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Alternatives
Entertainment center is a general term that can apply to a number
of different pieces of furniture used to house TVs, stereos and
the like. This article will outline some of the different options
that are available.
A TV cart is the most basic piece of furniture designed to support
a TV. The TV remains in the open, sitting on top, and limited
storage is located in the lower portion of the cart. The storage
may be open shelves or it may be concealed behind doors.
Entertainment armoires are designed to hide away the TV and other
electronic components. They offer more storage than a TV cart
and when the doors are closed, they give no hint as to their
contents. Newly manufactured armoires on the market today can
be used to house a TV. Manufacturers build the armoires with
cord access holes for this purpose; some even incorporate double
hinges or pocket doors that tuck away for better TV viewing.
Consoles have become more prominent as high-definition TVs have
become more common in the market. They are wider than TV carts
and offer a more stable support for modern, wide-aspect TVs.
Some console designs have built-in hydraulic lifts that can move
a flat-panel TV (one no more than 5" in depth) up and down,
tucking it away when not in use. Some consoles come with hutches
that allow you to mount flat panel TVs and provide additional
media storage.
Entertainment walls are designed to be customized to your storage
needs and give you the look of built-in cabinetry. Several different
components can be mixed and matched to suit your needs. TV carts,
armoires and consoles are all options that can be incorporated
into an entertainment wall, usually at the center. This center
piece is flanked by other storage pieces.
Media piers go on either side of the TV housing. They consist
of a narrow cabinet with doors or open shelves. Many piers incorporate
glass doors at the top with interior lighting. If you choose
a pier like this, be sure the lighting is easy to access and
operate. Many media piers offer built-in storage for CDs, DVDs
and videos.A light bridge is part of an entertainment wall that
connects two media piers or cabinets. The bridge can be used
over a console or TV cart, or it can simply frame a free-standing
big-screen TV. It has integrated lighting and often incorporates
a shelf and a back panel that ties the wall together.
Open curio / bookshelf units are another option to add to your
entertainment wall. They offer additional storage and complete
the look with attractive, coordinated display areas. Shelving
units with lights should be easy to access and operate.
Features to look for:
Many manufacturers offer different options for the doors on their
entertainment furniture. Some offer glass doors so that the remote
will work without having the doors open. Speaker grills are another
option offered by many manufacturers: cabinet doors are fitted
with speaker fabric that allows sound to travel through them.Better
manufacturers integrate easy hook-up systems that don't require
you to crawl inside your entertainment unit to install a new
DVD player or other component. An integrated cord management
system means that not only will your components be easy to hook
up, but the cords will be tidy and out of the way too. Integrated
surge protectors help to protect your electronics from power
surges and voltage spikes.
Housing for each of your components is important to consider
when you are shopping for a home entertainment center. Take inventory
of everything you hook up to your TV and make sure the entertainment
center can not only house it, but house it so that it is easy
to access and use. Storage designed specifically to house gaming
controls and cartridges are another great feature. They hide
all the clutter away, yet keep it easy to access and use.Don't
forget about storage for DVDs, videos and other entertainment
media. Many entertainment systems have built-in, easy access
storage, some with pull-out organizers that allow you to easily
flip through titles.
If you expect to upgrade your electronics in the next few years
you might want to consider an expandable entertainment wall.
Some manufacturers design consoles and light bridges have multiple
settings to fit TVs from 45" to 67".
Construction
Like any case good purchase, you will want to look for the following
structural details before you buy. Overall, the piece should
be sturdy and should not wobble when rocked. Corner blocks should
be used to insure the stability of the piece and levelers will
help to make sure that all the doors and drawers line up correctly.Drawers
should be constructed with dovetail joints for strength and stability.
The drawers should move easily on their glides and should have
stops to prevent overextension. Good quality glides will use
ball bearings or nylon wheels to make it easier to move the drawer.
Drawers for media and component storage should have compound
glides for full access to the drawer contents.
Doors should fit well and should not have any visible gaps. They
should be easy to open and should not squeak or rub. Be sure
to check out all the options that are available for doors in
the entertainment center you choose.
© Weiss
Furniture, Inc. 2008
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