Saturday, October 8, 2011

TV Rack and Home-Theater Furniture Guide

Phew, all sorted! The new dream TV is ordered and on its way, the Blu-ray player just needs unpacking, and you've even got the right HDMI cable. But imagine the disappointment when the new devices don't fit in the old cupboard. There's only one thing for it: You'll need to buy some new home-theater furniture!

To help you get your bearings, we introduce some TV racks that come especially recommended - from the cheap to the exclusive, from the matter-of-fact and mundane to the extravagant, there's something to suit every taste.



rustic shelving unit

A relic from the times of CRT: rustic shelving units, housing even-more-rustic TVs - this is a far cry from the modern home-theater.


Introduction

Bulky shelving units suit bulky TVs. Now that the era of massive CRT TVs is slowly but surely fading, it's time to tailor your furniture to the flat-panel generation. If you aren't able - or don't want - to build a separate home-theater, you're stuck with the living room and, therefore, with functional, modern AV racks. These are often a great match for your new TV, and will accommodate the various devices with elegance.

But, be warned: The range of racks available is wide and complex. You can find racks everywhere - online, in furniture stores, and even at discount food stores. The prices range hugely, from cheap to virtually unaffordable. Here, we've listed the most important manufacturers, as well as introducing a few specific pieces of furniture. Before you plough on to look at actual models, we recommend you spare some thought for your budget: How much can I - or do I want to - pay for a TV rack? If you're limited to, say, 200 pounds, you're going to be quite limited from the start - in that case, you'll probably only be able to consider models from budget suppliers such as Ikea and Argos.

Once you've planned your budget, take a closer look at your AV devices: What have I actually got? What are their dimensions? How much do they weigh? Will I want more in the future? Only once you know the answers to these questions can you say precisely how much space the rack will need to have - and what shape it needs to be.

After all - and this is also worth some thought - there are loads of different types on offer: cheap TV-cupboard-style solutions; functional furniture complete with swivel brackets for the TV, cable ducts, and extra storage space; glass designer pieces that glow in the dark; and heavy AV racks made of special materials that aim to improve sound.

We wish you the best of luck in finding the solution that's right for you. First off, here's an overview of some rack suppliers and their contact details.

No comments: