Custom Entertainment Center

okiepolkie

My wife and I decided(actually she decided) that we need a new entertainment center. That is fine with me, but I am VERY picky on what I actually want. I want good looks, functionality, and quality, and I don't want to pay mucho $$$$'s to get it.
The main reason for a new entertainment center is so our son(only 2 months now, but will grow) has a harder time reaching our costly electronics. Neither one of us like huge e. centers that take tend to take over a living room. Also, right now we have a 32" television, but will eventually move to a larger, widescreen display.

For these reasons, I am planning to construct an entertainment center myself. Not a big deal because I like making my own things, and I have access to a full wood shop on a daily basis. It will made primarly out of oak plywood with solid oak on much of the face. The only thing I am not going to tackle are the cabinet doors. These are relatively inexpensive to custom order.

Since we are anticipating changes in the future, I am going to make a modular system.

The components will reside in cubes with adjustable shelves. Two of these will be used for our current setup, but I'm going to build at least three(maybe 4) to begin with so I can make sure everything will match later. If we go with a rear projection television next, I can stack the cubes on top of each other on each side of the television.
The DVD shelves running up the each side will removable as well.

I haven't set exact dimensions yet. I'll probalby go look at a few high quality entertainment centers to get some ideas before I actually start.

I also don't know when I will begin. Probably some time within the next three months, so I can be ahead of his crawling and walking.

Demiurge

Looks pretty interesting. I'm interested to see how it turns out.

I've been shying away from entertainment centers for awhile and really like the look of having 'separates' for everything. Stand-alone DVD rack, component rack, etc....

okiepolkie

I would prefer separate racks as well. I like open shelves everywhere for cooling purposes, plus I just like the looks.

However, I'm hoping to keep my electronics a little more protected than separate, open designs. This looks to be about the best compromise I can find to suit our purposes.

Also, when we do end up with a larger television, I can separate everything out.

Demiurge

Yeah, it makes a lot more sense when you have a youngster, like you mentioned.

scottnbnj

if cooling is an issue you can leave the sides open (maybe built similar to face frames on cabinets) and make, essentially, speaker grilles to match the ones on your speaks.

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okiepolkie

I've thought about that, but I'd still like to keep the little one from gaining ANY access(I know it is impossible, but I can try). The back will be almost entirely open, except for maybe a vertical 1x2 or 1x3 for bracing. Also, I thought about making the doors a little too short on the top and bottom to allow some air to flow through.

If I can, I might try something like Sanus does with their component cabinets.

brettw22

The best way to eliminate heat buildup in a cabinet is fans.....period.

Look at my showcase and you'll see I screwed (2) 4" fans to the back fo my cabinet to draw heat out of the cab. That made a HUGE difference, and I put grills on from both the inside and the outside to eliminate anything getting into the blades.

If you don't find a good 4" fan at an electronics store, lemme know. I think I still have a few laying around here somewhere. I had purchased some once that spun so fast that they made an audible whirling sound practially non-stop. They went back and I ended up with some old parts from cabinets at work that are industrial strength and have a very low sound to them.

okiepolkie

I'll look for a couple of fans to at least keep the receiver section cool. I'm not too worried about the DVD player, PS2, and VCR.
I'll probably still leave a little gap at the top and bottom of the doors to allow maximum air flow.

brettw22, how loud were the fans you had? I'm not incredibly picky, but I don't want them drowning out my music or television.

Also, are your thermostat controlled, or continuously running?

McLoki

Looks interesting. You may want to reverse the location of the TV and the center channel though. If you leave the grill on the center channel, you child will leave it alone, (mine do anyway) - the TV on the other hand you want as far out of reach as possible. (mine is currently sitting on top of a corner fireplace)

Just a thought,

Michael

okiepolkie

Overall, I've liked the sound of a top mounted center channel better than the bottom mounted ones. Right now it is below the TV, tilted towards me, and it sounds a little confined.


Michael, do your children bother the controls on the television, or the screen itself. If it is just the controls, I can put a piece of plexiglass all the way across the front to where it comes to just below the screen.

I am already going to use plexiglass for the door panels anyway for safety reasons, so I'll probably have enough left over to do this.

Thanks for all of the input everyone. I've tried to think about everything, but remember this is my first child, so there are probably some design flaws here and there.

Zach

McLoki

Originally posted by okiepolkie
Michael, do your children bother the controls on the television, or the screen itself.

My children are 3 (boy) and 5 (girl). My TV is currently mounted to high for them to reach. (or stand in front of.. ) At my parents and in-laws house, they push the buttons, put their nose and hands against the glass (apparently static feels funny) etc.

Another thing to keep in mind is, if there are hand or toe holds, they will climb up the front of it. (foot on first shelf, hand on top of TV and go for it) not really a big deal, but make sure that everything is given a pull/push test. (does it wobble / with moderate constant force, will it topple?) If neccesary anchor it to the wall. (just screw a plastic strap to the back of the cabinet and into a stud on the wall - you will have a hole to fill when you move it, but that is much preferable to the alterantive.) This test should be done for all the furniture in rooms that he/she may be left unsupervised (Everything in their room) - keep in mind the weight of a full drawer when pulled out to use as a step.

The more stuff you can operate by remote control the better. (If you never open the cabinet to your amp/avr - they may not either. If they know you push a button on the TV to turn it on - they will try like hell to get that button pushed when they want to watch something......)

Good luck and enjoy.

Michael

brettw22

Originally posted by okiepolkie
brettw22, how loud were the fans you had? I'm not incredibly picky, but I don't want them drowning out my music or television.

Also, are your thermostat controlled, or continuously running?

The one's that I had purchased from Fry's Electronics were the excessively loud ones. I'm trying to think of something that would make a sound similar to those fans, because from plugging them in, they sounded like they were winding up for a take off.......THOSE were distracting and would drown out my music.

The one's I'm using are on all the time, and I don't ever hear them. True I typically have a floor fan running all the time, but i've turned it off and the sound is nominal.......

VR3

Do you ever plan to get a new tv? lol

okiepolkie

I do plan on getting a new TV eventually. That is why it is modular and I am making another component cube or two. If I get another tabletop TV, such as an LCD, Plasma, or DLP, then I can add another block on the bottom and just have to build a new top shelf for the center channel.