Building a custom entertainment unit

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Building a custom entertainment unit

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LookingUp

439 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 88

#358944 29-Jul-2010 22:07

No worries - can't do at the moment, but will post a couple of shots at the weekend if that's OK?

The idea with the false back was to have cut-outs in the back that matched my (then) equipment, so I could get at the all the sockets etc., but to have all the cables enclosed so there was no light getting in from the rear. The result is that it you only see the components, and all behind them is dark - you can't see the stuff lurking out the back..

To be honest I surprised myself and the missus with the build, as I told that it would not be allowed into the living room unless it looked "OK". Passed the test, and is a fixture now. Money saved on building it myself out of MDF (gasp!) more than paid for a spray paint gun and several coats of paint. Black hides a multitude of sins! Including the spray gun it was probably sub $300 and way better than the $1000 custom unit it replaced when I ran out of places to put stuff.

Things are LookingUp.... A photo from my back yard :-)

Psilan

860 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 94

#358962 29-Jul-2010 22:20

Thanks LookingUp. Take your time with the pics. I am a few weeks off getting the guy over.
Our builder does a great job. Here's an example of a deck he did for us. I think I can get pretty complicated with shelving, routing, mounting etc.

Voyager referral - https://refer.voyager.nz/68QKJ8XKK

SepticSceptic

2263 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 779

Trusted

#359871 30-Jul-2010 13:32

Have a look at :

http://www.criterion.co.nz/Catalog/Entertainment

LookingUp

439 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 88

#359893 30-Jul-2010 13:46

.... and see if you can spot any cables ;-) Or speakers.

Seriously though, it does look like nice stuff, especially if they've dealt with the messy bits.

Things are LookingUp.... A photo from my back yard :-)

MrFlower

68 posts

Master Geek

#360003 30-Jul-2010 15:18

itxtme, I got them from trademe, they are Pordocarp, quite fine grain.

Display: Panasonic P50V10Z
Receiver: Yamaha RXV3900
Source: CDX697, YPS11, PS3 250GB

Main Front: Wharfedale Evo 2 40
Centre: 2 x Wharfedale Evo 2-8
Rear surround: Wharfedale Evo 40
Subwoofer: YST-SW1500

Audioquest type 6 speaker cable
Antipodes Weka interconnect

itxtme

2102 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 557

#360395 30-Jul-2010 20:55

MrFlower: itxtme, I got them from trademe, they are Pordocarp, quite fine grain.

Thanks mate, will have a look!

Dell

Shop now for Dell laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

LookingUp

439 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 88

#360947 1-Aug-2010 10:18

Psilan: Thanks LookingUp. Take your time with the pics. I am a few weeks off getting the guy over.
Our builder does a great job. Here's an example of a deck he did for us. I think I can get pretty complicated with shelving, routing, mounting etc.

Here you go. A shot from the front, where you can see that I haven't tidied up the cables from a recent addition on the left, but what it "should" look like on the right. I haven't tidied up yet because you can't see the cables in normal light - the camera flash has lit up the recesses.

Also a shot from the back, showing the lid (off) that gives access to the cable space. A bit of a mess in there! I used to have the power plugs in there as well, but came to the conclusion it was better/safer to have them out the back where you can't see them anyway.

Things are LookingUp.... A photo from my back yard :-)

Psilan

860 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 94

#361202 1-Aug-2010 21:34

Thanks for that. Looks very tidy from the front :)

Voyager referral - https://refer.voyager.nz/68QKJ8XKK

Look

66 posts

Master Geek

#361494 2-Aug-2010 12:16

I have built a couple of custom units from 30mm thick plywood. I like the end grain effect on the shelves and ends. They are on wheels so can be easily pulled out for wire fiddles etc. The units are very heavy because of the weight of the ply so they completely dismantle for when we move, its just a matter of unbolting everything.
At the back I've recessed thin ply doors 150mm into the frame so the cabling passes through holes in the doors and sits behind and out of sight. These are removable also.
They were easy to build, everything cut with a skill saw, but so heavy they had to be assembled in situ.

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