater/index.shtml) line of TV stands. Here's an example:

http://www.hometheaterstore.com/photos/BDI9644-2T.jpg

But their models that are in the 52" range, width wise, are probably flirting with going over your price point, might take a good sale to get under. But you can get the general idea. There are various other manufacturers that might be a bit less, TechCraft, Bello, Bush, Omnimount, etc. Something to watch out for, though, is if you adjust a lowish stand shelf so that the top shelf accommodates a 9" speaker is that you might then run into problems with the height of the 8" receiver, if that needs to go on a lower shelf. If you try and put the receiver on the same shelf as the speaker, you have a couple of factors to worry about, total shelf weight and/or width. If the speaker is wide, receiver normally being 17-18" wide, you're into a pretty wide unit to get it all on one shelf. And you're likely to run into total shelf weight problems. The Jon Alexanders are built strong enough for it, but quite a few allow only 50 pounds or so, so long as you stay with glass (although quite a few MDFs have sagging concerns).

The Boltz stand, in an append a few above, is an example of a Two Column, the older variants there allow you to custom configure the setup, and they have shelf units that are high enough for you.

However, you're probably going to be driven somewhat towards the Three Column approach, especially if you have weight that needs the extra support, because most people want their center channel to be, well, centered. This will also go wider, as a frequent column width in components is 19", so you end up with stands in the 60+ish width range. Just so you can see another variation, here's one from StudioTech (http://www.studiotech.com/), within your price range, and of generally much better than average construction:

http://www.studiotech.com/misc/thumbnail.ashx?image=/images/products/photos/large/high_fidelity_hf-33_hf-33_b_b.jpg&width=230

This stand has options for shelf height, this lets you customize. It's one of the few that also supports a LOT of weight, so if your center is narrow enough, you probably could get the center and AVR on the same shelf. These generally are very good units, StudioTech has been around a while, and they're open, so things can breath, these are used in a lot of high-end setups even though they're well under your $800 price point. They've added glass shelve variants recently, if you prefer those. But I should also note that 19" for a center can be a bit limiting (for example, mine is 23"), and you don't want the stand supports to be blocking anything important, speaker or port wise.


Receiver 8" vertical


I covered the height of the receiver, previously, so I won't go too much further here. But I will note, the receivers on the market will in general need some room around them to breath. There are vents, generally top and sides, they need some clearance for the air to clear. This becomes particularly important to account for in an enclosed TV stand (I've not shown a lot of those, there are certainly ones out there that would work, but a lot get knocked out by your shelf height requirements, and the ones with decent finish or size tend to run over your $800 budget, so we'd have to know a bit more about speaker width, component depth, etc., to find something for you). But as a next step, you probably want to get the Receiver manual out, and read carefully for what the clearances are (frequently in all that legal mumbo-jumbo up front that we all skip). Even in an open stand, you have to respect the clearances, or the receiver will overheat and fail. So if the height of the receiver is 8", then you likely need 9 or 10". Something else to check (if the 8" includes the breathing space, then thank-you, that's at least accounted for). And while you have the manual out, look up the receiver depth, some stands are too narrow if you go too deep on the AVR. With an open stand, you don't have to worry about too much more the depth, other than making sure the feet are on the unit, things can hang out a bit, but generally you need to add 2" or so for cables to clear, particularly if using standard banana or RCA plugs to connect stuff up.

Hey guys.. my TV is mounted over the fireplace and I'm having a very difficult time finding some good & affordable racks for my A/V equipment..
Here in Canada there aren't many stores and many retailers won't ship out from the US..

I don't have the know-how or the time to make my own so I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions?

I need one with 4 shelves and is preferably black with glass shelves... That I can either order online or see it in store (Toronto area)

Thanks for any help..

I've purchased my new TV, and am now trying to find a piece of furniture to put it on. Anyone have a Panasonic 54V10 (or similar) on a BDI Avion 8529 or a BDI Novia 8429? How about on a Standout Designs Stand of any variety?

If you can post pics, I would appreciate it!

Thanks,
Mark

- The style doesn't really matter. I've seen different stands of different styles that I've like
- The weight of the TV is 80lb
- The center speaker is 9" vertical
- The receiver is 8" vertical
- I'm willing to spend up to $800

Txsn, I wanted to add on some more information about the Studiotech stands on top of pwjone1's excellent response.

I e-mailed Studiotech as I have a setup very similar to yours. According to the specs on Studiotechs site, the HF-33 stand pictured in pwjone1's post has 19.50 inches in between the stand posts. If your center channel is smaller than that, then you can get risers- Studiotech has them available in up to 11" I believe. Using those risers to replace the factory ones you can get sufficient clearance for both your center channel and receiver. Last time I checked the HF-33 stand is $499 and the risers are $32/set. So for <$600 you could get a pretty nice stand. I also think ST offers free shipping on an order of that size as well. I had a very pleasant experience communicating via e-mail- quick and thorough responses.

I thought I'd chime in as I have equipment with similar dimensions/requirements and this might help you along on your journey. Unfortunately my center channel is almost 21" so it won't fit the Studiotech stands, but I thought I'd let you know my findings as well.

Good luck,
Tyler

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS!

BDI is putting out a new AVION II model to replace the AVION MODEL. As a result many stores have discounted the original BDI AVION models several hundred dollars to clean out their inventory and be ready for the new model.

As for the difference between the new and the old model, it's nothing major. Nothing that would make me spend hundreds of dollars extra for.

Bottom Line: If you've been looking for one of these ,NOW may be the time to get one at a GREAT price.

I just purchased the a 58 inch plasma, but I am having major stand issues. I want to mount my TV, but I live in an apartment and thus cannot put holes in the wall. Therefore I am interested in getting a TV stand w/ mount. There are few choices in this category for TV's that are 58's.

I have found this though: http://www.amazon.com/Z-Line-Vitoria...8244381&sr=8-3.

It is the only TV stand that can hold a 58 inch tv, yet it itself it only 42 inches wide. Having a stand that's base is that narrow yet can mount up to a 58 inch tv is ideal for my living situation. One thing is bothering me though. The stand says the mount can hold up to 150 pounds, and the TV I am getting is 160. I was wondering if this was worth a shot or is a major no-no and will almost definitely end in disaster? The stand wouldn't be worth it if the TV just fell down and broke, and that is the last thing I want

Edit: I may have found a viable alternative. It is only 55inches at its base, which is still big, but doable, compared to 60inches which is just not going to fit. It is a techcraft 55 inch stand with mount. How does one know that the mount they are getting fits their TV as all mounts advertise "fits most TV's. For example, is there anyway I could verify this http://www.techcraft.net/4105/lineart.asp?image_url=/filesUpload/catalog/linearts/pic2_647.png stand would fit the 58V10?

Thanks for the help

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS!

BDI is putting out a new AVION II model to replace the AVION MODEL. As a result many stores have discounted the original BDI AVION models several hundred dollars to clean out their inventory and be ready for the new model.

As for the difference between the new and the old model, it's nothing major. Nothing that would make me spend hundreds of dollars extra for.

Bottom Line: If you've been looking for one of these ,NOW may be the time to get one at a GREAT price.

Hey Bushman

I actually went and looked at one of the new ones. They are the same price as the old, just with more features. The store did have some good deals on the old style.

I've purchased my new TV, and am now trying to find a piece of furniture to put it on. Anyone have a Panasonic 54V10 (or similar) on a BDI Avion 8529 or a BDI Novia 8429? How about on a Standout Designs Stand of any variety?

If you can post pics, I would appreciate it!

