yeah, I was interested in the significantly smaller (57" wide) CSF/DVD Straight/corner cabinet to hold a 40-42" display.... but that also (if i get the little glass doors) is only a little shy of $1.9K. Hard to swallow, but weird, that no other manufacturers have figured out that there must be a center-channel speaker conundrum for lots of folks, no?

I've seen lots of pictures of setups that have the center chanel on top of the unit, in front of the monitor. I assume that is mostly because of it not fitting within the cabinet. I too wonder about the designers of these cabinets and why they are not creating larger openings for larger cc speakers. Maybe they assume those who buy their cabinets have small HTIB's and not 'serious' systems... who knows?

I'm going to further investigate these units:
http://www.hometheaterforeveryone.com/pages/20/index.htm

I'd certainly want to support designers and craftsmen who thoughtfully construct efficient and well built furniture.

cheers

shane

since BDI was mentioned previously above, this model looks up my alley also:

http://www.bdiusa.com/avfurniture/avion_8528.shtml

Nice looking, and I think(?) that a center channel can go in that top area with the pull-down drawer-looking thing, but I'm not sure.

BUT... WHAT were they thinking making the shelf depth only 16.5", given that Denons are over 17" deep, Pioneers over 18" deep, etc...

since BDI was mentioned previously above, this model looks up my alley also:

http://www.bdiusa.com/avfurniture/avion_8528.shtml

Nice looking, and I think(?) that a center channel can go in that top area with the pull-down drawer-looking thing, but I'm not sure.

BUT... WHAT were they thinking making the shelf depth only 16.5", given that Denons are over 17" deep, Pioneers over 18" deep, etc...


Uh huh... I had considered:
http://www.bdiusa.com/avfurniture/avion_8529.shtml

But the center 'drawer' is only 7" tall. Wha? My cc speaker is 7.5". Ugh. It's a great looking piece, but it just won't work.

And yes, what's with the 'baby' component depth?

Back to where I was... ;)

shane

Bought this locally in Orlando for my Panasonic PD50U.

Only complaint is it doesn't hide the cable/wires much, but I can get over it. I did my best to hide and cover colored wires with black tubing.

Brackets mount to the tv which allow you to adjust the height of the tv once it's bolted on.

Finally found something in which I can fit all of our stuff and that's aesthetically acceptable to my spouse. We had to special order the TV base to have it at 19 inch high but the rest was standard.

See attached picture. (please forgive barrell distortion)

99allturbo,

The unit you're using, are there any other versions of it, and if so, can they be viewed and ordered online?

I have Shanes similiar issue, a center too large to fit in most center speaker spaces. My wife and I are now thinking about possibly putting the rest of our AV gear in a cabinet or something to the side of the TV, and only have the TV and the center on whatever TV stand we buy.

-JR

http://www.sanus.com/cgi-bin/web_store.cgi?page=products/furniture/java/JFV75e.html&cart_id=2831889_25026

So this thing is great looking...
A couple problems with it, though. The shelf spacing is only 6". Wazzamatta with them? The unit is only 18" high. What components will fit in there? Even if you can get your cc in there... what receiver worth it's weight will fit in a 6" shelf?

Not mine.

I still think this is the answer. The closest to correct.
http://www.hometheaterforeveryone.com/images/mzz_CSFcredenza82_101905.pdf

That... or I'll have to get one built to spec. ;)

cheers

shane

99allturbo,

The unit you're using, are there any other versions of it, and if so, can they be viewed and ordered online?

I have Shanes similiar issue, a center too large to fit in most center speaker spaces. My wife and I are now thinking about possibly putting the rest of our AV gear in a cabinet or something to the side of the TV, and only have the TV and the center on whatever TV stand we buy.

-JR

I've seen it at another store locally where the silver (metal) frame is black and it was more expensive. I don't think you can see it online, but the store that has it in black is:
http://www.inspirationfurniture.com/studio/index.html


The local store I bought it from (Orlando, Fl) is:

http://www.eclectic-furniture.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65_70_101&products_id=436

The other store (in Texas though) that carries it is Eurway.com:
http://www.eurway.com/storage.lasso?itemid=3011&categorykey=96&subcategorykey=54&page=1&-session=eo_user:D8C72EB90c3ba100B0knN191762F

I've purchased furniture from Eurway and have had excellent service from them. Just an FYI.

Hope that helps.

Do you guys like this one from crateandbarrel?

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=991&f=10305&q=latitude&fromLocation=Search&DIMID=400001&SearchPage=1

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/is-viewers/dynapi/src/lib/tsapi/images/cover.gif?400x400

Do you guys like this one from crateandbarrel?

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=991&f=10305&q=latitude&fromLocation=Search&DIMID=400001&SearchPage=1

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/is-viewers/dynapi/src/lib/tsapi/images/cover.gif?400x400


I just purchased this and set it up with my new Panasonic TH-42PX60U plasma. I think it looks great. Took a little bit to build, but well worth the wait.

Do you guys like this one from crateandbarrel?

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=991&f=10305&q=latitude&fromLocation=Search&DIMID=400001&SearchPage=1

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/is-viewers/dynapi/src/lib/tsapi/images/cover.gif?400x400

Nice looking, functional unit.
It's a bit small (overall) for my purposes, though.

shane

I just purchased this and set it up with my new Panasonic TH-42PX60U plasma. I think it looks great. Took a little bit to build, but well worth the wait.
thanks! Do you have any pics of it with your setup? From the crate&barrel site, the piece seems like it might be too small as shane said.

It is perfect for my 42in plasma. I will try to take some pics tonight and upload it so everyone can see my work of art. I am so proud of it. I dont sleep at night.

It is perfect for my 42in plasma. I will try to take some pics tonight and upload it so everyone can see my work of art. I am so proud of it. I dont sleep at night.
lol, you have no clue. My gf's parents wondered why we were visitng so much more, esp me. Their new 50 inch plasma had a little to do with it. I can see myself sleeping right next to my new tv every night for the first month. I'll wait for the pics or you can email me at dieselclown@hotmail.com. Thanks! :)

I bought the same ethan allen piece. Its being delievered on saturday. The only thing that really bugs me is that the optional plasma mount back panel must be mounted to the wall? What the hell is the point of that? So I need to pay $300 for a piece of wood that I have to attach to a wall? Lame. I kinda wish i bough the salamander piece so that I can buy there plasma mount stand.....sigh.....don't get me wrong it looks nice and all but limits functionality and flexibility.

I'm considering getting the EA piece and I stopped by a store to see it today. It looked really great. Why do you say the back panel must be mounted to the wall? The back panel appears to be held up with two sturdy metal bars which should support the panel and TV. Are you saying the back panel is not sturdy enough? Please explain why you think the panel must be mounted to the wall.

Thanks.

Dieselcrown,


latitude media stand dimensions

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I went home tonight and got the dimensions for the center space. Taking the shelf in the middle out (it is removable if you want and the height can be adjusted if you want to use it as a shelf)

The dimensions are:

across (from left to right): 19 inches
height(from top to bottom): 17 inches
depth(from front to back of stand): 17 inches

Your center channel should fit.

Thought I would share my set up. This is the EA piece that a few recent posts have mentioned.

I apologize ahead of time for the substandard photography!

Thought I would share my set up. This is the EA peice that a few recent posts have mentioned.

Hey curtisdr...
Nice looking cabinet. Can you give me the CC shelf dimensions?

TIA

shane

wow, this is one long thread. after browsing all of it,i decided on this piece made by a company called winners only. paid almost $700 for it.

As I get ready to add a display, I've been doing cabinet prep work and one of the issues has been to not only insure I've got good ventilation for my set but also for the various components. I'm going with an older square hole cabinet in living room because I don't want to discard it. The components are in a separate cabinet right next to it, in vertical arrangement with glass doors. My mission was to design a fan setup which could cool both the components and the new (or old) TV. When I originally installed the 12v electronics-cooling fan with a 12v source, it was quite loud. Nothing I did seemed to help much. Gradually, I began to find solutions to quieting it down. The fan doesn't need to run fast, that's one thing I learned; Some cooling is better than none. I insulated the fan on rubber mounts, that helped a little. I reversed the air flow (fan is mounted high up at the top of the components rack) to exhaust flow, and ducted it with a 4 ft flexible plastic clothes dryer vent hose, the mylar type material with wire spiral frame. Placement of that hose allows cooling of the TV with the exhaust air from the cabinet (no, it isn't too hot...because it is flowing). Finally I put the fan on a reduced, variable voltage transformer. I tried different motors, the lower ma motors seemed to offer more flexibility with lower volatages; am using either 7.5v or 6v if I really don't want to hear anything at all. The fan is located near the top component (amp). I made cardboard baffles and staggered them atop the receiver so that the exhaust air flows around the baffle, and noise is reduced further. I painted the baffles black so they are not seen and covered them with one urethane clear coat so they wouldn't shed paper dust inside the receiver.

I could probably post a few pics if someone is interested.

Thought I would share my set up. This is the EA piece that a few recent posts have mentioned.

I apologize ahead of time for the substandard photography!wow that's a beautiful unit! Do you have the option of wallmounting it as well to the board?

I have been reading this and looking around locally and have come to the conclusion.... It has been a real challenge to find a cabinet that will house a center speaker 22" wide/9"tall. The positive news is that I contacted a local cabinet maker and they designed a cabinet that fits the bill perfectly but........it comes at a high price-2k. So for now, 2k for exactly what I want or .........or what?

This is a great thread.

John

I really like this unit....but I just can't find it in or around the NYC area. Does anybody know the manufacturer of this unit??

http://www.eurway.com/storage.lasso?itemid=3011&categorykey=96&subcategorykey=24&page=1&-session=eo_user:C04DC60C0c4e6225AEKNwH2200A5

http://www.eurway.com/catalog_images/extra_MEGA-ENTsi.jpg

actualy, this one would probably match my decor WAY better. Does EURWAY make their own furniture? Why do they have to be in texas!? :(

http://www.eurway.com/catalog_images/extra_FUTURA-ENTxsi.jpg

actualy, this one would probably match my decor WAY better. Does EURWAY make their own furniture? Why do they have to be in texas!? :(
Eurway is much like IKEA. Not sure if Eurway actually makes their own stuff or just has third parties make it for them exclusively and sells it under the Eurway name.

Dania sells a similar piece (http://www.daniafurniture.com/?page=shop/flypage&page_back=shop/category_items&offset=0&product_id=1368&category_id=1daa0d19ea4b945e437120f02c136ddd)to the first one you linked to.

wow that's a beautiful unit! Do you have the option of wallmounting it as well to the board?

Yes. I orginally purchased the backboard so that I could mount the center channel above the plasma, but it is made sturdy enough that you could mount the plasma to it.

I have been reading this and looking around locally and have come to the conclusion.... It has been a real challenge to find a cabinet that will house a center speaker 22" wide/9"tall. The positive news is that I contacted a local cabinet maker and they designed a cabinet that fits the bill perfectly but........it comes at a high price-2k. So for now, 2k for exactly what I want or .........or what?

This is a great thread.

John

So show it to us please... if it's not finished, how about posting the drawings? :)

Thanks!

shane

Finally got my furniture in from Diamondcase. It is designed to hold just about any amount of weight, has casters, and I had exhaust fans installed in each cabinet. Now if I just could get that 50" 600U to replace my current TV.

Front View Closed

http://members.cox.net/holydoc/stereo/Front%20view%20Closed%20Better.jpg

Front View Open:

http://members.cox.net/holydoc/stereo/Front%20View%20Open.jpg

Side View:

http://members.cox.net/holydoc/stereo/Side%20View.jpg

Thanks, HolyDoc, for those pictures!

I take it you are satisfied with your dealings with DiamondCase?

What were the final damages to your wallet?

Those Diamondcase pics are super. I think I've now found my favorite flat panel credenza. Do they have one that will suffice for a Panny 65"er?

I really like this unit....but I just can't find it in or around the NYC area. Does anybody know the manufacturer of this unit??

http://www.eurway.com/storage.lasso?itemid=3011&categorykey=96&subcategorykey=24&page=1&-session=eo_user:C04DC60C0c4e6225AEKNwH2200A5

http://www.eurway.com/catalog_images/extra_MEGA-ENTsi.jpg

This unit is made by Elite Manufacturing. They do have dealers in NY. see mfg website
elitemfgusa.com

The Elite Manufacturing site says it is also available in black. Nice find.

Those Diamondcase pics are super. I think I've now found my favorite flat panel credenza. Do they have one that will suffice for a Panny 65"er?

That's what I am planning on getting. But I will probably wall mount it.

what do you guys think of this? its the Bonde sideboard from IKEA. i've always liked it...would be ok to put either a 40-46 samsung lcd or a 50 plasma? does anyone have this? can it support the weight of these tvs? is it too narrow on top?

thanks.

That's what I am planning on getting. But I will probably wall mount it.

That is what I have to decide once I get the plasma, whether I should wall mount or leave it sitting on the credenza.

And yes, I was very satisfied with the dealings with diamondcase. They were very patient, sent me color pallettes to look at, sent me a CAD drawing of my furniture ahead of time to confirm, and kept me informed of progress during the build.

Finally...they are expensive. Almost a cheap plasma worth for furniture. :) Of course that is a consideration when you are purchasing furniture. Whether you want to spend a lot to get exactly what you want or spend just enough to get by. In my case, pre-fab furniture did not meet my needs, so I eat Ramen Noodles instead of steak for a month.

:D

This unit is made by Elite Manufacturing. They do have dealers in NY. see mfg website
elitemfgusa.com

Saw this at Dania, looks pretty nice. The stainless steel frame might be a little too "cold" looking for most people. Also, no easy place for a center channel.

