When it comes to setting up the perfect home theater or audio system, one of the most important decisions you can make concerns the placement of your components. While it’s certainly possible to just set your receiver or DVD player anywhere, there are several reasons why you should take the time to set up a dedicated space for your equipment. By and large, audio/video equipment is expensive, so it just makes sense that you should do everything you can to keep your equipment looking and operating at its best. By selecting an audio tower that coincides with the look of your room, you can ensure that your components will remain protected from the outside world while also providing a clean, organized appearance.
Although selecting audio towers isn’t rocket science, there are some fairly important things to consider before shelling out your hard earned money on a new piece of furniture. The following list represents some of the basic considerations:
1. Size is Important – although this may seem obvious, often times people rush into buying an audio cabinet because it looks good or because the price is right. While these are both great reasons to purchase a tower, they aren’t the only ones. Before even stepping foot in a retailer (in person or online), it’s critical that you make a list of all the items you plan to store inside of your cabinet. Things like DVD players, receivers (audio and television), CD players, surge protectors and video game systems are just some of the many things that will need to be stored away from view. You should also consider whether you want DVD storage units for your movie collection. Once you have the list, you need to look for towers that have the shelving capacity to house your components. You also need to ensure that you have sufficient space for your television if you plan to place it on top of the cabinet. Of course, if you have an electric projector screen this isn’t so much of a concern. You never want to stack components on top of one another, so be sure to choose a tower that has a separate shelf for each item. Also, it’s important to choose a tower that has a bit more capacity than you need in order to accommodate future components.
2. Looks Matter – the last thing you want to do is to purchase the cheapest tower available in order to save a few bucks. Even if it means waiting another couple of months, it’s worth paying more for something that looks good. During the research phase of your purchase, you’ll quickly realize that prices range a lot for these towers, so be sure to establish your budget wisely. You’ll likely want to purchase a piece that fits in well with the rest of your furniture, though we’ll leave that decision up to you. Keep in mind, however, that you will want to select something that is more or less “future proof.” In other words, a tower is not something you should need to replace every few years.
3. Access is Critical – the cabinet you choose should allow you to easily access your components. You shouldn’t have to get into some awkward position in order to get to your equipment. Also, the cabinet should have slots to allow for efficient cable management and for sufficient ventilation.
Choosing an audio tower is simple as long as you follow the basic criteria laid out below. By taking the time to research your purchase, you will be better positioned to end up with a tower that can last you a lifetime.
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