Guide to Audio Video Furniture

You should be able to find several indispensable facts about Home Theater Seating in the following paragraphs. If there's at least one fact you didn't know before, imagine the difference it might make.

The best time to learn about Home Theater Seating is before you're in the thick of things. Wise readers will keep reading to earn some valuable Home Theater Seating experience while it's still free.

You just bought you new plasma, LCD, DLP, flat panel TV or projector. If you can't find a proper place to mount on wall or you need to house your audio video components, you will most likely need an Audio cabinet for you components, a TV stand, or base to house both the TV and your home theater components. This guide will tell you all about audio video furniture.

Knockdown vs. Assembled

Most home theater audio video furniture either is KD (knockdown) or assembled in one piece. What's the difference? KD means that the unit ships un-assembled in pieces and you have to put it together with your time or hire someone to do it. The advantage of KD furniture is that it can usually ship quickly for those people that need to meet a time deadline. The other advantage it usually is less expensive than assembled furniture quality pieces. The quality of KD items varies greatly. AV furniture first and foremost must be able to handle heavy televisions and components and we believe that KD furniture must be made with MDF, not particle board. A term associated with KD (knockdown) is also RTA (Ready to Assemble). These terms mean the same thing. The customer pays a little less, but has to put the item together on their time. The other small advantage to KD or RTA audio video furniture is that if it gets damaged, replacement parts can be sent to fix the issue readily.

The best quality furniture pieces have furniture "styling" which is made to be sen, not to be hidden in a closet. The hardware on these pieces are of higher quality including hinges and handles. Most assembled furniture is made with MDF with real wood veneers.

Assembled furniture is a convenient option for those with people with little time or patience for assembling furniture. The assembled option in most cases is of higher quality than most KD pieces.. You would need to check the manufacturer as the market is flooded with many importers where quality can vary and the packing of the furniture may be sub standard for shipping on a freight truck. All assembled furniture is inspected by our delivery centers prior to delivery. This level of quality control does not exist with many other on line retailers. Who you buy from is just as important as what you buy in the world of on line furniture retailers. You should always call the toll free phone number of any web site before ordering assembled furniture. Be sure to check the hours of the web site first before calling. The key consideration is longevity of the company. It's best to make sure a company has been in business at least 5 years.

Consider the Placement of the Home Theater Furniture

When planning a home theater or media room, you will need to consider where to place your av rack. Will it be hidden from view in a closet, a utility room, a special av cabinet, or piece of furniture. If you are hiding your furniture in a cabinet or closet, consider rotating AV racks that can pull out and rotate.

If you plan to position the mount in the front of your room, you will need to consider a cabinet that has furniture styling, since it will always be in view.

If being placed in the back of room or off to the side, you may consider knockdown options.

Wood or Metal Glass

Furniture construction can vary. In general, the look you want to achieve comes down to wood or glass. If you like a traditional approach, wood AV furniture may appeal to you. Most choices include black, cherry or oak finish. A maple or walnut finish is available in certain styles. If you prefer a more contemporary look, you may consider a metal glass combination. The glass is typically tempered to make it extremely strong.

Dimensions and Weight Considerations for AV Furniture:

The most common issue with choosing AV furniture is the size. If you are using for a tv stand you will need to find out the width of the TV, not the diagonal measurement. Most manufacturers use diagonal measurements on TV's versus width measurements, you will need to find this specification to choose the correct tv stand size. The other common measurement needed is interior shelf dimensions. This is very important if you have some oversized av equipment, less important if you have normal components. Last but not least, consider the weight of your television and the weight of your components. The heaviest two pieces are usually the TV and the AV Receiver/Amp. Most top shelf designs of our tv stands can handle up to 250lbs, but check the specs to be sure. The other consideration is the interior shelf load bearing. Some amps can weigh up to 100lbs! It's best to place the amp on the lower shelf, which is best for weight and sound absorption.

Back Panel Options

Many video tv stands are coming out with back panel options. A back panel allows you to mount a plasma or lcd tv on the panel and run the wires behind it. This makes for ease of installation and a cost savings, since you don't need an installer to run av cables or electrical. A back panel is an attractive alternative to mounting a plasma on a wall. A static fixed mount will probably be the best option for a back panel. The back panel is also good because the TV is at the viewer's eye level while sitting down.

What's in a Name?

Many people search for equipment racks using these terms: Audio rack, video rack, av rack, audio furniture, av furniture, tv stand, television stand or home entertainment center. Generally, a "rack" is knockdown and "furniture" is usually an assembled piece. Be sure to check the details on all products. A name could be just a title that doesn't accurately describe the piece you are ordering.

Longevity

How long do I want this piece of furniture to last? How long will I be living in current residence? If you are planning on moving to a new location, you may consider a temporary solution versus a more permanent furniture purchase. The "Knockdown" option is good if you are going to move in a couple years. If you plan on living in your current residence longer than 5 years you may consider an assembled av furniture purchase.

Hopefully the sections above have contributed to your understanding of Home Theater Seating. Share your new understanding about Home Theater Seating with others. They'll thank you for it.