a/v furniture question

[upgradeitis]

I am purchasing a new 42" HDTV and I am also considering a cherry wood stand on which the plasma will sit. This stand also holds a/v components at the bottom and has wood doors that close. I am wondering will the a/v receiver or a universal remote be able to penetrate the doors? I would rather hide my components for WAF factor. Here is the model that I am considering:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-3X9QUznACSh/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=15730&I=051WFV44C

 

[Adam]

If you choose to use the solid wood panels, then odds are very slim that the light from an infrared (IR) remote would get through the cracks and actually hit the components inside (i.e. don't count on it). If you use the glass panels, then they should work.

Another option (if you don't want to use the glass panels) is to find out if Sanus makes speaker cloth panels for that stand. I know that those are on option on some of their other models. The IR remotes should work with the cloth panels just fine.

There are RF remotes than you can buy that come with IR emitters that get placed inside of the cabinets. So, the remote in your hand sends a radio frequency signal that will go right through the door and trigger an IR emitter in front of your component, so it will work through the wood panels. I don't remember the brand names or how much those cost.

 

[MDS]

IR will NOT penetrate wood. You'd want an RF remote as Adam mentioned. My preference is the Home Theater Master remotes from Universal Remote Control but Harmony and a few others will work too.

 

[upgradeitis]

Thanks for the quick response. I may just use the glass since I think it's frosted so it "hides" components somewhat.

 

[Adam]

Just a thought...there are other stands out there in that price range that might suit you better. I was looking at those Sanus stands because Crutchfield.com is just so easy to browse, but I couldn't get over paying $700 for something that I had to assemble and that wasn't getting great reviews. To my surprise, Ethan Allen sells a media cabinet that looks nice (at least on my monitor screen) and costs $900. I figure if EA has something in that range, then the other stores have got to have stuff, too.

 

[upgradeitis]

Do you have a link to the stand you are referring to?

 

[Adam]

The Ethan Allen site is frame driven, so a link won't get you there. If you go to ethanallen.com, click on "Products", then "Home Entertainment", then "HT Series 600", then goto page 5, and it's the "Media Cabinet" for $899.

Alternatively, click on "Products" on the homepage and at the bottom of the next screen, you'll find a product search box. Put in "389658" and hit go.