We just got a new home theater system, and I think it's time for a new "rack"
to hold it. I am looking for ideas. Some things I am pondering:
-Open back or slots to get at the components
-Wheels? Probably not practical, but would make installing the wires easier
-Older 26" televison should be on the top? (no budget for something new)
-need to hold receiver, Tivo, cable box, dvd, cd,
I welcome ideas and comments!
Thanks!
I just visited a friends new home where the home theater system was built
into/onto one wall making access to the rear impossible. The builder had a
very clever solution. He put the components on a rack to the left side of
the large projection TV. What made it unique was the component rack was
sitting on top of a solid drawer full extension side that had a "lazy
susan". To service the components, You slid out the rack and rotated it. It
was a terrific idea.
I am drawing up plans to build one for my new addition.
The rack and surrounding enclosures and doors were beautifully made of Red
Oak.
Dave
"ToolMiser" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> We just got a new home theater system, and I think it's time for a new
"rack"
> to hold it. I am looking for ideas. Some things I am pondering:
>
> -Open back or slots to get at the components
> -Wheels? Probably not practical, but would make installing the wires
easier
> -Older 26" televison should be on the top? (no budget for something new)
> -need to hold receiver, Tivo, cable box, dvd, cd,
>
> I welcome ideas and comments!
> Thanks!
ToolMiser wrote:
> -Open back or slots to get at the components
> -Wheels? Probably not practical, but would make installing the wires
> easier -Older 26" televison should be on the top? (no budget for
> something new) -need to hold receiver, Tivo, cable box, dvd, cd,
>
> I welcome ideas and comments!
> Thanks!
One rack or two? Last summer I made a temporary component rack as we were
trashing the old cabinet during a re-model of the family room. I'm stil
using the "temp" unit and probably will forever. It sits next to the TV on a
stand. I'll be making a new stand for the new TV. This suits my space best.
YMMV.
YES, an open back or very big slots to get your hands in. Think about the
future. My 30 year old Sansui receiver died. I replaced it with new
technology and surround sound. It has 32 wires connecting to it, plus the
power cord. (Surround sound 6.1 needs 13 conections alone (next technology
is 7.1 and 9.1))
Wheels. YES. Making all the connections was far easier. Wheels are a must.
They can be hidden with a skirt around the base just leaving 1/4" or so
clearance. You will be back there more than you think until you get
everything set up the way you want it. If you have to go to digital cable,
you need AV inputs in place of the RF. The DVD will work best with component
inputs (four wires, three videa plus one sound) The cable box will go
direct to the receiver for audio but one cable to the TV for video. And on
and on.
In my case, the TV sits aside the rack and subwoofer. Allow for a larger
TV. I had no intention of buying a new TV and scoffed at paying the big
bucks for HDTV. No way, not me. You'd have to be crazy to spend that much
money on a TV. OK, so I'm crazy. It is a 34" and the cabinet is 36" wide.
Your TV will eventually die and you will want a larger one. I chose the 34"
because it is the largest you can go with a real tube, not projection and
the associated picture quality loss.
--
Ed
[email protected]
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome
I built a great stand that holds my 36" tv on top and has space for 8
components underneath (4 on each half). Having built it with
adjustable shelves and having used it for some time now with lots of
wire changeouts and upgrades I'd definitely can the adjustable shelf
idea and go for pull out drawer slides for the shelves instead. Would
have made my life so much easier and all the shelves are at the same
height as I originally put them in (evenly spaced) so adjustability is
unecessary.
Good luck,
Mike
[email protected] (ToolMiser) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> We just got a new home theater system, and I think it's time for a new "rack"
> to hold it. I am looking for ideas. Some things I am pondering:
>
> -Open back or slots to get at the components
> -Wheels? Probably not practical, but would make installing the wires easier
> -Older 26" televison should be on the top? (no budget for something new)
> -need to hold receiver, Tivo, cable box, dvd, cd,
>
> I welcome ideas and comments!
> Thanks!
"ToolMiser" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> We just got a new home theater system, and I think it's time for a new
"rack"
> to hold it. I am looking for ideas. Some things I am pondering:
>
> -Open back or slots to get at the components
> -Wheels? Probably not practical, but would make installing the wires
easier
> -Older 26" televison should be on the top? (no budget for something new)
> -need to hold receiver, Tivo, cable box, dvd, cd,
>
> I welcome ideas and comments!