Thanks,
Mark

Here's a photo of my Standout Horizon N702, before we painted the walls:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=15929849#post15929849

Go to the BDI website and you can see pictures there.

I'm looking to get the techcraft SWBL60 but would love something in a more cherry-medium stain instead of the black or dark walnut finish. If anyone has a stand they found or own, could you point me in the right direction....

thanks

I'm looking to get the techcraft SWBL60 but would love something in a more cherry-medium stain instead of the black or dark walnut finish. If anyone has a stand they found or own, could you point me in the right direction....

thanks

The Techcraft SWBL60 is pretty reasonably priced, but a couple of caveats, aside from the color:


Maximum of 33 pounds on inside shelves - depending on your AVR, this might be too light duty
Depth of the unit also won't be enough for some AVRs (add 2" for cable/plugs)
Check your center channel speaker width (18.75" max)


I guess I should also point out that black is not the only color the Techcraft unit comes in, there's also walnut:

http://www.techcraft.net/4105/detail.asp?product_id=1641

Now, Walnut is probably too dark for what you're after, so I'll list of some Cherry units, but Cherry can vary in color quite a bit, some are light colored, some dark, some are pretty redish. YMMV.

But if Cherry color is a primary driver, rather than price, you might have a look at:

BDI Avion 2:

http://www.bdiusa.com/theater/avion_2_8927.shtml

http://www.bdiusa.com/theater/graphics/cabinets/large_images/avion_2_8927_3.jpg

A bit wider at 65", but comes in Cherry color. If that reads as too contemporary, there's also their Novia line, but that runs a bit wider to get the form factor in the Techcraft. The Meriden line is also in 65" width, also comes in Cherry, but with black fronts. The BDIs might breath a little better than a Techcraft, they have some venting.

Studiotech U-22T

A little bit more money generally, but another alternative in cherry (and selling for some reason for $600, big discount, at the time of writing), this time at 67" width, is:

http://www.studiotech.com/misc/thumbnail.ashx?image=/images/products/photos/large/ultra_u-22t_u-22t_ch_b.jpg&width=230

http://www.studiotech.com/products/component_cabinets/ultra_u-22t/index.html

You will have to decide if the fronts, which can be optioned around a bit, are suitable for your purposes.

Sanus WFV66 Lowboy

Getting back closer to your Techcraft price point, but unfortunately back up around $1k, there's a cherry variant from Sanus, this time 66" wide:

http://www.sanus.com/us/en/thumbnail?img=WFV66c_WFV66c_570px.jpg&maxx=300&maxy=232&mode=normal&asset=true

http://www.sanus.com/us/en/products/av-foundations/av-woodbrook/WFV66

Also a bit sturdier.

Standout Designs Horizons N582

http://www.standoutdesigns.com/store/pc/catalog/G_HN582MC_AT_TWS1_088.jpg

http://www.standoutdesigns.com/store/pc/Horizon-N582-Solid-Wood-TV-Console-p168.htm

Very well made stands, not cheap, but available in Cherry. Given the TechCraft width at 60", I assume your TV is 52 or 58", so probably this stand might also work, but it is narrower. One of the nice things about Standout Designs is that they can be ordered with an active cooling system, something that is a very good idea if you are going to put a higher power AVR or PS3 into the unit. Enclosed otherwise means cooling problems, unless you live really far up North.



There are also cherry variants of stands from Salamander Designs (run a bit narrower/wider than the 60") and Plateau (quite a bit wider), but as those are a bit further off your original form factor, I did not list them here. The Furnitech line might also be something for you to look at, cheaper, but gets it done:

http:

//www.furnitech.com/galleria/shaker/FT60DP.htm (http://www.furnitech.com/galleria/shaker/FT60DP.htm)

I would suggest that a quick way to see options, given dimensions and a color preference (restriction?) is to start with one of the web stores:

http://www.racksandstands.com/

http://www.Audio-Video-Furniture.com (http://www.Audio-Video-Furniture.com)

This is in no way an endorsement, and they often don't stock the upper end stands, but it can save you a lot of footwork, quickly lets you know what's generally available, certainly at the low and mid-level price points. Locally, Walmart and Costco are frequently good places to shop, for lower priced stands. Unless you go with a name brand upper price level stand, the quality is maybe going to be a bit uneven, but there are nice looking stands, and a lot of the stuff comes from low cost manufacturing locales, like China, so in the end, might not be all that differentiated.

So I ended up getting the Whalen stand that SteroMAdMAn posted. The shelf spacing is very similar to how it's setup in his picture. Plenty of space for both my large center channel and receiver.

BTW I also just ordered a KRP-500m today from Robert. It'll look great on the new stand :D I'll post some shots once I have it setup.

The Techcraft SWBL60 is pretty reasonably priced, but a couple of caveats, aside from the color:



:)


Paul,
Thank you for a very informative post.
You pretty much layed it all on the table without coming across as a "fan boy" of a particular brand.

Very helpful indeed as I'm trying to decide between brands.

Hello,
I am looking for some quick advice. We are putting in hardwood floors right now and I just gave my mom my 36" Panasonic this morning, so now we don't have a TV. Just couldn't see putting that old heavy TV and stand on the new floor. So, I am going to buy a 47" Sony tomorrow, but need some advice on a stand. I am looking at the Techcraft at Sears...we like espresso wood and the price is good:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_05740247000P?mv=rr

We are also looking at: http://www.raymourflanigan.com/catalog/details.asp?ID=7376

It just doesn't seem all that wide. What size stand is usually used on a 47" TV? Do most prefer glass doors or open shelving? I thought glass doors would help with dust. Do you have any tips on choosing a stand....things we might not think about during such a quick turnaround time? Thank you so much for any advice you can provide!

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dM9beqiRBpo/SlwC5fX7UrI/AAAAAAAAATs/3nNM_Jm0jJA/IMG_3213.jpg

Thought I'd share my semi-hacked setup.

I combined 1 IKEA LACK shelving unit with 1 Bell'o TV Stand. I used the Bello to avoid having to mount the 52" Samsung LCD, but still be able to slide my MASSIVE center channel underneath (AV123 X-Voce).

http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/0091427_PE227099_S4.JPG

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51QD3UAaNgL._SS350_.jpg

60" Flat Panel TV Corner Base - Rosebud


Features

* This handsome TV base fits into the corner, ideal for making the most of valuable space
* Features a cherry veneer and 2 black tempered glass shelves
* Accommodates your 36" TV or 60" LCD
* Made of wood and wood composite
* 24.13Hx43.25Wx26.53D"

Shipping & Policies

* This item cannot be returned to a Target store; find out how to return this item to Target.com.Opens in New Window
* Shipping & Delivery InformationOpens in New Window
* Estimated Ship Dimensions : 47.38 inches length x 29.25 inches width x 9.13 inches height
* Estimated Ship Weight: 128.00 pounds.
* This item can only be shipped to the 50 states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, or Puerto Rico.
* This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. A separate shipping charge will also apply.

I am going to have a TV stand custom built and wanted to find out what some must haves are for a TV stand. We were looking at something like a Majestic Grand for styling. It will be used in conjunction with a 60" plasma. Our dimensions are about 8ft long x 2ft wide x 2ft high. I like the sliding panels in back, shelves with the slides that stop and then close slowly at the very end, a couple fans in the back to keep things cool. What else would you recommend?

