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finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

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Old 31-07-2007, 12:01 PM   #1
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finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

Hi,

I have decided on a 50 inch plasma, onkyo amp, bookshelf speakers (3.1), Tosh XE1, sky hd and wii.

So, after all that, I cannot find a wooden cabinet to house it all. Want the L/R speakers either side of screen with centre speaker under it. Then need to house everything (might get away with sub next to it, particularly amp (W 435/H 194/ D 459). To get speakers on top next to panel need a cabinet about 1900-2000mm long by about 500-600 high and at least 500mm deep. Have search all over net, cannot find anything long enough.

Does anyone have any ideas of where I might find one, would rather not go down the expensive route of getting one custom built.

cheers
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Old 31-07-2007, 1:05 PM   #2
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Re: finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

Buy two units?
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Old 31-07-2007, 1:05 PM   #3
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Re: finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

I had the same problem. These may suit you
http://www.eatsleeplive.co.uk/tvhi-fi.html
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Old 31-07-2007, 1:31 PM   #4
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Re: finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

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Originally Posted by noidea View Post
I had the same problem. These may suit you
http://www.eatsleeplive.co.uk/tvhi-fi.html
Good luck fitting a speaker into that generous 4" gap they call a shelf. All these companies flogging AV furniture that doesnt hold much more than a digibox and a vcr should be burned to the ground in my opinion.

And dont get me started on your friendly neighbourhood cabinet makers who will gladly knock you one together for the small price of putting his seven kids through university.
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Old 31-07-2007, 1:43 PM   #5
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Re: finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

I was looking at one of these on the Tesco site a while back. If I had the room width wise Id have one of these.
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Old 31-07-2007, 2:02 PM   #6
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Re: finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

I thought he meant the centre speaker under the screen but on top of the unit given the overall height requirement
If you like the style it's probably worth asking them to quote in the dimensions you want as they seem to have to make everything from scratch anyway so it may not be that much more
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Old 31-07-2007, 2:08 PM   #7
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Re: finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

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Originally Posted by noidea View Post
I had the same problem. These may suit you
http://www.eatsleeplive.co.uk/tvhi-fi.html
thanks, still not wide enough for tv and speakers to sit on top, and not quite deep enough for amp.
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Old 31-07-2007, 2:12 PM   #8
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Re: finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

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Originally Posted by BobHarris View Post
I was looking at one of these on the Tesco site a while back. If I had the room width wise Id have one of these.
that is nearly it; need a different colour and may be a bit higher, but closest so far in terms of length !
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Old 31-07-2007, 2:25 PM   #9
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Re: finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

How would you get all your equipment in the tesco one? are you ok having equipment behind doors? If you're using an RF remote and you would have the speaker on top of the unit, this one looks nice http://www.boconcept.co.uk/default.a...6&ImageID=2040 oops, just seen the depth, sorry

Last edited by noidea; 31-07-2007 at 2:41 PM.
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Old 31-07-2007, 9:05 PM   #10
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Re: finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

make you right about about finding the right cabinet or a price for a bespoke one from a cabinet maker. i ended up designing one myself but have been quoted various prices from £1100 upto £2700 to make it! (attached images drawn in cad software).

anyone any thoughts on where i might get something like it?
Attached Thumbnails
finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!-plasma-stand-draft.jpg   finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!-situ1.jpg  
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Old 31-07-2007, 10:39 PM   #11
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Re: finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

If that's Zebrano or Beli you are planning on using then the price would be high, it's very fashionable and also pretty expensive in the sort of thicknesses you are looking at. £2700 is pretty over the top but the £1100 isn't too far off the mark, there would be at least £350 (inc wastage) of wood in the unit + the glass.
Cabinet makers are entitled to earn a living too!
The wood does look nice in the flesh though.

Last edited by Knightshade; 31-07-2007 at 10:45 PM.
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Old 31-07-2007, 11:11 PM   #12
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Re: finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

My advice is to draw down your own design, buy the wood, buy some decent power tools if you don't already have some... and build it yourself.

I built my own cabinet with cheap materials, but I'm considering doing it again with better stuff.

I went down to my local timber merchant and asked them to cut the wood into the right sized peices. I then took it all home and did the intricate stuff myself.

It is odd though, Home Cinema is really taking off but there isn't a single company that makes afordable cabinets to house:

- large Plasma / LCD screen
- a large centre speaker (must be in the middle and at a decent height, i.e. not down near the floor)
- a hefty AV amp
- Set top box
- DVD player
- other equipment e.g. DVD Recorder, HD player, Games console etc.

There's a design in my head that I think would sell like hot cakes on here.
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Old 01-08-2007, 8:54 AM   #13
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Re: finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

That tesco one is really nice, especially in the oak. It is slightly too wide, needs to be 150-160cm and not quite high enough, needs to be 50-60cm for my liking.

I really like this one on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=220135032440

But the space behind the doors is only 43cm wide and my av amp is 43cm leaving no room and I probably wouldn't get it in any way as it is closed back and the opening in the door is only 37cm.

There are quite a few I like on ebay but none of them fit the bill perfectly.

The blok 3000 is very nice but very expensive and the centre speaker section isn't wide enough.

Cheers

Chris
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Old 01-08-2007, 12:36 PM   #14
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Re: finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

I got one of these:

http://www.av-sales.co.uk/AV-Stands-...AV3-406-25.htm

and then to give me some more space I got two of these:

http://www.av-sales.co.uk/AV-Stands-...AV1-406-25.htm

but now the wife wants to get rid of them all and get something else!
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Old 01-08-2007, 1:53 PM   #15
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Re: finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jules View Post
My advice is to draw down your own design, buy the wood, buy some decent power tools if you don't already have some... and build it yourself.

