Why go through the trouble of spending thousands of dollars on a sleek and slim plasma or LCD HDTV only to have it sit on your outdated AV console. Flat panels allow for more interesting mounting options. While wall mounting is the sleekest option, it may not be practical for everyone. Walls facing the outside world generally can’t be used and corner positional may preclude the use of conventional wall mounts. Some also fear the permanence of traditional wall mounts. Conventional stands don’t highlight the slim design that makes flat panels so attractive to begin with.

The solution is a flat panel stand. The two best options appear to be the Sanus PFPP2B and the BDI Vista 9960. Both mount your flat panel on a compact stand and provide two glass shelves for your components (each supporting about 50 pounds). The BDI may look a little more polished, but is also twice the price. Both are definitely worth looking into if you have or are thinking about buying a flat panel HDTV and are not eager to wall mount.