Becoming a parent for the first time is such an all-consuming process. In the beginning, it is all about the baby’s health, something which requires nearly constant attention. Later on, as children start to grow and move about on their own, people begin to see their homes as if for the first time. What can be hazardous to a child around the house? After looking about and seeing so many different ways for a child to get hurt, it can be a frightening experience.

However, there is such a thing as worrying a bit too much about hazards around the house. In general, children will show better judgment that people expect. It is the larger things which should certainly grab one’s attention from the beginning, as with television screens and other furniture than is top-heavy. The innovations in television sets have created much larger screens, and even though they are thinner than the older TV models, some equal their predecessors in weight. Part of the reason is the size. Inch-for-inch, the old models will weigh more, but there are a number of excellent flat-screen TVs which are quite heavy, especially the original models, some of which are still highly regarded for the quality of presentation.

How can one make sure that children are not put in danger from television sets? There are a number of devices available to prevent television sets from toppling over onto children, but the first part of the equation should be a verbal warning. Tell children that it is unacceptable to play with the device itself, especially if is situated on a low-standing TV rack. For television sets mounted on the wall well above a child’s reach, there is going to be little to worry about.

However, many homeowners prefer to have a television set at about eye level when they are sitting on the couch. In this case, children will have no trouble reaching the TV stands and thus the danger presents itself. One way to keep the TV in its place is with straps attached to the wall. Adhesives keep the fabric in place while the connection to the TV itself is very firm. This type of device is popular in areas where earthquakes are common.

Another method is a buckle attached to the TV stand. These devices are made with heavy boding glues to make sure the television will not tip over. In some cases, the foundations may take up to 5 hours before their glues have dried, then they are ready to take on the strap which then connects to the TV. After that end is secure, there is further bonding which can take up to 72 hours in total. Nonetheless, the system is almost foolproof, one that can be trusted without reserve.

Accidents are happening all the time and children are certainly not invulnerable to falling appliances. Once the TV gets straightened out, it would be wise to check on other similar items, like a computer monitor or speakers. Whatever device seems to need some securing, the materials exist to keep them in place. No matter how rambunctious children might get, they will remain safe at home.

In the past few decades, society as a whole has become so much more conscious of the waste being produced everyday by human beings. Just walk into a grocery store in almost any town nowadays and you are bound to have a clerk ask you if you have brought a bag along to pack your groceries in. This practice was unthinkable just five years ago and is a sign of how much thinking about recycling and the environment has changed.

While things like plastic bags and recycling bottles fall into the category of items being confronted on a daily basis, the public is much more in the dark about electronic devices. In the past, it was fairly common for people to simply toss an old cell phone in the trash or leave an old TV set lying by the curb for the trash collectors to remove. However, it should be known at this point in time that this decision is far from advisable. There are a number of hazardous materials inside electronic devices, chemicals like lead which can damage the environment and threaten the health of the local population.

The bottom line is these products must be properly disposed of, which means recycling them through a certified agency or handler. While only about half of the electronics people no longer use get recycled these days, the number continues to grow. Whether it is an old VCR or computer keyboard about to go out of the trash, contact a local agency to find out if it contains any hazardous materials. Chances are, if it has been plugged in or used as part of an electronic device, it will.

Fortunately, there are enough valuable materials within these old electronic devices that agencies which recycle them for consumers have an interest in helping the public. As with most truly successful recycling efforts, there is something in it for everyone involved. Consumer can be assured that there will be no damage done to the environment, while agencies that recycle them will be able to use some of the parts for their own profit.

An even better way to recycle an old TV or other electronic device is to donate it to charity. Giving these devices to a charity offers them the chance to make a profit on the parts, while you can be assured that the ethical end of the transaction is guaranteed. Organizations which benefit the poor continue to need donations, and an old TV set is the perfect device to pass along.

Government websites will have a list of organizations authorized to handle old TVs and their parts, so check on these resources before making a move. Whatever you decide, it is better to act as quickly as possible, because it is unclear at what point the hazardous materials begin to seep out of these electronics. Lead materials found in old TV sets are quite harmful to humans and the environment, so it is a good idea to take advantage of the resources available and recycle them as soon as they lose their purpose around the house.

If you’re replacing your old TV with a new one, take a look at our range of TV stands.