I just bought an Ethan Allen media cabinet, along with the 68" Plasma TV Panel. I want to mount my plasma onto it, and I bought a Sanus VMPL2 wall mount. Have any of you done this yet? How? The problem is that the Sanus instructions say to drill in a 2.5" bolt into the wood studs (if I were mounting it on a regular wall), but the panel is only 1.5" deep at its thickest! What do I do?

I had my piece custom made at a unfinished furniture store. It cost $600 and I stained it myself. I ordered the glass doors today.

http://home.comcast.net/~dnell87/home.jpg

That is exactly what I'm looking for! Do you have the dimensions? Will they ship one?

I just bought an Ethan Allen media cabinet, along with the 68" Plasma TV Panel. I want to mount my plasma onto it, and I bought a Sanus VMPL2 wall mount. Have any of you done this yet? How? The problem is that the Sanus instructions say to drill in a 2.5" bolt into the wood studs (if I were mounting it on a regular wall), but the panel is only 1.5" deep at its thickest! What do I do?

Since you can get to both sides, how about using bolts, nuts, and washers?

Since you can get to both sides, how about using bolts, nuts, and washers?
And if you're concerned at all, use "fender washers." They're a lot lot larger outside diameter than a standard washer. You can get them at any Ace.

I had my piece custom made at a unfinished furniture store. It cost $600 and I stained it myself. I ordered the glass doors today.

http://home.comcast.net/~dnell87/home.jpglooks great! is that the new pd60u??

And if you're concerned at all, use "fender washers." They're a lot lot larger outside diameter than a standard washer. You can get them at any Ace.

I am mainly nervous that the wall mount will not be secure enough if there isn't the full 2.5" for the lag bolts (i.e., if the bolts stick out 1" from the back, will that be sturdy enough for the TV?). I am not such a handy person, so I don't know if I should be worried about this. Anyone know?

By the way, while the furniture looks nice, I have had a terrible experience with Ethan Allen so far. It was supposed to take 4-6 weeks to arrive, and it took over 3 months. Also, I asked them how to mount the TV, and they gave me no help.

I am mainly nervous that the wall mount will not be secure enough if there isn't the full 2.5" for the lag bolts (i.e., if the bolts stick out 1" from the back, will that be sturdy enough for the TV?). I am not such a handy person, so I don't know if I should be worried about this. Anyone know?


Like I mentioned, use bolts, nuts, and washers. I don't know what is supplied with the mount, but you can go to a hardware store and easily purchase what you need. Take your mount in and ask someone. It will easily be secure enough.


By the way, while the furniture looks nice, I have had a terrible experience with Ethan Allen so far. It was supposed to take 4-6 weeks to arrive, and it took over 3 months. Also, I asked them how to mount the TV, and they gave me no help.

I bought the same piece from EA. The panel was scratched and one of the doors was cracked. Took them months to get replacements. My sister bought a different piece from EA and they cracked the backboard carrying it in. For the price, the quality isn't even that good. It's disappointing to see that this stuff is all made in China.

That is exactly what I'm looking for! Do you have the dimensions? Will they ship one?

You can call them and ask.

Towne Furniture
(425) 885-7797

It is called the 'EW Alder CCF'
24" tall
60" long
20" deep
w/ Flush glass frame doors

This unit is made by Elite Manufacturing. They do have dealers in NY. see mfg website
elitemfgusa.com
Thanks for the info btw! I'm going with this one instead. The couple of hundred bucks I save will go into a nice home theater system. :)

http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2005/051/h051PFFP2B-f.jpeg

I went with Visu, a Canadian company. It was a custom order, a "Phoebe" top with an "Obi" base. On the downside, it was almost as expensive as the plasma, I had to figure out how to attach the wall unit to the wall since the normal mounting brackets were not attached, and despite a generous depth I STILL had to cut out the backing for my equipment. On the upside, the large door glides across to reveal other equipment when needed, and well.....just look at it. It's friggin' gorgeous!

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=57412&stc=1

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=57413&stc=1

I received my Ikea Markor yesterday. I took me an hour and half to put it together, which was a little less than I expected. It's all wood and it actually looks much better in person than it does in any of the images I've seen on the net. I'm sitting my Vizio P42-HDTV directly on top of it, and it puts it at just about the ideal height (28") off the floor.

The middle bay was wide enough to accomodate my Onkyo TX-SR303 surround sound receiver. I've got my XBox 360 on the bottom of the middle bay, leaving plenty of room above it for heat removal. I'm still concerned about the amount of heat it generates, and may consider putting a 90mm fan at the back to pull the heat out the back.

I've got my cable set top box in the right bay, which is behind a glass door. The remote works fine with it there, but I'm a little concerned about the heat getting out of that bay sufficiently. The design is such that there's a ~2" opening between the outer and center bays in the back. This funnels some of the air out of these glass doored bays, but I don't think they were really intended to have heat generating electronics placed in them. Again, I think the fan would help pull air out of this bay.

Overall, I'm delighted with the Ikea Markor. It looks far more expensive than the $229, MSRP that I paid for it. It took me three weeks to get it after ordering it, but they way their delivery company works, you have "X" number of deliveries in your area before they can justify a shipment. I was expecting that, so I'm not complaining. It was $134 for shipping, but that's not much more than it would have cost me to drive to Atlanta to pick it up, not to mention the 12 hours, round trip, I would have lost.

I'll try to post some picks if I can get my daughter's digital camera working. Meanwhile, here's a link to the Ikea page on the TV Stand I bought: Ikea Markor (http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15561&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=68562&langId=-1&parentCats=15561*15641*15962) Overall, I'm a very happy customer.

but the panel is only 1.5" deep at its thickest! What do I do?
Do you mean the stand is only 1.5" thick? Is the stand made to support a flat panel?

Before I even thought about furniture I wall-mounted my TH-42PX60U at the height I thought best (24" from the floor.)

Then came the problem of trying to find something to go under it. Most of the pieces I looked at were too tall, too deep, or just too big. I figured some really large or really deep piece of furniture was just defeating the wall-mounting in the first place.

Unable to find anything suitable, I bought 3 Sauder E-Z cubes (and optional feet kit) from Sears. I thought my days of cheap "put together furniture out of the box" were over, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

Turns out the height/depth was just right and by stacking my components I was able to hide all of the wires and that saved me the work of trying to conceal them in other ways.

This will do until I find the right piece. Hopefully with more people buying and wall-mounting plasmas there will be more choices soon.

http://home.mchsi.com/~payton/EZCubes.jpg

IKEA Bonde Sideboard (http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15561&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=40155&langId=-1&parentCats=15561*15639*15644)

what do you guys think of this? does anybody have this and can share some thoughts on it? i'm thinking of put a 46" samsung LCD on it...probably weight about 100 pounds...just wondering if this is sturdy enough for it....i'd get it in birch tho not white.

thanks.

DCPMark: I'd like to ask you about the colorful clock in the picture. I used to have one and would like to get another. I didn't know they were still being made. Do you have the name of the manufacturer? Where did you get it? TIA

Added later: OK, I found it on the internet.

IKEA Bonde Sideboard (http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15561&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=40155&langId=-1&parentCats=15561*15639*15644)

what do you guys think of this? does anybody have this and can share some thoughts on it? i'm thinking of put a 46" samsung LCD on it...probably weight about 100 pounds...just wondering if this is sturdy enough for it....i'd get it in birch tho not white.

thanks.

I'd be weary of trying to put anything heavy like a TV on this. The insides shelves will only hold 29lbs, and the whole thing is made out of particle board.

DCPMark: I'd like to ask you about the colorful clock in the picture. I used to have one and would like to get another. I didn't know they were still being made. Do you have the name of the manufacturer? Where did you get it? TIA

At a place called Chrono Art. I have every single one of their clocks:

http://homepage.mac.com/chronart1/index.html

Enjoy!

P.S. If you are really interested in one of the clocks called the "Aurora, " I have one of the originals from the '70s that will be going on the auction block soon....

Not sure how high of a unit I am looking for, but I plan on getting a Samsung HP-S5053 unit. My plan was to get a wider unit (much wider than the TV) and sit my M&K K7 bookshelves on it rather than using speaker stands.

I saw the BDI Avion 8529 (http://www.homeaudiosuperstore.com/bdi-avion-8529.html) at a local store and fell in love with it. Love the center drawer with the mesh front that will allow my M&K center channel to fit! I'm not so in love with the price though (~$1500!) :(

1) anyone have this unit? thoughts?
2) How will this will look with a 50" on it being so much wider than the TV?
3) If I place my speaker on each end of the stand, wondering if they are far enough apart to get the proper separation between left and right? I"m seated about 10' away. Anyone have this same type of setup with pics?

Has anyone here ever buy anything from "Better Buy Electronics" I have searched it for the store to see how reputable they are, but none come up. If you have dealt with them in the past, please let me know.

http://www.betterbuyelectronics.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=221340&strVarSel=&strCompare=

looks great! is that the new pd60u??It looks more like a Costco TH-42PM50U or TH-50PM50U (the bezel is gray and fatter than the newer PX50U).

Has anyone here ever buy anything from "Better Buy Electronics" I have searched it for the store to see how reputable they are, but none come up. If you have dealt with them in the past, please let me know.

http://www.betterbuyelectronics.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=221340&strVarSel=&strCompare=

Try resellerratings.com to see if there are any comments about this vendor.

bobby_t1, I have the BDI 8529 in the cherry finish in my living room. In addition, I have their 8540 mounting system that has two sleek looking posts that hide all of the cables and a universal mounting bracket. I have a 40 inch Samsung LN-R408D mounted on it and it looks absolutely beautiful. You might consider the lighter cherry wood finish as the darker wood finish shows a great deal of dust.

The piece doesn't look too wide with my 40 inch Samsung LCD on it and the mounting posts can support up to a 50 inch flat screen per BDI's specs.

How wide are the speakers that you plan on putting on each end? I have my speakers on stands placed next to each end of the 8527 and they sound great with my sofa 10 feet away.

The bottom line is that IMHO this is a beautiful piece of furniture that is well designed for it's end use. If you can afford it, you will love the way that it looks, especially with the plasma mounted on those posts.

Wow you guys are a fantastic source of information! I purchased a Panasonic 42" plasma last weekend! :) But it is still in the box sitting in the garage waiting for the proper furniture. :( Glad to hear I'm not the only one having trouble finding the 'perfect piece'.

Being new to wide screen TV's I have question..Is there a reason most stands for these TV's are under 24" tall? I remember watching the old floor console TV's and something was always in the way of the screen. It was kinda nice when the monster entertainment furniture brought the TV to greater heights. Now we've got these great plasma's and they are going down to the floor again!

I've been dismissing any stand that sits under 24" and searching for that 'gem' closer to 30" tall. I few of your posts has me wondering if there might be a viewing reason for the shorter stands. I don't want to drive myself crazy looking for something that will in the end take away from my viewing pleasure. Help!

Thanks for any response.

Being new to wide screen TV's I have question..Is there a reason most stands for these TV's are under 24" tall? I remember watching the old floor console TV's and something was always in the way of the screen. It was kinda nice when the monster entertainment furniture brought the TV to greater heights. Now we've got these great plasma's and they are going down to the floor again!


I personally wouldn't want it any higher than 24" I think 20" would be perfect for me and my PX50U. I don't want to have to constantly look up to see the TV.

Here's my setup.

It's a 32" Westinghouse LTV-32W6 mounted on this furniture. The middle part has 2 slots. lower one is a cabinet. upper one is a sliding tray to hold remote controls [which is the cool part].

as you can see, the Front right and left speakers of my HTIB fit in nicely in the space in this furniture to achieve that clean look. I thought about mounting the center channel near the LCD TV but haven't done it yet.

excuse the gamecube in there. I just tested it to see the quality using component cables. They look fantastic!

However, due to the location [which so far is the only best location for it], I may consider replacing this with a small corner shelf-like stand. Anybody interested if ever I decide to sell this? I'm in south NJ.

thanks.

krblgc

I personally wouldn't want it any higher than 24" I think 20" would be perfect for me and my PX50U. I don't want to have to constantly look up to see the TV.

I'm ordering this today.
http://www.hometheaterforeveryone.com/pages/20/index.htm

At the bottom of the page... the CSF82.

It's 22"h. The center channel opening is big enough for my Ascend cc.

cheers

shane

Well, I wanted to add to the list that I will vouch for the new Tech Craft Sorrento EDG50B.

There aren't many reviews out there since it is new. After many store visits and research, I bought and built it yesterday.

I have a spacing requirement and this 50" stand met my needs. Plus I have twin 3 year olds, so the sturdy factor was important. :D

I was going to go with the "Z" design stands but my wife wanted something that looked more appealing. The materials used in the table are top notch. Professionally finished wood, well sodered shelfs, quality paint finish and extremely strong frosted tempered glass shelves. You will spend time with your allen wrench when putting this together. It took me over an hour to build. :eek:

When completed, it supported my body weight (200lbs) laying across the top of it.

I would give this stand two thumbs up.

PM me if you have any questions.

Cheers

I've been dismissing any stand that sits under 24" and searching for that 'gem' closer to 30" tall.

Have you seen this one. I have it and it is a great peice for plasmas
The Carino Collection (http://www.racksandstands.com/asp/show_collection.asp?XnID=4067)

BrianH33

Wow! That is so cool! It's a little too long for my room, but it is nice! Will look at other furniture by Laurier.

Thanks!

