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We are now midway through November which means the majority of brands have released their final product lines and are ready for the peak season. As always with Big AV we strive to bring you the latest products as quickly as possible so here is a breakdown of the new items we expect we will be sending out over the next couple of months.

The Just Racks JRA series of TV cabinets are a line of products we expect to do very well over the Christmas period, combining the German build quality of their sister company Spectral with the a design essence which is not dissimilar to the ever popular BDI TV stand brand, the intersting point to make about these LCD, and Plasma cabinets is the price point, at around half the cost of their American counterparts these LCD TV cabinets are superb value for money, the Just Racks JRA series is supplied in a range of different finishes and styles making the some models in the product range suitable for traditional living spaces and others are suited to contemporary surroundings.

Other interesting arrivals include the latest offerings from Stil Stands aka Stilexo TV stands, some unique combinations of wood and glass at Stil’s trademark budget pricepoint are likely to be hugely popular during the festive period. Iconic have also released a new cantilever TV stand which looks abit different and Alphason have some good quality budget cabinets for sale.

There are so many quality TV furniture units on the market why should you accept the tacky glass stand curry’s throw in with the TV?

Here at Big AV we put great emphasis on trying to make our website as useful and as informative as possible, if you think we are failing to do this in any way please feel free to post a suggestion, we are always looking for ways to improve, what we find interesting is that many manufacturers have websites which often lack the vital information you are looking for as a potential purchaser of a TV stand.

Lets start with the good, American manufacturers BDI and their UK distributors Optimum have superb websites which are informative and could significantly aid a customer who was thinking of purchasing a TV stand or a TV cabinet, the whole BDI product range is clearly laid out and each product contains bucket loads of info and additional pictures to help a customer make the right decision. Other fantastic TV stand websites from manufacturers include the Alphason website, the Salamander Designs Website and the Audinni websites show how it can and should be done.

Unfortunately some manufacturers need to put in abit of work, Spectral and Just Racks are superb brands of television furniture, however the websites are difficult to use and that is if you are lucky enough to land on the website in the English language. This is where we at Big AV try to make life easier for you as a consumer, compare our Spectral TV Stand pages to that of the manufacturer, we spend hours looking through brochures, taking pictures and checking specifications with the people who make the TV stands and then try to roll of this TV furniture information into one simple product page. We think we do this process pretty well, but if you have any suggestions or think we need to include more detailed information in some areas let us know and we will take this on board and try to improve our website.

The UK TV furniture market has rapidly expanded, many new brands have entered the UK TV furniture market and existing manufacturers have expanded their ranges with releases of new products as they try to cater for a wider range of consumer tastes and budgets, but as usual in the UK we are missing many of the most exciting products on the market.

BDI TV furniture and Salamander Designs TV furniture have made it across from the states, other imports into the UK include the two German manufacturers Spectral and Jahnke who both manufacture high quality LCD stands and Plasma cabinets. Here in the UK we are clearly missing some inspirational designs like the Lovan brand of television stands which has become famous in the USA, it is well known for the innovative TV lift cabinets, these ingenious TV cabinets conceal a flat panel TV inside the cabinet which lifts out of the top when you want to watch it. It’s not just sheer innovation where the US is ahead of the game, in terms of options and flexibility for example if you desire a taller TV cabinet there are products like this hooker TV cabinet is the perfect solution for accommodating a modern Plasma TV and blending it into traditional surroundings. Unlike many of the more traditional TV stands, these designs are made as a solid oak tv stand, for a more natural look in the home.

As we have previously documented in this blog the TV furniture market has seen rapid and relentless expansion with more and more new, innovative products released on the market every month. Ambitious designers and manufacturers have looked for new and exciting ways of housing a LED, LCD or Plasma TV, while some of the results are staggering the beautiful BDI TV Stands for example, some television furniture may have taken afew wrong turns somewhere in the design.

The Dalcans design cube television cabinet is certainly revolutionary but it does remain debatable as to whether this kind of ultra modern TV cabinet has a place in the UK market. The designers basically decided that it was boring and restrictive to just place a TV on top of a cabinet and that this kind of futuristic design is superior in terms of visuals and functionality.