I am going to have a TV stand custom built and wanted to find out what some must haves are for a TV stand. We were looking at something like a Majestic Grand for styling. It will be used in conjunction with a 60" plasma. Our dimensions are about 8ft long x 2ft wide x 2ft high. I like the sliding panels in back, shelves with the slides that stop and then close slowly at the very end, a couple fans in the back to keep things cool. What else would you recommend?

Not sure what you mean about the "shelves with the slides that stop and then close slowly at the very end"? Do you mean shelves that actually slide forward out of the unit, like a drawer? If so, that seems like a cool feature, but frankly it would be more trouble for me that it's worth because of the wires and cables that are connecting everything in the back. The last thing I want to do is pull my equipment forward and risk pulling a wire free or breaking a cable connector!

I'd also recommend vented shelves, to increase airflow. And be sure to have a vent somewhere in the front, like at the front of the bottom shelves (Standout Designs is one example), so that you get cross-ventilation. You need a place for fresh air intake as well as a place for heat exhaust. Just moving the hot air around with a fan isn't going to help very much.

I am going to have a TV stand custom built and wanted to find out what some must haves are for a TV stand. We were looking at something like a Majestic Grand for styling. It will be used in conjunction with a 60" plasma. Our dimensions are about 8ft long x 2ft wide x 2ft high. I like the sliding panels in back, shelves with the slides that stop and then close slowly at the very end, a couple fans in the back to keep things cool. What else would you recommend?

Check out Diamond Case Designs. They can customize the products listed on their web site. I'm pretty sure their options include removable back panels and shelves that improve air flow. I became familiar with them when searching for a TV stand / entertainment center with an opening large enough for my massive center channel (97 lbs!). ... Also looked at solutions from Furnitech. They sell fans that can be integrated into a customized rear panel to help keep things cool.

I am new to this board and I would like the opinion of experts on the TV stand that I am thinking about purchasing.

The stand is for a 50" Plasma TV and Blu-Ray Player/center channel speaker.

I came across this stand being sold by a local seller. It is a Cherry Stand. Dimensions 60" Length x 18 " wide x 27 " tall. Seller states that it made from real wood (not plywood/particle board) and was custom-made. Seller has had it for 3 years.

I would like your opinions on this TV stand....what is a reasonable price to pay or any other opinions that you can share that will help me make a decision. Thanks

I am not sure if the images got loaded right. So I am providing the links

http://sophalicious.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album01&id=cherrystand1

http://sophalicious.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album01&id=cherrystand2

http://sophalicious.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album01&id=cherrystand1&

http://sophalicious.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album01&id=cherrystand2&

z-line vitoria stand with my new 52" xbr9 i just got yesterday

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/8689/img1294e.jpg

Any one have any additional suggestions other than Salamander, StudioTech or BDI Noir for a plasma stand that is:

-55" wide + (not too tall)
-cabinet with doors
-proper ventilation
-adjustable shelves
-Casters
-around 1K (less is ok if it doesn't look flimsy)
-Black or black oak (maybe expresso)?

We have a Synergy twin (black with black rails and perf metal on casters), but are thinking of getting a 54" panny and my wife feels that a stand smaller than the tv would look odd. I can re-purpose the Twin, so I am disinclined to argue the aesthetic point.

Thanks,

FYI - that TV is 51" wide.

I am new to this board and I would like the opinion of experts on the TV stand that I am thinking about purchasing.

The stand is for a 50" Plasma TV and Blu-Ray Player/center channel speaker.

I came across this stand being sold by a local seller. It is a Cherry Stand. Dimensions 60" Length x 18 " wide x 27 " tall. Seller states that it made from real wood (not plywood/particle board) and was custom-made. Seller has had it for 3 years.

I would like your opinions on this TV stand....what is a reasonable price to pay or any other opinions that you can share that will help me make a decision. Thanks

I am not sure if the images got loaded right. So I am providing the links

http://sophalicious.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album01&id=cherrystand1

http://sophalicious.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album01&id=cherrystand2

http://sophalicious.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album01&id=cherrystand1&

http://sophalicious.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album01&id=cherrystand2&

Hard to say. What kind of wood is it? What kind of shape is it in? 18" is a bit on the shallow side, unless you know for sure you'll never put in a receiver that needs a few extra inches depth (plus room for the jacks and cable connectors in back).

My wife and I almost bought an Amish-built unit that was 18" deep, but after careful measurements we didn't feel that was deep enough. We wound up with the Standout Designs N702, and boy am I glad we went for the extra depth! Even with the 21" depth, our Onkyo receiver barely fits even with the extra couple of inches in back needed for all the speaker wires and cable connectors. I seriously don't think I could spare a single inch in depth.

So depending on your future needs, assuming the unit is in excellent shape, has good craftsmanship, and is made from a hardwood, I would guesstimate a fair price for a 3-year old piece like this would be in the $400-$600 range, fwiw.

Okay, hilariously, I had no idea that this category of furniture even really existed. I was looking at all these 'normal' furniture places and their stands would hold like, a dvd player, a cable box and that was about it. I was becoming seriously frustrated and actually was going to have someone build me a custom unit. The funny thing is that the measurements are almost EXACTLY what the BDI Avion 2 turned out to be, with the style and all the fancy bits that someone cramming 2 pcs, a receiver and a couple of video game systems in there could ever want.

My question is this... $1500 is a *lot* to me... do these guys ever go on sale? Most of the stores I found in a froogle search came in from $1500 to $1650... is there some place that's like the monoprice of home theater cabinets that I should be using?

Thanks for any help.

z-line vitoria stand with my new 52" xbr9 i just got yesterday

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/8689/img1294e.jpg

I seem to recall you stepped up from a 40" model. Thanks for posting that. I've got the Vitoria stand for a few months now and was looking to get the 52Z5100 or the 52XBR9 and am glad to see how it looks on the stand. I think it looks great.

My local Costco has the Slam Brands Paxton TV Console for $299.97. It looks just like the Savante Shemore that people discussed previously in this thread, except that it has a mahogany finish. The Paxton's dimensions are 57.4" wide, 20.5" deep (front to back), and 27.2" height.

It has ventilated shelves that pull out, center storage with pull-out media trays, built-in power strip, removable back panels, "Cable Pro" cable management ,and is made of solid wood with veneers finished in mahogany. All good stuff as far as I can tell. It seems perfect for my Samsung PN50B650, except for that the console is 27" tall!

I was planning on wall mounting my TV such that the middle of the screen is at ~42" (I think that's eye level for me when sitting on my sofa). I prefer wall mounting rather than placing it on the stand for looks and so my toddler doesn't knock it over (especially not on himself!). Since the TV is 30" top-to-bottom including the bezel, the bottom of the TV needs to be 27" off the floor in order for the middle of the TV screen to be at 42". I wanted to have at least 3" from the bottom of the TV to the top of whatever console I buy. I might need more than 3" to place a center channel speaker that I have yet to buy. Just assuming a 3" space means the console should be at most 24" tall. I noticed that the high-priced consoles mentioned in this thread and in Best Buy are at *most* 24" tall. Those units cost at least 50% more.

This is my first flat panel TV. Is 3" going to make much of a difference? If I buy the Paxton console and wall mount my TV with 3"-4" from the bottom of the TV to the console, the mid-point of my screen will be at 45" or 46" from the floor. Is that too high?

Well, I guess I'm looking for recommendations. When I originally bought my plasma, I bought a stand which I thought would hold my AV components, but doesn't. So for the last 18 months I've lived with using a table beside my setup that my AVR sits on. Well, I'm tired of that, so I'm looking to replace my current stand (Techcraft Sorrento series).

