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Media unit for geeks with kids?

Filed under: General — Thomas @ 04:13

2015-09-21
04:13

Phoenix is growing up quickly and pretty soon he'll be crawling around the house. So it's time for babyproofing.

For the past year, I've been looking all over the internet for decent media units that we could get. IKEA used to have some good ones, but it doesn't look like they have any decent model anymore.

So I turn to the geeky side of the internet, as I'm sure there's lots of people out there who've gone through the same problem with an infant growing up.

So far, I'm thinking:

  • closed at the front, except for a big slot large enough to fit my central speaker (I admit I went large with a PolkAudio A4)
  • thick glass - the kind that lets IR through, but not babies when they smash into it
  • plenty of holes out the back for ventilation - in fact, mostly open
  • useful leads for cables if possible
  • 50-60 inch wide because the TV needs to go on top
  • high enough - at least 80 cm. So many units are low, why?
  • deep enough - so many media units do not even fit a standard AV receiver, let alone leave enough space for air to circulate so the unit doesn't burn up
  • cubby holes/shelves high enough so said unit fits as well
  • not butt ugly or escaped from the eighties
  • can hold A/V receiver, standard Digital TV unit, router, a NAS, a PS3, and an Atari VCS 2600. Bonus points for space left over for a future Megadrive or NES.
  • easy to attach to a wall
  • built-in custom rack for Atari VCS 2600 cartridges (though I'd begrudgingly accept a unit that ticks all the other boxes)

Any requirements I'm missing? Anyone want to share which unit made them happy?

Update: if it matters, this is for a smallish appartment in Manhattan - preference for no DIY.

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