A few years ago, it was unheard of to think about hanging a television on a wall as you would a picture.  However, since the arrival of flat screen TVs, we often see televisions mounted on walls.  A downside to hanging a flat screen on a wall is the cables.  When a television is resting on a TV stand, it’s easy to organise the wires so that they are not seen.  However, if you have a flat screen hanging in the middle of a wall, hiding the cables can be a difficult task indeed, especially when considering how many cables there are. At the very least, you have to hide the power cable.  These cables can be the trickiest because they are not very flexible and they tend to be thick.  After the power cable, you will probably have a number of audio/visual cables to hide.  Furthermore, if your flat screen is high definition, and it probably is, you’ll have some HDMI cables going from the TV to various items like DVD players, VCR’s, a cable box and gaming consoles.

So how do you begin to hide so many cables?  When hiding cables, ever situation is slightly different because no two rooms are the same.  However, in general, there are two ways that you can go about covering up your cables.  The first way is to run the cables down along the outside of the wall.  The second way is to run your TV cables through the interior of your walls and other structures.

It’s impossible to say which of the two methods for hiding cables is better.  However, without a doubt, it is easier and less time consuming to hide your cables outside your wall.  Furthermore, if you hide your cables are outside your wall, later, if you need to change your set up, you have easy access to the cables and can easily move them.  Most experts would recommend that you hide cables on the outside of your walls.

The easiest way to hide your cables is with a device called a cable cover.  These cable covers are easy to come by.  You can either purchase one online or visit your nearest audio/visual retailer.  These covers are perfect for most situations.  For example, if you have a flat screen hanging in the middle of your wall with five to ten cables coming out of the back, this is most unattractive.  The job of a cable cover is to hide the cables while at the same time, not being an eyesore itself.  This is exactly what cable covers do.  They are designed to fit neatly over your cables, no matter how many you have.  Furthermore, they are very thin and can be easily painted to match the colour of your wall.  So the end result is that all of your cables are hidden and one can barely see the cover.  Furthermore, you don’t need a professional to install your cover.  You can easily do the job in a matter of minutes.

These days, everybody wants to get a flat screen television, and for good reason.  These televisions offer a person a superior picture in high definition.  With a quality flat screen TV, we can enjoy all of our favourite shows, movies, and sporting events in ways that we never have before.  These incredible televisions allow us to really be a part of the action.

Some people hesitate to buy flat screen TVs, however, because they can take up huge amounts of space.  If you live in a large home then chances are that you have enough room to put a flat screen television on a TV stand wherever you like.  But if you live in a smaller house or apartment, you might not have enough room to spare. Luckily, there is a simple solution.  Flat screen televisions are designed so that they can be hung on any wall.

Once you purchase the flat screen of your dreams, mounting it on a wall is a breeze.  There are two ways that you can go about this.  The first is that you can pay some professionals to handle the installation for you.  This can be a bit expensive, however.  Furthermore, because hanging a flat screen is not at all difficult or complicated, you will probably want to do it yourself.

When hanging your new television, the first thing that you want to do is locate the best spot for it.     When choosing a spot, don’t just get a mental picture in your head of what the television would look like in various places.  You should get a piece of cardboard that is more less the same size as your television and place it on the wall in several places.  Once you position it on the wall, tape it in place.  Then take a few steps back and look at it and see what you think.  Keep in mind also that you can also rearrange the furniture in the room where you are going to put the TV.  So, for instance, if one wall is perfect for the television, but your sofa is facing away from that wall, simply turn the sofa around and move the rest of your furniture accordingly.  It’s better to change the set up of a room than it is to hang your TV in a place that isn’t ideal.  Once you get the cardboard in a place where it looks good, make sure that this location is close to a power source.  If it isn’t, find a better location.

Once you have chosen where the TV will go, using a stud finder, you must locate the studs nearest to where you want to hang the TV.  If you don’t have a stud finder, you can rent one, or just borrow one from a neighbour.  When you find the exact places on the studs where you would like to put screws, use a drill to start the holes.  Once the holes are started, you can screw in the mounting brackets that will hold the TV, and then hand the television itself.

And that’s the whole process, simple and painless.  Once you have mounted your new television you can enjoy quality entertainment with an amazing picture.

Projectors for movies and slide shows have been around for ages. Everyone can probably remember the first time they witnessed a projector when their elementary school teacher brought out the old school device to show photographs in science class. Well the times have changed since the days of strictly educational use of projectors. Today projectors continue to be used for education but developments have made projectors a novel way to turn a simple family living room into a big time home entertainment system.

