Building a custom entertainment unit

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

Psilan

860 posts

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#65055 28-Jul-2010 17:49

Has anyone done this?

I'm just after some ideas and cool examples.
I like wide low contemporary styles

I have a good hourly rate builder to make me one. He is an old school carpenter. Makes pool cues for a hobby and is a perfectionist. :)

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#357945 28-Jul-2010 20:48

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/search/?query=tv+unit especially http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40105340 if you don't have many boxes, or http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20102149 with adjustable shelves if you do.

samwooff

219 posts

Master Geek

#358037 29-Jul-2010 00:01

I've not built one before but have dealt with a few different entertainment units in the past and I'll try and help out.
Plan out where all your current and any future components you have are going and how they're all going to connect to each other, you don't want unsightly cables going round the front of your tv. Give everything decent room to breathe too, especially if it's something you might be fiddling with a bit.
Make it really strong, it'll look solid and it won't break lol.
Think about any features you might want it to have before you start building too, DVD racks, doors, cupboards, sliding trays, adjustable shelves, cable management, rocket launchers etc.
That's all I can think of right now but I'm sure more will come to me.

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nick496

52 posts

Master Geek

#358081 29-Jul-2010 08:09

samwooff: rocket launchers etc.

What? Good one :)

Yeah, just what I wanted on my entertainment unit, a couple of rocket launchers for EXTREME bass sounds. I guess that would make the explosions in the movies be almost life like?

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Rollux

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#358092 29-Jul-2010 08:45

What? You don't have rocket launchers as part of your home entertainment system? Man, watching movies at your place must suck... Lol

Would certainly be the "entertainment" in "home entertainment"!

Don't think there'd be a "home" left for long tho

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Psilan

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#358095 29-Jul-2010 08:56

Lol. Thanks for the replies.

Cable management is very important due to a new kitten in the house.
Maybe a mine field around the perimeter?

For cable management I thought I might have a tunnel along the back with holes along it's length.
Unfortunately this is being built over a cemented up fireplace.

I'll try get a picture and maybe draw over some ideas.

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MrFlower

68 posts

Master Geek

#358168 29-Jul-2010 10:38

I built this myself anyway

It is about 650mm deep, for cable management and to have central speaker sititng as high as possible.

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Audioquest type 6 speaker cable
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Psilan

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#358173 29-Jul-2010 10:42

Very tidy, I like it :)
I could do something similar, but with an enclosed area at the back for cable management.

My cat would destroy that. He eats power cables for breakfast.

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Nety

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#358350 29-Jul-2010 13:26

Psilan: [snip]

My cat would destroy that. He eats power cables for breakfast.

I would have thought only once...

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Psilan

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#358387 29-Jul-2010 14:03

Nety:
I would have thought only once...

Hahah :)
I spend all night yelling at him to stop, but god knows how he survives all day without me to save him.

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itxtme

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#358397 29-Jul-2010 14:16

@MrFlower

Where did you get the wood for the project? And also what kind of wood is it?

buzzy

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#358529 29-Jul-2010 16:38

I'm in the process of getting a custom entertainment unit made. After much searching to find a design I liked, mine will be loosely based on the Meridian 8127 (pictures here: http://www.bdiusa.com/theater/meriden_8127.shtml). It won't be as wide, and will be slightly taller, so it fits in the room better.

I'm also going for things like lockable glass doors, because I don't want anyone posting toast into the mail slot at the front of the PS3*. I'd suggest having a quick read of this: http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Kid-Proof_Your_Home_Theater regardless of whether you have kids or not.

We've got a local joiner who's done some work for us in the past - windows, bookshelves, etc, and we're happy with his work, so I've asked him to make the thing. Much as I'd like to do it myself, I don't have the tools, the time, or the skills to make it look professional. It's no more expensive than a lot of Harvey Norman ones, and it'll made of solid wood rather than MDF with a plastic veneer.

*not again.

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sleepy

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#358538 29-Jul-2010 16:50

Exactly what i have been looking for the meridian 8127 always hard to find a cabinet for centre speakers, Thanks now to find a cabinet maker.

Dingbatt

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#358620 29-Jul-2010 17:58

You may want to consider putting some posts on the back of the unit that you can then mount the TV on. It gets rid of the pedestal and if you position the centre speaker right it hides the cables going to the TV and the posts and makes it appear to float above the unit. Thats what I did before I mounted the TV on the wall. All the cabinet does now is hide cables that go to the TV from a cupboard in the next room.

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LookingUp

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#358824 29-Jul-2010 20:54

Having built my own, I'd go with most of the rest of the advice and add that allowing for adjustable shelf heights is worth doing, as your kit will probably change over the years and it's a bugger when new components don't fit.

I also built a false back into mine, so cables disappear out the back but are still reasonably contained within the structure. The one thing I wish I'd made bigger though was the lid that allows access to the cable space at the back. 'cos I've got short arms and can't see around corners ;-)

Finally, strength is important. I just upgraded my HT amp to one that weighs ~20kg, which is a big weight on a shelf.

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Psilan

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#358872 29-Jul-2010 21:24

Cool, starting to get some really good tips here :)
Would it be a hassle to take a pic of your false back with lid?

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