My budget: preferably under $500

Components:
Panasonic 42PX75U Plasma (don't plan to upgrade anytime real soon)
Yamaha RX-V1800 AVR (it's big!)
Klipsch C2 center speaker
DVD player
PS3
Wii
Tivo
(and a Pioneer 6 cd magazine changer if possible)

The Yamaha AVR dimensions (including space for the wires on the back) are: 18.5 depth; 17 width; 7 height

The C2 dimensions are: 20 w; 7.5 d; 8.25 h

I'm open to the tv either "sitting" on a top shelf or a spine mount. I'm in an apartment so can't wall mount.

I'm partially to cherry or darker wood but not black. Glass is OK, but prefer black not clear.

I'm interested maybe in the Whalen that Stereo Madman posted about and may go by Best Buy to have a look. I also like the looks of the "Showtime Cherry" stand available at roomstore except not sure how the center speaker would work.

http://www.roomstore.com/common/product/ProductInfo.aspx?itemid=213601&ChildId=213601&xs=464e12b8fa5-3a0a-4061-b246-d0a38507778b

I seem to recall you stepped up from a 40" model. Thanks for posting that. I've got the Vitoria stand for a few months now and was looking to get the 52Z5100 or the 52XBR9 and am glad to see how it looks on the stand. I think it looks great.

thanks.

Well, for what it is worth, I ended up with the Whalen stand that StereoMadMan showed on the previous page. I went by room store and nothing they had would have worked...not deep enough, not high enough, not enough shelving, etc. So then I went to Best Buy and splurged on the Whalen. Wasn't hard to put together...and according to my small level, the top where my plasma sits is level (bubble in the middle!). On the bottom shelf is my AVR and CD changer; on the middle shelf will be the Tivo and DVD player and on the top is the wii, ps3 and center speaker with plenty of room for all and the center speaker is just slightly off to one side. Pics will come later. The only thing I'm noticing so far (and it is because the floors in my apartment suck) is that when someone walks by the stand the tv will vibrate a tad...no where near in any danger of falling or tipping, but it does move a bit.

Pics will follow later.

My local Costco has the Slam Brands Paxton TV Console for $299.97. It looks just like the Savante Shemore that people discussed previously in this thread, except that it has a mahogany finish. The Paxton's dimensions are 57.4" wide, 20.5" deep (front to back), and 27.2" height.

It has ventilated shelves that pull out, center storage with pull-out media trays, built-in power strip, removable back panels, "Cable Pro" cable management ,and is made of solid wood with veneers finished in mahogany. All good stuff as far as I can tell. It seems perfect for my Samsung PN50B650, except for that the console is 27" tall!

I was planning on wall mounting my TV such that the middle of the screen is at ~42" (I think that's eye level for me when sitting on my sofa). I prefer wall mounting rather than placing it on the stand for looks and so my toddler doesn't knock it over (especially not on himself!). Since the TV is 30" top-to-bottom including the bezel, the bottom of the TV needs to be 27" off the floor in order for the middle of the TV screen to be at 42". I wanted to have at least 3" from the bottom of the TV to the top of whatever console I buy. I might need more than 3" to place a center channel speaker that I have yet to buy. Just assuming a 3" space means the console should be at most 24" tall. I noticed that the high-priced consoles mentioned in this thread and in Best Buy are at *most* 24" tall. Those units cost at least 50% more.

This is my first flat panel TV. Is 3" going to make much of a difference? If I buy the Paxton console and wall mount my TV with 3"-4" from the bottom of the TV to the console, the mid-point of my screen will be at 45" or 46" from the floor. Is that too high?


Three inches won't make any difference at all to your viewing experience or the aesthetics. The mid point of your TV being at 45" or 46" would be perfect. There are a lot of stands from Bello, Techcraft, and Bush that are in the $299 to $399 range as well that are only 23"-24" height which you may want to look at as well. Give yourself at least 6 inches of space between the top of the stand and the bottom of the TV if you are going to eventually get a center channel speaker because many center channel speakers are in that size range.

OK, here is a pic of the new setup. Or at least I hope so.

And yes, I have cables to hide still.



http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w123/texas_nightowl/tvstand.jpg

Anyone with experience with this company?

They have a sale online for particular colors of HF-33. I placed an order and got a confirmation email. But they call me (actually I called them but was told they were about to call me) and said some guy (probably her boss) told her not to ship any of those orders because he was not satisfied with some tests he did (but no details on what the problem is). And they will not do further test until maybe three to four weeks later. She asked if I want to cancel the order. But I asked her if those more expensive ones (HF-33 black and silver, the ones still regular priced) are okay to order, she said yes.

I am puzzled. They basically have the same structures as the black ones, except maybe the shelf materials. I think those have been for sale by other resellers for a while (the on sale ones as well), and still are being sold(though at a much higher price than the sale on Studio Tech site).

Is it possible they just don't want to honor the sale price and try to get out of it? But the items are still listed on sale on their web site.
http://www.studiotech.com/products/plasma_tv_stands/high_fidelity_hf-33/index.html

Anyone ever placed an order on these and was also told they will not be fulfilled?

I guess online shopping is full of possible unexpected problems, I thought I am done with the shopping, but now I am back into the process. More shopping to do I guess.

At this time Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882166029R) has a OPEN BOX TECH CRAFT PTV583B 60" Black MONACO Series TV Stand (http://www.techcraft.net/4105/detail.asp?product_id=1602) for $49.99. (may not be a good deal with shipping at $150.00).

Anyone with experience with this company?


I purchased a couple of stands from them back in July, and, except for a problem with the shipping company they chose, was quite satisfied with the customer service they rendered. They went above and beyond to make sure I was a happy customer.

If you want the straight story from the horses mouth, contact the General Manager, CiCi Cole (cici@studiotech.com). You can rely on the information you receive from her.

Dude, that's a sick set up. I'd probably never leave the house when I get my flat panel. Too broke to buy it today but I'm gonna break down soon and just buy one. Enjoy

If you want the straight story from the horses mouth, contact the General Manager, CiCi Cole (cici@studiotech.com). You can rely on the information you receive from her.

I emailed her, and she got back to me in only about 20 minutes. Good service.

Just picked up the Init 63" wide stand from Best Buy for my 60" plasma. It's on nationwide clearance for 50% off regular price (in store only) and still available at many BB stores. Three stores in my area still had stock. It's huge and can fit three components on a shelf and fits my 8" tall center with ease on the shelf just below the TV. It's glossy black and looks sharp.

Link (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8193554&st=init&type=product&id=1165609791326)

http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/8193/8193554_ra.jpg

Are you by any chance the same poster who mentioned this stand in the LG 60PS60 thread on slickdeals? In any case, thanks! I picked up this today and it looks great.

Link (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8193554&st=init&type=product&id=1165609791326)

http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/8193/8193554_ra.jpg

I've had this stand for about 2 years and it's pretty nice. The only thing you need to watch out for is the weight of the components you put on the lower 2 shelves.

My Paradigm CC390 center speaker was heavy enough (~30 lbs) to make the middle shelf sag about 3/4". The bottom shelf isn't much sturdier. My receiver makes it sag about 1/2" even though it's over near the edge.

It never broke or anything, but it's worth noting. :)

You can always go home-built. My neighbor where I previously lived had a well-equipped wood shop in his home and built this stand for me based on a simple design I sketched out. The width and depth of the shelves are based on the dimensions of typical AV components. I paid him $600 but it is built out of solid cherry and is very sturdy. There are hidden casters underneath that allow me to roll out the stand easily to get to the rear of my components. Right now it holds a 60" Sony SXRD which will soon be replaced by a 65" plasma, which the stand can easily support.