...I've been dismissing any stand that sits under 24" and searching for that 'gem' closer to 30" tall. I few of your posts has me wondering if there might be a viewing reason for the shorter stands. I don't want to drive myself crazy looking for something that will in the end take away from my viewing pleasure. Help!
I personally wouldn't want it any higher than 24" I think 20" would be perfect for me and my PX50U. I don't want to have to constantly look up to see the TV.
I couldn't agree more with Curtisdr. I have the PX50 as well and if you look at the Panasonic web site, their stand is 19 inches high.

You may have seen my post (and picture) earlier in this thread and saw that I had the TV base of a standard entertainment centre custom made at 19 inches to match the Panasonic stand. To tell you the truth, I did have my PX50 on a 22 inch high temporary furniture and it was too high (not outrageously high but just not comfortable).

I believe there is another post somewhere in this huge thread that says that your head (when sitting down obviously) should not be below the middle of the screen (or something like that).

This is somewhat like the computer screen ergonomics; looking down a bit is much better than looking up. The larger the screen size, lower it has to be!

Quick question: how do you guys display the actual photos in your posts rather than just the links to the photos?

TIA!

I personally wouldn't want it any higher than 24" I think 20" would be perfect for me and my PX50U. I don't want to have to constantly look up to see the TV.

Yeah.. who wants to feel like they're in a movie theater.. :D

Seriously... look at a spot on a wall 10 ft away from you... now move your eyes up to look at another spot 8" higher up on that wall.. its not that much of a difference. Not like you'd get a sore neck from this.

Quick question: how do you guys display the actual photos in your posts rather than just the links to the photos?

TIA!
I believe the ones that display pictures in the posts are linked to another website. The posts with links have uploaded their pictures.

Not my style, but I'm leaning toward finding some sort of solution like this. I know there are a few other units that follow the "2nd wall" idea this one does, I'm just waiting to find one that works for my wife and I's style.

http://www.dwr.com/productdetail.cfm?id=8866

This is somewhat like the computer screen ergonomics; looking down a bit is much better than looking up. The larger the screen size, lower it has to be!

This has more to do with typing and the screen. Most people are not touch typers and their eyes must constantly move from keyboard to screen. If the distance is to great, you may end up with a sore neck.

In my case, my theater seating reclines and I end up have my feet in my picture with anything under 30". Also, when reclined, my head is facing a little up, therefore it is more natural to have it higher. I think the height of the screen should be linked to the type of seating you have.

Not my style, but I'm leaning toward finding some sort of solution like this. I know there are a few other units that follow the "2nd wall" idea this one does, I'm just waiting to find one that works for my wife and I's style.

http://www.dwr.com/productdetail.cfm?id=8866

The Wall includes all the mounting hardware necessary to hang a flat panel television up to 47"

They'd sell more if they made it 3" bigger. :rolleyes:

I'm ordering this today.
http://www.hometheaterforeveryone.com/pages/20/index.htm

At the bottom of the page... the CSF82.

It's 22"h. The center channel opening is big enough for my Ascend cc.

cheers

shane


I think this is the only TV stand with the Yamaha YSP-1000/800 in mind. I had a hell of a time looking for a stand to fit my YSP-800 in the center, I finally found one that fits like a glove (http://members.aol.com/fpido/ysp.jpg) , actually it fits too well that I have to put in the center speaker before installing the top part of the stand or else I couldn't get it in because of obstructions. Nice to see that they have multiple channel surround speakers in mind.

I think this is the only TV stand with the Yamaha YSP-1000/800 in mind. I had a hell of a time looking for a stand to fit my YSP-800 in the center, I finally found one that fits like a glove (http://members.aol.com/fpido/ysp.jpg) , actually it fits too well that I have to put in the center speaker before installing the top part of the stand or else I couldn't get it in because of obstructions. Nice to see that they have multiple channel surround speakers in mind.

Indeed. It seems like most furniture manufacturers assume most users either have NO cc or a very small one from a HTIB.
Those of us with *seriously large* cc's must choose from very few options. Fortunately I found this company. All USA made and close to my home! Bingo! And my HUGE Ascend cc fits beautifully in this with room on each side! Killer!

cheers

shane

Here's another kinda option to accommodate a center channel.. which is a simple 3-shelf unit (see at the top of the linked page) and getting the optional Plasma/LCD mount, which would allow you to put the CC speaker on the top shelf of the main unit.

http://www.htmarket.com/metglasthres.html#ADDPLLCDMO

Indeed. It seems like most furniture manufacturers assume most users either have NO cc or a very small one from a HTIB.
Those of us with *seriously large* cc's must choose from very few options. Fortunately I found this company. All USA made and close to my home! Bingo! And my HUGE Ascend cc fits beautifully in this with room on each side! Killer!

cheers

shane

Somehow I guess I had missed some of these Salamander configurations. Anyone gone thru the 'custom' options with Salamander and have good results?

eg...
http://www.salamanderdesigns.com/syn/gal_video.jsp?image=gal_334cb_pm2b

Somehow I guess I had missed some of these Salamander configurations. Anyone gone thru the 'custom' options with Salamander and have good results?

eg...
http://www.salamanderdesigns.com/syn/gal_video.jsp?image=gal_334cb_pm2b
I searched for months and almost bought a custom Salamander with 8" or 10" riser to accomodate my Ascend 340 center. I even emailed Salamander to verify the load-bearing capacity of the riser (150 lbs). But the total price was hard to get over. Luckily during my period of indecision, GG had there closeout sale and I found a brand new triple 20 for 1/2 off, so I dropped the idea. Now, my center's just lying on top of the triple.

...In my case, my theater seating reclines and I end up have my feet in my picture with anything under 30". Also, when reclined, my head is facing a little up, therefore it is more natural to have it higher. I think the height of the screen should be linked to the type of seating you have.
Good point Brian.

Here is something simple, elegant, and on sale right now.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?oid=151413&AID=10375042&PID=552179&SID=188131-2-0-0&com.broadvision.session.new=Yes&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.circuitcity.com%2fccd%2fproductDetail.d o%3foid%3d151413&BV_SessionID=@@@@0085224808.1148257310@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccddaddhlfdgdiecfngcfkmdffhdfkl.0

Here is something simple, elegant, and on sale right now.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?oid=151413&AID=10375042&PID=552179&SID=188131-2-0-0&com.broadvision.session.new=Yes&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.circuitcity.com%2fccd%2fproductDetail.d o%3foid%3d151413&BV_SessionID=@@@@0085224808.1148257310@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccddaddhlfdgdiecfngcfkmdffhdfkl.0

I really wish I could get away with this kinda simplicity.. but at a bare minimum I'll need 2 empty 2-wide shelves to accommodate up to 4 components. Just a DVD player, AVR and a Cable Box would be 3, probably the Playstation, perhaps a VCR for older movies

bobby_t1, I have the BDI 8529 in the cherry finish in my living room. In addition, I have their 8540 mounting system that has two sleek looking posts that hide all of the cables and a universal mounting bracket. I have a 40 inch Samsung LN-R408D mounted on it and it looks absolutely beautiful. You might consider the lighter cherry wood finish as the darker wood finish shows a great deal of dust.

The piece doesn't look too wide with my 40 inch Samsung LCD on it and the mounting posts can support up to a 50 inch flat screen per BDI's specs.

How wide are the speakers that you plan on putting on each end? I have my speakers on stands placed next to each end of the 8527 and they sound great with my sofa 10 feet away.

The bottom line is that IMHO this is a beautiful piece of furniture that is well designed for it's end use. If you can afford it, you will love the way that it looks, especially with the plasma mounted on those posts.

Thanks for the info. The longer I search for a suitable stand, the more I realize that I may be making too many compromises by avoid the BDI solution. Not only does it look beautfiul, but it's also functional.

The speakers for my elft and right are M&K K7's, which are 12 7/8” x 4 7/8” x 6” (H x W x D), so not too big. You can see a pic of them here: http://www.mksound.com/Kseries1.php

Questions:
1) Do you have any pics of your setup?
2) Using their plasma mount, is it height and/or tit adjustable?

Thanks for the info. The longer I search for a suitable stand, the more I realize that I may be making too many compromises by avoid the BDI solution. Not only does it look beautfiul, but it's also functional.

The speakers for my elft and right are M&K K7's, which are 12 7/8” x 4 7/8” x 6” (H x W x D), so not too big. You can see a pic of them here: http://www.mksound.com/Kseries1.php

Questions:
1) Do you have any pics of your setup?
2) Using their plasma mount, is it height and/or tit adjustable?

1) I have attached two pictures and I hope that they are helpful.

2) The bracket is slightly adjustable and the LCD tilts ever so slightly downward once you slide the set into the bracket. The top of my 40" LCD is 1.5" from the two poles and the bottom of the LCD is .75" from the poles. I face the middle of the screen on my 40" set from where I sit on my sofa. If I lie back on the cushions, the very slight tilt in the mounting is a plus.

My LCD is positioned on the bottom slot of the bracket and there is one slot available higher up that I could have attached the set to. That slot is about two inches above the one where I have it now.

By the way, which color are you thinking of?

Still one of my favorites. But on the pricey end of the scale.

http://www.jensen-lewis.com/images/product/1756-04-9960.jpg

1) I have attached two pictures and I hope that they are helpful.

2) The bracket is slightly adjustable and the LCD tilts ever so slightly downward once you slide the set into the bracket. The top of my 40" LCD is 1.5" from the two poles and the bottom of the LCD is .75" from the poles. I face the middle of the screen on my 40" set from where I sit on my sofa. If I lie back on the cushions, the very slight tilt in the mounting is a plus.

My LCD is positioned on the bottom slot of the bracket and there is one slot available higher up that I could have attached the set to. That slot is about two inches above the one where I have it now.

By the way, which color are you thinking of?

wow that looks great! do you know if the posts come in black as well? also, was it easy to mount the the tv to the post or does it need to be professionally done?

wow that looks great! do you know if the posts come in black as well? also, was it easy to mount the the tv to the post or does it need to be professionally done?

As far as I know black posts are not available. The ones that they do offer give you a really sleek appearance and do justice to any flat panel that you are mounting. :cool:

I needed a friend to help me mount the set on the bracket as you have to secure the posts in the cabinet first, attach the bracket next and then finally place the flat screen on the bracket. There was a little problem where I had to use a spacer with the longer screws that they provided as the shorter screws didn't work with my LN-R408D. Just make sure that whoever helps you has strong arms. :)

By the way, this BDI piece has hidden wheels and if you are on a non-carpeted floor (which I am not :mad: ) it is extremely easy to access the back of it in order to work on any of your cables and connections.

Ethan Allen FTW:

1) I have attached two pictures and I hope that they are helpful.

2) The bracket is slightly adjustable and the LCD tilts ever so slightly downward once you slide the set into the bracket. The top of my 40" LCD is 1.5" from the two poles and the bottom of the LCD is .75" from the poles. I face the middle of the screen on my 40" set from where I sit on my sofa. If I lie back on the cushions, the very slight tilt in the mounting is a plus.

My LCD is positioned on the bottom slot of the bracket and there is one slot available higher up that I could have attached the set to. That slot is about two inches above the one where I have it now.


This is great, thanks! This looks like the dream cabinet, but at $1500 + $500 for the mounting posts, it's super pricey. Wow.

By the way, which color are you thinking of?

Didn't' put much thought into it, but i like the cherry you hvae right now, or maybe even black.

This is great, thanks! This looks like the dream cabinet, but at $1500 + $500 for the mounting posts, it's super pricey. Wow.


Didn't' put much thought into it, but i like the cherry you hvae right now, or maybe even black.

It really is a nice piece of furniture, not just a TV stand. It definitely added something to the living room.

Don't forget that if you get the black one, you will have to dust it everyday. :mad:

I don't know where you live, but maybe you can find it in a store that is having a sale?

NYC Guy,
Looks nice.. do you have a center channel speaker in the top section and/or what's the size of that area in height and width if you don't mind?

NYC Guy,
Looks nice.. do you have a center channel speaker in the top section and/or what's the size of that area in height and width if you don't mind?

Yes, there is a center speaker behind the mesh. In addition, there is a wood divider behind the speaker with a storage area for DVD's & CD's. The top center section is approximately 34"Wx15"Dx7"H.

In addition, on both sides the top glass pieces can be removed and be replaced with mesh & then you can place two small speakers inside the cabinet.

Ok guys, here is my furniture which i've mentioned before on this thread but I do not believe I've shown.

http://gallery.avsforum.com/data/502/Living_room1.jpg
http://gallery.avsforum.com/data/502/Living_room2.jpg
http://gallery.avsforum.com/data/502/Living_room3.jpg
http://gallery.avsforum.com/data/502/Living_room4.jpg

Note that the media center is an Ethan Allen Horizoz media cabinet, 68" wide, Henna stain. Overall, the thing is built like a tank. Very nice construction and the wire management is the back is great. You can wire from one component on the bottom left all the way to the top right without having any wires leave the system. The only wires that actually exit the back of the unit for me are the speaker wires, the one plug for the line conditioner, the TV's power cord into the media cabinet, and the HDMI cable.

Other components for those interested:
Denon 4306
Paradigm Studio 20's on Premier J stands
Paradigm CC-470 center channel
Paradigm PW-2100 subwoofer
Paradigm ADP-370 surrounds
Monster 3500 line conditioner (i got it for like $100 at buy.com on sale a while back)
Scientific Atlantic 8300 dual HD tuner/DVR
Xbox 360
Oppo DVD player
PS2 (eventually to be replaced by a PS3).

