AV stand: two choices

[MDS]

In this thread: http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34852&highlight=center+channel+mounting I laid out my design issues and why the space requirements in my room cause me headaches for properly mounting a center channel speaker.

I have decided to forget the hutch and go with the open rack look which ironically is what I wanted in the first place but abandoned due to the difficulty of mounting the center speaker on the wall (that's why I built the hutch).

So I have two choices:

1. Keep the width of the stand the same as it is now to allow floorstanding front speakers to the side. Downside: the compartment for the center speaker can be no more than 21" wide which limits my choices in speakers somewhat.

2. Make the stand wider so I can have a larger opening for a more substantial center channel speaker (say 25" wide). Downside: No room for speakers, either floorstanding or bookshelves on stands, at the sides. I'd have to go with bookshelves placed on the stand like this: http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/furniture/racks-stands/studiotech-e-1-tv-stand/image/image_view_fullscreen

Which would you choose and why? [Keep in mind that I have not settled on which new speakers yet].

 

[Haoleb]

Wall mount the TV, run the speaker and video cables through the wall to a closet somewhere, Get a center speaker stand, And an RF remote.

Slick!

 

[MDS]

Why must you complicate my life even more?

The stud spacing on the wall is irregular and presents problems even for my original idea of just mounting a big shelf on the wall for the center channel speaker.

 

[Tomorrow]

In this thread: http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34852&highlight=center+channel+mounting I laid out my design issues and why the space requirements in my room cause me headaches for properly mounting a center channel speaker.

I have decided to forget the hutch and go with the open rack look which ironically is what I wanted in the first place but abandoned due to the difficulty of mounting the center speaker on the wall (that's why I built the hutch).

So I have two choices:

1. Keep the width of the stand the same as it is now to allow floorstanding front speakers to the side. Downside: the compartment for the center speaker can be no more than 21" wide which limits my choices in speakers somewhat.

2. Make the stand wider so I can have a larger opening for a more substantial center channel speaker (say 25" wide). Downside: No room for speakers, either floorstanding or bookshelves on stands, at the sides. I'd have to go with bookshelves placed on the stand like this: http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/furniture/racks-stands/studiotech-e-1-tv-stand/image/image_view_fullscreen

Which would you choose and why? [Keep in mind that I have not settled on which new speakers yet].

MDS, I don't understand why you are limited thusly. What is the width of your wall/available space? At what height do you want the tv?

Why can you not use a modular system with the cc on top and the Samsung mounted to the wall above? Or why not build a pseudo-box to house the cc which also acts as a stand for the tv?

Or alternately could you keep the current unit and cut out the inner tv section walls (that look like they offer cd/dvd shelving) and fit your larger screen tv in there?

 

[MDS]

The wall is 86" wide. Speakers are typically 10" wide - even bookshelves on stands would require roughly the same width. Therefore, the TV stand must be no wider than ~66". The one I had built is actually 66.5" wide and takes up all available space between the corner on the left and the fireplace on the right when speakers are placed to the sides of it (as in my picture).

I chose the hutch approach with the intent of putting the center on the hutch but I messed up and it is not wide enough for a 52" (I was so sure that 46" was sufficient).

I'd rather just ditch the hutch than build another one wider (I'd lose the little side shelves that could hold knick-knacks).

The way I see it my two choices are those I listed and I'm interested in opinions either way. This is not a technical question. I want opinions. I'm going to make the decison in the next two weeks one way or the other. It takes Furniture in the Raw ~4-6 weeks to build a stand because they are so busy.

 

[avaserfi]

Have you thought about getting a stand that you can mount your display on and then getting some modular units for your gear and center channel? I know it isn't the most efficient idea (monetarily) but I have seen a few stands that are made for mounting displays and thats it.

This would get away from your irregular stud problem and allow for a variety of center channel options as well as floor standing speakers.

I didn't do much looking but something like this without the glass shelf, then placing the modular units over the ugly bottom part or just finding a more asthetically pleasing unit.

 

[MDS]

Yes, I've seen stands that suspend the display as if it were wall mounted but really not sure I want to go that way.

I want something similar to croseiv's setup but allowing for the possibiltiy of a larger center channel speaker - hence my two choices as listed in the OP.

 

[Davemcc]

Keep the base and have a new top built that is flat (without shelves or top) and sturdy enough to hang the TV on when securely fastened to the base. Keep the speakers at the sides and place the center on the top shelf of the base.
Kind of like this with your existing base:
http://www.standsandmounts.com/ProductImages/azura/411200-2.jpg

If you know the size of the TV, you can build it so that the back panel will not be seen and you will have the full width of the top shelf for a center and vertical adjustment on the TV to close the gap between the bottom of the TV and the top of the center.

 

[MDS]

Furniture in the Raw had a stand just like that already built and I considered it, but it always comes down to how high the TV will be.

I will redesign the base to look like the picture in the standsandmounts link and that gives you an idea of why I feel I am down to the two choices I listed. The center would go in the top center compartment. The issue is do I make it large enough to hold a large center that is 24" wide or more and give up placing speakers on the side or make it smaller and limit the size of center channel speaker I can buy.

I appreciate all the ideas but nobody has yet given their opinion as to option 1 or option 2. As Dr. Evil would say 'Come on people, throw me a frickin' bone'.

 

[avaserfi]

Furniture in the Raw had a stand just like that already built and I considered it, but it always comes down to how high the TV will be.

I will redesign the base to look like the picture in the standsandmounts link and that gives you an idea of why I feel I am down to the two choices I listed. The center would go in the top center compartment. The issue is do I make it large enough to hold a large center that is 24" wide or more and give up placing speakers on the side or make it smaller and limit the size of center channel speaker I can buy.

I appreciate all the ideas but nobody has yet given their opinion as to option 1 or option 2. As Dr. Evil would say 'Come on people, throw me a frickin' bone'.

I like option one more simply because it allows for more options when it comes to speakers as a whole. Maybe you should start auditioning speakers as that could help this situation out some.