I want to build a wooden stand to support my 42" plasma, my fairly large center channel speaker (about the size of an A/V receiver) and then the other usual stuff--A/V receiver, DVR, DVD, etc. I know there's a huge "furniture" thread in this forum, but it's oriented toward what's there to buy ready made, and the information about design is very scattered.

So it would be great for me, and maybe for future readers, to hear what you like or dislike in a TV stand like this. For instance, I'm a bit in the dark about how much ventilation I need, or what nifty options there might be for cable management, etc.

Thanks for any tips!

David

I'd just advise what may be obvious: Be sure you keep each equipment side to about 20" or more, and possibly hinge the rear cover of those compartments to access the cabling between units. That way you can use short cables, perhaps 12" to 18" for the interconnects, keeping it very neat and tidy. Doug Mockett Company is the place to look for grommets and wire management troughs, www.mockett.com, and they come in various finishes depending upon what you want as a look. Try to decide what viewing height you want, and make the stand accordingly, but keep in mind a dimension for the equipment that will work out for you. Perhaps a set of pull-out trays that hold your CDs and DVDs neatly, running on ball-bearing glides.

Thanks, Jim! These are helpful tips. The Mockett co. is good to know about.