The latest developments in projectors have made entertainment, such as sports, music and movies even more enjoyable to do from the comfort of home. Who needs to pay $10 at the movie theaters to see something that they can see with a similar effect at home. The biggest advancement of projectors came from the digital revolution in the mid-1990s with the development of Digital Light Processing or DLP. DLP projector technology is based off Digital Micro mirror Device (DMD) which is a function that controls the placement and intensity of light with thousands of mirrors. With DLP technology one can see a wide range of colors and good saturation and clarity which make video images appear the same as the old 35mm slides of the classroom days.

The incredible developments of the new projectors are now a practical alternative to a big screen television. All someone needs is a clear wall with conducive lighting and a projector can be set up in almost any location. This is one clear advantage to the projectors of old. A projector can work in various locations within a home. It can be placed in a large living room situation, bedroom, basement entertainment room, kitchen or back patio. A good solid and smooth surface which can project the images well is crucial as well as a spot which isn’t obstructed by too much natural light. If light interferes with the projection the images won’t be visible.

A very common spot for a projector today is the basement because it is a good place to shield out light from the sun during the day. Another more innovative spot is a backyard/patio at nighttime. As long as a neighbour’s light doesn’t affect projection, a back patio can be turned into someone’s own personal movie theatre. Of course excellent speakers (and speaker stands) should also accompany the projector because something which such strong and clear visual images should have something equally as strong to accompany it. Another cool feature with today’s projectors is the remote control which anyone can use to access the screen. All one has to do is sit back relax grab the remote and begin the evening feature presentation. The projector is also easily adaptable to other formats outside of DVD. Most of all the new projector formats can be set up to computers, VCRs and HDTVs.

If it is an incredible visual image someone wants on a grand scale, the new wave of projectors is a good way to go because they are well developed and amazingly clear. With a good projector setup movie watching at home will be taken to a new level.

Going green, or being sustainable seem to be trendy names these days as the society has done everything to change products so that they’ll have a more environment friendly appeal. Today there are electric cars, solar panel housing, and recycling centers for all types of materials (cardboard, paper, aluminum, and electronics) and with all this green hysteria it appears that technology has put another strong green foot forward with the development of OLED or electronic light emitting diode television screens. No the OLED isn’t a new surging brand market name, but a type of television screen that in a few years will strongly compete with the common LCD, liquid crystal displays and plasma television screens.

So what is OLED and how does it work?

Well, OLED works with a series of electroluminescent layers composed of a film of organic compounds which are placed between two electrical conductors. Electrical current is applied to the conductors and a bright light is emitted from the film.

What are the advantages of an OLED television compared to an LCD television?

The first advantage of an OLED television is that unlike LCD televisions it does not have a backlight. This means that an OLED television can have deeper black levels and be thinner and much lighter. Some screens measure to be 3mm thick which is a futuristic contrast to the clunky big LCD screen televisions. OLED televisions also have a faster refresh rate, better contrast and better color reproduction. OLEDs have higher natural contrast ratios because they use cold cathode fluorescent lamps. The greater artificial contrast ratio is measured in primarily dark conditioned settings. Another advantage of OLED televisions is the viewing angle. An OLED has an almost 190 degree viewing angle as the color pixels don’t seem to shift with the viewers position to the screen.

One of the biggest advantages of an OLED television is the decrease in power consumption. The OLED is a green friendly innovation which consumes no light and therefore doesn’t need to power a backlight. They also contain no bad metals in order to be produced. They’re organic illuminating machines, which continue to challenge the future of television screen technology. With OLED it might not be a surprise to see flexible and transparent screens which can be rolled up to make a circle and appear almost invisible when not in use. What appears to be a bare wall can transform into a mega big screen entertainment center with the click of a switch.

OLED screens are already being used for commercial products such as cell phone screens, digital audio players, car radios and digital cameras but it is just a matter of time before this green technology explodes on the scene for the general television consumer. What a world it will be when OLED television screens are used for anything from a family television set, to a portable visual screen for a tee shirt. With OLED television technology going green will become more and more of an increasing trend due to the visual capabilities accompanied by innovative environmental practice.

Take a look at Atacama’s range of TV Stands to compliment your brand new TV.

