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