1 2 Next page: Kenmark km-ts01lp1500bk, S&C Group Modus, Sony RHT-G800 >
If you've blown most of your budget on a brand new TV or some high-end A/V equipment you'll probably find that a decent TV stand is a few notches down on your list of priorities. If you're not planning on wall mounting a screen though, an effective stand not only adds impact to your set-up from an aesthetic point of view, but can also help improve the quality of audio and offer features such as cable management to help avoid the inevitable spaghetti junction of wires.
Since AVReview isn't exactly rife with furniture (it's usually a few notches down on our list of priorities) we thought it about time we redressed this balance by looking at a few stands at the mid to high-end market designed to help you keep your home set-up in order.
|
Alphason Apex APX50
This is perhaps the most dramatic of stands on test due to its series of protruding shelves and some impressive engineering that allows the vertical base to support flat panels up to 40kg in weight. The sleek black look and toughened crystal ice-effect glass design complements the set-up nicely, and thanks to a universal fixing bracket and 360-degree low-profile roller glider design it's easy to set up and adjust once your equipment is in place.
You'll find an impressive cable management that includes room for a four-berth plug in the central column, so you'll only have one power cable trailing from the back of the base. There's also 90 degree swivel action for the screen to adjust viewing angles and snap-in rear covers to either complete the sleek look or allow easy access to cables. All in all this is a great looking stand that should add a degree of class to any home set-up.
|
 | |
 | |
Plus points
Impressive design, decent cable management, swivel action for screen
Minus points
Shelf space could be limiting for some A/V equipment |  |
|
|
Atacama Elara AV54
Multimedia furniture specialist Atacama is no stranger to the market, winning numerous awards in the past for its efforts. The Elara series is a high-end solution that comes in black oak veneer, and as well as the 54in version we tried, there is also a 64in model, with room for three pieces of equipment side by side under your 65in telly - should you need it. You'll find two cable management holes at the back, and a toughened glass centre shelf with three height settings and rubber acoustic dampeners to allow you to mount a sub without worrying about vibration affecting the audio.
You'll find similar isolation on the feet when mounted on the supplied heavy-duty spikes, with spike shoes available for laminate/hardwood floors. The Elara is certainly an appealing range, the high-quality finish ensures it'll add class to any home cinema set-up, and there is enough attention to detail here to suit the high-end crowd. All in all it's a solidly built professional-standard television stand that would complement any high-end cinema set-up very nicely.
|
| |
| |
Plus points
Professional finish, effective provision for clean sonics, plenty of room for equipment
Minus points
A tad expensive | |
|
|
Evesham Soundstage X2
The update to Evesham's intriguing Soundstage X1, released at the beginning of the year, now offers two 30-watt subwoofers, a new LCD display and improved sound processor. You'll find the same sleek piano black finish and an array of four 15-watt speakers and a 20-watt centre speaker embedded into the main bulk of the table. In addition you're supplied with a sturdy glass shelf that sits a good ten inches beneath the speaker unit, so there's a decent amount of room.
Everything is wired up for you when the unit arrives, so it's very easy to set up. Audio is fed in using either stereo or 5.1 surround sound, but these are all composite connections so most people will have trouble utilising the surround capabilities without the aid of an external amp. The LCD display shows a graphics equalizer and volume, adjustable with the supplied remote control. You can't turn this off though, and it does become quite distracting when the lights are out. You're also limited in terms of fine tuning the audio, the sub and centre speaker adjustment doesn't really offer the desired degree of control. Audio quality is also a bit sub-par, and like soundbar speaker systems is reliant on the orientation of the room to effectively bounce audio back to the listener.
Despite the X2's faults it's still a reasonable purchase at under £300 and looks pretty classy to boot. Those looking for top-notch audio will be disappointed though.
|
| |
| |
Plus points
Attractive design, reasonably priced
Minus points
Sub-par audio without optimum room conditions, limited audio control, only composite connections, distractingly bright LED display | |
|
1 2 Next page: Kenmark km-ts01lp1500bk, S&C Group Modus, Sony RHT-G800 >
