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Design Stories

The Design Behind Hidden Sound

When you sit down to enjoy some television or a movie night with friends and family, often the moments that stand out most aren't what you see but what you hear. Whether it's the dramatic musical score during a suspenseful movie scene, or the impact of an entire stadium erupting in cheers when their team catches the last-minute game-winning touchdown, the audio experience can be just as significant as the visual one.

However, for many people, the sound should be heard and not seen.

That's why BDI designed a series of "hidden sound" media cabinets featuring acoustically transparent doors for those who prefer a cleaner and more streamlined aesthetic to their home theater set-up.

Here are a few unique ways we do it.

Key Takeaways: The Design Behind Hidden Sound

Acoustically transparent media cabinets make it possible to conceal soundbars and electronics without compromising sound, control, or performance.

  1. Hidden sound creates a cleaner entertainment space. Acoustically transparent doors allow soundbars, speakers, gaming systems, and other components to remain out of sight while preserving clear audio.
  2. Louvered doors combine architectural style with performance. Slatted designs allow sound and remote-control signals to pass through while distributing audio evenly throughout the room.
  3. Laser-cut doors balance concealment, sound, and airflow. Decorative openings backed by perforated metal help hide components while allowing both audio and heat to escape.
  4. Perforated steel provides full acoustic transparency. Precisely engineered openings allow sound and remote-control signals to travel through the doors without placing equipment on display.
  5. Fabric-wrapped metal adds softness without muffling sound. Fabric-covered perforated panels provide a refined design detail while supporting ventilation and clear sound from an enclosed soundbar.
  6. Integrated features help electronics perform at their best. Flow-through ventilation, adjustable shelves, removable back panels, and wire management keep components cool, accessible, organized, and easier to maintain.
The Elements media cabinet and TV stand features an integrated soundbar shelf that allows for sound pass-through behind closed doors.

Heard, Not Seen

Through thoughtfully engineered cabinets, electronics such as soundbars and other AV and gaming equipment are perfectly concealed behind the doors without interfering with the sound quality.



Louvered Doors

In collections like Corridor or Align, you’ll instantly notice the slatted doors that are prominent in modern architecture. The design is eye-catching and allows sound to be evenly distributed through the doors and into your living room while keeping electronics hidden. Another advantage of louvered doors is that they allow access to your soundbar or other electronics via remote control.

The Corridor media cabinet and corner TV stand by BDI Furniture features acoustically transparent doors that allows for sound pass-through behind closed doors.



Laser-Cut Doors

Inspired by nature, our Elements Collection features laser-cut doors that provide a beautiful aesthetic and create an opening for sound and heat dispersion. To help hide electronics, the doors feature a perforated metal backing that keeps electronics concealed without sacrificing sound and style.

The Elements media cabinet and TV stand by BDI Furniture features acoustically transparent doors that allows for sound pass-through behind closed doors.



Perforated Steel Doors

Perforated doors, accented by a hardwood frame, provide a classically modern look that is visually appealing and helps the electronics inside perform perfectly. This commitment to sound is in the namesake and design of our Octave Collection, whose doors provide full acoustic transparency allowing sound and remote control signals to pass through easily. For an even more streamlined design, check out Sector 7527. 

The Octave media cabinet and TV stand by BDI Furniture features acoustically transparent doors that allows for sound pass-through behind closed doors.




Fabric-Wrapped Metal

The Interval collection's unique handcrafted flip-down door features half-lap jointed hardwood backed with fabric-covered perforated metal. While a striking design detail, this also provides ventilation and acoustic transparency, allowing the sound from an enclosed soundbar to pass through.

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Align modern tv stand soundbar shelf doors bdi furniture

Universal Features

Beyond clear sound and hidden electronics, all of BDI’s media furniture comes standard with features designed to extend your electronics' life and keep all components organized.

These standard features include flow-through ventilation to help keep components from overheating, adjustable shelves to accommodate your media components and equipment, and removable back panels to provide easy access to the back of your electronics. In addition, standard wire management features make it easy to plug in your electronics while keeping the wires concealed and organized.

Whether you prefer a “hidden sound” aesthetic or like your electronics on full display, BDI takes pride in designing beautiful media furniture that helps you hear crystal-clear audio from your entertainment setup.