Built in Entertainment Cabinet - Design and Fit Out

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Built in Entertainment Cabinet - Design and Fit Out

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jonathan18

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#1246238 25-Feb-2015 11:16

richms: If its in 10 years time, then redo it to suit what TV you can put in there at that time. Who knows what TVs will be like by then so trying to plan that far ahead is a bit silly.

The reality is that nowdays not that many people will keep the same TV for 10 years - so surely it's best to provide for flexibility now to avoid having to make extensive compromises later? I's so simple to provide for this flexibility - just leave a larger space for the TV! This could be as simple as not 'enclosing' the TV but just building cupboards/shelving below the level the TV sits at. This also avoids the problem I mentioned of having the distraction of other parallel surfaces close to the TV's edge.

MikeAqua

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#1246487 25-Feb-2015 15:42

The plan is to build in plenty of flexibility. I'm yet to put pencil to paper so it's hard to say exactly what the exact configuration will be, but my sense is that I will end up with lots of space to work with.

The various sections will be designed with ample room, rather than being bespoke to specific items. I plan to build in some flexibility around things like shelf spacing as well. Drawers will use removable racks for discs, rather than be sized specifically for CDs/DVDs etc.

The TV is one area where for structural reasons, the compartment will have to be certain size that we are stuck with. TV's will get bigger, but there has to be some limit to what I plan to accommodate. We currently have a 40" TV so if I design to comfortably fit a 55", that's a much bigger TV for our lounge.

geekiegeek: Never liked the idea of cabinets like this, what happens when you want to upgrade your electronics or speakers, everything has to fit a certain size - the size you have now. What if you cant find a TV with the correct dimensions in 10 years time.

Mike

hsvhel

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#1246491 25-Feb-2015 15:47

I was involved in one similar to what you want to achieve a few years back, accessibility was gained by removing 3 of the 5 drawers and crawling through the gap into the void at the back. This meant the wall could be finished completely and no one was the wiser to access behind. It also vented into the ceiling. Was perfect for hiding recievers/server and other amps/boosters.

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MikeAqua

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#1246497 25-Feb-2015 16:02

Speakers are Wharfdale Diamonds (2 x 9.1 and a 9cs). They currently sit on the top surface of the entertainment cabinet.

My plan is to build dedicated compartments ~1/3 wider and higher than the speakers and just sit them in there. I have plenty of flexibility on depth - up to 400mm deeper than the speakers should be feasible.

Each speaker has 4 little rubber feet, which isolate the speaker housing from the surface it is sitting on. We don't have any issues with vibration or poor sound quality but then they aren't currently enclosed.

The centre speaker used to sit inside the cabinet without any issues, but never the fronts. I'll try them this weekend and see.

jonathan18: What sort of speakers are you using, and how do you intend to fit them within the space? (Given you say the new shelving will take up the whole of the cavity.) Some speakers (eg Kef eggs) will work ok within or sitting on a cabinet, as they essentially sit on their own stands, but I'd imagine it's preferable that standard 'bookshelf' type speakers don't sit straight on shelving, especially if the L/R are expected to operate full-frequency (given your comment re no current subwoofer I'm assuming this is the case)

Mike

jonathan18

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#1246518 25-Feb-2015 16:14

MikeAqua: Speakers are Wharfdale Diamonds (2 x 9.1 and a 9cs). They currently sit on the top surface of the entertainment cabinet.

My plan is to build dedicated compartments ~1/3 wider and higher than the speakers and just sit them in there. I have plenty of flexibility on depth - up to 400mm deeper than the speakers should be feasible.

Each speaker has 4 little rubber feet, which isolate the speaker housing from the surface it is sitting on.

I use two pairs of the same speaker (9.1) for my surrounds - they've long been a great-value speaker, but I know you'd love the result of adding a sub to the mix! (but as long as it's not within your cabinet space...).

You may like to try bringing the speakers as far forward within their 'compartment' so as to at least minimise the impact of being boxed in. I've got our centre sitting on top of the entertainment cabinet with no 'wall's above or to the sides, but still have this situated so that the grill sits in front of the edge of the cabinet. My brother-in-law used to situate his centre channel further back on a shelf of his entertainment suite - bringing it out in front of the front edge did wonders to improve dialogue.

MikeAqua

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#1246558 25-Feb-2015 17:09

I was planning to have the front of the speaker in the same plane as the front of the TV. But they won't be fixed so I could experiment with moving them forward.

I am tempted to get a sub. but there really isn't anywhere to put one. Also kids bedrooms are under the lounge, and they already complain about the through floor bass from the speakers.

jonathan18: I use two pairs of the same speaker (9.1) for my surrounds - they've long been a great-value speaker, but I know you'd love the result of adding a sub to the mix! (but as long as it's not within your cabinet space...).

You may like to try bringing the speakers as far forward within their 'compartment' so as to at least minimise the impact of being boxed in. I've got our centre sitting on top of the entertainment cabinet with no 'wall's above or to the sides, but still have this situated so that the grill sits in front of the edge of the cabinet. My brother-in-law used to situate his centre channel further back on a shelf of his entertainment suite - bringing it out in front of the front edge did wonders to improve dialogue.

Mike

timmmay

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#1246565 25-Feb-2015 17:23

My roof space goes up to 45 degrees on a hot summers day. Any opening will bring dust and heat into your already warm house in summer, and cool the house down in winter. Suggest you vent out the front.

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MikeAqua

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#1247072 26-Feb-2015 13:31

But won't venting out the front heat up the lounge?

Mike

Jase2985

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#1247076 26-Feb-2015 13:39

yes but where is that heat going at the moment?

BlueShift

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#1247079 26-Feb-2015 13:41

MikeAqua: But won't venting out the front heat up the lounge?

Yup, which is a bonus in winter (the cat may find a new favourite spot), while in summer, its not adding too much more to a lounge-room sized volume - open a window, or a heat pump will cope.

MikeAqua

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#1247616 27-Feb-2015 10:40

At the moment some/most of the equipment that will go into this cabinet is in other locations in the house or I don't have yet. By the time I get everything in here it will probably double current heat output. Maybe it will still be immaterial though.

It's a North/West facing room with lots of windows , with double glazing and over-code insulation in Nelson. Cold is rarely an issue. Heat is a frequent problem.

Jase2985: yes but where is that heat going at the moment?

Mike

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