This brings me to my question. I want to get tables that are functional, perhaps with drawers or drawers and a shelf. I want wood (no wicker) but I don't want to pay a lot for each one. I'm not sure if the tables must all match.

Does this make sense? Or do you have a better idea for me?

Also, as far as drawers go, must I be looking for night tables or would it be an office supply item? Do you know of any links that would help me find the tables?

Can you put the speakers underneath a table that has either has a shelf or just legs? How big are these speakers and how does your husband want them placed (ear level, behind the sofa, floor level, back of the room, etc).

I like your idea of putting the speakers underneath tables but he likes them at ear level with one in each corner of the room. At least the center speaker sits on top of the TV. This is his thing so since I've decided to live with it, I have decided to at least try to get some extra drawer space to organize into under the speakers.

How high up off the ground does he want them?

If only about 15 inches, note that there are lots of 15-inch "cubes" around. Some are particlewood, 1/2-inch thick, part of modular storage systems.

http://www.stacksandstacks.com/html/6447_modular-system-i-2-drawer-cub e.htm

Or, you can often get these in plywood (therefore sturdier) from unfinished-furniture places. Here's the one in my area, but I bet there are ones in lots of other places that make these sorts of things.

http://www.gothiccabinetcraft.com/product_info.php?products_id=668

They're often pretty sturdy; you could stack 2, perhaps.

Or, put legs underneath the cube, to lift the speaker another 6 inches.

There's no rim, which would be nice; maybe you could get a similar cube that's more like 20 inches square, and have them put a rim around the top to keep the speakers in place.

Another idea would be to simply look for nightstands. Often they're kinda short--I remember having trouble finding a pair that I considered to be tall enough.

remember that if you want something in wood with drawers, it will cost a little bit, simply because drawers add to the expense--each one is at least 5 joints, sometimes 6.

here's an example: 21" wide, 16" deep, 22" high. $240.

http://amos.shop.com/amos/cc/pcd/10511710/prd/16049538/ccsyn/260

This one's lots cheaper--only $90--but marginally smaller
H:23 7/8" x (60.5cm) x W:21 3/4" (55.4cm) x D:15 5/8" (39.7cm)

http://www3.jcpenney.com/jcp/Products.aspx?DeptID=0&CatID=022089&Grpty p=PRD&ItemId=09f9e3e

Good luck!

Take the measurements of the speakers and start looking at ANYTHING that might hold them - linen cabinets, bookcases, etc.

The table is at Target.com under game tables or http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-16/qid=/ref=sr_1_16/602-4157 491-5236668?%5Fencoding=UTF8&asin=B0002HDV7K

Speakers have a purpose and it is to create good or if you are lucky great sound. they cannot do it if you don't apply the laws of physics and acoustics.

They are not to be stuck under tables or in cabinets or stuck in the corners for that matter. and the room itself needs decent acoustic treatment for proper sound.

the men on there talk about the WAF Wife appreciation factor and talk about how their wife will not ALLOW them to do this or that with audio equipment. it must conform to the wife's design asthetic. even if it then sounds like junk.

I am including a link to my personal home theater which I designed and it has superior sound and superior Video.

Women actually have better hearing than men so I don't understand why so many women are perfectly happy to watch a crummy TV with even crummier speakers plaes in all the wrong places. It is embarrassing to listen to what some of the wive's do or say to their husbands.

You created a personal home theater in its very own room. I don't have room to do that, and neither does Marie.

Any "sound system" has to fit in my living room. The room that makes my home feel welcoming and orderly. Which it must do 24/7 (and the speakers do their work for about 2 hours at a time every now and then).

This is generalizing, but...
-Women are far more focused on the SOCIAL INTERACTIONS in their homes. Those interactions area affected by the physical appearance of their homes. And they are not affected by audio or video--except in a negative way. People don't end up w/ richer relationships from watching movies or listening to music.

-Women are judged (both by others and by themselves) by the beauty of their homes. Far more easily and far more harshly than men are judged by "not quite wonderful" quality of their sound systems.

-The attractiveness of the home is not actually considered a luxury by most women; they do consider hobby-level focus on sound quality to be a luxury.

If the men who love their sound systems would be clearer in their explanations about what would affect the sound, then their wives might find it easier to cope with.

I don't agree at all about the women are judged more harshly. I can't imagine judging a woman negatively because she has a nice looking great sounding, sound system in her home. and MEN do judge the audio quality of other men, at least those that know anything beyond LOUD, LOUD is not good sound.
Unfortunately too many people have not got a clue about sound equipment and so fall for the marketing of such companies as BOSE, on the forums we have several names and comments for BOSE chiefly BOSE BLOWS but too many consumers have been sold a bill of goods to think they have a great system with BOSE. They are inconspicuous though and so have a high WAF.
Honestly What I saw in that thread was all about "MY" house meaning the wife's. Why are her needs and wishes the only ones that matter?

I know this subject is off topic for organizing, but it was here and that is why I responded, and it is still relevant since women continue to behave as in this thread.

I am not trying to be difficult but would like to see women broaden their perspective on this subject.

We have Tannoy speakers--they're big steel-grey cubes (about 3 feet x 3feet x 3 feet) and they sit on stainless steel frames. It's not a look I just love, but hey! They sound amazing. They "go up to 11" as the guy in Spinal Tap says.

We have a big leather sofa at just the right distance, and all our records, CDs and such stored neatly.

We have a TV projector and screen, and when it's movie night at our house (speaking of social interaction) it's an event.

I agree that decorating around these items can be a challenge, but I can't believe how many people stick an enormous flat screen above the fireplace and think it looks good. I'd rather have the TV in any other room, than make it the focal point of my living room.

Really?
Show me a good looking speaker that you keep out in the open.

(BTW - I am the audio junkie in this house. I am a woman. And my thought that speakers are ugly is definitely NOT a 'learned reaction'!)

I will tell you where the problem starts: it starts with the man who wants the audio/video to be great and doesn't have a clue that visual asthetics matter. I am sure that accommodations can be made to have both, but all too often the equipment gets bought and installed, and only then does the asthetic cleanup come into play.

I lived in a house for way too many years with cables exposed, wall-to-wall carpeting ripped up and then not put down correctly, and a big-arse TV plunked into a room that couldn't be adapted to it. As soon the audio and video were in there, as far as my husband was concerned, the room was fine. The room made me feel sad, and no amount of quality sound or video could overcome that.
Mccall - I looked at your link, and I'm not sure what the point was in posting that. Show us a link to a sound system that fits into the average size family room. And include the cost of the room, excluding the equipment.