Oh no, not again... Superchick is not asking whether we approve of this placement. She has a specific question about the logistics. I don't beleive any other topic generates more controversey than this one: in a nation that celebrates its diversity, it almost seems as though the placement of our televisions is the one subject about which we must all walk in lock step. If anyone wants to advocate for or against this hot button topic, they ought to first read the hundreds of posts-- many tinged with rage and disdain-- in the archives that address the issue. If there is really anything new to add, start a new thread rather than dragging this one hopelessly off course. And as to the actual question at hand, space is probably needed for your DVD player and receiver, possibly surround sound unit, and VCR. If the fireplace and cabs are designed as an integrated whole, it will probably be fine. I would avoid having the cabinetry protrude further than the television, and I'd try to keep things symetrical [but then, I'm a full blown symetriholic].

I need help. I bought a new 42 inch screen Magnavox HD TV set. We are a member of the Direct TV Satellite Cable Network. The dish is outside of the house with a coaxil cable entering the home to a black box that sits beside the TV. A coaxil cable leaves the black box to a Power Surge Protector Electrical strip. Another coaxil cable leaves this connection to the TV back input area. The TV channels, volume, etc are controlled by the handheld Dish Remote Control. The Magnovox TV remote is not used. I have a Symphonic DVD Player and the red, white, yellow wire set and its own remote control. I have an Emerson VCR with a coaxil connector wire and its own remote controller. I do not know where to connect the VCR coaxil wire to the TV. The TV set has overall, 3 sites for the colored wire connection ports. (1) an area on the left side near the back of the screen for the yellow,red,white connection, and 2 separate areas called line 1 and line 2 connections (but a double set of plugs of red, white and yellow colored ports in this assembly)which is very confusing. Which row do I use? Goal: I want to know how to connect the VCR and the DVD. They are to be used separately. Do I hook up these 2 separately at the varied colored port areas, and they run independently with their remotes? Do I connect to the black box? Do I run the DVD through the back out hook-up of colored ports to the colored inports at the VCR front area and connect to the TV via a coaxil somehow?....Is the black box involved or bypassed? Please keep the insructions simple. The 3 sets of appliance directions are too confusing. I am having trouble with each appliance and the individual directions are not helpful to me with the currently used Direct TV Dish system. Thank you in advance.

Well my daughter was off on Monday and we tried again to hook it all up and still nothing. We got it all hooked up so you can view either the DVD player or the VCR player but can't record from either one. I KNOW there HAS to be a way we can record from one of them. There has to be since BOTH are capable of recording. BUT we just can't figure it out. The VCR is hooked so that it can be viewed through the video 1 on the TV and the DVD is on video 2 for viewing. The TV has 2 in areas on the back of it and the DVD player has only one out area in the back of it. She says we need TWO out areas on the DVD player to record. ????? BUT it's a recordable DVD player so that doesn't make sense. I'm so confused at this point I'm ready to say the heck with it all! :( The back of the TV only has one out and has 2 in hookups. Then the TV has an in hookup on the front of it and the DVD recorder has an in hook up on the front of it as well. The VCR has a hookup on the front of it but it's only yellow and white in colors. The others, the DVD and the TV plug ins have red, yellow AND white plug ins on the front. I used to record from the TV onto the VCR but don't know how to do any of that now since we got the DVD and it's hooked up. Anyway just wanted to tell you guys that and to also thank you for trying to help me get it hooked up!!!

Well, you point the remote at the device you wish to control, however, human nature always makes you want to point it at the television. If the cable box and television are roughly in the same area, the cable box will hopefully "see" the remote control's IR (infrared) signal. If they are too far away, or if the A/V components are in a cabinet, you can purchase an "IR repeater". The repeater consists of a IR receiver which you discreetly place near the television. It then sends the IR signal to small IR emitters that you place near your A/V components. They come in both wired and wireless versions between the receiver and emitters. You may need some help from somebody that can look at the outputs available on your A/V components: Cable Box, DVD player, etc, and the input options of the television to determine what types of connection/cables you will need between the two. You may also want to add some additional cables for "future components." Additionally, Ethernet wiring (for an internet connection) should be run to the television and also another to where your A/V components are located. If you're installing a home theater sound system, the wiring for that needs to be figured out as well. The single HDMI cable reference I made earlier refers to connecting all you A/V components to the receiver for the sound system, and using it to control which source is displayed on the television. Many people end up preferring to send the signals to both the receiver and the television. That way, if you are "just watching TV" you can use just the TV. If you are watching a movie on DVD and want the full surround sound, then you turn on the receiver as well. By the way, the cables/wiring used in-wall to the television (and speakers wiring if done in-wall) need to be in-wall rated. That refers to the type of insulation used in the cable for safety purposes.