Other pieces of furniture are:
Crate & Barrell Laguna couch (latte)
Room & Board Carmichael couch (cream/beige)
Pottery Barn Sullivan Ottoman (espresso)

It is of course a work of progress. I still need end tables, lamps, and most importantly MEDIA STORAGE. Obviously, given the minimalist look we're going for here, I do not want racks of exposed DVD's and CD's. Any ideas? Thanks. Also thanks for all the advice on these forums. I would not have bought most of these components without the initial recommendations of these forums which led me to do more research on them.

Lover it. It comes in espresso :D

http://www.audio-video-furniture.com/prodimages/avion/AVION-8527El.jpg

Jason,
looks nice, but it appears that your Center Channel is actually obstructing part of the screen?

Yes, there is a center speaker behind the mesh. In addition, there is a wood divider behind the speaker with a storage area for DVD's & CD's. The top center section is approximately 34"Wx15"Dx7"H.

In addition, on both sides the top glass pieces can be removed and be replaced with mesh & then you can place two small speakers inside the cabinet.

Unfortunately, the 7" height is likely the killer for me.. as I'm likely going to end up with eithe an Axiom (7.5" height) or Polk CSi5 (7.6" height).. Does BDI have any customization options on shelf height?

Unfortunately, the 7" height is likely the killer for me.. as I'm likely going to end up with eithe an Axiom (7.5" height) or Polk CSi5 (7.6" height).. Does BDI have any customization options on shelf height?
J
My Ascend center is 7.5".
I just ordered the 82" version of this:
http://www.hometheaterforeveryone.com/pages/20/index.htm

See bottom of page.
Check them out.

shane

Shane,
I love the Mizzico looks.. but curious whether you ever looked at the Salamanders, like this one?

http://www.salamanderdesigns.com/syn/gal_video.jsp?image=gal_334cb_pm2b

I wasn't able to find the perfect furniture so I decided I'd build it. :D

I went from this:

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/5624/mooses026medium9nz.jpg

to this:

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/9357/mooses040medium9wd.jpg

to this:

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/6833/mooses071medium6nq.jpg

and now I'm at this:

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/6498/mooses078medium3xt.jpg

Just so I can hang this:

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/1268/mooses065medium0xr.jpg

I’ll be the first to admit it’s a heck of allot of work but one always feels better when he does it his self.

I hope to have the display and 5.1 system mounted and set up by Friday night.

Looking good ~Ohdee~

Looking good ~Ohdee~
Thanks Chris! :)

Shane,
I love the Mizzico looks.. but curious whether you ever looked at the Salamanders, like this one?

http://www.salamanderdesigns.com/syn/gal_video.jsp?image=gal_334cb_pm2b

I did... but *after* I ordered the Mizzico. Also, I think the Sal is more expensive after I customize it to my needs (82" length... or so).

That said, a long time ago my original wish was for a Sal or BDI. I think they are great cab's. The Mizzico just fit my needs and I can pick it up at the factory! :D

shane

I wasn't able to find the perfect furniture so I decided I'd build it. :D

I went from this:

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/5624/mooses026medium9nz.jpg

to this:

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/9357/mooses040medium9wd.jpg

to this:

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/6833/mooses071medium6nq.jpg

and now I'm at this:

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/6498/mooses078medium3xt.jpg

Just so I can hang this:

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/1268/mooses065medium0xr.jpg

I’ll be the first to admit it’s a heck of allot of work but one always feels better when he does it his self.

I hope to have the display and 5.1 system mounted and set up by Friday night.


Ohdee,

I second Chris' comment. I am looking forward to possibly seeing even an inbetween shoot of your handiwork before the components go in.

I have to redo the den for my incoming 50px600 panny and I have run into a MAJOR problem with trying to find a piece that has the WAF as well as meeting the requirements of an HK 7200 AVR which has a depth of 20'' without the attached cables :eek:

That depth requirement is usually the death knell for most furniture/wall type units that conform to the WAF. The lovely lady does not want a glass/metal stand-like support, but would rather have the credenza or surround bookcase furniture approach.

Added to the mix is the BW Center speaker that is 21.5" (w) x 8.5" (h) x 12" (d) which I would love to be able to inconsipuously (hidden) place on a shelf right below the plasma, or even above if the right shelving were there.

We currently have an 96" 'mid century danish style' free standing wall unit (shelving for books and hanging cabinets glassware and components --which the avr will not fit inside of, so it sits on top and thus, not earning a WAF :(

Yours offers promise. Will be watching.
..Mark

Here's a picture with my crappy phonecamera right after I put it together. It's SERIOUSLY rock solid!!!!!!!!! And I got it from mountsdirect.com for way less than everywhere else and they were excellent!

Ohdee,

I second Chris' comment. I am looking forward to possibly seeing even an inbetween shoot of your handiwork before the components go in.

I have to redo the den for my incoming 50px600 panny and I have run into a MAJOR problem with trying to find a piece that has the WAF as well as meeting the requirements of an HK 7200 AVR which has a depth of 20'' without the attached cables :eek:

That depth requirement is usually the death knell for most furniture/wall type units that conform to the WAF. The lovely lady does not want a glass/metal stand-like support, but would rather have the credenza or surround bookcase furniture approach.

Added to the mix is the BW Center speaker that is 21.5" (w) x 8.5" (h) x 12" (d) which I would love to be able to inconsipuously (hidden) place on a shelf right below the plasma, or even above if the right shelving were there.

We currently have an 96" 'mid century danish style' free standing wall unit (shelving for books and hanging cabinets glassware and components --which the avr will not fit inside of, so it sits on top and thus, not earning a WAF :(

Yours offers promise. Will be watching.
..Mark

Here's what I started with:

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/5638/mooses011medium7ij.jpg

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/5531/mooses016medium5jl.jpg

As well as a few additional pictures

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/4122/mooses024medium8fp.jpg

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/2408/mooses081medium3uz.jpg

Waf is a huge deal in my house also. She was concerned when she came in and seen we had gutted the entire old wall unit. As you can see in the first picture you can tell that I had already altered the old wall unit so I could use the counter to set my 42’ pdp on. It was made to hold a 32-inch crt. That time I just moved the walls of the unit over so the TV would fit. When I exchanged the 42 for the 50 I new I had to tare that wall unit right out. I have Paradigm 100 v3 speakers and having them three feet off the ground was killing my sound quality. I’ve wanted to get them on the ground but have been too lazy to do so for over a year.

I bought the Paradigm CC570 at the same time that I got the 50’pdp. The opening at the bottom is designed specifically for the CC570.

We've got a few things to do yet. We have pot lights that along with the lights visible in the pictures are on remote controlled dimmers. Those pot lights should look nice as they'll shine down directly above the 100 v3's. I've installed cooling that should help keep my Bryston B9 cool. When my wife has a few wobbly pops she likes to dance. It doesn't take long to get that amp cooking. Lastly we added a new dedicated line back to the breaker. I want to keep my amps and my PDP on different lines. I’ve read giving a plasma more power will/can make it brighter. I also plan on adding more power amps in the future so adding the line now was an easy decision.

I’ve got a bunch more in progress pictures and I’ll post pictures once I have it all set up for sure. If you have any questions fire away, I’ll do my best to help.

Oh ya one more thing. Doing something like this is time consuming but not hard and not very expensive. Including the lighting, electrical, cooling, oak, trim and stain it cost less than 800.00 Canadian. It cost us less than most BM stores want for a stand.

hey guys...

i'm thinking about the the Polk Surroundbar (http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/specs/flatscreens/surroundbar/) because i really don't want to deal with all the wires involved in setting up a 5.1 surround system and this sounds like a good comprise for me. it's been getting really good reviews (although I haven't heard it in person) as opposed to the yamaha version which I have heard and sounds awesome but I hear it requires special room accomodations and costs almost twice as much!

I will probably pair this w/either a samsung 4696, 4692 or the 40" versions of both LCDs...haven't decided yet, waiting to see the 96 series!

anyway, i'm trying to find furniture that can accomodate the almost 43" width of this... i *LOVE* the BDI 8527/29 console but the center speaker area is not wide enough and it's so expensive...i guess i could use the posts (8540) to mount the TV which looks awesome, too, and put the surroundbar on top of the console, but that's another $400! anyone have any suggestions?

anyone own the polk surrounbar and have any opinions?

thanks.

The Salamander Triple w/the option riser for the cent speaker should be able to accomodate the sound bar.

Here's what's been sitting in my entertainment room for the past two months patiently awaiting the Panasonic TH-65PX600U plasma TV .

http://www.martinfurniture.com/TL/TL357.htm

My local store had a great sale with no sales tax so I bought one. (The price was much, much lower than what's I've seen it advertised for on the Internet.) I removed one of the center drawers and placed my somewhat large center speaker in its place. The speaker fits beautifully.

I thought I would share my Salamander unit. Thanks.

JRain:

When sitting up right, the center channel does not block the plasma. It is flush with the bottom. I actually raised the front of the CC with the pegs but not the back so its tilting up slightly because the image does reflect somewhat on the top of thee CC. In the dark you don't even realize its there.

JRain:

When sitting up right, the center channel does not block the plasma. It is flush with the bottom. I actually raised the front of the CC with the pegs but not the back so its tilting up slightly because the image does reflect somewhat on the top of thee CC. In the dark you don't even realize its there.


What happens when you aren't sitting upright? I don't know about you, but I don't have the best posture when watching TV on my couch. :)

Ok, looking at your last of the 4 pics, the CC is definitely blocking part of the screen, but perhaps you had the camera lower down than how you sit.. speaking of which, in my setup (whenever I get eventually get one) I'll need the ability to lay on the couch as well as sit.. :)

I looked again I just noticed there are two sizes. This size looks better.

http://www.bdiusa.com/avfurniture/images/avion_8529.jpg

I looked again I just noticed there are two sizes. This size looks better.

http://www.bdiusa.com/avfurniture/images/avion_8529.jpg
Yes! I really liked this size and style. It's a real shame my cc did not fit. :(

shane

I found another maker of furniture that seems to "get it" with respect to building in Center Channel speaker space.. not cheap though, but a lot of designs and finishes to choose from:


http://www.millermarket.com/adrian/essgproducts.html#

Here's how my 8540+8527+Bravia32" turned out:

http://static.flickr.com/48/146400218_29769b48d7_b.jpg

I found another maker of furniture that seems to "get it" with respect to building in Center Channel speaker space.. not cheap though, but a lot of designs and finishes to choose from:


http://www.millermarket.com/adrian/essgproducts.html#
J...
That is a very nice cabinet! Really... a great second choice, but WAAAAAYYYY over my budget. ;)
shane

Very nice. Is that color cherry? Cute little girl.

Here's how my 8540+8527+Bravia32" turned out:

http://static.flickr.com/48/146400218_29769b48d7_b.jpg

Here is my orignal post from way back when.



Hey guys,I finally finished my version of the BDI Avion. A few members were kind enough to give me some key measurements ,and off I went to build.
The basic cost was for 2 sheets of Birch plywood ,the pulls and knobs,2 pairs of euro hinges, 6 -6" high feet, 4 pieces of 1/8 glass and some speaker grill "like: material.
Total cost approx, $275. I stained it black and it's finished with a satin lacquer.

I opted for 2 drawers in the center the top holds the center channel and the bottom hold misc goodie/junk. I liked the linear look of the matching drawers instead of the drop down face on the "original" Avion.

The outsides compartments have adjustable shelves that are vented as are the bottoms of the two compartments.

Thats the 50PX500U on the wall, awsome out of the box, normal adjustments. 100% happy with the TV, it's been up for 2 weeks now.

I went with the Denon 2805 Reciever and Denon 2910 DVD and a Panamax 4300
Not going to mention the speakers at the moment ( embarassed) but looking into Axioms.(as of 5-25-06, it's gonna be Onix Rockets !)

I'm going to try to post the pix here( cross your fingers)

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-10/1087948/IVGKP-cabinet0010_1_1.JPG

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-10/1087948/cabinet0004_1_1.JPG

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-10/1087948/cabinet0009_1_1.JPG

It really is a nice piece of furniture, not just a TV stand. It definitely added something to the living room.

Don't forget that if you get the black one, you will have to dust it everyday. :mad:

I don't know where you live, but maybe you can find it in a store that is having a sale?


NYC Guy,

The one I posted above. Is that considered black?

NYC Guy,

The one I posted above. Is that considered black?

BDI has the Avion model that comes in Cherry or Espresso. They also have the Avion Noir model which comes in Slate. The Slate color looks more like black in their pictures. I believe that your picture is the Espresso color.

There are different three sizes in all three colors, the 8527 (65" wide), 8528 (42" wide) & 8529 (77" wide). The mounting bracket is their model 8540 and can be used only with the 8527 & the 8529. The 8528 is 31" high while the other two models are 22.5 " high.

Sloucing is fine too. Its only when you lie down on your side on the couch :) And then I"ll just have to watch something in 2:35 to 1 ratio :)

BDI has the Avion model that comes in Cherry or Espresso. They also have the Avion Noir model which comes in Slate. The Slate color looks more like black in their pictures. I believe that your picture is the Espresso color.

The pictures of the Avion Noir are somewhat misleading. First, the "slate" color on the top and the sides is really a dark brown. Second, the door fronts on the Noir are sleek black glass without the nice wood border found on the Cherry & Espresso models. You can change the top center drawer to a mesh & black wood front to put a center chanel speaker there, but cannot do such on the side doors. I would advise seeing it in person before you purchase it.

I bought it site unseen from an internet dealer and was quite surprised when the unit was delievered. Fortunately, I have since grown to like the look.