Every year, the shows displaying the world’s latest and most exciting technology offer consumers a glimpse into the future. Some time ago, the HD television sets must have been thrilling show pieces. Today, they are a fixture in so many homes that they are barely worth mentioning. However, there is no shortage of hopes and dreams of the tech-obsessed consumer. One of the latest crazes – which is one of the oldest crazes – is 3D technology. In actuality, it may be in homes much sooner than most people think.

Why All the Fuss?

You can call it a coincidence or just a happy accident, but it seems more than a little curious that this phenomenon is on the brink of mass distribution just when the biggest movie of all time is using 3D technology. There is no reason to dream up a conspiracy theory, however. As far back as the 1950s, movie theaters were filled with bobby soxers getting their fill of 3D films. Would the clumsy UFOs land on earth and attack the local citizens? Would the Martians wandering across the cardboard cutout landscape take over and alter life forever as we know it? These now hilarious concepts were preoccupying moviegoers back then, who were more than happy to strap on their 3D glasses and visit this strange and enchanting world.

So now, more than half a century has passed. Do viewers still need those hokey glasses to see a 3D film? The answer is yes, but the difference is in the work itself. Anyone who has been near a newspaper or television set in recent times is aware of the fact that Avatar is the most expensive film ever made and was crafted using this 3D technology. The reviews are overwhelmingly positive and the Avatar craze has definitively swept the world. The next step, as all would anticipate, would be to enjoy this same experience within the home. When will it arrive?

The Latest Notices on 3D Tech at Home

The arrival of 3D tech in the home is in many ways like the arrival of most other impossibly sophisticated concepts. You wait and wait, but they never seem to arrive. Then one day a company figures out a way to get it done and the lid is blown off the project. Before anyone knows it, they are accepting deposits on 3D home projectors in advance of the date they go on sale. Then the public sits back and sees if this version of the technology is enough to carry the day for good.

While most people thought 3D tech would arrive in the home around 2015 or after, that date has been pushed up considerably. In fact, everyone is already jockeying for position, especially the television networks. If the technology exists, what will people watch? Avatar cannot captivate the world, forever, so there must be a regular slate of programming to accommodate this demand. It seems like the most natural subjects will be the first to get their shot in 3D: space travel, nature and – oh yeah – sports. The technology is apparently already in place, so the day the equipment goes into mass production and ends up in homes, there will be material to watch.

With sports, there will naturally be an endless supply of material, with the audience clamoring for more every day if the returns are as expected. Most people have a limited amount of time and energy for nature programming: it is awe-inspiring, but in the end it doesn’t hold one’s interest for good. Hence the fact that none of the major networks have yet to cut local news programs so they can be replaced by Shots From the Sahara or another vision of an exotic locale. In that respect, when critics say that Avatar has changed cinema forever, they may be right. Once a large number of homes are ready for it, filmmakers will want to get their movies onto those screens.

The Technology Already in Existence

Most people are not surprised to hear that 3D television sets have already been produced and have been on display at a number of the tech shows around the world. However, what about the brilliant HD TV that many people have only recently bought? Well, it’s true that the tech habit can be an expensive one. As soon as a newer, better form of the same product becomes available, people begin wondering what to do with the ‘old’ one. Can HD TV sets be transformed into 3D-capable machines? While some companies have tried to pull off this trick, the only realistic solution seems to be creating an entirely new 3D model TV. Shortcuts may be possible, but it will probably complicate things and end up delivering less than ideal results.

So anyone looking to jump on board will have to shed their equipment and take a step up into the 3D world from scratch. Fortunately, analysts expect the effect to be similar to that of switching from normal television sets to HD TV. One day, you are watching a film or sporting event and want to yawn, the next day you are wondering where all the magic came from while you see it in HD. The 3D format will take it to the point where a ball will literally seem to fly into one’s plane of vision, or a car drive into the living room. While HD televisions and programming made everything clearer and more thrilling, it could not bring the action into one’s personal space.

The skeptics will appear and campaign against such a format, citing the nausea-inducing effects 3D technology can have. Some people do get a little queasy when watching a 3D film, and as of yet, glasses are guaranteed to be part of the bargain. The question may be whether or not enough people will be willing to don the glasses and sit back on the couch being moved to and fro by an action hero or football star. In the world of video games, the answer has already been a resounding ‘yes.’ Most 3D developers are banking on the same verdict in households everywhere with regular television programming.

No matter when or how 3DTV reaches our living rooms, you can rely on Atacama Audio to provide the best TV Stands for you to place it on!

