Anyone build a custom entertainment center?

kevhed72

My next big investment wil be a 58" plasma, but I want to start working on a suitable entertainment center. MANY of the store bought one just don't cut it in terms on center-speaker ( I have CSiA6) placement and number of shelves for components. Here are some specs. I want to build in my own:
a. 3 "rows" of shelves, not including the top which holds the plasma screen
b. 3 "columns" of shelves - in all, 9 spaces to hold components, including center channel (CSiA6)
c. Height on entire unit would be approx. 28", give or take an inch. (This height would give center channel good distance off floor, since ideally you want all the front tweeters around the same height)
d. Width of entire unit would be around 50" or so
e. Entire unit would be made of wood, unless I can find pre-cut shelves made of something else, ie glass, MDF, etc
f. Entire budget is approx. 300.00 for project.
g. The unit cannot look like something out of Sanford & Son, so what type of saw may I need to invest in ( ie. table saw??)

Any ideas / advise is appreciated, and any PICTURES you can post of what you all built would be great...I know we have some pretty handy people on the forum...

acmf74

great post! I was about to post the same question


BTW I decided on the below TV with the help of fellow Polkies.

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/panasonic-viera-tc-p58v10/4505-6482_7-33490591.html

kevhed72

you must be a psychic...thats the model.
I have thought about the 65" version, but I would be cutting my seating distance pretty close though...

Conradicles

If I did build one, it would have a HUGE spot for a center channel speaker.

Systems

I had built a custom center years ago(1990) and one thing I did when I got my Plasma is I just mounted it on the wall above the center and then I had room to just put the center speaker on the top of the unit.

I highly recommend if possible to mount your TV on the wall and as high as possible and still view it comfortably. Also helps to have a "false room" behind the center to manage your wires.

I built the center out of Oak plywood and put in adjustable shelves(another highly recommended for future changes in your components...)

Amherst

I am in the planning stages of a custom built center. My display is wall mounted with separate speakers, the speakers are currently attached to the side of my current cabinet.
The plan for now is to incorporate home built speakers for the monitor into the cabinet. I have access to some nice woodworking equipment to build the project. The key is going to be being able to get the speakers to sound decent.

acmf74

http://www.standoutdesigns.com/?gclid=COP_1JqWhKECFSd75QodulKNww

Perfect but a little more than I want to pony up for.

Systems

acmf74 wrote: »

http://www.standoutdesigns.com/?gclid=COP_1JqWhKECFSd75QodulKNww

Perfect but a little more than I want to pony up for.

Yeah thats a nice one, very buildable though....

jinjuku

You could google for RTA (ready to assemble) cabinets. I used two and then just put shelving in between. Turned the cabinets upside down and cir sawed the toe kicks off.

Just matched up some paint and that was it.

Used a 3/4 ply on top with molding for the edge treatments. Amps/X-Over/HTPC are in the cabinets. I cut out two holes for 120mm 12VDC computer fans so I have ~70 CFM of air handling in the amp cabinet.

Now that I have a sewing machine (got to love pawn shops) I will custom sew my theater curtains. Thanks to the Mother-in-Law for all the sewing lessons

Custom window drapes will be next. Jo-Ann Fabrics is your friend. You have so much more choice when it comes to fabrics and applique vs the big box stores (not to mention curtains there could easily run upwards of $1200-$1500 for what I want. Heck, 2 Roman shades (24X62) would have been $470 from Lowes:eek:


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/33478047@N06/4518502368/&quot; title="PICT0093 by helpmmg, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2715/4518502368_f630f4c8e1_b.jpg&quot; width="1024" height="768" alt="PICT0093" /></a>

PhantomOG

acmf74 wrote: »

http://www.standoutdesigns.com/?gclid=COP_1JqWhKECFSd75QodulKNww

Perfect but a little more than I want to pony up for.

I can vouch for Standout's quality and customer service. I purchased the Majestic Grand and it is by far the most beautiful and most high quality piece of furniture I own. It has a huge center channel drawer (holds my CSi40), vented glass shelves, temperature sensing fans, wire chase holes, thumb screw back panels.... all made in the USA with solid wood throughout.

Sorry for the derail. If anyone does have questions about Standout just ask me.

kevhed72

Lorthos wrote: »

I had built a custom center years ago(1990) and one thing I did when I got my Plasma is I just mounted it on the wall above the center and then I had room to just put the center speaker on the top of the unit.

I highly recommend if possible to mount your TV on the wall and as high as possible and still view it comfortably. Also helps to have a "false room" behind the center to manage your wires.

I built the center out of Oak plywood and put in adjustable shelves(another highly recommended for future changes in your components...)

This was my preference originally, until I figured I had to place the TV in front of a window (which looks out to a beautifiul wooded backyard) for optimal acoustics. I still can't believe my wife bought off on that one...
Cool posters by the way...

Slinger182

Jinjuku that is awesome! Well done

kevhed72

jinjuku wrote: »

You could google for RTA (ready to assemble) cabinets. I used two and then just put shelving in between. Turned the cabinets upside down and cir sawed the toe kicks off.

Just matched up some paint and that was it.

Used a 3/4 ply on top with molding for the edge treatments. Amps/X-Over/HTPC are in the cabinets. I cut out two holes for 120mm 12VDC computer fans so I have ~70 CFM of air handling in the amp cabinet.

Now that I have a sewing machine (got to love pawn shops) I will custom sew my theater curtains. Thanks to the Mother-in-Law for all the sewing lessons

Custom window drapes will be next. Jo-Ann Fabrics is your friend. You have so much more choice when it comes to fabrics and applique vs the big box stores (not to mention curtains there could easily run upwards of $1200-$1500 for what I want. Heck, 2 Roman shades (24X62) would have been $470 from Lowes:eek:


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/33478047@N06/4518502368/&quot; title="PICT0093 by helpmmg, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2715/4518502368_f630f4c8e1_b.jpg&quot; width="1024" height="768" alt="PICT0093" /></a>

Now that is clever....the less I have to cut and assemble, the better...thanks for the idea.

Amherst

Jinjuku... real nice. Like the set-up, it's clean and beautiful.

jinjuku

Amherst wrote: »

Jinjuku... real nice. Like the set-up, it's clean and beautiful.

Thanks. A lot of people have been impressed. I was lucky. I picked up the cabinets from the guy that did my kitchen. He had two left over from another job. $50 for both:D $40 in ply wood, $6 in molding, $12 in drawer pulls, $8 for a quart of color matched paint.

So about $120 for my entertainment furniture.

Now just to get my ZDT 3.5's transferred from the MDF (beat up is the word) into the oak veneered cabinets I am working on.