I intentionally kept the design simple and did not want doors on the front. We talked about covering the rear with something but I decided to keep it open to allow for proper air flow to dissapate heat. I am just not comfortable with closed designs when dealing with components that exhaust substantial heat, and installing fans does not necessarily sufficiently ventilate a design with closed doors. You can see I have a power amp in there and it puts out a lot of heat as does the DVR. The PS3 is like a George Foreman grill as far as its heat output.

I'm sure someone more clever could design a more attractive cabinet, but I am very happy with what my neighbor built. In this economy, I am sure there are a lot of skilled woodworkers in your area with wood shops who need some extra cash. So design something and get exactly what you want and at the same time support the local economy.

http://i541.photobucket.com/albums/gg396/barrister89/Stand_1a.jpg

http://i541.photobucket.com/albums/gg396/barrister89/stand_2.jpg

what tv is that?

it looks like a hybrid of the xbr9 and the older xbr4

crazy design

^^^ Looks like a XBR1 or XBR2.

Very nice stand. I've sketched out a simple stand design like yours and could build one up myself. I'm really leaning that way because everything I find is either too long or too tall. I would prefer something open like that also.

Isn't it amazing nobody makes a simple and afforable stand like that. Just a simple design that will hold your components and a center channel speaker.

Thanks for the pics. You have rekindled my DIY juices again. :D

Jim

Very nice stand. I've sketched out a simple stand design like yours and could build one up myself. I'm really leaning that way because everything I find is either too long or too tall. I would prefer something open like that also.

Isn't it amazing nobody makes a simple and afforable stand like that. Just a simple design that will hold your components and a center channel speaker.

Thanks for the pics. You have rekindled my DIY juices again. :D

Jim

Thanks. I looked at just about every stand available before throwing up my hands and designing my own. It was particularly difficult to find one with the proper height or enough space for my components. Plus the majority are too modern for my tastes, too expensive, or just plain ugly.

BTW, the tv is a 2006 SXRD (LCoS) rear projection set.

for $600, CHEERY WOOD & CASTERS is great. Hard to find people that are willing to make a cabinet 'AT A REASONABLE PRICE'.

I'm not sure if this is the right thread to ask this question, but I plan on getting a 40-42" tv and I have an armoire that it will reside in that will allow only about 1.5" on either side of the set and maybe an inch or two height clearance. Will this be a problem with either a plasma or LCD tv with regard to ventilation? Is one of the two technologies better able to handle tight enclosed spaces? I spent a ton of money on this thing a few years ago and I'm hoping it won't restrict my requirements for a replacement tv. Any help would be appreciated.

You should be fine with either plasma or LCD. With the front of the your pricey armoire open while viewing you should have more than adequate ventilation with either type of display. Plasmas do emit more heat than LCD, but I don't think it's an issue for you either way, so pick the display you like best.

I picked this guy up from Ikea. It looked horrible with the gaudy legs, but if they're removed, it looks pretty nice :) The build quality is typical of Ikea, so you have to be extra careful not to scuff it up, but other than that its not a bad buy for $220 I think.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v62/VicSkimmr/Townhouse/DSCN5931.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v62/VicSkimmr/Townhouse/DSCN5933.jpg

The frosted glass doors slide to give access to the shelves behind it.

WOW! I really like that stand! I think I will buy it for my new PN50B650 coming in next week. How is that stand holding for you? I think I will place the tv on the stand instead of hanging it on the wall.

Hi Everyone,

I was hoping that you guys could help me. We just launched our AV furniture site and I need advice on it's flow...overall look...click-ability...etc. I made the whole thing myself with limited internet experience and we are already starting to get national traffic with some of the search engine optimization that I added to the back end. I know AVS in not a web advice forum, but I didn't know where else to turn without paying some company a TON. I promise this is not a ploy to solicit business as our primary income stream is AV gear. This was a side project we wanted to pursue to diversify a bit in this not so great economy. I need your opinion on possible other lines to carry and if I should change things up a bit as far as categorization goes or move buttons around. Unfortunately some things are static on the site due to the way i designed it, but I would love everyone's feedback. Don't worry about being too critical...I can take it :)

Oh by the way what I have noticed just after launching the site is that we are primarily getting calls from women which took me by surprise because I deal with mostly men for every AV transaction. Are these stands you are buying because of the wives influence primarily?

woops ...I forgot to post the site www.axxisfurniture.com (http://www.axxisfurniture.com)

Thanks. I looked at just about every stand available before throwing up my hands and designing my own. It was particularly difficult to find one with the proper height or enough space for my components. Plus the majority are too modern for my tastes, too expensive, or just plain ugly.

BTW, the tv is a 2006 SXRD (LCoS) rear projection set.

That's a great tv and a beautiful stand.

First you could try e-bay. Local pick up option only so you don't have to pay an arm and a leg for the shipping. Thats option 1. Option 2 go to consignment shops you could always re-finish the furniture the way you want it to look, yeah it's work but in the end you can say that you styled it that way. Option 3 is IKEA. Depending on where you love you can go there and check things out or go to their website. They have a lot of things there that you can finish the way that you want it to look as well and finished products.
Option 4 is Big Lots. Of course most of these places you are going to have to have somebody drive you there and help carry the stuff but they are all pretty cheap and affordable. I hope all works out it should like your room is going to look pretty neat.

FYI - Studiotech has the rosewood U-22D on sale right now for 45% off if you buy directly from their website. I guess it's not selling as well as the black one, heh. Works out fine for me...the rosewood should match my speakers. :)

http://www.studiotech.com/misc/thumbnail.ashx?image=/images/products/photos/large/ultra_u-22d_u-22d_rw_b.jpg&width=230

FYI - Studiotech has the rosewood U-22D on sale right now for 45% off if you buy directly from their website. I guess it's not selling as well as the black one, heh. Works out fine for me...the rosewood should match my speakers. :)




Price is good and their product is worth the money, IF you can use ROSEWOOD.

My stand showed up today. Went together pretty easily and looks nice. Fairly stable, although there is a bit of wobble if you apply pressure sideways. The only thing that annoys me is that you can't use two of the shelf positions because the hinges are in the way. Seems like they could fix this pretty easily by having a little cutout toward the front of the shelf...

The color matches my rosewood colored Paradigms pretty well. Seems like a good stand for $400. I dunno if I would pay the regular $700 price though, heh.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k156/jaball77/House/IMG_1997.jpg
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k156/jaball77/House/IMG_2000.jpg
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k156/jaball77/House/IMG_1995.jpg

The only thing that annoys me is that you can't use two of the shelf positions because the hinges are in the way. Seems like they could fix this pretty easily by having a little cutout toward the front of the shelf...


I own two of those stands and fixed that problem myself by cutting out a 3" x 7/8" piece on the hinge side of my problem shelves. Now I can fit equipment on three shelves and the bottom with no limitations.

Rosewood works fine for me and matches my rosenut Hsu sub almost perfectly.

Does anybody know of an entertainment cabinet that has a center shelf space that will fit the Rocket RSC-200 center channel. The rocket center channel is 25 7/16" wide.

Specs are here:

http://www.av 123.com//index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=19&Itemid=37

^^^^take out space between av & 123

Unfortionately I really like the looks of the studio tech furniture but it appears the largest usable space for the center shelf is 25" wide. Just 7/16" too small!!!! Ugghhhhh!!!

I asked the help desk at studio tech if they could confirm this dimension but she seemed pretty clueless.