The American market has seen more and more innovation and the media wall concept seems to really be catching on across the Atlantic, whether or not these modernistic stands will be a concept which catches on here in the UK. Cantilever TV stands have now caught on here so maybe we can expect to see some movement from the UK market with this type of product. I guess many people will think these manufacturers are lunatics and that they would never put something so obtrusive in their living rooms, but for somebody with the right living space a piece of contemporary luxury TV furniture could be the icing on the cake for your home cinema system.

As the financial markets crashed chaos has broken out in the UK import/export market, the flat panel TV is a perfect example, before the Northern Rock disaster of 2008 LCD and Plasma TV’s were gradually falling in price and they had been for quite some time. However the cost of an imported product is heavily dependent on the exchange rate of the pound against the US dollar which is still recognised as the global currency, as both the UK and the US markets crashed the exchange rate has shifted considerably, at the time of writing the pound seems to be gaining ground on the dollar and is at it’s strongest levels since the beginning of the year, this means that imported products should be costing slightly less, if you thought that you would unfortunately be wrong.

Electrical giants are still significantly out of pocket due to low corporate TV sales, as businesses make do with old projectors, so costs have fallen but so has demand therefore manufacturers are trying to increase their profit margins. So what about Hi-Fi industry, a typically robust sector, Hi-Fi equipment is based on quality more than innovation therefore a Hi-Fi product has a longer lifespan than a home cinema product, however in these dark economic times consumers are opting to wait to purchase Hi-Fi equipment, we have seen Onkyo reduce the prices of it’s amplifiers this year, the HiFi industry works on superior margins and now is perhaps the time when some of the profit margin will be sacrificed in an attempt to find increased demand. TV Furniture has been a bouyant industry during the 21st century, the introduction of flat panel TV’s opened up an entire new market which has been entered by many manufacturers, we have seen the prices of budget TV stands fall and they can now be found at exceptionally low prices, however the mid and high end products have stood firm and we have seen some new entrants aiming at high end consumers enter the market, when buying a TV stand you can buy whatever you want, some retailers are selling basic stands at almost cost import price whereas the innovative products remain pricier as manufacturers hold out for high margins.

It looks like the best bargains may be in the HiFi sector this year, however one thing is sure the beginning of 2010 is certainly bleak for consumers and retailers alike as VAT is increased, our advice beat the taxman and order before January.

Your amplifier or AV receiver is one of the most hard working parts of your home cinema system, amplifiers really do the leg work when it comes to producing audio. When purchasing an AV amplifier it is important to consider where you will place that amplifier and whether it will have sufficient ventilation prevent itseelf from cutting out or even worse causing permanent damage. A discussion on AV forums talks about the risks of failing to provide sufficient ventilation for an amplifier.

When buying an AV amplifier or receiver, an integrated stereo amp, power amp, pre-amp or valve amp the principle always remains the same make sure your TV stand or Hifi Rack has sufficient ventilation. Read about these poor people who failed to ventilate their amplifiers properly, when considering your budget and how much you have to spend on an amplifier consider the importance of adequate ventilation because a failure to do so as the above people experienced causes your amplifier to melt internally, that is permanent damage which results in the hub of your home cinema or Hi-Fi system requiring very expensive repair or the more likely outcome of complete replacement. If you do not want to buy an expensive AV cabinet with flow through ventilation or an active cooling system get the dimple things right, if possible buy an open stand and try to make sure there is a fair bit of clearance between the top of the amplifier and the shelf in the Hi-Fi rack.

Despite the economic hardships which have been suffered globally the TV stand and TV furniture market has shown surprising resiliance despite the tough times the electrical giants themselves are facing. New innovative designs have flooded the market and now more than ever before the consumer really has choice.

One particularly interesting trend is the emergence of home cinema TV stands, these products offer cinema quality sound without the need for masses of cabling and numerous speakers positioned around the living room. As usual the pioneers of this concept were Sony, they are now producing the latest ranges of home cinema stands which can be purchased at very reasonable prices, Sharp have also entered the market with a good quality product at a very competitive price.