I am pleased... finally found a piece.. at a very reasonable price that will accomplish what I need to with a Center Channel speaker. It doesn't look too bad either.

http://www.doorstorefurniture.com/elliot.html

I am pleased... finally found a piece.. at a very reasonable price that will accomplish what I need to with a Center Channel speaker. It doesn't look too bad either.

http://www.doorstorefurniture.com/elliot.html
Nice looking and VERY inexpensive. I like it!

shane

I am pleased... finally found a piece.. at a very reasonable price that will accomplish what I need to with a Center Channel speaker. It doesn't look too bad either.

http://www.doorstorefurniture.com/elliot.html

This looks great and is really inexpensive.. wondering if it's too high at 26" for most plasmas?

The BDI 8527 i was considering is 22.5" high.

Anyone know the "ideal" height to hold most plasmas for a "regular" height couch at approx 9-10'?

There are some basic physics involved.. :) 8" center channel area needed, 9-10 inches height and air clearance for AVR.. one more component under that, and legs for the stand..,

This looks great and is really inexpensive.. wondering if it's too high at 26" for most plasmas?

The BDI 8527 i was considering is 22.5" high.

Anyone know the "ideal" height to hold most plasmas for a "regular" height couch at approx 9-10'?
I think eye level at about 1/4 to 1/3 up from the bottom of the screen would be OK. Unfortunately for me, I had to place the CC on top of a Salamander Triple 20 so the plasma had to clear an addition 7-9". This places eye level almost at the bottom of the screen, which feels just a tad too high for me. IMO, for a stand mounted plasma, a 20-25" or so high piece of furniture would be best.

I think eye level at about 1/4 to 1/3 up from the bottom of the screen would be OK. Unfortunately for me, I had to place the CC on top of a Salamander Triple 20 so the plasma had to clear an addition 7-9". This places eye level almost at the bottom of the screen, which feels just a tad too high for me. IMO, for a stand mounted plasma, a 20-25" or so high piece of furniture would be best.
Thanks for the info! Looks like the unit JRain found could fit the bill since it's 26" high and be 1/4 the price of the BDI!

JRain did you order that unit yet? Interested in hearing your experiences as I have to buy a stand pretty quick.

Thanks for the info! Looks like the unit JRain found could fit the bill since it's 26" high and be 1/4 the price of the BDI!

JRain did you order that unit yet? Interested in hearing your experiences as I have to buy a stand pretty quick.

I placed an order for one in the store itself. I won't be taking delivery of it for another 6 weeks or so as I'm moving, and this piece will be used in the new place and I don't need it now.

Just a couple observations that I remember. The actual opening for the CC speaker is about 7.25"; HOWEVER, there is 8" overall clearance once yet get past the framing bar that holds up the glass. So my intent is to put the center channel in there, and then put the glass down over it.

Also the interior depth to the back is about 19" and the back itself is not easily removable (in the store it was actually nailed on. This UNIT will deliver to you UN-assembled (flat in a box).. I'm paying extra for assembly (about $15 I think but assembly may only be available for local delivery areas?).. but I'll have them leave the back completely off. I may attach it later, after I've done a lot of my cabling and perhaps made some additional cutouts for some wiring.

BTW, I got the 905 (not the 906). Oh, and I purchased during the Memorial Day sale.. :) I think the normal price is in the mid-$500 arena for the 905. They didn't have the 906 on display, but they indicated that its basically the same specs except for its width.

I think eye level at about 1/4 to 1/3 up from the bottom of the screen would be OK. Unfortunately for me, I had to place the CC on top of a Salamander Triple 20 so the plasma had to clear an addition 7-9". This places eye level almost at the bottom of the screen, which feels just a tad too high for me. IMO, for a stand mounted plasma, a 20-25" or so high piece of furniture would be best.

I've read this logic before, but never understood it.. Certainly lots of people mount their plasmas on the wall, but I can't imagine mounting it only 2 feet above the floor, so why is this desirable if on a stand? Why do people also have no problem with a movie screen in a movie theater being higher up?

I think I am going with a piece from Crate and Barrel

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1151&f=10305

Any experiences with it?

I've read this logic before, but never understood it.. Certainly lots of people mount their plasmas on the wall, but I can't imagine mounting it only 2 feet above the floor, so why is this desirable if on a stand? Why do people also have no problem with a movie screen in a movie theater being higher up?

I have to agree with you on this point. do we sit totally erect with perfect posture when viewing these flat screens? I don't know about everyone else, but I am stretched out on my couch with my head buried as deep as possible in the back cushions. :)

So with standard furniture, couch and lazy boys, what is the typical mounting height for a 50 inch plasma? I really want a low piece of furniture so I can mount on the wall and have some small amount of wall space between the panel and the furniture, for effect. Just don't know what height is acceptable?

I've read this logic before, but never understood it.. Certainly lots of people mount their plasmas on the wall, but I can't imagine mounting it only 2 feet above the floor, so why is this desirable if on a stand? Why do people also have no problem with a movie screen in a movie theater being higher up?
Personally, I'd never sit in a commercial movie theater seat/row where I'd have to look up at the screen, but that's just me. OTOH, some people love watching movies from the first couple rows (or mounting TVs above fireplaces). There's no right answer I guess. Depends on furniture, preference, etc. I'd recommend taping a cardboard cutout of the TV on the wall to test different mounting heights.

Personally, I'd never sit in a theater/seat where I'd have to look up at the screen, but that's just me. OTOH, some people love watching movies from the first couple rows (or mounting TVs above fireplaces). There's no right answer I guess. Depends on furniture, preference, etc. I'd recommend taping a cardboard cutout of the TV on the wall to test different mounting heights.
There's no right answer? Sure there is! ;) :D

Personally, I find that if I can line up the middle of the screen to my vision, it is best, but slightly higher is fine. Currently my stand does not fit this requirement, it is slightly lower, but it is ok.

Another things you guys should keep in mind is, the larger the screen and/or the closer you sit to it, the more critical it is to get a precise screen height, because you would have to move your eyes/head more to compensate for differences.

This looks great and is really inexpensive.. wondering if it's too high at 26" for most plasmas?

The BDI 8527 i was considering is 22.5" high.

Anyone know the "ideal" height to hold most plasmas for a "regular" height couch at approx 9-10'?
I like to sit on the floor and watch tv, so I am looking for a really low stand for a 50" plasma. I also like the low, sleek look. Any suggestions (I do like that BDI 8027 but very costly). Has anyone seen the "Cape Town" model at Tweeter that lists for $399?

http://server2.ihostphotos.com/imgt/134170.jpg (http://server2.ihostphotos.com/show.php?id=134170)


made by Wood Technology


here are the details:

Model CMV-66 American Hardwood TV Cabinet Beautiful classic design blends with any decor.

Excellent choice for all high definition TV designs.

Fluted trim accents each end panel for a distinctive look.

Middle shelve is ideal for a center-channel speaker.

Solid hardwood sides and shelves wont warp

66" inch wide top and bottom panels feature real wood veneer laminates.

Beautiful six-step furniture grade finish available in oak or (black) ebony.

Safely supports 500 pound weight capacity.

Includes eight heavy-duty castors.

Made in USA.


here are the specs

Inside Dimensions:
Left and right section: 18.5" W x 19" D x 18.5" H (shelf adj. Every 1.5" )

Middle section: 23.75" W x 19" D x 23.75H (shelf adj every 1.5" )
23.75" W x 19" D x 10" H (without adjustable shelf inserted)

Lower: : 23.75" W x 19" D x 23.75" H

Note: the lower center shelf is fixed and divides upper and lower



Anyone have this unit???

I am thinking about ordering it, leaving the castors off and adding legs via Home Depot.

Also, you can order glass doors

please...my system slays all these implementations...

keep trying...my system has been in place for the last 12 months...

and chicks dig it!

Here is a nice one

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i205/kevinnoland/TribeccaTVStand.jpg

$500

http://www.furniture.com/common/product/ProductInfo.aspx?itemid=121595&ChildId=119833&xs=453ff7a35a1-932c-4dc1-8c9b-f0860fee17f2

please...my system slays all these implementations...

keep trying...my system has been in place for the last 12 months...

and chicks dig it!
please :eek: nice wires :eek:

Just ordered myself a new furniture.
My question to you who already have it set up (like k-y, with the BDI) is do you have a vent setup?

How do you cool your equipment?

I am thinking of getting this one and was curious if anyone had this ??? I need something small that will go into a corner.

http://www.standsandmounts.com/ProductImages/studiotech/DP-PFMK.jpg

I think I am going with a piece from Crate and Barrel

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1151&f=10305

Any experiences with it?

Only 2 center shelves for components? Or are there places for components behind the doors?

Does anyone have information on the Panasonic plasma stand in the photo on Bruzzi's page? (Click on #1, images, and it is under the 65" plasma). I googled the item number but nothing displayed.

Originally Posted by portland
I think I am going with a piece from Crate and Barrel

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/famil...?c=1151&f=10305

Any experiences with it?

I have this and I think it looks great. You can put three components in the middle and there are shelves on both sides for other components behind the doors.

I do like the crate and barrel one, but i wanted one that was wider and lower.
The overall design is what I had looked for.

please...my system slays all these implementations...

keep trying...my system has been in place for the last 12 months...

and chicks dig it!
What model of stand is that?

Portland- I to am looking at the Wood Tech piece. Just a heads up, they will ship you an unfinished piece if you want to stain yourself. They also offer wooden "feet" instead of the coasters. That is a new option. They were very friendly to talk to and answered all my questions. They will send you a sample of their wood. I am waiting on mine. I am having trouble finding a cabinet that is not contemporary, will hold my big center speaker, room for all my components, the color I want and is not 2K. This cabinet is not nearly as attractive as the custom piece I can have built for 2K but is 1300 less? I say HMMM..........

John

Here is one from Rooms To Go. Has plenty of storage too

http://images.roomstogo.com/Images/Items/ot_wall_2428360p_l.jpg

BDI AVION -

The center channel drawer is 7.25" high... posing a problem for those with larger center channel speakers. I'm purchasing a c.c. from Aperion Audio that is 7.33" high - a mere 1/8th of an inch too big for the BDI Avion. My question: is it possible to lower the bottom piece of that shelf/drawer by 1/8- 1/4 inch? there appears to be room to do it when looking at the Avion in the furniture store (Evolution)... Anyone tried that?

I did it. I finally got the TV, literally 3 hours ago and mustered enough might ans strength to put the thing onto the stand myself. Here're a few pics from my crappy cameraphone. This is seriously one of the best stands I've ever seen.

http://f5.putfile.com/6/15915463714.jpg
http://f5.putfile.com/6/15915461483.jpg
http://f5.putfile.com/6/15915454050.jpg

I did it. I finally got the TV, literally 3 hours ago and mustered enough might ans strength to put the thing onto the stand myself. Here're a few pics from my crappy cameraphone. This is seriously one of the best stands I've ever seen.



very nice, what stand is this? got a link or where did you get it?

Thanks.

it's from sanus. I got mine from mountsdirect.com. Excellent service and speedy delivery! I think it's called the PFFB2.

it's from sanus. I got mine from mountsdirect.com. Excellent service and speedy delivery! I think it's called the PFFB2.

Thanks, what size TV do you have mounted on that? Is the height of the mount adjustable?

I have the 42 inch 8uk display. The Sanus website says it can hold tv's up to 50 inches, but my 42 inch pannel barely fits on it. It might fit if the 50 inch panel has mounting points that are the same distance a part.

Don't know if anyone has posted about this before, but I saw this at HE2000. They are custom made by Mark Arnold Designs so the options are limitless. Finish, design, etc. Linky (http://www.markarnolddesign.com/2_Home%20Entertainment/index.html)

http://www.markarnolddesign.com/2_Home%20Entertainment/slides/Animated_N2D_Web_0.jpg
http://www.markarnolddesign.com/2_Home%20Entertainment/slides/Animated_N2D_Web_2.jpg
http://www.markarnolddesign.com/2_Home%20Entertainment/slides/Animated_N2D_Web_4.jpg

Don't know if anyone has posted about this before, but I saw this at HE2000. They are custom made by Mark Arnold Designs so the options are limitless. Finish, design, etc.
<Joey Tribbiani> A TV that appears as if from nowhere! That's the dream! </Joey Tribbiani>

Hi,

I've been looking to purchase a a/v stand and came across a vendor that carried the one I'm considering. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with dynamichometheater (now dynamichomedecor)? I've come across this vendor mentioned in various threads (including the Found possibly the perfect plasma furniture thread) but haven't seen any information about whether or not they are reliable or not. Good, Bad or any other experiences with this furniture vendor would be appreciated.

Thanks,
kli

Hello,

I've read great posts here about Diamond Case's TheaterTech TT-400. Does anybody have any experience with their Munari line, particularly the Munari System M-1? It looks great on-line, I like the modular design and all of the features but I am concerned that it is made out of thermofused melamine. Does that hold-up over time? Does it look good (or does it look cheap), etc.

Thanks for the help.

Bruce

Hello,

I've read great posts here about Diamond Case's TheaterTech TT-400. Does anybody have any experience with their Munari line, particularly the Munari System M-1? It looks great on-line, I like the modular design and all of the features but I am concerned that it is made out of thermofused melamine. Does that hold-up over time? Does it look good (or does it look cheap), etc.

Thanks for the help.

Bruce

Bruce,

I can't help you with the M-1, but I love the TT-400. Call Diamond Case designs at 1-800-616-5354 and ask for Steve Hartfelder. He was very knowledgeable and congenial so I am sure he will answer any questions you may have on this item. Also remember that the furniture from Diamond Case is exactly that, furniture. These are pieces that you could hand down from generation to generation.