> Thanks!
I am not an audio engineer but I learned from experience that you should be
concerned with heat build up. I built a rack with closed sides, and no fan,
and had two components that were effected by heat. Luckily they both had
quality thermal limiters but I did have to scrap the rack.
Wheels are a great idea and they can be hidden by the case. I would also
use a mix of permanent and moveable shelves. At the speed technology is
changing you might want to swap components in the future.
Good luck - Bob McBreen
Our living room is too small to have the SW too loud. And there is enough
air circulation for the units to stay cool.
"Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Wilson wrote:
> > The sub-woofer takes up 2 cubbies. Very clean lines and oh
> > so very easy to build.
>
> I've always been told not to put a SW in a cabinet. Too restrictie and too
> many vibrations. Have you compared performance in and out of it?
> --
> Ed
> [email protected]
> http://pages.cthome.net/edhome
>
>
I made a sectional entertainment unit. It holds the HT receiver, CD/DVD
player, VHS player and digital cable box. It has 6 adjustable cubbies. The
sub-woofer takes up 2 cubbies. Very clean lines and oh so very easy to
build. Plans can be found on Plansnow.com. There are optional glass doors
which I made, but instead of clear glass, I used dark marbled glass.
"ToolMiser" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> We just got a new home theater system, and I think it's time for a new
"rack"
> to hold it. I am looking for ideas. Some things I am pondering:
>
> -Open back or slots to get at the components
> -Wheels? Probably not practical, but would make installing the wires
easier
> -Older 26" televison should be on the top? (no budget for something new)
> -need to hold receiver, Tivo, cable box, dvd, cd,
>
> I welcome ideas and comments!
> Thanks!
[email protected] (ToolMiser) wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> We just got a new home theater system, and I think it's time for a new
> "rack" to hold it. I am looking for ideas. Some things I am
> pondering:
>
> -Open back or slots to get at the components
Also needs to be open for cooling
> -Wheels? Probably not practical, but would make installing the wires
> easier
If not wheels, then a smooth bottom so that it can slide easily over your
floor. You will want to be getting at the backside frequently.
> -Older 26" televison should be on the top? (no budget for
> something new) -need to hold receiver, Tivo, cable box, dvd, cd,
Build a separate stand for the TV -- you will likely be changing that for a
larger one in the future.
Wilson wrote:
> The sub-woofer takes up 2 cubbies. Very clean lines and oh
> so very easy to build.
I've always been told not to put a SW in a cabinet. Too restrictie and too
many vibrations. Have you compared performance in and out of it?
--
Ed
[email protected]
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome
The last major product I made was a home theatre stand 72"L x 21"W x 60"
High. Because I use a wheelchair, I knew that I'd have to make it moveable
since I'd never be able to squeeze in behind it to play with connections. I
used 10 pairs of castors. With all the electronics and television in it, I
estimate it weighs about 700 lbs. With difficulty I can pull it out from the
wall. I'd be up the creek without those castors. Of course, that's with a
solid floor, no carpet.
"Subw00er" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Have a look at Bello stands. Some of them are really beautiful and
> functional. If you can obtain some cut glass, they wouldn't be too hard to
> duplicate (or just use wood!).
>
> http://shop.store.yahoo.com/allhometheater/belaudvidfur.html
>
>
> "ToolMiser" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > We just got a new home theater system, and I think it's time for a new
> "rack"
> > to hold it. I am looking for ideas. Some things I am pondering:
> >
> > -Open back or slots to get at the components
> > -Wheels? Probably not practical, but would make installing the wires
> easier
> > -Older 26" televison should be on the top? (no budget for something
new)
> > -need to hold receiver, Tivo, cable box, dvd, cd,
> >
> > I welcome ideas and comments!
> > Thanks!
>
>
Have a look at Bello stands. Some of them are really beautiful and
functional. If you can obtain some cut glass, they wouldn't be too hard to
duplicate (or just use wood!).
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/allhometheater/belaudvidfur.html
"ToolMiser" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> We just got a new home theater system, and I think it's time for a new
"rack"
> to hold it. I am looking for ideas. Some things I am pondering:
>
> -Open back or slots to get at the components
> -Wheels? Probably not practical, but would make installing the wires
easier
> -Older 26" televison should be on the top? (no budget for something new)
> -need to hold receiver, Tivo, cable box, dvd, cd,
>
> I welcome ideas and comments!
> Thanks!