Anybody have a Ultra C-22T that can measure for me?


These are the two I was looking at:

http://www.studiotech.com/products/component_cabinets/ultra_u-22t/index.html

http://www.studiotech.com/products/component_cabinets/ultra_c-22t/index.html

This shows the center shelf space to be 25" wide:

http://www.studiotech.com/assets/pdf/specifications/ultra_c-22t_specifications.pdf

My speakers are rosewood and this is the perfect cab. for me if my center channel will fit.

Thanks

I live in earthquake country and am still patching cracks in the drywall from the last one. So, I'm not joking when I say I'm concerned about safety and stability for my recently acquired Panasonic plasma (TC-P50G15). For now, it's sitting on my old homebuilt coffee table and that can't continue.

Though I'd prefer to build my own stand, and may eventually, in the interim I've more or less settled on the Techcraft TRK55B stand because it has a built-in mount. I figure this might address the safety issue when the next tremor hits. I'm reluctant to mount the TV to the wall.

Does anyone have any reviews to offer of this stand? It's not available in any local retail outlets and I'll have to mailorder it. I'm especially wondering if the mount allows for some small adjustment of yaw (as in swivel).

Thanks!

Does anybody know of an entertainment cabinet that has a center shelf space that will fit the Rocket RSC-200 center channel. The rocket center channel is 25 7/16" wide.

Check out the Munari line from Diamond Case Designs and the FT72CCB from Furnitech.

Does anybody know of an entertainment cabinet that has a center shelf space that will fit the Rocket RSC-200 center channel.

i wish i could find one as well. currently have mine mounted above my tv, but i want a new stand and would prefer to put bigfoot in the cabinet. so far the only thing i've found is the sanus lowboy 69"

http://www.standsonline.com/Free-Shipping/Sanus-CFV69e-TV-Stand-up-to-70-TVs__SANUS-CFV69E.aspx


These are the two I was looking at:

http://www.studiotech.com/products/component_cabinets/ultra_u-22t/index.html

http://www.studiotech.com/products/component_cabinets/ultra_c-22t/index.html



i do not believe either of these will hold the bigfoot. i know for sure the u-22t won't without some cutting.

Check out the Munari line from Diamond Case Designs and the FT72CCB from Furnitech.

the furnitech won't accommodate it, too short
Usable Interior Dimensions For Center Channel Speaker Compartment:
10" H x 28.7" W x 17.9" D

would just barely fit in the manuri m1, bigfoot 25 7/16" W, manuri 26" wide

BDI Cirrus - new stand 25.75" wide x 13"H

http://www.bdiusa.com/theater/specifications/cirrus_8157.shtml

http://www.zfurniture.com/bdi-8157.html?zmam=9434877&zmas=1&zmac=2&zmap=BDI-8157

I own two of those stands and fixed that problem myself by cutting out a 3" x 7/8" piece on the hinge side of my problem shelves. Now I can fit equipment on three shelves and the bottom with no limitations.

I did the same thing last night... Hacked out a 3" x 3/4" strip of the shelf and it fits perfect. It was easy and a good reason to buy a new tool... I now own a jigsaw, heh.

hi i need some help, i am looking for something similar to the bello stand below, basically similar style with the tv mounted on the stand but without a big backpanel. The only similar ones i can find are by a company called BDI, but they are too expensive, almost as much as the tv itself. Are there any other alternatives? thanks.


http://www.bello.com/images/products/PR-10C_Room5.jpg

Look at LaFurnitureStore,you will find the newest and best furniture's designs.
dining set (http://www.diningsetdirect.com)

I am looking for a 3 in 1 integrated TV stand to hang my new Elite PRO 101 display and have found this Whalen stand (pic attached) in Costco. It looks nice with good build and great price.

I have some concerns though on the mounting bracket which is soldered to a metal mounting plate. While the spec indicates that it can hold TV up to 165 lbs, the weight of the TV will be rested solely on a few inches of soldered area between the bracket and the plate.

Can someone comments on the long term reliability of this structure by soldering two pieces of metal gears together to stand for the weight of the display? Do all TV metal mounting brackets have similar kind of constructions?

I have seen a number of pictures in Google showing this stand in action. Can any current user give me some feedback on the sturdiness of this mounting bracket structure?

Thanks
:)

FYI - Studiotech has the rosewood U-22D on sale right now for 45% off if you buy directly from their website. I guess it's not selling as well as the black one, heh. Works out fine for me...the rosewood should match my speakers. :)

http://www.studiotech.com/misc/thumbnail.ashx?image=/images/products/photos/large/ultra_u-22d_u-22d_rw_b.jpg&width=230

A big THANK YOU to Jaball for this.

I recently ordered my first HDTV (a Samsung PN50B650) and had been looking for a stand for the last several days. After scanning well over 1,000 thumbnail photos and detailed specs of over 100 TV stands from a variety of mfrs and retailers I still hadn't found anything that looked like it would really work -- at least not anything that didn't cost a fortune.

The U-22 is just about perfect for my application and at 45% off, the price is very reasonable.

I will try to remember to post my impressions of it after I receive it and put it together.

PS: The rosewood should match my Rocket speakers pretty well also.

Looking for a stand with an integrated mount but also with an enclosed area for my components. Pretty much everything I've found has been an open design. I've got a 3 year old and a 3 month old and the 3 year old likes buttons. Thanks!

Looking for a stand with an integrated mount but also with an enclosed area for my components. Pretty much everything I've found has been an open design. I've got a 3 year old and a 3 month old and the 3 year old likes buttons. Thanks!

We just received the U-22D from StudioTech. On page 7 of the assembly instructions they show "Optional metal pillars for plasma mounts".

That would probably work for you.

The cabinet is very nice, especially for the sale price of $379. It is very well made and can handle a lot of weight.

Another option would be to set the TV on top of the cabinet on its stand and then secure it to the wall or cabinet using the wall mount holes. That's what I plan to do.

I noticed that Studiotech is running quite a sale (1/3rd. normal price) on a nice glass stand:

http://www.studiotech.com/misc/thumbnail.ashx?image=/images/products/photos/large/high_fidelity_hf-33_hf-33_g_s.jpg&width=230

It's quite a reputable company, and this is a fairly new model, so they may be discontinuing it. Shame, really, looks like a nice stand, but I guess it's just the marketplace these days. Doesn't work for me, I have a 23.5" center (this stand maxes out at standard 19+" rack mount widths). But probably pretty sturdy, given all the tubing, if your center speaker fits.

(My quest for an openish stand with a 23.5" center, 9" shelf heights, and overall width 66-72" goes on, unfortunately, see:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1099923

for part of my quest)

Has anyone ever gotten the Hooker lift center console? I've been looking at it but it looks like there isn't enought space for components and cables and heat ventilation. How has it worked out?

Looking for a stand with an integrated mount but also with an enclosed area for my components. Pretty much everything I've found has been an open design. I've got a 3 year old and a 3 month old and the 3 year old likes buttons. Thanks!
Found what I was looking for!
$349 in store at BJ's.
http://content.vcommerce.com/products/414/79418414/fullsize.jpg?1554158643

http://shop.bjs.com/Whalen-Concord-54--34--Wide-3-in-1-TV-Console-TV-Stands_stcVVproductId79418414VVcatId550183VVviewprod.htm

Found what I was looking for!
$349 in store at BJ's.
http://content.vcommerce.com/products/414/79418414/fullsize.jpg?1554158643

http://shop.bjs.com/Whalen-Concord-54--34--Wide-3-in-1-TV-Console-TV-Stands_stcVVproductId79418414VVcatId550183VVviewprod.htm

I clicked on the link and saw the price listed as $299. That sounded good until I saw the shipping charge -- $210! Looks like picking it up at the store is the way to go.

