This item gets the job done, and it looks nice, but Im not blown away - Id give it a C/B- overall. The assembly was straight-forward enough. It took me a little over an hour to put together, but Im mechanically inclined and I work fast. Double or triple that time if you are neither. Despite what the directions say, a small screw gun is highly recommended for installing all the screws and bolts - just mind your torque or youll start destroying things.
Some caveats -
1. A bit more interior depth really would have been nice. Newer electronics just fit; older ones barely make it or dont fit at all. My 1995-era 5-disc carousel CD player was way too big, but it was about ready to die anyway so it went in the e-waste pile. But whomever designed this unit seemed to forget that wires and cables at the back of electronics need some space too - they cut it really close!
2. I would not have minded about 6 more height. The viewing height of a flat panel when sitting on this unit is about right if you are laying on the sofa - sitting or standing, its low. Plus the interior vertical space of each shelf is meager, just enough for a DVD case standing up. Again, pretty tight overall.
3. The finish is ridiculously easy to scratch. Luckily, a black sharpie provides quick and easy touch-up, but more durability in the product is really needed.
4. The doors dont like to stay open. Despite numerous adjustments, the left-hand door on my unit wants to swing closed on its own (Theres a shelf adjacent to the unit that only allows me to open the door about 90 degrees). The hinges on the doors are simple pin-and-socket arrangement, basically the cheapest way to do it. Upgraded door hardware would have solved this problem.
Overall, the value of this unit is middling. At the discounted price, I guess its worth it. At the full price shown here at , I would have felt ripped off.
Meh, itll do
This item gets the job done, and it looks nice, but Im not blown away - Id give it a C/B- overall. The assembly was straight-forward enough. It took me a little over an hour to put together, but Im mechanically inclined and I work fast. Double or triple that time if you are neither. Despite what the directions say, a small screw gun is highly recommended for installing all the screws and bolts - just mind your torque or youll start destroying things. Some caveats - 1. A bit more interior depth really would have been nice. Newer electronics just fit; older ones barely make it or dont fit at all. My 1995-era 5-disc carousel CD player was way too big, but it was about ready to die anyway so it went in the e-waste pile. But whomever designed this unit seemed to forget that wires and cables at the back of electronics need some space too - they cut it really close! 2. I would not have minded about 6 more height. The viewing height of a flat panel when sitting on this unit is about right if you are laying on the sofa - sitting or standing, its low. Plus the interior vertical space of each shelf is meager, just enough for a DVD case standing up. Again, pretty tight overall. 3. The finish is ridiculously easy to scratch. Luckily, a black sharpie provides quick and easy touch-up, but more durability in the product is really needed. 4. The doors dont like to stay open. Despite numerous adjustments, the left-hand door on my unit wants to swing closed on its own (Theres a shelf adjacent to the unit that only allows me to open the door about 90 degrees). The hinges on the doors are simple pin-and-socket arrangement, basically the cheapest way to do it. Upgraded door hardware would have solved this problem. Overall, the value of this unit is middling. At the discounted price, I guess its worth it. At the full price shown here at , I would have felt ripped off.