So what other new TV stands have hit the market, there has been growing demand for an increase in the number of wooden TV stands on the market. The UK market has seen the arrival of two large American manufacturers in recent times, BDI are now an established brand of luxurious TV furniture with Salamander Designs now hot on their heels with more high end TV cabinets. The US TV cabinets market is still operating ahead of the UK in terms of wooden TV furniture and there are more models which can be seen on various US TV furniture websites.

Cantilever TV stands have also seen an increase in popularity over the last 12 months and manufacturers have responded accordingly, Stilexo have released a new larger cantilever TV stands and UK market leaders Alphason have also brought new cantilever TV stands into the market.

Before you rush out and buy a TV stand to go with your brand new LCD or Plasma TV read this simple guide which gives 101 pieces of simple advice to help you decide on the right product. Here at Big AV we have vast experience of selling TV furniture so we have compiled these 101 points to help you get it right in the first place rather than rushing to buy something and regretting it.

1. Do you want wood, glass or metal piece of TV furniture?

2. Is the wooden TV stand made from solid wood or wood veneer?

3. If the TV cabinet is solid wood does it have a metal framework to prevent warping?

4. Does the wood TV stand offer sufficient ventilation for AV equipment?

5. Is the glass on the TV stand toughened?

6. Have the manufacturers had the TV stand tested for strength?

7. Do you want black glass, clear glass or other colours of glass?

8. Black Glass hides cables but shows dust more quickly.

9. Clear glass will hide scratches better and will not show dust as much, however clear glass makes it much more difficult to hide wiring.

10. Is the glass scratch resistant?

11. If the stand has silver legs are these matt silver or chrome, think about whether you want a dull or shiny finish on your TV stand.

12. Is the TV stand constructed with a long thread or multi screws? A long thread provides superior support for cantilever TV stands but shorter screws give you the ability to add or remove shelves on a traditionally styled TV stand.

13. Does the Tv stand or TV cabinet have cable management?

14. Some stands offer cable management but you can still see wiring hanging down from the back or sides of the stand.

15. If the TV stand has an enclosed cable tidy system is it wide enough to accomodate all of your cables?

16. If the cable tidy system is enclosed is it easy to add or remove cabling at a later date if required?

17. With an enclosed TV cabinet will it be possible to run cables from one compartment to another whilst keeping them hidden?

18. Does the enclosed cabinet have removable back panels for easy access to the rear of equipment and cabling?

19. Have you got any wiring which could cause interference if placed close to other wiring?

20. Will the TV stand match current furniture in your living room?

21. Is the shape of the TV stand suitable for your room, you can buy oval TV stands, rectangular Tv units or TV furniture which has been specifically designed to fit into the corner of the room.

22. How far into the corner will the corner TV stand go, you are ultimately restricted by the widest point of the TV furniture?

23. Will the TV be positioned at a height which is suitable for viewing from your sofa?

24. Is there anyway the TV stand enables you to adjust the height?

25. A cantilever TV stand can offer extra height if you prefer.

26. Ensure the mounting holes on the back of your television are suitable for the bracket on the cantilever TV stand you are considering purchasing.

27. If you like a cantilever stand but the bracket is the wrong size is it possible to fit a different bracket to the same TV stand?

28. Does the cantilever TV stand bracket offer a swivel facility?

29. Does the cantilever TV stand bracket have tilting arms?

30. Will all of the seating in the room offer a good viewing position, are there any items which could restrict viewing?

31. Are the shelves on the TV stand strong enough to support not only the TV screen but AV equipment, this should be given extra consideration if you own a heavy amplifier or receiver?

32. Is the cable management accessible from all of the shelves?

33. Will there be a risk of unwanted resonance or rattling caused by shelving?

34. Does the TV stand do the styling of the TV justice, do the colours and finishes match?

35. Does the TV stand have an open back for ventilation?

36. Does the TV stand offer sufficient ventilation above and to the sides of AV equipment? This is very important with amplifiers and receivers which are prone to overheating.

37. Some very clever TV cabinets feature vented bases.

38. Other clever pieces of TV furniture feature vented shelving.

39. Does the stand have any media storage compartmentd for remote controls, CD’s and DVD’s?

40. Does the stand have rigid feet?

41. Is the TV unit supplied with castors, for TV stands with legs are castors an optional extra?

42. Are the castors 360 degree castors? This makes moving loaded cabinets much easier to move in any direction.

43. Are the castors lockable?

44. Some stands are safer than others, ensure the Tv stands you purchase is suitable to the environment you will be placing it in.