I noticed the following in the list of features:

"Accommodates an up to 60" flat-panel LCD or plasma TV weighing up to 60 lb."

I don't know that there are any 60" LCD TVs that weigh less than 60 pounds, let alone plasmas. While that's not an issue for anyone mounting the TV on the wall, it makes me question how well built it is.

It does look very nice. As long as it seems sturdy enough it seems like a good option.

For those who don't mind the perforated metal instead of glass I'd say the StudioTech cabinet (above) is probably a better deal. It costs a bit more (about the same after tax actually), but is very solid and can hold up to 200 pounds on the top; 75 pounds on each adjustable shelf; and 150 pounds on each bottom shelf.

The total capacity is limited to 300 pounds though (not the implied 650 lb). Still, 300 lb is plenty.

That might not be an issue for many people but I'm using two Mackie FR2500 amps that are real boat anchors. IIRC they weigh about 50 pounds each.

I have a 50 Samsung PN50B650 sitting on top and it weighs almost 100 pounds.

Anyway, that is a nice looking cabinet and there's something to be said for glass vs perforated metal. With glass you can see the displays on your components -- that's a plus.

I clicked on the link and saw the price listed as $299. That sounded good until I saw the shipping charge -- $210! Looks like picking it up at the store is the way to go.

I noticed the following in the list of features:

"Accommodates an up to 60" flat-panel LCD or plasma TV weighing up to 60 lb."

I don't know that there are any 60" LCD TVs that weigh less than 60 pounds, let alone plasmas. While that's not an issue for anyone mounting the TV on the wall, it makes me question how well built it is.

It does look very nice. As long as it seems sturdy enough it seems like a good option.

For those who don't mind the perforated metal instead of glass I'd say the StudioTech cabinet (above) is probably a better deal. It costs a bit more (about the same after tax actually), but is very solid and can hold up to 200 pounds on the top; 75 pounds on each adjustable shelf; and 150 pounds on each bottom shelf.

The total capacity is limited to 300 pounds though (not the implied 650 lb). Still, 300 lb is plenty.

That might not be an issue for many people but I'm using two Mackie FR2500 amps that are real boat anchors. IIRC they weigh about 50 pounds each.

I have a 50 Samsung PN50B650 sitting on top and it weighs almost 100 pounds.

Anyway, that is a nice looking cabinet and there's something to be said for glass vs perforated metal. With glass you can see the displays on your components -- that's a plus.

I called the company and they said it can hold 160 lbs, so that's just a typo on BJ's site. You can pick it up in store for $350

I called the company and they said it can hold 160 lbs, so that's just a typo on BJ's site. You can pick it up in store for $350

That's more like it -- good deal!

I just received my new StudioTech model U-22T BA/B v3. Studiotech has changed the design since v2 and I know mine was one of the first new v3 units to ship and I wanted to share info about it because I'm sure it will be a popular stand.


Pre-sale and post-sale experience with Studiotech:
The folks at Studiotech are some of the most responsive and helpful of any vendor I've dealt with. Responses to emails inquires were prompt and representatives were helpful and courteous on the phone. If I asked a question they could not immediately answer I received an email with the requested information in a timely manner. The only place for improvement is their website which has some outdated info on it.

Delivery:
I believe delivery is contracted out plus every driver will be different so your experience may differ however, I had a great experience. The shipping company called the day before delivery to set-up a time and then again when they were about 30 minutes away so I knew to expect them. Getting a 55 foot trailer to my door is not a trivial task and even though the driver had to make 3 or 4 attempts to make the turn onto my street he was still in a good mood. The shipment comes on a pallet (4 boxes for the base stand, 3 more for the accessories I ordered) and the driver is only required to get it to the end of your driveway. The total weight for my shipment was 330 pounds so I was happy when the driver offered to wheel it into my garage. Only one of the boxes had damage to it but it only penetrated the outer packing. Everything is double packed in the heavy cardboard with ample Styrofoam padding and extra corner reinforcement. I was impressed with the condition the boxes came in since they originated in Malaysia.


Assembly:
Overall assembly went really well. All parts are labeled, the written instructions are clear (mostly) and one person can do it all with the exception of installing the bottom shelf. Here you really need two people. If you've ever worked with RTA furniture before you should have no problem. That said here are a few things to watch for. 1) Make sure you place the metal pillars in the correct place. Seven are all the same and one is different for mounting the center door. The location of the center door pillar was mis-marked on my unit and I didn't notice till I had all eight pillars installed and was rechecked them against the instructions.
2) I suggest leaving the protective padding on the doors until they are fully mounted. I had some trouble aligning the hinges and could have scratched the unit had I not left it on.
3) The instructions don't specify where to mount the optional casters. There are two locations corner casters could be installed and I just guessed which one was right. Possibly the instructions were just missing from my caster package.


High points (over previous model):
1) New steel pillar construction adds to strength and increases airflow.
2) Shelves have large circular cutouts in the center for ventilation, wide notched rears for running cables and have notches for shelf pins to keep them in place, shelve pins screw into the supports.
3) Base has large slots to allow air entry from below the unit.
4) Full rear panel with cutouts big enough to install components from rear but still provide structural support.

Things I would add/change:
1) Add 2 more shelf positions. Shelf positions are at approximately: 2.5", 6", ~7.75", ~8.75", 9.25", 11", 12.5", 16". Add positions between 2.5"/6" and 12.5"/16".
2) Allow user to choose what side the center panel opens from. There would be no clearance issues if hinge mounting tabs were on both sides.
3) Add cushion material to the top of the middle door "hidden handle" like on the top and bottom of the side doors. (I added some of my own - see picture)
4) This one is a personal preference: Use a smaller diameter hole patterns on the front and side metal mesh. I like the smaller hole pattern/size on my Boston E speakers. I believe I'll be able to change this myself once I locate the metal mesh I like.

Final Thoughts:
Get the Casters! This is one heavy unit. If your looking for console/stand that is designed for both appearance and functionality this might be the unit for you. I spent months looking for a stand that was both deep enough for my equipment and had good ventilation. The only three I found were the Studiotech U-22T/C-22T, Standout Designs Horizon N702 Plus and the Salamander Designs Synergy triple. I was a little leery of going the RTA route but I'm glad I did.

