I'm currently remodeling our 14x14 octagonal shaped media room. I'm going to make a built-in looking bookcase to contain our components and TV in what will hopefully be a wifey-acceptable look. I'm currently designing this cabinet and have several questions:

1. The cabinet itself will be 60" wide, and planned for installation of a 52" diagonal flat screen. There really isn't room for speakers beside the TV, will it be acceptable to install the center and front sides ABOVE the TV. I have Athena Micras that are only 5" tall, and I'm considering building a shelf above the TV shelf that I can cover with acoustically transparent fabric.

2. The reciever and other components will go in a 17" deep base cabinet underneath the TV. I would prefer to conceal these with doors. Can I use sandblasted (frosted) glass and still get IR signal through, or do I need to stick with smoked glass? I suppose I could go with an IR blaster, but I'm trying to keep it simple.

3. The wifey and I both have a seated eye height of 38". We'll be sitting approximately 12' away from the screen. How high can/should I mount the screen? The TV we're looking at puts the center of the screen at 19" above the base. My initial design ideally puts the top of the TV base at 30" above the floor, so the center of the TV would be at 49". Is that too high? I could maybe drop the base cabinet to 24", and so the lowest I can probably get the TV is 43".

4. We're planning for CAT5e and CATV to the TV base, along with power. The HTPC, Reciever, and other sources would all be below the TV. I don't see the need to run HDMI up through the wall. Any objections?

As always, thanks in advance for any advice about these issues!