For many people on the planet, the way music is bought and distributed these days could never have been predicted. Just twenty years ago, most of the public was happy that LPs were starting to die out and welcomed the cassette tape with open arms. Not long after, compact discs rendered the tapes obsolete and were the de facto choice of music enthusiasts. LP record revivals notwithstanding, the CD has definitely changed the course of music for good. It eclipsed all other forms of music reproduction.

That is, until it was eclipsed by digital music files which are bought and shared on computers. Where can one buy a CD these days? Music stores are quickly becoming dinosaurs, with one after the other going out of business and closing their doors. The big cities of the world have all gotten a little stranger without the formerly ubiquitous CD store. The record labels have more or less died as well – yet, music is more accessible and more popular than ever.

For the real music lover, there is no shortage of enthusiasm for almost every facet of the recording industry. From learning how the sessions were done – and in what studio – to the instruments used, there are so many different ways to learn more about a recording and take it all in. The fascination with recorded sound is hard to dispute and at times it can be just as interesting as the artists themselves. How did it all come about? Looking over the history of recorded music is to take a remarkable trip through time.

The Original Maverick – the LP

Considering the astounding run of the long-playing record – still the medium of choice for most DJs – it is nearly impossible to overstate the LP’s importance to the world for the last 100-plus years. The original phonograph was invented by Thomas Edison (who else?) in the late 1870s and played a bulky cylinder which housed recordings. Once the system of playback was improved with the gramophone disc, the world began to flood with records. To imagine a world before recorded music is difficult to do these days, yet it is easy to imagine the demand which came for these receptacles of sound.

Many who are familiar with records will recognize the first form of mass-produced discs, the 78 rpm record. Rather bulky and somewhere in between a standard LP record and a 7” single, the 78 shellac reigned from the early days of the 20^th century until the 1950s. The invention of the microgroove extended the capacity for record lengths. Now, instead of having one session in order to produce 3 or 4 singles (of 2:30-3:30 minutes in length), the idea of a concept album emerged. Songs could be longer and they could all be tied together and packaged on a single disc. Naturally, the effects on music were astounding. Taking a quick look at jazz music from the period is the perfect illustration. Going from Charlie Parker’s brisk one-liners to John Coltrane’s long paragraphs in such a short time would have been impossible without the LP advances.

Tapes Arrive and Get Supplanted

With the imposing reign by the LP in mind, it’s difficult to see the need for the move to other mediums. However, the cassette tape had existed for decades before making its move in the late 1970s. Even though they are much less ubiquitous than LP records these days, cassette tapes dominated in the music industry for nearly two decades. The basic reasons can be easily understood. For one, the obsession with things getting smaller was popular in the 1960s and after. Cassette tapes were a perfect example of this phenomenon. Another big reason is mobility. Carrying a record player or driving along with a spinning disc is impossible. Tapes were set and could not skip once they were inserted in their players.

Perhaps even bigger than the mobility and size factors was the ability to record music on tapes. The piracy and sharing of today has its origins in that era. Whereas a record could not be copied – and therefore had to be purchased to be enjoyed – the tape could duplicate a record’s contents, as well as another tape. Even though tapes diminished in quality from the transfer, records quickly fell out of style.

That is, until the CD swiftly eliminated tapes from the collective unconscious. The quality of the material and the slim format were doubted by many at first, but the compact disc produced a remarkable sound never heard before in a mass-produced medium. All of the complaints heard about tapes were overcome by CDs. No more hiss, no more tangled film – in many ways, the CD was the Space Age equivalent of the record, with no needles and sticking if it was cared for properly.

Can a Computer Do That?

While the naysayers were out in full force for years as computers developed the technology to receive and play music, even the believers could not have imagined the way music is being bought and listened to these days. To imagine a world without dominant record labels was probably once a dream of exploited musicians; yet no one thought it could happen so quickly. The battles waged over sharing over the years came and went, with the listener ending up in control. Those who predicted the musicians would lose out were ultimately mistaken. Never has access to music been so simple, so universal. The names and songs of previously obscure musicians can travel around the world in seconds today. All you need to do is hook up your laptop to a hifi rack and you can listen to any number of your favourite bands from the comfort of your sitting room.