I built my own cabinet with cheap materials, but I'm considering doing it again with better stuff.

I went down to my local timber merchant and asked them to cut the wood into the right sized peices. I then took it all home and did the intricate stuff myself.

It is odd though, Home Cinema is really taking off but there isn't a single company that makes afordable cabinets to house:

- large Plasma / LCD screen
- a large centre speaker (must be in the middle and at a decent height, i.e. not down near the floor)
- a hefty AV amp
- Set top box
- DVD player
- other equipment e.g. DVD Recorder, HD player, Games console etc.

There's a design in my head that I think would sell like hot cakes on here.
mmmmmmm .. hot cakes ..
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Old 01-08-2007, 3:14 PM   #16
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Re: finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jules View Post
My advice is to draw down your own design, buy the wood, buy some decent power tools if you don't already have some... and build it yourself.

I built my own cabinet with cheap materials, but I'm considering doing it again with better stuff.

I went down to my local timber merchant and asked them to cut the wood into the right sized peices. I then took it all home and did the intricate stuff myself.

It is odd though, Home Cinema is really taking off but there isn't a single company that makes afordable cabinets to house:

- large Plasma / LCD screen
- a large centre speaker (must be in the middle and at a decent height, i.e. not down near the floor)
- a hefty AV amp
- Set top box
- DVD player
- other equipment e.g. DVD Recorder, HD player, Games console etc.

There's a design in my head that I think would sell like hot cakes on here.
same as what im doing at the moment, havent started the tv unit yet, but im almost finished on the unit to hold my laptop, printer, and a large storage area.
18mm mdf is only about 13 quid from B&Q and they can cut it for u, and like u said just some decent tools and a bit of intricate work its cheaper and u get the satisfaction of knowing u did it yourself.
Grudge of War - 1 on 1 Tourney. Interested?
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Old 01-08-2007, 3:28 PM   #17
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Re: finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

an alternative to going the full diy route is to use jali.co.uk where you use their designer tool to design what you like and then they send it to you as an ikea style flatpack. I've used it before and it was very sturdy. You have to paint it though so not sure if its the finish you are after
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Old 01-08-2007, 6:34 PM   #18
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Re: finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by noidea View Post
an alternative to going the full diy route is to use jali.co.uk where you use their designer tool to design what you like and then they send it to you as an ikea style flatpack. I've used it before and it was very sturdy. You have to paint it though so not sure if its the finish you are after
Hello

Many thnaks for that, never heard of them before, just used their tool to make one and it isn't bad for £206. Shame you have to paint it yourself though.

Cheers

Chris
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Old 01-08-2007, 9:59 PM   #19
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Re: finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by thudspud View Post
Hello

Many thnaks for that, never heard of them before, just used their tool to make one and it isn't bad for £206. Shame you have to paint it yourself though.

Cheers

Chris
once ive finished mine im building im going to use this in beech.

http://www.ronseal.ie/prodshowgroup....ain&intext=int

then put some clear varnish on it.
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Old 01-08-2007, 10:07 PM   #20
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Re: finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

Interesting, Thanks, will look into that stuff.
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Old 02-08-2007, 8:34 AM   #21
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Re: finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

thudspud - If you feel that you have to compromise at all what you wanted using the jali design tool, give them a call and they will do whatever you want - add cable holes, staggered shelves etc. I'm pretty sure they can make a flat pack version of any design if you send them a drawing
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Old 02-08-2007, 4:28 PM   #22
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Re: finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jules View Post
My advice is to draw down your own design, buy the wood, buy some decent power tools if you don't already have some... and build it yourself.

I built my own cabinet with cheap materials, but I'm considering doing it again with better stuff.

I went down to my local timber merchant and asked them to cut the wood into the right sized peices. I then took it all home and did the intricate stuff myself.

It is odd though, Home Cinema is really taking off but there isn't a single company that makes afordable cabinets to house:

- large Plasma / LCD screen
- a large centre speaker (must be in the middle and at a decent height, i.e. not down near the floor)
- a hefty AV amp
- Set top box
- DVD player
- other equipment e.g. DVD Recorder, HD player, Games console etc.

There's a design in my head that I think would sell like hot cakes on here.
Well, that is very commendable, however, I have neither the talent nor the will, to do such a thing. When it comes to DIY type things; I pay someone else to do it, can't be good at everything
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Old 02-08-2007, 8:16 PM   #23
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Re: finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

Quote:
Well, that is very commendable, however, I have neither the talent nor the will, to do such a thing.
Really, I'm definately not a talented carpenter!
Just mad enough to have a stab at anything!

Of course I would rather have paid a professional to do it, but I have finite financial resources.

Actually it was genuinely pretty easy, and I enjoyed doing it.
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Old 02-08-2007, 9:31 PM   #24
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Re: finding cabinet is harder than all the AV kit !!!

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Originally Posted by buttons129 View Post
make you right about about finding the right cabinet or a price for a bespoke one from a cabinet maker. i ended up designing one myself but have been quoted various prices from £1100 upto £2700 to make it! (attached images drawn in cad software).

anyone any thoughts on where i might get something like it?
Thats not a bad couple of renders mate, what you done it in. I'm having the same problems with all the kit in my list below (less the speakers of course) as well as having my RSLCR in the centre beneath the telly... so tough!

Last edited by Jakakadave; 02-08-2007 at 9:39 PM.
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