Entertainment center, 70-inch

After building a 46-inch entertainment center,
it was time to upgrade to 70-inch TVs.

Files/Pictures/2015-12_70-inch-entertainment-center_23.jpg

I have done CAD work on dual monitors for decades. I want my eyes to do some far focus, its helpful to delay worsening nearsightedness. I also found myself watching TV while using the computer. To solve these problems, I built a plywood entertainment center that holds two 70-inch TVs as a dual-monitor setup for my Lenovo laptop. Now I can watch TV on the top 4K set, while using the bottom screen as a monitor. I can also watch two TV shows, or

use both TVs as a dual-head external monitor setup. I tossed a bed down in front so I can watch and/or work while resting recumbent.

Under the laptop shelf is an IQAir HealthPro HEPA filter to keep my allergies at bay. On the right shelf is the audio receiver and a cheap stereo that drives the sub-woofers. Topping those off is an Alpha 5 clock I built from a kit.

I designed the entertainment center in TurboCAD 15. Sharp TVs are about the only ones that publish a detailed drawing that shows the exact dimensions and the location of the VESA mounting holes on the back.

While I thought I would have problems with the remotes interacting, the 4K set also has a Bluetooth remote that does not affect the bottom TV. You can see a piece of duct tape over the IR sensor on the top TV. I put eight 1-inch steel ball casters on the bottom. This unit glides effortlessly across the floor when I need to move it.

I used a 3.5-inch section of PVC pipe to run the wires in the back. There are a few short ones dangling, but I have not received the longer cables yet. I used Home Depot red oak ¾ plywood. My receiver is a Denon AVR-1609. The main speakers were given to me by a girlfriend that bought a Bose system. I got a pair of Beverage subwoofers at the eFlea, the Silicon Valley electronic flea market. I drive them with a cheap Sony stereo fed off the Denon subwoofer out. I also got some Advent speakers at the eFlea to use as rear speakers. I operate the laptop via a wireless compact Verbatim keyboard, and a Logitech gamer mouse. Download the TurboCAD drawings and DWG and DXF files here. Pdf plots here.

Entertainment center, 70-inch

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The mount instructions were pretty good. I thought these set screws were way too wimpy. They are, bottom TV sagged. This is all that keeps the TV from slipping down.

I first bought a 70-inch Vizio from Fry's. It failed after a month-design failure row drivers. The box did have really cool stakes holding it together. It was easy to send back. Fry's refunded no questions asked. I rotated the box to help mount the TV in the lower position. It was a tricky operation without a helper, the TV is not heavy, but its not light either.

A trick from Paul Grohe, a test lead to the antenna coax center lead will bring in all the UHF stations. Center punch for the hole to get it exact. The little wire brought in 49 stations. I did not even unpack the bag before this test. The PBS station on channel 3 came in fine. I sold my 46 inch TVs a year before, so it was nice to have TV again.

Here is the base drilled out for the ball casters. I cut the wood on top of two crates I built to move some Sportster engines. I used factory edges as a straightedge that I clamped to work piece. I just adjusted the line for the offset of the saw base.

I tried to use a miter saw to clean up the inside corners. A jig saw worked much better where the circular saw cuts met.. A Milwaukee hole saw in a DeWalt cordless drill for the rear wiring PVC tube holes.

Out of the garage into the living room . With both TVs mounted and running as dual-screen monitors. It takes a while getting used to stacked monitors compared to side-by-side, The back with PVC tube for the wiring.

I worry about the fan hitting the top TV if I roll the entertainment center around too cavalierly. Brightness and color is better on the 4K TB at top. With the top screen as a TV, bottom as a computer monitor. I never got cable, this is broadcast TV

The entertainment center in-situ. It fits in the dining room. A spare bed in front, and a desk. The bed substitutes for a couch. A view past the desk when in dual monitor mode. Laptop is on left shelf, the audio receiver and sub-woofer on the right.