| Unless you're mounting your new 42 inch LCD | | | | |
| TV on the wall or on the ceiling, you'll need | | | | 2. Determine if the stand will position your |
| a solid and reliable stand to support it. | | | | TV at an optimal viewing height. The height |
| Many TVs come furnished with an appropriate | | | | of the TV is an individual choice - make sure |
| stand, but some require that the stand be | | | | the stand you select will place your 42 inch |
| purchased separately. If the manufacturer | | | | LCD TV at the height you want. If you can, |
| furnishes your 42 inch LCD TV stand, and it | | | | find an adjustable stand that gives you some |
| meets your needs in terms of styling, you're | | | | flexibility. If not, determine the right |
| in great shape. Because your 42 inch LCD TV | | | | height for you and select an appropriate |
| could become an integral part of the room's | | | | height stand. An easy way to calculate your |
| decorating scheme, though, you may choose to | | | | optimal height is to sit in your favorite |
| purchase a stand that matches the needs of | | | | chair or couch and determine how high your |
| your viewing habits, your home, and your | | | | eye level is. Once you've determined eye |
| sense of style. | | | | level, make sure your 42 inch LCD TV will be |
| | | | centered at that point. |
| Because a 42 inch LCD TV is reasonably heavy, | | | | |
| the most important requirement is that any | | | | Many stands are pre-engineered to approximate |
| stand must handle the weight of your | | | | an appropriate viewing level for the average |
| particular 42 inch LCD TV and must provide a | | | | person, but make sure you're comfortable with |
| stable base in case it's bumped or jarred. | | | | that height before you make a purchase. Some |
| For that reason, make sure the stand you | | | | pedestal stands are adjustable; if you don't |
| purchase meets the unique weight and strength | | | | need storage space, check out a pedestal |
| requirements of the 42 inch LCD TV you | | | | stand. |
| purchased. The last thing you want to have | | | | |
| happen is for your new TV to become damaged | | | | 3. Check to see if the stand has integrated |
| simply because your stand wasn't up to the | | | | cable management. If you're buying a cabinet |
| task. The owner's manual for your 42 inch LCD | | | | with a closed back, cable management probably |
| TV will specify all the requirements of a | | | | isn't an issue, since you'll have plenty of |
| suitable and effective TV stand for that | | | | space to hide cables. If you're interested in |
| model. | | | | a pedestal stand or a stand with an open |
| | | | back, make sure there are provisions built in |
| There are a few other considerations besides | | | | to hide all the cables you may have. If you |
| strength, though. Let's look at a few other | | | | have a home theater, video gaming system, DVD |
| decisions you'll want to make to ensure you | | | | player, and other components, you'll have a |
| get the maximum enjoyment from your 42 inch | | | | large number of cables running from component |
| LCD TV. | | | | to component - make sure the stand gives you |
| | | | plenty of room to store those cables out of |
| 1. Determine if the stand needs to hold other | | | | sight. The stand shouldn't just house your 42 |
| audio-visual equipment? If you own a DVD | | | | inch LCD TV - it should handle all the cables |
| player, use a cable converter, have game | | | | and components, too. |
| systems like an Xbox or a PS2, and/or have a | | | | |
| home theater system, you may want your stand | | | | Once you've found the right 42 inch LCD TV, |
| to house that equipment as well as support | | | | finding a stand suits your needs and fits |
| the 42 inch LCD TV itself. Make sure you pick | | | | you're your room's décor and design is |
| a stand that has shelves or compartments for | | | | important, too. Make sure you can enjoy your |
| the equipment you own, or even may someday | | | | TV while it's turned on, and how it looks |
| own. | | | | when it's not turned on. |