45. Cantilever TV stands usually have weighted bases combining this the additional height when compared with a traditional TV stand they reduce the risk of young children or pets from reaching the TV screen.

46. A cantilever TV stand has a TV physically bolted to it a tradtional glass stand or TV cabinet has the TV rested on top, a strong impact on the front or back of a glass TV stand has an increased chance of causing the TV to fall when compared with either a cantilever TV stand or a heavy duty TV cabinet.

47. A front enclosure will prevent messy fingers and paws from touching AV equipment.

48. A TV cabinet with glass doors will enable IR remote controls to function providing the IR signal can point at the receiver on the AV equipment itself and it is not obstructed by the framework of the door.

49. Do you prefer tinted glass on TV cabinet doors as this enables IR remote controls to operate but keeps obtrusive AV equipment concealed.

50. Some cabinets have solid doors, in this case you will need to an IR repeater system to enable remote controls to function.

51. The front door on afew cabinets can be folded back on itself into the cabinet chassis creating the look of an open TV stand.

52. Are internal shelves in the cabinet height adjustable?

53. Are the feet adjustable if the floor surface is uneven?

54. Does the TV stand have a flat top shelf? Some designs do not have a flush top.

55. Can the stand be adapted into a cantilever TV stand at a later date.

56. Does the TV unit have sufficient internal shelf depth to accomodate your equipment.

57. Are there any structural or cable management features which eat into the usable shelf depth.

58. Is the finish natural or high gloss?

59. Does the stand have floor spikes? Floor spikes increase stability but ruin carpets.

60. Will a cantilever bracket obstruct access to the back of the television and connections?

61. Would wall mounting the TV screen and placing a smaller narrower stand for AV equipment be a more suitable option?

62. There are now DVD brackets with one, two or even three shelves which can be placed underneath a TV and used for storing AV components directly underneath, above or next to a wall mounted TV.

63. Is the TV furniture stand supplied flat packed, part built or as a fully assmebled unit?

64. Do you have the required skill level to build up the television stand?

65. Is the stand customisable? Could additional shelves be added or are panels or legs interchangeable? There are not too many of these on the market but they do exist.

66. Some television furniture manufacturers supply comprehensive 5 or 10 year warranties, others only 12 months.

67. Will the TV overhang the stand?

68. Ensure that the plinth of the TV set is not too wide for the surface it will be placed on.

69. Are any of the models customisable? Some TV furniture manufacturers have factories in the UK and are able to customise the dimensions, internal compartments or overall structure of the TV cabinets.

70. There are some high end cabinets which are designed specifically for high quality AV equipment, the Salamander Designs TV cabinets feature active cooling systems with their own thermostat to ensure AV equipment does not overheat.

71. With cantilever TV stands, will the sides or the back of the bracket be visible from some seating positions.

72. Does the TV stand offer sufficient storage if you wish to add AV components in the future?

73. Do you require any clearance underneath the lowest shelf to fit over any surfaces which are slightly raised, fireplaces etc.

74. Could sunlight cause the finish to fade?

75. Will the TV stand be easy to transport if required?

76. Do the drawers feature soft closing mechanisms?

77. Does the TV stand offer somewhere to position your centre speaker?

78. Does the TV stand have any features which reduce unwanted vibrations and resonance to improve playback quality from a centre channel speaker?

79. Does the TV stand offer anywhere to place a four or six way power adapter for superior cable management?

80. Does another manufacturer make a design very similar to the one you like for a much cheaper price?

81. Can internal TV cabinet shelves be removed if necessary.

82. Are TV cabinet doors adjustable in terms of the direction they open in?

83. Double check the TV stand finish colour, sometimes pictures can be misleading and a black finish may be a distressed black or sparkling black which look quite different to a matt black finish.

84. Is it possible to change the order of the shelving? You may desire a larger gap between the top and middle shelves or a larger gap between the bottom and middle shelves.