Here is another look at my TT-400

With the new plasma:

http://members.cox.net/holydoc/stereo/Plasma/Plasma%20with%20Flash.jpg

Before the Plasma:

http://members.cox.net/holydoc/stereo/Front%20view%20Closed%20Better.jpg

Open and before the plasma:

http://members.cox.net/holydoc/stereo/Front%20View%20Open.jpg

DieselClown,

I've been thinking about picking up that Sanus stand too, maybe to go with something like the Westinghouse 47" LCD or the Vizio 50" plasma. The specs on the mount size seems to match up (100- 200mm), so how do you think it might not fit?

Also, if you don't mind, tell me a little bit about the wire management... is that slit down the middle big enough to fit in a spider's web of wires from each shelf? I'm thinking it seems too narrow to be able to handle all the speaker wires and component cables that a receiver would have going out of it.

Thanks.

Hello,

I've read great posts here about Diamond Case's TheaterTech TT-400. Does anybody have any experience with their Munari line, particularly the Munari System M-1? It looks great on-line, I like the modular design and all of the features but I am concerned that it is made out of thermofused melamine. Does that hold-up over time? Does it look good (or does it look cheap), etc.

Thanks for the help.

Bruce
Saw the Munari in person at their showroom in Loma Linda CA. I didn't particularly care for the workmanship. Unless they've changed the design recently, IIRC you can see the "line" separating each module on the top shelf, which I thought was kinda cheesy. The Theater Tech line seemed much better built, like "real" furniture.

One piece I saw that I liked that doesn't appear online, was exactly like the TT400, but had the looks of the Visalia line. Straighter lines than the TT400 with the same functionality. More beveled-type edges too. You probably have to custom order such a piece.

I went with Visu, a Canadian company. It was a custom order, a "Phoebe" top with an "Obi" base. On the downside, it was almost as expensive as the plasma, I had to figure out how to attach the wall unit to the wall since the normal mounting brackets were not attached, and despite a generous depth I STILL had to cut out the backing for my equipment. On the upside, the large door glides across to reveal other equipment when needed, and well.....just look at it. It's friggin' gorgeous!

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=57412&stc=1

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=57413&stc=1


That is one smokin-hot console. WOW!

I love it, especially the lighting around the plasma with the room lights dimmed. Sweet.

I just came across this. I like the fact that it's on casters.
http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?partNumber=WE-PRODf207&cmsrc=rel&storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E

This one is pretty nice if you like the enclosed look. Very wide TV area.

http://www.hookerfurniture.com/catalog.cfm?inc=cats&level=4&topCatID=9&parentID=318&gParentID=260&item=005-55-353

and this one is similar but not as wide or tall
http://www.thomasville.com/Item5112/Cinnamon-Hill-Home-Entertainment-Entertainment-Center.aspx

and this new Pottery Barn one but it is a little more narrow
http://ww1.potterybarn.com/cat/pip.cfm?src=shpcfurabssys%7Crshop%2Fshpcfurabssys%7Crshop%2F shpcfurabsarm%7Crshop%2Fshpcfurabstvs%7Crshop%2Fshpcfurabstv s%7Crshop&pkey=cfurabssys&gids=p7252

Couple others:
http://www.diamondcase.com/Evolution/Evolution_HTML_Files/E60B.HTML
http://performancefurniture.com/hd/style_hampton_ht.html
and this one I listed a long time ago in this thread:
http://www.riversidefurniture.com/selprod.asp?p=8&m=1&id=LIF&pID=EC831C

Just picked up the very last Java Urban Loft console stand at my local Costco, and got an additional $50 off for it being the display model.

Looks great under my new Sony KDFE55A20!

I've wall mounted my LCD and use a Techcraft BEL41S for my gear. I made a wood stand for my center to sit above my receiver and bring the tweeters as close to inline with the mains. Heres a pic of the stand. Checkout my sig for how I have it setup. http://common.csnstores.com/common/products/TC/TC0115_l.jpg

Thought I'd give my brief impressions of my Salamander console. I've had my Walnut color Triple 20 for about a year now and have been very satisfied with this unit. The looks are a little more "techie" than I prefer, but am impressed with the build quality. The doors/hardware are holding up fine to moderate use. The solid wood top & bottom panels are crazy heavy/sturdy. I predict this unit should last for many years.

Only a couple minor gripes:
-My receiver sticks out of the back (Pio 74txvi), but isn't a huge issue. I realize there's extended panels available, but my location doesn't warrant it's use.
-Would've been nice if my center channel fit/worked inside the unit (Ascend 340 center). I tried it, but just didn't like the hollow sound of it. A riser would've worked better.
-A little pricey, but I was lucky to find this unit during GG's closeout sales. But even at full price, I think I'd still recommend this unit.

Not sure If this was posted.... From Standout Designs but Goooood Dam... I thought it was possibly the sweetest looking Plasma furniture.. http://www.standoutdesigns.com/?gclid=CKrAs_2us4YCFUo6FQodT0f1Sg

great design, and great color choices, with real hardwood..http://www.standoutdesigns.com/images/sdhome7.jpg

Going to Order one of these for my newly ordered Panny 50" 9UK

I did it. I finally got the TV, literally 3 hours ago and mustered enough might ans strength to put the thing onto the stand myself. Here're a few pics from my crappy cameraphone. This is seriously one of the best stands I've ever seen.

http://f5.putfile.com/6/15915463714.jpg
http://f5.putfile.com/6/15915461483.jpg
http://f5.putfile.com/6/15915454050.jpg

Does anone know if this SANUS unit swivels?

For me, 'perfect' means it's designed to have a center channel speaker centered below the main 'platform'. Why are there so many that don't have this...or that have all/most of the component spaces behind solid doors (forcing you in most cases to get a IR relay thingie)??

I also like enclosed, stylish wood stuff...glass & metal was fine when I was single/in an apartment, but now that I have real furniture, I want my stand to match re. looks and quality.

racksandstacks.com is a great source for AV stuff and/or a resourse to find something you like & then maybe find it locally for a bit less $$. Through them, I found LAURIER FURNITURE (Canadian), who I want to give a shout-out to for giving me/us some great, unique-yet-not-weird stuff. And unlike too many other companies, they give you a choice of 3-5 wood colors for each model...I see lots of nice stands that are, say, blonde only, when I need dark.

Here are their stands: http://www.racksandstands.com/TV-Stands-C16623.html

Their entertainment centers are equally great, but then you're getting bigger than I need & more $$ than I want to spend. http://www.racksandstands.com/Entertainment-Centers-C16624.html

They all have a generous center channel 'nook', they claim to have some incredibly hard finish on the top that won't scratch, and some have a cool sliding & pivoting shelf thingie that lets you get to the back of your components easily.

Note that I haven't bought one...I'm not a shill...I just think a lot of you will like their stuff. And might I suggest that the AVS sponsor sales-people get ahold of racksandstacks.com...they'd be a great fit on 'our' end & I'm sure they'd realize that they'd benefit greatly as well.

Dean

For me, 'perfect' means it's designed to have a center channel speaker centered below the main 'platform'. Why are there so many that don't have this...or that have all/most of the component spaces behind solid doors (forcing you in most cases to get a IR relay thingie)??

I also like enclosed, stylish wood stuff...glass & metal was fine when I was single/in an apartment, but now that I have real furniture, I want my stand to match re. looks and quality.

Heartily agree on both points!!

Those stands that do have a center channel space typically assume you have some little-bitty HTiB POS center!

Those stands that do have a center channel space typically assume you have some little-bitty HTiB POS center!
Correct... which is why I went with this:
http://www.fototime.com/94FC2A89F7A1A3B/orig.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/5B5C19BFA228038/orig.jpg

shane

Correct... which is why I went with this:
http://www.fototime.com/94FC2A89F7A1A3B/orig.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/5B5C19BFA228038/orig.jpg

shane
nice setup. just curious, but what are those small black boxes behind the panel on the stand... speakers?

I have a general plasma furniture question for you guys. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my Pioneer 6070 and am trying to find a piece of furniture to go underneath the plasma (wall mounted) that the wife will agree with. She found an antique chinese buffet that she loves but it is going to be about two inches narrower than the plasma. Do you think this will look odd? The reciever, dvd player, etc is going in its own cabinet in the corner. I would put up a picture of the buffet but I need a few more posts under my belt first.

I have a general plasma furniture question for you guys. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my Pioneer 6070 and am trying to find a piece of furniture to go underneath the plasma (wall mounted) that the wife will agree with. She found an antique chinese buffet that she loves but it is going to be about two inches narrower than the plasma. Do you think this will look odd? The reciever, dvd player, etc is going in its own cabinet in the corner. I would put up a picture of the buffet but I need a few more posts under my belt first.

Usually, you want a cabinet a little bigger than the plasma, but I don't think 2" narrower makes a big deal. Just center the cabinet under the tv and you'll be fine. As long as your equipment is going in another cabinet and is getting proper ventilation. Also make sure you have a place for your center channel speaker. Heck, you get your 60" plasma TV, let her have her antique buffet.

nice setup. just curious, but what are those small black boxes behind the panel on the stand... speakers?
Exactly. A couple of small KLH cheapies for news and broadcasts that I really don't care enough about the sound.

This way the wife can just turn on the monitor and watch Jeopardy without cranking on the entire system. HDMI from STB brings the audio, and the speaker outputs from the monitor provide adequate power. :D

shane

I have a general plasma furniture question for you guys. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my Pioneer 6070 and am trying to find a piece of furniture to go underneath the plasma (wall mounted) that the wife will agree with. She found an antique chinese buffet that she loves but it is going to be about two inches narrower than the plasma. Do you think this will look odd? The reciever, dvd player, etc is going in its own cabinet in the corner. I would put up a picture of the buffet but I need a few more posts under my belt first.
Would look even better with a pair of stand-mounted bookshelves or tower speakers on both sides. :D Or, if WAF's a factor, some ornamental pieces (eg. vases or something).

I have a general plasma furniture question for you guys. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my Pioneer 6070 and am trying to find a piece of furniture to go underneath the plasma (wall mounted) that the wife will agree with. She found an antique chinese buffet that she loves but it is going to be about two inches narrower than the plasma. Do you think this will look odd? The reciever, dvd player, etc is going in its own cabinet in the corner. I would put up a picture of the buffet but I need a few more posts under my belt first.
I'm planning on getting this stand with my pio setup :)

With a 6070 it would look like this :)

I'm planning on getting this stand with my pio setup :)

Nice...but it goes to my point above...where you gonna put your CC speaker? And you're OK with having to rig your RCs to work through solid wood doors?

Might I suggest these...I dunno your budget or overall tastes, but considering your panel...I woudn't think budget is THAT much of an issue ;)

http://www.racksandstands.com/Laurier-Furniture-5460-220091-220090-16623LP1345.html

http://www.racksandstands.com/Laurier-Furniture-220091-220090-6560-16623LP1346.html

http://www.racksandstands.com/Laurier-Furniture-7560-2290-2291-16623LP1347.html

http://www.racksandstands.com/Tech-Craft-CR64M-3TC0139.html

Nice...but it goes to my point above...where you gonna put your CC speaker? And you're OK with having to rig your RCs to work through solid wood doors? Actually the unit ships with 3 sets of inserts (cloth, wood, glass) for all doors. And the inside of the middle two doors is one cabinet with 3 shelves with a total vertical space of 19" which is plenty for my center speaker, reciever, and STB plus my ultra thin DVD player.

I want this unit because it has more of a furniture look rather than a boxy stand look.

It is 75" wide , 21" deep, and 27.5" high which is perfect for a 50" display. They have a 85" wide model as well that would suit a 60" disply. The problem is the price which is ~3K CDN MSRP.

Cheers

This is our new Stand from JSP Industries with a Samsung 57 in LCD sitting on its base. The back is able to mount the panel if you wish as its built like a tank. Very well made but pricey. It can be had without the back if you want.
We are very satisfied with it. Still waiting for some speakers on order to finish it off.

Roy

I'm planning on getting this stand with my pio setup :)

Looks sweet xrox. What stand is it?

Would look even better with a pair of stand-mounted bookshelves or tower speakers on both sides. :D Or, if WAF's a factor, some ornamental pieces (eg. vases or something).


That is a good point....I do have a pair of B&W tower speakers that will be on either side of the buffet which will make it look wider.

I like some of the other stands that people have posted but those are not what she wants. I can't really complain about the stand if she is paying for my plasma. I will try to post a picture of the buffet she wants to get. The picture is from a cell phone camera so please forgive the quality.

Looks sweet xrox. What stand is it?

http://www.stanleyfurniture.com/Browse.do?nav2=SHOMETVE&nav3=SHOMTVPLA&sku=503-87-30&nav1=SHOMEENTE

homepage :

http://www.stanleyfurniture.com/Browse.do?nav2=SHOMETVE&nav1=SHOMEENTE


Cheers

I'm looking for something that is similar in style to this cheap furniture found at walmart (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4457219), but wider.

My main requirements are this:

(1.) Have a single, open center "column", with a single shelf. This way I can have just one visible component and the center speaker placed there.

(2.) Have shelves behind cabinet doors on both the left and right side, to place more hidden components.

http://i.walmart.com/i/p/00/63/16/80/42/0063168042561_AV_500X500.jpg

This Homes Trends Ashton Lane TV Stand does fit the bill with my first requirement, but the cabinets on the left and right sides do not appear wide enough to house any more components. But it would be nice if it were wider in general.

If anyone knows of one that is similar, but wider, please let me know. Thanks!