Spotify is the latest company to make an advance in the world of music circulated online. Eliminating the time usually spent waiting for a track to arrive on a computer, Spotify allows instant access from a catalogue of impressive proportions. Transporting music may no longer be necessary, as long as internet service can be guaranteed. The history of music is literally a click away. Edison may not have been able to visualize such a path from his old phonograph, but it’s doubtful he would be entirely surprised.

The modern home is a place full of advanced electronics equipment serving a vast universe of different purposes: some gadgets are there to help us stay in touch, others to help us stay entertained, and so on. When it comes to entertainment, these days everybody is excited about putting together a full performance, fully diversified home theater and surround sound system. These systems imply a lot of hardware and accessories that have the potential to turn your home living or TV room into a truly magnificent and imposing place; of course, to be able to accommodate all of this equipment it is important to have a place for them to be housed, and that means having a variety of home stereo system and entertainment equipment furniture.

A top notch home theater system means having a variety of audio and video equipment, and each different item will need to occupy its own distinct place within the room. A few of the consoles may be able to be fit together on a stand, however speakers will need to be distributed throughout the room to create the desired surround sound effect. Let’s take a look at each of these considerations on an individual basis.

The type of furniture for housing your varied equipment is alternatively known as Hi Fi racks or audio racks. The design and functionality of these items has come a long way over the years: back in the 70s and 80s, these racks were usually closed-in as though they were a regular old closet or cabinet; these days, however, racks of this sort are usually manufactured as open-air sets. That’s because your audio equipment needs to breathe—there must be a constant airflow over the equipment to keep it at the proper temperature, thereby assuring that it will not overheat and that the equipment’s lifespan will be extended as much as possible. Open-air sets, in this same vein, help prevent sudden shutdowns of your audio equipment, which happens when overheating occurs.

The design features of today’s audio or Hi Fi racks has evolved tremendously, and the favorite manufacturers on the market today have the latest in home design and furniture trends in mind when it comes time to develop a new line. Sleek designs with modern looking, minimalist curves and surfaces are the trend of the moment. Of course, design considerations have to yield to functionality: such racks must have very solid, very flat and level shelves to be able to fully optimize the audio equipment that will be housed within. The slightest gradient in the shelving or the presence of sub-standard, flimsy materials will completely compromise the audio performance of the equipment and decrease the value and appeal of your home theater system.

The top of the stand may or may not be equipped to rest a TV set. Some racks will include this option and may very well be quite wide to accommodate the latest developments in flat screen sets, which seem to get wider and wider without stop. Then again, many people opt for an independent TV stand. Features of such TV stands may include built-in cable canals or back-prop support frames or structures for tall or bulky TV sets that need more support than merely the flat surface beneath them.

Moving on, the next major consideration will be how and where to set up your speakers. Knowing what height and what arrangement to put your speakers in will largely determine the success of your home entertainment system, as many people associate the surround sound effect with the best in home entertainment. The best models of speaker stands will virtually entirely prevent the noise and vibrations coming from the speakers from being lost through friction, something which occurs when the stand is either not level, not isolated from the ground properly, or for a variety of other factors. Anybody that has turned their audio up to full blast knows that some incredibly violent friction and vibrations can be produced as a result, making a terrible racket that detracts from the pleasure of the music being heard or the movie being watched.

To overcome these problems, speaker stands need to be heavy duty. The heavier the material from which the stand is made, the better the chances of it not succumbing to such vibrations. Yet weight is not enough here—there also needs to be proper isolation of the stand from the floor. The best stands use rubber or polyurethane pads at the contact with the floor to deaden such friction, and furthermore similar materials are usually employed on the base plate where the speaker is to be mounted. Again, flatness is a crucial aspect that helps boost audio performance.

Finding the right height for your variety of speakers is also a really important aspect, and the speaker stands you buy should reflect the final arrangement. It was discovered back a few decades ago that speakers perform much better when they are not left on the floor; however, not every kind of speaker should be at the same height. Low frequency woofers and sub-woofers should be low down to the ground, whereas mid-range speakers should be more or less at head-height of the people sitting down watching a movie; finally, the high frequency tweeters should be just above this, only a few inches above ear-level or less. This variation of heights will add depth and complexity to your home audio and theater system, and will make everything you listen to sound that much more enjoyable. Hence, the speaker stands you invest in should either come at just the right height or, more likely, allow for a certain amount of height adjustment within a predetermined range. A few other features to keep in mind that will prove useful may include cable concealment and a generally pleasant appearance, though always remember that the sturdiness of the materials is the most important attribute.