85. Can the cable management system be removed entirely?

86. Some manufacturers of TV stands offer sliding feet as an alternative to castors.

87. Some TV stands can be manufactured in the finish of your choice, be careful as colours on comptuer screens are not always 100% accurate.

88. Some retailers have access to more products than they display on their websites, if you can’t find what you are looking for it could be worth giving them a call with your required specifications to see what they can offer you.

89. If you decide on a cantilever TV stand sometimes the bracket can be removed and used as a wall mount if you change your mind at a later date.

90. If you upgrade your TV in the future will the TV stand remain compatible?

91. Is the TV unit modular? Modular TV units can be locked together to form a larger TV stand.

92. Some enclosed TV cabinets have materials inserts in the front, this enables good quality sound from a centre speaker.

93. Be careful with black glass finishes, some TV stands have a thin border print of clear glass, this effect can look very nice but look at pictures carefully if you want a purely black TV stand.

94. When building a TV stand ensure all parts are sufficiently tightened, the tension based design of many units of TV furniture will not function properly if one part is loose.

95. If the TV stand arrives and you suspect a part to be defective, don’t compromise on quality and adpt the stand, simply call the retailer, all good retailers should organise a swift dispatch of a spare part.

96. Make sure the retailer you are buying from offers a return policy.

97. When buying online check a retailer uses a secure payment gateway to ensure your credit card details remain safe.

98. If you are planning for an AV installer to build the TV stand give the retailer a call and find out a delivery date.

99. Check and double check the dimensions, it is very frustrating if you can’t set your brand new Plasma or LCD TV up because the TV furniture is the incorrect size.

100. Look for websites with technical drawings which will help you to see how the TV stand will fit in your room.

101. Ask for the best deal many retailers offer a price match service and may be prepared to give discounts.

Consider these points and you will get it right first time, feel free to contact Big AV for high quality advice regarding any of our TV Furniture. Simply call 01484 420088 or 01138 151535 or email us at sales@big-av.co.uk

On the surface of things the luxurious TV cabinets from manufacturers like BDI, Spectral and Salamander Designs may seem expensive, however when you delve deeper you can understand that there are many advantages of a dedicated home cinema cabinet when comparing it to a traditional sideboard or table.

Firstly ventilation, dedicated TV cabinets are always designed with a system to expel hot air and pull through cooler air, BDI use their unique flow through ventilation system and Salamander Designs even offer a unique active cooling system. Too much heat not only jeopardises playback quality, both visually and sonically, it is the main cause of damage and malfunction to home theatre components. Excess heat may not cause instantaneous damage but it can accelerate the life of AV equipment, so that £1000 amplifier might only last 3 years in an overheating cabinet whereas it may still be good after 20 years if it receives sufficient ventilation.

Cable management needs to be well thought out if a cabinet is to successfully accomodate AV equipment in a practical and functional way in addition to being a practical home where wiring can be run from one piece of equipment to another without an unsightly spaghetti junction scenario that is a more than regular occurance in UK homes. Adjustable shelving and removable back panels ensure dedicated TV cabinets will be able to support and give you access to your AV equipment, a lack of removable rear panels would make wiring up your home cinema system nigh on impossible.

We have now truly entered the winter period of 2009, yes that means the weather will be colder, your car won’t start in the morning and it will be dark on your way to and from work but it also means that electrical manufacturers will be releasing wide ranges of new products, expect to see many more of the latest technology in television LED. LED TV’s produce a brighter picture than previous flat panel TV’s but the most notable feature of these new TV’s is that they can be manufactured much thinner than ever before. With new televisions of less than 2cm in depth there is clearly a need for some ultra stylish TV furniture to accomodate these beautiful new glossy televisions.

Here at Big AV, we believe that cantilever TV stands are one of the best TV furniture products on the market, providing a practical variation on the wall moutning concept these taller Plasma, LCD and LED TV stands are perfect for the latest generations of flat panel TV’s, due to the natura of the design these stands will enable the ultra slim dimensions of the new TV’s to be displayed in their full glory without sacrificing functionality or practicality. Expect to see Big AV’s extensive collection of cantilever TV stands expand in the future with old lines being reinforced and completely new lines being launched.