As far as something similar goes I found this piece made by Powell at www.cjhomeandoffice.com/video-console-961-693.html
From what I can estimate the side cabinet will not be wide enough to hold standard size equipment either but they do make a larger version 66" of the same model which might but if you do the math it would be tight (66/4=16.5" -> actually less accounting for cabinet construction).
I have the 52" version on order right now. I will try to post pics and dimensions when I get it.

EDIT: I just noticed that their price jumped by about $70 since I ordered 2 days ago. It is also available from Montgomery Wards or Sears online for a similar price. The 66" is available at JCPenny as well as RacksandStands online for more $.

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly on this. 14 1/2" is a little wider than I thought it would be. That would work great for me... which makes it even harder for me to accept the fact that this is an otherwise inpractical solution for me. The closest Ikea store to me is Atlanta, GA... ~300 miles to the west :(

I absolutely love the look of this unit, but I'm now pretty sure they're going to charge more for the shipping than the unit itself. Thanks for you help though!

You might want to consider this piece made by Powell at www.cjhomeandoffice.com/video-console-961-693.html


EDIT:
I read further past your original post that you went with Ikea...hope it is working out well for you.

Can you please tell me, where you can get something similar.

Thanks.

Rizwan Pasha

For those considering Whalen furniture with the plasma "floater" (available from Sam's and other places), you might want to check this post:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8156691&&#post8156691

The floater is a great solution for a setup with either a center channel or a sound bar.

Min Media Wall from design within reach...

5 posts until i can hyperlink or image

here is number 5

Min Media Wall (http://www.dwr.com/productdetail.cfm?id=8866)

http://www.dwr.com/images/features/f_8866.jpg

http://www.dwr.com/images/zoom/zm_8866_10.jpg

Here's the Pio 5070 on a StudioTech Ultra U22T stand with Klipsch RS-5 speakers on the side.

Open, with some ancient AV equipment:
http://home.netcom.com/~rickw2/images/Pio5070a.JPG

Closed:
http://home.netcom.com/~rickw2/images/Pio5070b.JPG

This assembles pretty easily. A center channel speaker can be accommodated. There are wire channels for easy connections in all directions. Deep enough for a turntable (a what?). Very well thought out.

Sorry for the rather dull photos.

Rick

This is a great thread. Thanks to all that posted. After reading the entire thread, I set out on a quest to find furniture that had a high WAF and met my component needs.

The thing I can't stress more is that you need to see these things if you can before ordering. Things that look great in pictures are so so in real life and vice versa.

Here are some my thoughts:

Went the Ethan Allen, wife's first choice. Poor component capacity and ventilation and looked better than they are. The board looks kind of funny by itself without expansion racks around it. It has a hole predrilled in the top. Ok if you use a tabletop stand, but not good if you wall mount. Even my wife said no go.

BDI - great quality stuff, but expensive. I have the Axis series in my HT, the avion has some flaws. The glass is too small so some devices will have hard time with IR. You need to open doors or use repeaters

Salamander - very flexible and nice build, but expensive for stuf that is a bit Ikea like. Depending on room decor and WAF flexibility, this is an option

Laurier - Nice build, but they look better in the catalogue. Kind of pricey

JSP - Ended up buying the Mozart. It was the best looking as far as combo furniture style and AV stand and had good storage and flexibility. You can put center in cabinet or us as third shelf. Best WAF for me. The back comes off esaily which I will do to improve air flow. Stuff is pricey though.

After going to Ethan Allen, Magnolia, Tweeter, large furniture galleries, the best place I found to see a wide range of stands and options was teh Big Screen Store. I ended up buying it there since they gave me price much less than Tweeter and any I could find on-line at ABT. BTW, the prices for Laurier are less at Big Screen store than at Racks and Stands online.

I've browsed a good chunk of this thread in search of the ideal stand for the Sony 46" XBR3 that is being released this month and I think I found it. I thought I would share my findings and justification in case someone else is going through the same dilemma I was facing.

I edited the picture below to create an illustration of what to expect.
http://neo-geo.com/personal/furniture/46lcd-scale.jpg
The 40" XBR3 scaled to size:
http://neo-geo.com/personal/furniture/40lcd-scale.jpg

Main benefit (which is very important IMO) is that stand is on wheels (mobility), allows for easy access to the rear panel of components and inputs of the TV. I have hardwood floors and really detest dragging out my 34” CRT, learned my lesson, all future stands must have casters (wheels). This will make component and audio upgrades/tweeks a snap instead of a hassle.

Stand width is 51” and TV width is 49.75”, virtually a perfect fit since you typically don’t want the TV to be wider than the stand. Stand height is also a near ideal height. Well, for my sofa 1 to 2 more inches taller may have been optimal for perfectly centered viewing (if sitting up straight and not leaning back).

A negative is the color of the material (3 panels in center), wish they were piano black as well, but the glass parts of the stand should nicely compliment the floating glass look of the XBR. The price ($649) of the stand is also reasonable considering the manufacturer is Diamond Case (safe to expect top quality):
http://www.diamondcase.com/Specials/Specials_HTML/Munari_PL_131.HTML

Also, here's the 46" XBR3 sclared to size on the Sanus PFFP2B:
http://neo-geo.com/personal/furniture/sanus-46.jpg

Does anone know if this SANUS unit swivels?it doesn't swivel, but if you need too, all you do is turn the entire thing around. :) it's easy to slide on my wooden floors. It also tilts easily with a knob on the side. this is the BEST stand!

We don't have a plasma display, or a flat panel of any kind, but I used this thread during my search for an entertainment center.

I couldn't sell my wife on the Sanus CFV69cb that would accomodate our large center, due to the black top and frame. Oh well. Same issue with Salamander. Double "Oh well".
http://www.sanus.com/images/CFV69cb.jpg

Instead, we got this piece from Ethan Allen, which shipped with both glass and wood inserts for the doors. There seems to be good ventilation through the rear, but the rear panels are completely removable, so I left the panel behind the receiver (in the middle) off entirely. There is a video panel available for flat panel displays.
http://www.tjapkes.com/gallery/d/6863-2/HT-01.JPG (http://www.tjapkes.com/gallery/d/6865-2/HT-01.JPG)
Click to enlarge (1024x768)

My only complaint is that the veneer, at least on top, is soft enough that the Wega has sunk into the wood some. Granted, this 27" TV weighed 180lbs in the box, so it's not light, but disappointing considering that it won't be the last TV perched atop this unit.

One huge plus... and I mean HUGE... our 1 year old son cannot open the doors. The magnets hold well, and it takes a good tug to open the doors. They open easy enough to not be problematic for adults, but hard enough to deter our son for now.

I think I found the perfect cabinet for my install. My biggest requirement was my wall is around 59 3/4 inches wide and I want a floating plasma wall mounted above it. I also wanted a "real" piece of furniture, no particle board with veneer (what I currently have). Here's the link, and it's not too expensive (relatively).

http://hookerfurniture.com/catalog.cfm?inc=cats&level=4&topCatID=9&parentID=307&gParentID=260&item=367-55-456

Min Media Wall (http://www.dwr.com/productdetail.cfm?id=8866)

http://www.dwr.com/images/features/f_8866.jpg


I'm looking for something similar to that for a 50" maxent, anyone seen something like it that will support a 50". That one says only up to 47", but the weight support looks plenty strong. Do you guys think it's just because of the width that they say 47"?

Hello i am looking for something along these lines to hide my AV gear, unfortunately the complete salamander setup would run me around $1k any alternatives out there? looking for a dark brown finish

http://www.salamanderdesigns.com/syn/imgs/prd_img_singles.jpg

I could not find a stand I liked or that would fit my center channel speaker so I had an Amish furniture company make me one out of oak. I sized it for a 50" screen [which I don't have yet] and to fit my audio components. I had the top made 52" wide x 24" deep, with 9" of clearance between each shelf. The shelves are 22" deep and both shelves and the top are 1" thick. No plywood was used anywhere in the construction. This thing is built like a tank.

The photo shows the stand with matching coffee table and my modest HT equipment, JVC 32" TV, Denon 2106, Denon 1920, PB10-NSD, Klipsch RF-62's and RC62.

Mike

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b389/MBaugh/HTEquipment.jpg

would love to be able to find this stuff in the USA.... http://www.spectral-moebel.de/

Hello i am looking for something along these lines to hide my AV gear, unfortunately the complete salamander setup would run me around $1k any alternatives out there? looking for a dark brown finish

http://www.salamanderdesigns.com/syn/imgs/prd_img_singles.jpg

Check out StudioTech - excellent quality, costs less than Salamander. For example:

http://www.studiotech.com/products/component_cabinets/ultra_u-48/index.html

Thought I'd give my brief impressions of my Salamander console. I've had my Walnut color Triple 20 for about a year now and have been very satisfied with this unit. The looks are a little more "techie" than I prefer, but am impressed with the build quality. The doors/hardware are holding up fine to moderate use. The solid wood top & bottom panels are crazy heavy/sturdy. I predict this unit should last for many years.

Only a couple minor gripes:
-My receiver sticks out of the back (Pio 74txvi), but isn't a huge issue. I realize there's extended panels available, but my location doesn't warrant it's use.
-Would've been nice if my center channel fit/worked inside the unit (Ascend 340 center). I tried it, but just didn't like the hollow sound of it. A riser would've worked better.
-A little pricey, but I was lucky to find this unit during GG's closeout sales. But even at full price, I think I'd still recommend this unit.

Thanks for the update, this is the exact setup I am going with. Any pictures you would care to share?

For the cost conscious, Ikea has some interesting products for plasmas and electronics. We have an Elite 1130 and went with this:

http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/43532_PE139275_S4.jpg

It comes in three colors; black brown, birch veneer, and beech veneer (pictured, and what we got).

Nice support (including under the middle), plenty of room for equipment, and can hold 220lbs.

Oh, and did I mention $99 MSRP?

Not the fanciest, and we may replace it some day, but for now it works for the budget and looks nice.

For the cost conscious, Ikea has some interesting products for plasmas and electronics. We have an Elite 1130 and went with this:
It comes in three colors; black brown, birch veneer, and beech veneer (pictured, and what we got).
Nice support (including under the middle), plenty of room for equipment, and can hold 220lbs.
Oh, and did I mention $99 MSRP?
Not the fanciest, and we may replace it some day, but for now it works for the budget and looks nice.

I have the same stand: :D

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/3631/mysetup01bh4.jpg


I replaced the cheap knob with this one from Amerock (Available at Home Depot)

http://img480.imageshack.us/img480/4808/amerock8oo.jpg


I replaced the feet as well.

I have the same stand: :D

I replaced the cheap knob with this one from Amerock (Available at Home Depot)


I replaced the feet as well.

Sweet - I like the change of hardware; thanks for the info. You did the middle one too? Also, is that a 50" on top?

Thanks for posting that pic - also love the matching shelf above.

I have the same stand: :D

I replaced the feet as well.

There's no issue with IR remotes through the frosted windows? I've always wondered about that - and my wife hates looking at the components. :rolleyes:

There's no issue with IR remotes through the frosted windows? I've always wondered about that

Never had any problems.

and my wife hates looking at the components. :rolleyes:

I hear ya.

But you can always buy a contact paper and cover the frosted glass. :)

Can't see the components through my dark glass, and it doesn't affect the use. :D

This setup is about 2 weeks old. I'm still getting used to it.
(see links below)

Cheers

shane

2 questions....

1) Could the middle door be taken off this stand without it looking awkward? I ask b/c I want my center speaker to be aligned under the tv, and this stand doesn't come with cloth inserts as an option. I also don't want to have the middle door open every time I want to use the center channel.

EA Stand (http://www.ethanallen.com/jsp/universalprod.jsp?itemID=289842&mainSelect=4&subSelect=0)

2) How is everyone that has their center channel resting on top of their stand dealing with that? I would imagine it would block part of the tv in most viewing situations, unless you had a small center or the tv propped up on something.

I would love one of the stands that have the mesh speaker shelf built in but my budget is $1k max, all those are over that. :(

Hey guys, I’m looking for a stand/furniture that could accommodate my Polk CSi5 center channel speaker (24”W x 7-12/16”H x 14-7/16”D) and a 65” plasma panel. I’ve looked through this forum but didn’t find any (maybe i missed one). Does anyone know of any?

Here's my stand finally

Here's my stand finally

wow nice! i'm interested in that stand as well but in cherry. two questions:

1. is that the wider of the two stands 8529?

2. is that a 46" xbr2?

i'm trying to decide on the size i should get. i will putting either a samsung 4696 or xbr3 on it. initially i will be putting the tv directly on top and maybe mounting it later on like you did...will the 8529 be too wide for a 46" TV?

How many of your guys have a corner set up or need a corner stand. Seems they are few and far between.

This is the best I can find that is not simply glass and silver metal.

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1154&f=12146&viewall=1


My concern is I am sitting a 55" SXRD (no not plasma, but this is the best furniture thread around) and its 50" wide, while this stand is 44". I know it will only be an overhang of 3" on each side, but just dont want it too look odd. Anyone else use a stand that is narrower than the TV?

Thanks

Here's my stand finally


NIIIIICE! im looking at the BDI too. since im in NY too, did you get it locally or online?

thks and enjoy!

How many of your guys have a corner set up or need a corner stand. Seems they are few and far between.

Try here for some well-made corner units:
http://www.hometheaterforeveryone.com/pages/7/index.htm

shane

^^^Thanks....I had not seen those yet. Very nice. Will have to look into deeper.

Hey guys, if your pretty (ok very) handy with tools you can build the BDI Avion unit yourself.

** sorry guys I had tried to put the photos in and for some reason it's not working, (I think the site I had them at is no longer up )if you do a forum search for "stocky" it will bring ya to my original post with pictures. If not let me know and I'll send ya some pix. ****

Let me know if anyone needs measurements

and yes this was built based on the larger model

It's 77"L , 20"w( deep) and 24" high ( that includes the legs)

I'll be happy to answer any questions.

