Buying Guide: Dining Room
ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
SHOPPING CHECKLIST
|
Room Dimensions
_____ Feet & _____inches by
_____ Feet & _____inches |
Electronic Component Dimensions (Height, width
and depth)
- TV______________________
- DVD Player______________
- Gaming System___________
- VCR_____________________
- Audio___________________
- Speakers________________
|
Features
- Cord Management
System
- Easy Hookup System
- Integrated Surge
Protector
- Component Housing
- Media Storage
- Door Options
- Speaker Grills
- Glass Panels
- Gaming Unit Storage
- Hydraulic Lift
- Interior Lighting
|
Pieces
- TV Stand
- Entertainment Armoire
- Console
- Hutch
- Entertainment Wall
- Shelves/Display
|
Advances in the design of entertainment centers have kept up with the advances
in home electronics. Whether you want to hide your electronics away or highlight
their sleek design, there is something on the market to suit your needs.
The wide-screen dimensions of new TVs don't often fit in older entertainment
centers. Many newer designs are adjustable to accommodate different sized
TVs; however, you should still measure your TV before you go shopping for
an entertainment center. Measure all three dimensions: height, width and depth.
Technology has changed a lot in recent years, so you should not assume that
all set dimensions are pretty much the same.
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 addition 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.