AV Furniture disappointing!

[CraigDS]

Have been on the look out for a quality AV storage solution for a while now as I think there is a shortage of attractive and practical solutions. BDI have very nice and practical products but only have a couple of finishes available per product. Shops like Laura Ashley and Marks and Spencer do quality and living room friendly furniture but they are not practical if you have more than two small boxes of equipment. Hi Fi racks and Quadraspire have plenty of choice but everything is in full view and "messy". I am proud of my kit but would like to hide it away.

Any suggestions?

 

[mmg]

www.spectral.eu

 

[BenLaw]

A bespoke unit from the likes of Stump or Chunky Monkey. This will be cheaper, better looking and a better fit IMO. Get doors and use an IR repeater such as from logitech harmony.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

http://www.alphasondesigns.com

http://www.standanddeliver.com

 

[macdiddy]

Hi CraigDS :wave:

Sorry if this is a silly question, but if you are " proud of my kit " then why would you want to hide it away ?

Another website to look at:

http://www.hifiracks.co.uk/

:bounce:

 

[CraigDS]

Not a silly question at all. I want to hide my kit because black boxes with bright displays are ugly. I am proud of my kit and like telling everyone it's all British etc but I am also very house proud. I think a nice media cabinet with cables and equipment hidden away is cooler and smarter.

 

[Leeps]

A bespoke unit from the likes of Stump or Chunky Monkey. This will be cheaper, better looking and a better fit IMO. Get doors and use an IR repeater such as from logitech harmony.

Agree with this. Not sure if you have a stereo or surround set-up, but I've noticed how many manufacturers of so-called AV furniture fail to allow sufficient depth (front to back) for most AV receivers & all the cabling. It's amazing how many designers of such specialist furniture fail to measure the products most people will put in them first!

Also if you're keen to have closed cabinets, make sure you allow plenty of room for ventilation (particularly if you have an Onkyo AV receiver! Ahem)

(Apologies for the cheap jibe)

 

[macdiddy]

I think the newer Onyko's are better in regards to how much heat comes out of them, I have a 818 and even after being on most of the day playing music and films there is only a small amount of heat coming out of the ventilation grills on top.

Back to the answer to my previous question, if you are having trouble with bright displays and led's on equipment, I use these to great effect:

http://www.russandrews.com/product.asp?lookup=1&region=UK&currency=GBP&pf_id=5028&customer_id=PAA0789025314776BGPSFBSHINVLGWQO

Here's another website for you to check out:

http://www.audiovisualonline.co.uk/

Hope your searching finds something suitable for your needs.

:bounce:

 

[ChristianCorrine]

Hi,

BDI really are worth taking another look at, I have the BDI Ola and really is a quality piece of kit.

plenty of room for big amps. Air vents vents through the bottom and easy to move about.

it also looks the part

cheers

 

[CraigDS]

Hi Christian, I like the BDI furniture but I wish they had more finishes. If you want walnut or white your laughing. I'm sure a local dealer has a BDI cabinet in cherry but it must be a few years old but it looks expensive.

 

[tris101]

A bespoke units are the way to go.. you can then have it made to suit the equipment you have and make it match other furniture. it also cost less than you think.. I just commissioned a very large solid oak rack it hold 5 bits of kit and centre speaker, it has drop down storage cupboard and wire management all in delivered for £800

 

[Hillsrgood]

Plasma centre good for racks ;-)

 

[bigboss]

A bespoke units are the way to go.. you can then have it made to suit the equipment you have and make it match other furniture. it also cost less than you think.. I just commissioned a very large solid oak rack it hold 5 bits of kit and centre speaker, it has drop down storage cupboard and wire management all in delivered for £800

Where did you buy it from?

 

[RobGardner]

Check out Ikea, they have several AV cabinets, plus they are cheap. You can get the hifi quality back with some isolation devices - second hand stillpoints spikes or granite chopping boards etc.

 

[CraigDS]

Good Evening,

Just an update on my post. I have started looking at 65inch TV's and noticed that AV Stands and AV Units are not big enough.

for example a sony 65 inch tv is 1550mm wide and my AV unit is 1500mm wide.

I think AV Furnture makers will need to start thinking a little bigger in the future.

 

[bretty]

I had the same trouble when I was doing my cinema room a couple years back, then I found Gecko's Reflect range.

Brilliant units. Their modular, so, if like me, their 1100mm unit isn't enough for you, you can buy one of their smaller units (500mm, I think) and bolt it on the end. piano black or white gloss finish, with smoked glass fronted doors, so your gears hidden away but your remotes still work with the doors shut. Also the build quality is tops. Reasonable price too. I think I paid around £650 for both units

http://www.gecko-furniture.co.uk/ProductRanges/Reflect/ReflectREF1100/gecko-reflect-ref-1100.html

 

[Sliced Bread]

Also if you're keen to have closed cabinets, make sure you allow plenty of room for ventilation (particularly if you have an Onkyo AV receiver! Ahem)

(Apologies for the cheap jibe)

+ 1 on both counts.