I made drawers out of both the center sections , I no need for a drop down shelf on the bottom.

wow nice! i'm interested in that stand as well but in cherry. two questions:

1. is that the wider of the two stands 8529?

2. is that a 46" xbr2?

i'm trying to decide on the size i should get. i will putting either a samsung 4696 or xbr3 on it. initially i will be putting the tv directly on top and maybe mounting it later on like you did...will the 8529 be too wide for a 46" TV?

Yes it's the wider model 8529 and yes it's the new Sony XBR2. I think the smaller stand wouldn't work out so I went with the larger of the two models.

NIIIIICE! im looking at the BDI too. since im in NY too, did you get it locally or online?

thks and enjoy!

I bought mine at Best Buy in the Magnolia department.

So I ended up getting a TV stand from Levitz. Here are some pictures of it.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i205/kevinnoland/P5200032.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i205/kevinnoland/P5170019.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i205/kevinnoland/P5170021.jpg

petp13 - I picked up my BDI from entertainmentwalls.com . I don' think that they stock the merchandise but the price was right.

thks gkouri, thats a nice site, large selection of stands.

Someone sent me a PM and asked me to post some pics of my BDI Avion Noir. Note that unlike the "regular" Avion series, the Noir door fronts are glass with black wood behind the glass. Also the top and sides are are dark brown with some black lines as opposed to being black. The handles are also flat as opposed to the rounded handles on the rest of the Avion series.

And One more picture of my set-up. Sorry, the picture quality sucks, but I had to make it really small to upload.

Any recommendations for just an a/v cabinet, thats not necessarily a tv stand too. I plan to mount my tv over the fireplace. Need a separate cabinet for 4 av units. Must be as small as possible and look like traditional (wood based) furniture.

FWIW, I ended up buying this (http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid/93807/originURLEncoded/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.circuitcity.com%252Fccd%252Fcategoryl ist.do%253FcatOid%253D-12892%2526Ns%253Daccm_num_unts_sld%257C1%2526N%253D20012866% 252B20012892%2526c%253D1%2526cm_re%253Dmain%2Bmarquee-_-Don%2527t%2Bforget%2Byour%2Bstands%2Band%2Bmounts-_-All%2BTV%2Bstands%2Band%2Bmounts/rpem/ccd/productDetailReview.do#tabs) to go with my wall-mounted Pioneer 6071:


http://www.circuitcity.com/IMAGE/product/enlarged/zln/EC.ZLN.Z221S.JPG


I needed something deep enough, and rated for enough weight on lower shelves (Infinity Beta center channel on top), to hold my h/k AVR7200 (approx. 60 pounds, approx. 20 inches deep *without* those stiff AR Master Series cables sticking out the back), and my picky bride disliked it the least of the metal/glass racks we looked at (she wanted credenza/cabinet-style, but couldn't find anything that satisfied the depth/weight requirement that was not prohibitively expensive -- this Z-Line Designs rack was really pushing it on the budget!).

Anyway, she did remark that the stand (looks darker in person) coordinates well with the 6071 (glosssy black bezel), so I've got at least that going for WAF.

I have a BDI 8529 (espresso) as well with a pio 5070 on top. My findings...
Pros:
Very good looking and well constructed
Well ventilated, but my gear still gets hot
Extremely easy to put together
Components fall right into place...they definitely know what the A/V consumer needs to ensure easy connections
Rolls out very easily providing easy access to gear

Cons:
Surface shows fingerprints and smudges very easily
Glass windows are smallish, so I guess i'm going to have to get a IR repeater as many of the remote signals don't make it through
Rear panels that slide are nice, but they tend to pop out of the tracks if you have a lot of wires exerting pressure on them
The top surface of the cabinet in the center (above the drawer) is bowing downward(after 2 weeks) due to the weight of the plasma and soon is going to be rubbing against the top of the drawer
Drawer height is only 7 inches. Not a problem for my current CS350LS center channel, but I'm going to upgrade at some point and most center channels that I am going to be looking at are taller than 7 inches. Definitely something to think about.

Overall, a very classy look that didn't come cheaply. This is my third BDI piece and I've always been satisfied. If I were to do it again though, I think I would have gotten something else. Price and service from TVA were top notch.

it doesn't swivel, but if you need too, all you do is turn the entire thing around. :) it's easy to slide on my wooden floors. It also tilts easily with a knob on the side. this is the BEST stand!


what about height adjustment on the PFFP2B? does anyone know if the lcd/plasma bracket can be moved up/down?

I've browsed a good chunk of this thread in search of the ideal stand for the Sony 46" XBR3 that is being released this month and I think I found it. I thought I would share my findings and justification in case someone else is going through the same dilemma I was facing.


The 40" XBR3 scaled to size:
http://neo-geo.com/personal/furniture/40lcd-scale.jpg

Main benefit (which is very important IMO) is that stand is on wheels (mobility), allows for easy access to the rear panel of components and inputs of the TV. I have hardwood floors and really detest dragging out my 34” CRT, learned my lesson, all future stands must have casters (wheels). This will make component and audio upgrades/tweeks a snap instead of a hassle.



I finished reading this entire thread and, unless I missed something, the Diamond Case is the only flat panal TV stand posted here that has casters.(?)

I'm looking to buy a 40-42" flat panel LCD soon, meaning the model will be anywhere from 38-43" wide (I think). A TV stand with casters is a must.



Diamond Case also make this wood finish model which I guess I must use if I want to attach a support belt.(?)

So would Diamond case be the only way to go? Thanks
http://www.diamondcase.com/Specials/Denmark_D1/D1_Open.jpg

Just wanted to share my TV stand experience. I needed something that would hold a 61" DLP (Samsung HLS-6187, highly recommended) and about 9 components and look good to the wife (and not break the bank).

As you probably know, not easy (possible?). After much looking around, I went with Salamander Designs. Not cheap but for the size, quality and features, not bad (about $2,000).

I am very happy and highly recommend it. I purchased the Synergy quad, 21" and am very happy with that. I customized it to hold a center channel speaker and, even with that, it still holds 9 components. I configured it for black mesh screens on the sides (rather than wood) to help with the ventilation, put the extra large rear panels on two segments (for more room for cables, etc. and better ventilation) and added 2u racks (which complement rather than replace the shelves) to hold a fan set (on-line from TrickTags, highly recommended) on two sides, one to cool my receiver and one to cool my sat box. The optional wheels and the quick release back panels allows me to move the unit and access all the components quickly and easily.

The quality is very high, this is a solid, well made piece of furniture. The only drawback, not easy to assemble and the directions are very poor.

The other great thing, the wife loves it.

I bought it locally (L.A.) from TVAuthority and they were great, very helpful and knowledgeable, great service.

PM me if you want more details. Hope this helps.

Bruce

can you post some pics? :D

i'm considering the bdi avion 8527 or 8529 for either a 46 or 52 inch LCD.

Steady Teddy: I've been looking for stands with coasters too. There are a number of stands shown with legs where you can ask for a caster option.

Steady Teddy: I've been looking for stands with coasters too. There are a number of stands shown with legs where you can ask for a caster option.

Yes I found that out. However, when you put casters on instead of floor glides, the maximum weight capacity could be a lot less than you may need.

I ended up buying a Sanus TV stand yesterday otherwise I would not have had anything put my 40" LCD XBR3 on. I called Sanus this morning to inquire about casters and they said they're available for my stand but the weight limit would only be 70 pds! My friggin' AV receiver alone weighs that much!

I have to leave the original floor glides on and set the tv stand further away from the wall than I originally intended so that I can get behind it if I have to.

If you have a wooden floor, which I do not, I think the weight capacity on the casters is higher.

If you're going tu use casters, make sure they can handle the weight!

can i get some opinions which size of the bdi avion stand i should get?

the 8527 is 65" wide; the 8529 is 77" wide.

i'm planning on either getting a 46" in LCD (44 in wide) or a 52" LCD (50 in wide). i'm planning on putting the TV right on top.

if i get the 8527 (cheaper) and put a 52" TV, will it look too small for it? if the tv is centered, it will have a 7 1/2 in on each side. if i get the 8529 it will have 13.5 in on each side...will the tv look to small then?

does it matter? am i crazy? :D any opinions would be great especially for those who already own the avion...what size did you get and what size is your tv?

D:\Multimedia Files\Digital Camera Content\Misc\IMG_0513.jpg Here you go.

Bruce

Let's try that again. Here's the Salamander case. It has optional wheels on it. The front is black wire mesh (as are the sides) for better air flow (glass is the other option). The mesh doesn't look great in this picture, much better in real life. The center channel speaker shelf is optional. That's a 61" Sammy on top.

Bruce

I finished reading this entire thread and, unless I missed something, the Diamond Case is the only flat panal TV stand posted here that has casters.(?)

I'm looking to buy a 40-42" flat panel LCD soon, meaning the model will be anywhere from 38-43" wide (I think). A TV stand with casters is a must.

Diamond Case also make this wood finish model which I guess I must use if I want to attach a support belt.(?)
Check out an earlier post of mine in this thread (post #1196). I posted pictures of my Studio Tech WOODEN top stand with CASTERS!

Also, based upon a story in another thread about an exploding glass top stand, I would NEVER buy a glass top stand.

Rick

can i get some opinions which size of the bdi avion stand i should get?

the 8527 is 65" wide; the 8529 is 77" wide.

i'm planning on either getting a 46" in LCD (44 in wide) or a 52" LCD (50 in wide). i'm planning on putting the TV right on top.

if i get the 8527 (cheaper) and put a 52" TV, will it look too small for it? if the tv is centered, it will have a 7 1/2 in on each side. if i get the 8529 it will have 13.5 in on each side...will the tv look to small then?

does it matter? am i crazy? :D any opinions would be great especially for those who already own the avion...what size did you get and what size is your tv?I have the 8529 on order for a 42" Panny. I don't think it will make the TV look small; I currently have the TV on an old stereo bench of about the same width. I could have gotten the 8527, but I wanted the additional slots for equipment, DVD storage, reducing clutter etc.

I think the main concern would be if you have other furniture along the wall, or perhaps speakers, and the larger unit made that part of the room look too crowded or cluttered. I will have my L&R front speakers on stands on eiher side of the 8529.

Shane55

How do you like the csf82 credenza that you bought? How is the quality of the craftmanship?

Thanks,

what do you guys think of this one? I plan to put my 50 inch panny on it ( 50PX600U).
http://www.furniture.com/common/product/ProductInfo.aspx?itemid=98507&ChildId=92442&xs=82891707e2d-79f5-4165-861c-6fb9cd2968ca

Great forum here! As I have pretty much decided on a 50" plasma (model undecided), I need a larger tv stand to support it and would like to get it first. I have more contemporary tastes, and while searching online, several models from Slam Brands (first post, can't add link but it's what you would expect) have piqued my interest. I searched for "Slam Brands" in these forums and only three hits were returned, none in this forum, so I thought I'd mention them in this appropriate thread for others with contemporary furniture tastes.

My problem is I'm having difficulty finding the models I like in person to see build quality, fit, shelf width, etc. Target, CC and Costco seem to sell some of these models online, but they are not necessarily in their stores as far as the ones I have visited. I ended up calling Slam Brands support to get the center shelf width measurements for the Navarre (20") and Amosa (30"), although that Amosa measurement seems suspect based upon the pictures. I suggested that they should have their model instructions and documentation added to their site. FYI, the Navarre is coming soon to CC, but don't know if it will be online only. Looks like I'll be calling them again to ask for other retailers in my area for the models of interest.

Here's an Ikea Benno, 46 1/2" wide, 20 1/8" height; veneer over particle board; with casters. I saw in person and it looked good... suited for a 40 to 46" flat panel:
http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=17071&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=76518&langId=-1&categoryId=15962&chosenPartNumber=50104477

Guys , if your handy with tools, build the unit yourself to your needed specs .

here's what I built.

Total cost was about $275-$300 dollars, plywood, hinges,pulls/knobs, feet, glass and runners.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-10/1087948/cabinet0010_1_1.JPG

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-10/1087948/cabinet0004_1_1.JPG

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-10/1087948/cabinet0009_1_1.JPG


I'm actually going to modify the two center drawers now that I have finally decided to go with Onix Rockets for speakers. The center speaker is 12in high and will not fit in the top drawer.
I'm going to remove both drawers and set the speaker into that location. Then I'll cut a "frame" to go around the speaker. Similar to the look of the doors, but without a glass panel.
If anyone needs some measurements , just PM me and I'll help ya out.

I just purchased this corner stand for my new 42" Hitachi Plasma (http://www.hitachi.us/tv/browse/plasma/plasma/42hds69.shtml).

I have found corner stands are pretty tough to find and my fiance' and I are very picky about furniture. We have pretty much furnished our entire home with Crate & Barrel and love the quality and style.

View Kingston Corner Media Stand Here (http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=991&f=12146&q=corner+media&fromLocation=Search&DIMID=400001&SearchPage=1)

I just purchased this corner stand for my new 42" Hitachi Plasma (http://www.hitachi.us/tv/browse/plasma/plasma/42hds69.shtml).

I have found corner stands are pretty tough to find and my fiance' and I are very picky about furniture. We have pretty much furnished our entire home with Crate & Barrel and love the quality and style.

View Kingston Corner Media Stand Here (http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=991&f=12146&q=corner+media&fromLocation=Search&DIMID=400001&SearchPage=1)
Strange question - can you put two full-size components side-by-side??