RayP
27-05-2006, 2:21 PM
Hi all,
I'm in a dilemma over how best to accommodate a 42" plasma screen in my somewhat modest room. I currently have a 32" widescreen TV sitting on a 3-shelf AV rack also containing a centre speaker, Sky+ and a VCR although that will be going soon.
The attached pictures show the room layout. The first picture shows the whole bay area. The second picture shows the view from my seating position which is about 10ft from the screen. I don't like the window being blocked by the TV but at the time I needed a decent support for the centre speaker and the stand was the only option.
I'm planning to replace the B&W CM4/CMC speakers with either the MT-30 range or the Tannoy Arena's to create some space (speakers need to sound good musically). I also want to replace the 3 shelf AV stand with a 2 shelf one. This will lower the position of the plasma by about 10 inches which will make a big difference. The bottom shelf of the AV stand will only hold the Sky+ box as my Optimum hi-fi stand offers better support for my DV79 DVD player which also doubles up as a CD player.
So far so good you might think but I have a problem with the centre speaker placement. The thin bezel of the PHD8 means the centre speaker will block the bottom of the screen. I don't think the M-1 will sound very good sitting on that bottom shelf and the other possibility of it being stand-mounted behind the screen is also out as it's not tall enough.
Couple that problem with the fact that the screen is placed in front of a window with a patio window at the opposite end of the room means light is a major issue especially during April - August. These are two issues which have caused me to consider the alternative of mounting the screen in the only other feasible place... on the chimney breast. See third picture.
It's wide enough to accept a 42" but I really didn't want to get into messing up the decorating by having to chisel channels to accept all the cabling. I won't be keeping that fire / surround but even with a conventional gas fire I'm concerned about heat and the height of the screen from the viewing position. It's just 8ft which is pushing it a bit for a 42" screen. I would also be looking up at a greater angle because of that reduced distance. I could place it lower down by foregoing on a gas fire and having a radiator in the window bay but that's just adding to the bill. It would however mean the whole bay area being free of a stand and screen so would really open up the room.
Both positions have their drawbacks and advantages and if I could resolve the centre speaker problem the bay position would probably win. I've searched around for a height-adjustable plasma stand that could accommodate a small centre speaker but they're all too tall. This is the best stand I've found but there's no place for a centre speaker on the same shelf as the plasma www.standanddeliver.com/acatalog/Alphason_AD_Series_AD2-105-S.html Why can't manufacturers offer stands that have a centre speaker support???
So you can see it's a real problem. I'd appreciate hearing your opinions on how best to play things whilst not spending an absolute fortune.
Ray.
I'm in a dilemma over how best to accommodate a 42" plasma screen in my somewhat modest room. I currently have a 32" widescreen TV sitting on a 3-shelf AV rack also containing a centre speaker, Sky+ and a VCR although that will be going soon.
The attached pictures show the room layout. The first picture shows the whole bay area. The second picture shows the view from my seating position which is about 10ft from the screen. I don't like the window being blocked by the TV but at the time I needed a decent support for the centre speaker and the stand was the only option.
I'm planning to replace the B&W CM4/CMC speakers with either the MT-30 range or the Tannoy Arena's to create some space (speakers need to sound good musically). I also want to replace the 3 shelf AV stand with a 2 shelf one. This will lower the position of the plasma by about 10 inches which will make a big difference. The bottom shelf of the AV stand will only hold the Sky+ box as my Optimum hi-fi stand offers better support for my DV79 DVD player which also doubles up as a CD player.
So far so good you might think but I have a problem with the centre speaker placement. The thin bezel of the PHD8 means the centre speaker will block the bottom of the screen. I don't think the M-1 will sound very good sitting on that bottom shelf and the other possibility of it being stand-mounted behind the screen is also out as it's not tall enough.
Couple that problem with the fact that the screen is placed in front of a window with a patio window at the opposite end of the room means light is a major issue especially during April - August. These are two issues which have caused me to consider the alternative of mounting the screen in the only other feasible place... on the chimney breast. See third picture.
It's wide enough to accept a 42" but I really didn't want to get into messing up the decorating by having to chisel channels to accept all the cabling. I won't be keeping that fire / surround but even with a conventional gas fire I'm concerned about heat and the height of the screen from the viewing position. It's just 8ft which is pushing it a bit for a 42" screen. I would also be looking up at a greater angle because of that reduced distance. I could place it lower down by foregoing on a gas fire and having a radiator in the window bay but that's just adding to the bill. It would however mean the whole bay area being free of a stand and screen so would really open up the room.
Both positions have their drawbacks and advantages and if I could resolve the centre speaker problem the bay position would probably win. I've searched around for a height-adjustable plasma stand that could accommodate a small centre speaker but they're all too tall. This is the best stand I've found but there's no place for a centre speaker on the same shelf as the plasma www.standanddeliver.com/acatalog/Alphason_AD_Series_AD2-105-S.html Why can't manufacturers offer stands that have a centre speaker support???
So you can see it's a real problem. I'd appreciate hearing your opinions on how best to play things whilst not spending an absolute fortune.
Ray.