Building a shelf for center channel...

[benxx]

I am thinking of building a shelf for my LCR600. It is quite heavy - about 20lbs and 12'' deep. The dealer told me I need a really wide shelf so the sound wouldn't be trapped in the space between the shelf and the back of the TV. I am a little bit worried about building a 15-17'' wall mounting shelf though. Anyone here has experience to share or recommendations for a specific wall mounting bracket?

Many thanks.

[David Meek]

Mark,

Actually 20 lbs. is relatively light for a center channel. There should be no problems putting it on the top of your TV's cabinet - unless it isn't a flat surface. My CC is about 55 lbs. and sat on a de-coupling stand on the top of my Pioneer RPTV for 3+ years without any damage to the cabinet.

If you still want to put in a shelf, that weight shouldn't pose any problems for good sturdy shelf brackets if they are screwed into a stud. If studs aren't in the right places, then be sure to use nice large toggle bolts.

Whether you leave it on your TV or put it on a shelf, get a stand for the CC to sit on. De-coupling it from the TV or shelf will give you a MUCH cleaner, less boxy/boomy/chesty sound. These stands generally have a slight tilt to them so that the speaker points toward the listeners head rather than straight out into the room - some people just use rubber door "stops".

Hope this helps.

[Burke Strickland]

Wow Post a question at 10:39 and get an answer at 10:56. We really are a 24 hour service. :>)

Hitch hiking on David's answer (and he's right -- 20 pounds is really fairly light as center speakers go, so a stud-mounted shelf can easily handle it) in addition to decoupling the center from the TV, whichever way you choose to mount your center speaker, the front of the speaker should NOT be behind the plane of the front of the TV.

In other words, it is preferable to have the front of the center a little bit forward of the front of the TV, (other wise the TV serves as a big baffle extension, and that tends to muffle the sound). Also as David has pointed out, you'll want to have the center speaker tilted toward the listening postion rather than facing straight out into the room, to project dialog clearly without having to crank up the volume on the center channel.

Good luck!

Burke

[David Meek]

Wow Post a question at 10:39 and get an answer at 10:56. We really are a 24 hour service. :>)

Where have I heard that? It sounds vaguely familiar? :

[benxx]

Thanks a lot. I don't think I can put the LCR600 on top of HLP5063. There is just not enough space. I am actually waiting to see if I can find a good TV stand and get away with put the Speaker under the TV.

[David Meek]

Mark, if you do put it under the TV, the same suggestions still apply. Get a stand or use something to de-couple and tilt the CC - this time pointing upwards toward your ears.

[jimmyp58]

Check out Sound Anchor. He'll custom make any kind of stand for you at a ridiculously reasonable price and unparalled quality. My Def Tech CLR 3000 sits atop my RPTV; the CLR 3000 weighs > 60 lbs. and it's depth is greater than the front/top frame. Mr. Worzella from Sound Anchor custom-built a stand/shelf that fits like a glove around my tv and the best part about it is you can't see it. It is solid metal and bears all the weight of this center channel speaker.

Worth a look.

Jim

P.S. If this doesn't float your boat, he can custom-build a center channel stand that will sit in front of your TV. The guy is phenomenal.

[NMyTree]

I have a guy building me a custom designed Component Rack, a TV stand/cabinet, and some custom designed bookselves (for CDs, DVDs and Laser Discs).

The cabinet platform for the TV will be 42" high.

What I did for the Center Channel, was design a shelf under the TV, which rolls out, so the Center Channel will not be confined into a cabinet space, and be free of any encumbrances; it will have all the open space it needs to breathe. The shelf will be solidly supported and stable.....as well as have some vibration dampening.

When not in use, it slides right back into the cabinet and has a door that can be closed and locked.

This was an attempt on my part to not only provide the Center Channel with the best opportunity to be all it could be, but also , to keep my 7 month old son (who will soon be walking, grabbing, pulling and so forth) from hurting himself and damaging the Center Channel.

[Rock Dog]

I ran into a similar issue with my center channel. It's a Mirage OM-C2 and is 25"X13"X8" approx. and weights in at 30lbs. My Grand Wega II LCD RPTV is only 6" or so across the top. Now my TV sits atop a TV stand/cabinet. And it's got some extra room depth wise.

My solution. I built my own shelf. I took some MDF, and sealed, primed and painted it gloss black. I took some 2"X2"s and painted them as well. The shelf portion is just a little wider than the CC, and a couple of 3 or 4 inch deeper than the TV. I made 3 legs out of the 2"X2"s and screwed them into the MDF. The front of the MDF (bottom) has some thin, stick on rubber feet, for grip and to protect the TV. The front of the MDF sheet rests across the front of the TV, then the 3 legs come off the back or the MDF sheet, clear the back of the TV and rest on the TV stand to support the back of the shelf.

Several companies make something similar, with a couple of small legs that rest on the back (downward angle) of an RPTV. But the problem with my set is that the angle/slope of the back of the TV's enclosure is very steep, and the feet on the OEM shelves would not have been able to grip it. So I made my own.

If there isn't a stand the TV is on. Extend the legs to the floor behind the set.

It works great. The front of the CC is flush with the screen. And since it has rear drivers, it has plenty of room to reflect off the back wall. Which I wouldn't have gotten if I did wall shelf behind and above the TV.

[Rock Dog]

Heck, I ran up there and took some quick shots. A little visual reference never hurt. Some are a little dark, sorry I was in a hurry.