ASIDE:
I'll add more info re: dimensions and possibly an eTeks Sweet Home 3D file when I can. Right now I have a 99.5 degree temp and am in bed.

http://www.2s1g.com/image1/studiotech/slides/box.label.jpg
http://www.2s1g.com/image1/studiotech/slides/7.boxes.in.garage.jpg
http://www.2s1g.com/image1/studiotech/slides/shipping.box.with.damage.jpg
http://www.2s1g.com/image1/studiotech/slides/shipping.box.with.damage.close.up.2.jpg
http://www.2s1g.com/image1/studiotech/slides/box.2.with.instructions.jpg
http://www.2s1g.com/image1/studiotech/slides/inside.box.shows.packing.jpg
http://www.2s1g.com/image1/studiotech/slides/box.of.feet.and.poles.jpg
http://www.2s1g.com/image1/studiotech/slides/center.pannel.install.jpg
http://www.2s1g.com/image1/studiotech/slides/interior.of.unit.from.front.angle.jpg
http://www.2s1g.com/image1/studiotech/slides/back.side.of.center.pannel.shows.frame.jpg
http://www.2s1g.com/image1/studiotech/slides/side.door.inside.view.jpg
http://www.2s1g.com/image1/studiotech/slides/underside.of.side.shelf.jpg
http://www.2s1g.com/image1/studiotech/slides/top.of.side.door.showing.top.edge.jpg
http://www.2s1g.com/image1/studiotech/slides/my.mod.to.hidden.center.pannel.handel.jpg
http://www.2s1g.com/image1/studiotech/slides/back.side.without.cover.pannel.off.jpg
http://www.2s1g.com/image1/studiotech/slides/back.full.with.cover.pannel.off.jpg
http://www.2s1g.com/image1/studiotech/slides/back.full.with.cover.pannel.on.jpg
http://www.2s1g.com/image1/studiotech/slides/full.front.view.3.empty.jpg
http://www.2s1g.com/image1/studiotech/slides/full.front.view.4.full.jpg
http://www.2s1g.com/image1/studiotech/slides/full.front.view.jpg
http://www.2s1g.com/image1/studiotech/slides/angel.front.view.jpg

I just set up my new U-22 TX as well. Excellent quality (although I only got 1 shelf for each section whereas you got 2 for the left and right). I spent over a year finding one that would fit my center speaker and wa very happy when Studiotech increased the center length. I also bought the U-48 for my audio pieces but find that the new metal support bars do not allow me toplace a component on the bottom, I need to put a shelf on these bars to place my amp on (this wastes about 2 inches of the cabinet).

Great comment on the keeping the protective padding on the doors, I scratched mine in the corner. All in all worth the money in my opinion.

I just received my new StudioTech model U-22T BA/B v3. Studiotech has changed the design since v2 and I know mine was one of the first new v3 units to ship and I wanted to share info about it because I'm sure it will be a popular stand.

Love the new design. Mine has been ordered since September (estimated shipping date November 15) and I didn't know about the design change until reading your post.

Just a quick question. Are the removable back panels held on by velcro? Wasn't sure on the pic.

Love the new design. Mine has been ordered since September (estimated shipping date November 15) and I didn't know about the design change until reading your post.

Just a quick question. Are the removable back panels held on by velcro? Wasn't sure on the pic.

Yup, its Velcro, the best invention since duct-tape! (I bought a roll of double-sided Velcro from Monoprice and use it for cable ties and whatever else needs securing)

As for your wait, I ordered my wood sample kit on June 2nd and the U-22T on June 9th. I ordered direct from Studiotech and was told about the redesign and that I would be waiting a while but was not provided much info regarding the design change except that it was going to be very similar to the C-22T design with the U-22T look. As you might have guessed I am fairly meticulous about details and this is the most expensive item I've ever ordered sight-unseen. I was hesitant about getting it but since *every* review I found was positive, their reputation is great and the high level of customer service made the decision for me. NO, I don't work for Studiotech. If I did you can bet the few minor changes I'd like to see would have been made or at least considered. I just believe in giving credit where due and giving time, treasure or talent to help others if I can

NO, I don't work for Studiotech.

Thanks image1.
I wish you did work for StudioTech. Maybe you could hurry my order through.;)

Question for you guys that already own the StudioTech U-22T. Does the center channel sound vastly different being inside the cabinet than if it were say on it's on stand? I was considering leaving the doors off as an option to help the sound but I noticed there are some metal rings on the pillars which won't look so good with the doors off.

There are only a few contemporary cabinets I could find that could fit my center channel of 21" W and 8" H so I'm really interested in this piece as it looks great and doesn't cost as much as some others I've found.

Question for you guys that already own the StudioTech U-22T. Does the center channel sound vastly different being inside the cabinet than if it were say on it's on stand? I was considering leaving the doors off as an option to help the sound...

Leaving the center door off isn't going to make much if any difference. The v3 door is covered in grill cloth compared to the v2 model that had the same metal mesh as the two side spaces.
Moving the speaker from inside to setting on top will make a difference but how much depends on your speakers driver configuration, distance you sit from the speaker, placement on the front edge vs further back on top and how you have your TV mounted. Before my U-22T arrived I had moved my previous stand (Room and Board Woodwind console bookcase (http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/product/detail.do?productGroup=19782&catalog=filter&menuCatalog=type&menuSubcategory=202141)) into another room and had the TV and speaker just sitting on top of a box. I didn't expect to hear a difference but I did and it sounded better. The change was elevating the speaker to just bellow the screen and getting it out from inside the console so there was nothing blocking any of the sound wave. Currrently I'm experimenting with the center inside the U-22T and trying to get it angled right so the voices sound "close" to the image on the screen. I did get the mounting bars for the U-22T and will likely order a wall mount soon to see if that makes a difference. My hunch is that it will sound better but, there is the WAF to consider so we'll see.

I used to have my center speaker on a shelf above a 50" Tv and sat about 11-12ft away, now I have the speaker underneath the TV in the cabinet and sit 9-10ft. I don't notice too much of a difference (the center speaker is a Monitor Audio Gold Reference).

Attached a picture (how do you put the pic in the posting directly?).

I used to have my center speaker on a shelf above a 50" Tv and sat about 11-12ft away, now I have the speaker underneath the TV in the cabinet and sit 9-10ft. I don't notice too much of a difference (the center speaker is a Monitor Audio Gold Reference).

Attached a picture (how do you put the pic in the posting directly?).

Jon, can you take a better shot of the wood veneer? It looks darker and not as red as the other photos. I like it better :)

Thanks

Jon, can you take a better shot of the wood veneer? It looks darker and not as red as the other photos. I like it better :)

Thanks


Will try tonight, probably my camera. It is more red in the light.

Here is another picture of the stand. It looks pretty dark with average light. If you have Rosewood speakers then it should go very nicely. My speakers are rosewood and it matches well.

Hello,
I have just started looking for a tv stand and I really want the Z Line Vitoria 44" with integrated mount to go with the 50" Panasonic V10 I plan on getting around Christmas. The girlfriend isn't too happy but what can you do. LOl I see the lowest price online is Buy.com at $328.83. I found a similar one at Walmart with a different model number but it doesn't have the tempered black glass. However, that one is only $159.99 which I like of course, but I really want the one with the black tempered glass. Has anyone found the one with the black tempered glass like dh4645 got at BJs for $199.99 recently? Thanks in advance.

Nevermind, it seems that BJ's offers the same model under a different name, the Venetian. It seems they still sell it for around $199.99 if anyone is interested with the black tempered glass.

Here is another picture of the stand. It looks pretty dark with average light. If you have Rosewood speakers then it should go very nicely. My speakers are rosewood and it matches well.

Thank you.

Having major WAF issues right now!!!!

In case anybody is interested this is what they sent me when I asked for the dimensions.

I used to have my center speaker on a shelf above a 50" Tv and sat about 11-12ft away, now I have the speaker underneath the TV in the cabinet and sit 9-10ft. I don't notice too much of a difference (the center speaker is a Monitor Audio Gold Reference).

Attached a picture (how do you put the pic in the posting directly?).
To attach an image into a post you need to have the picture stored online like photobucket or one of them. Then you would use the img tag with brackets and you copy and paste the web address in between the img tags. Like this copy and paste web address here you need the forward slash at the end img tag. IIRC photobucket has and option that all you do is copy it and the picture and img tags are already there

In case anybody is interested this is what they sent me when I asked for the dimensions.
You also need to take in to consideration the space the hinges take up on the "hinge side" (both sides if you want to center something) and for the center the width of the frame around the speaker cloth door. I'll measure these when I get a chance.