There is more to the world of functional furniture for your audio and home theater systems, though if you start with this you are sure to be heading down the right path.

Modern home appliances and electronics equipment come in so many different forms that it can be incredibly easy to get lost in all the variety.  When it comes to putting together a first rate home theater and stereo system there’s no exception: a million and one different models and brands clutter the market, and buyers are left scratching their heads for a good long while before making what is in most cases a fairly arbitrary and random decision as to what to buy (well, some people surely do their research and make more informed decisions, but they are by no means the majority).  What a lot of such buyers don’t have in mind when they go ahead and buy the various hardware components that will make up their theater and audio systems is that they will need quality furniture to make everything function properly: to house their equipment neatly on the one hand and, more importantly, to ensure that the audio quality emitted by the equipment is no less than optimum.

Considering the fact that the average home stereo system today forms part of a broader home theater system that includes a lot of different gear, such furniture needs to be spacious and have the ability of adding on new extensions to accommodate future purchases.  Hence, keep an eye out for models that have the capacity to expand, with apertures that will serve for adding new shelf space and which can stack up and out.  This will mean being able to accommodate a variety of different items with varying heights inside, so if you change a given audio console out for another after a new purchase you won’t have to go and buy a new furniture item to house it.

For the housing of your main audio consoles, such as the pre amp, the audio sources, radio equipment, tuners, and so on, you will want a modern high performance audio rack (also known as a Hi Fi rack).  This is the item described above, which should ideally be able to be expanded and modified in a variety of ways.  In addition to this particular feature (definitely a priority), you will want to make sure that the rack is nice and sturdy—important not only because the equipment inside can be quite heavy, but furthermore because there should be minimal to zero possibility for the audio vibrations to affect the equipment’s functioning.  This idea is really taken to the extreme in some models of Hi Fi racks where each shelf is rendered completely independent of the rest through ball bearings and the inclusion of some variety of synthetic, high density material such as polyurethane at the contact points that further eliminates vibration interference.  These features collectively deaden and dampen vibrations, and they are absolutely fundamental to the proper functioning of your main audio hardware.

As the TV is the natural and necessary complement to any audio system, you will want to consider furniture for it as well.  Of course, if your TV is mounted on the wall there isn’t much to discuss here, and the audio racks mentioned above can neatly be tucked beneath such a wall-mount arrangement to create a tidy entertainment section of the home.  However, for those that don’t go the wall-mount path may want to look into investing in a TV stand that will furthermore likely be able to house some if not all of your audio equipment (depending on the size of the stand and the amount of equipment you have, of course).  There is a model of stand to meet whatever needs you may have and whatever model TV you may have: there are models that are nice and wide to accommodate big screens yet that don’t protrude far from the wall to match the dimensions of a flat screen set: then there are other models that are more apt for use with a normal tube TV.  The amount of shelves beneath varies greatly, with some offering enough space for all the other audio consoles as mentioned.  If this is the option you choose, you will again want to make sure that the shelves are very strong and resistant; this is especially true if your TV has built in speakers that will be used, as the vibrations emanating from the speakers will have the ability of providing vibration interference as mentioned above.

One of the easier and more affordable ways to improve the audio performance of your home system was discovered back in the ‘80s—simply elevating the speakers off the ground, that is.  This again implies the necessity of appropriate furniture in the form of speaker stands.  Such stands come in a variety of models and prices, and the best (also the more costly) are incredibly sturdy, again to eliminate vibration related problems that detract from audio quality.  The preferred materials for such stands are either steel or thick glass though a few other varieties may be found, some in plastics.  In addition to the strength of the stand shaft itself, the two crucial points to be optimized are at the top and bottom, where contact with the speaker itself and the floor occurs, respectively.  Good stands will come with appropriate rubber pads or similar isolation measures, however there are many accessories to be bought that can help you improve these problem areas on your speakers stands.

For example, there are accessories known as floor spikes that help deaden any vibrations being passed on from the speaker stand, and these floor spikes will differ depending on the kind of flooring you have installed in your home—carpeting will require a different kind than wood or laminate floors, so be sure you get your hands on the right item. 

Another very interesting product is high density filler for your speaker stands.  This is a generally synthetic product which you apply to your stands to load on mass, giving the stand more weight and reducing the chance of vibration issues, available in a variety of colors.