Any alternatives???

[Joysey]

Hello all,
Here's a problem I hope you can help with:
We have a PS3, a digital cable box, a flat screen TV, and an unopened box of speakers (polk audio rm700 series) that my husband would love to be using. The issue is that we have a slim cabinet that hides the cable box and ps3 under the tv but it's too slender (shelves are 6" tall x 30" wide x 15" deep) to fit a receiver that has the true hd sound.
Isn't there anything else out there in the world of electronics that we could use besides those giant reciever things with the millions of hook ups??? We only have a few components and I really don't want to look at a giant dust-magnet box.
Thank you!!!!

 

[rnatalli]

You could try and find the JVC D or Panasonic XR series. Like this one:

http://www.buy.com/prod/jvc-rx-d411s-home-theater-receiver-with-hdmi-switching-and-pc-audio/q/loc/101/202877112.html
http://www.etronics.com/p-14466-jvc-rx-d411s-audiovideo-control-receiver-silver.aspx

They use class D amplification so were quite slim. They haven't been made in a while so hard to find and they also don't include decoders for TrueHD or DTS MA. Take a look at the Harman/Kardon receivers as they're quite sharp-looking. Although 6" might not allow enough ventilation for any typical receiver as most measure around 6" in height.

 

[highfigh]

Hello all,
Here's a problem I hope you can help with:
We have a PS3, a digital cable box, a flat screen TV, and an unopened box of speakers (polk audio rm700 series) that my husband would love to be using. The issue is that we have a slim cabinet that hides the cable box and ps3 under the tv but it's too slender (shelves are 6" tall x 30" wide x 15" deep) to fit a receiver that has the true hd sound.
Isn't there anything else out there in the world of electronics that we could use besides those giant reciever things with the millions of hook ups??? We only have a few components and I really don't want to look at a giant dust-magnet box.
Thank you!!!!

If you have space below the cabinet (assuming you have a basement), you can use an infra-red repeater and run the necessary cables from the cabinet to the receiver. You would need to use a wall plate with a large enough opening for the cables and drill a hole through the bottom of the wall framing for this but it would eliminate the need to see the receiver. For a similar price (parts + labor), you could replace the cabinet unless it was custom made for you. Many options exist but good sound requires good equipment and this can generate a fair amount of heat. There's no such thing as free energy although some equipment runs cooler than others. I would avoid tiny components and HTIB (Home Theater In a Box) because many are designed so that if the main unit fails, the whole system needs to be replaced because the sub often contains the amplifier for the main speakers and connects to the receiver/DVD player with a special cable (read as 'It only works with this system').

 

[j_garcia]

I'd consider getting a separate rack to enclose some of the gear, such as the cable box and receiver and possibly the PS3. You could get something that is closed so that you don't have to see the gear and use a repeater as mentioned. You could just get something short and pleasant looking that blends in with the rest of the furniture and doesn't upset the aesthetic of the room. Though those Polks likely don't need a lot of power, trying to pick a receiver to fit the space available is the opposite way of thinking if you ask me, and is going to leave you with few options.

I am thinking something like this:

 

[MatthewB.]

I agree with j garcia, I mean even if you don't want a rack, you could buy a nice end table and place the reciever on top of that and use the drawers to store remotes, manuals or DVD's. A receiver is probably the most important part of Home Theater, it is the brains of any system and trust me once your hubby hooks up a reciever and the speakers and sub, the sound quality will increas 1000 fold over any TV speakers. The PS3 is a fabulous Bluray player and having a reciever that can decode the new audio formats is just mind blowing in audio superiority. You can either buy a HT center to house the gear of if looks are important to you (and it sounds like it is) you can contract a carpenter and have him build you one that not only looks stunning but can hold all the gear (just make sure the carpenter makes the shelves with enough space to allow the reciever and PS3 and cable box to breathe because all of them generate tons of heat.

 

[Harrison476]

Hello all,
Here's a problem I hope you can help with:
We have a PS3, a digital cable box, a flat screen TV, and an unopened box of speakers (polk audio rm700 series) that my husband would love to be using. The issue is that we have a slim cabinet that hides the cable box and ps3 under the tv but it's too slender (shelves are 6" tall x 30" wide x 15" deep) to fit a receiver that has the true hd sound.
Isn't there anything else out there in the world of electronics that we could use besides those giant reciever things with the millions of hook ups??? We only have a few components and I really don't want to look at a giant dust-magnet box.
Thank you!!!!

I may be missing something here? Are the shelves removal? What are the overall dimensions of the cabinet? A picture would help. If the shelves can be removed you may be able to custom design the shelving arrangement to fit your equipment. The cabinet's depth looks like a problem (15"). Does this cabinet have doors? May have to remove those also.

I'm with the other guys about a nice piece of furniture to hold your other equipment. You might have to demo and enlarge that cabinet area. Then re-custom build it. Better leave more space for future pieces additional power amps, power conditioners, DVR, etc.

 

[Joysey]

Hmmm... well, the furniture is a set and our space is limited - we thought of doing remote connection and having everything in the laundry room but decided it wasn't worth it. The shelves come out so the height isn't the problem, the 15" depth is. I can't post an image or link because I'm too new.
Thank you for all the posts so far, but the solution needs to fit in the cabinet if at all possible.
Why are the good receivers so big and getting bigger when everything else is shrinking?

 

[j_garcia]

Why are the good receivers so big and getting bigger when everything else is shrinking?

More power and more features mean more real estate; PCBs, etc... To get plenty of power, you generally need a big power supply and capacitors which means a bigger box.

Note too that if the entertainment center doesn't have clearance behind it, even if you find a receiver that fits, you still need another two to three inches minimum for wiring behind that. If it is open in the back, the receiver can hang out a little and it won't make one bit of difference. I have a fairly large entertainment center and my receiver stll sticks out the back a bit.

 

[ChunkyDark]

"a flat screen TV"
Is this sitting on top of the cabinet or wall mounted? If not mounted, buy a mount from here and that will free up the space for the receiver.

 

[1990Viper]

Hello all,
Here's a problem I hope you can help with:
We have a PS3, a digital cable box, a flat screen TV, and an unopened box of speakers (polk audio rm700 series) that my husband would love to be using. The issue is that we have a slim cabinet that hides the cable box and ps3 under the tv but it's too slender (shelves are 6" tall x 30" wide x 15" deep) to fit a receiver that has the true hd sound.
Isn't there anything else out there in the world of electronics that we could use besides those giant reciever things with the millions of hook ups??? We only have a few components and I really don't want to look at a giant dust-magnet box.
Thank you!!!!

You may have to get a smaller all-in-one reciever / DVD player that will fit into a 30" wide opening... Just curious, what the name of the receiver that you are using??

 

[MDS]

Receivers are pretty much standard in width at 17 1/8" but higher end models with larger power supplies grow in the height and depth measurements. A typical mid-level receiver is about 6 7/16" - 6 11/16" in height so an 8" height in the stand is about the minimum you can get away with to allow at least and inch or so for ventilation.

Unfortunately, the only viable solution here (other than not using a receiver) is to get a new stand with proper dimensions - either off the shelf or custom made. You'd be suprised how many pieces of furniture are marketed as 'entertainment centers' that have shelves only 16" wide and therefore not suitable for 99% of receivers ever made.