BDI Icon 9424 Flat Panel TV Stand Review

Icon Design Goals & Features

Having previously reviewed the BDI Axis line of furniture, we were curious as to how well the Icon line would compare, being made for a different type of display altogether. I isolated some important needs for a DLP/plasma display shelf system.

• Design features that blend well with a majority of current televisions
• Shelf system allowing for accurate placement of a center channel speaker directly below the display.
• Ability to support larger center channel speakers
• Cable management for A/V equipment
• Ability to act as a standalone entertainment unit, supporting at least 2 standard width A/V devices side by side.

Unlike my more difficult task of finding larger home theater furniture to handle my entire A/V equipment arsenal, there are quite a few companies offering solutions for small display devices like LCD, plasma and rear projection LCD or DLP TVs. The problem is these solutions range from the practical to the bizarre. One company I observed offers a questionable design that resembles a step ladder more than a home theater display stand... and the list goes on and on.

What Do You Look for in A/V Furniture?

Everyone has their preference, both for design and for ergonomics of use. I personally want a solution that favors both evenly. To me, having a beautiful but unusable piece of furniture is just as bad as having an ugly piece that functions well. The Icon line was designed by Bill Becker and Cristian Wicha, both of whom seem to have an excellent awareness of the importance of both form and function.

For holding a plasma or rear projection DLP I want something that blends in well with the unit, providing me with enough space to hold my equipment, yet narrow enough in depth to maintain the illusive shallow depth associated with the newer display technologies. The A/V furniture should be solidly constructed. Any glass present should be tempered and well-protected so that applied weight doesn't result in abrasion. The width of the available furniture should be able to accommodate a majority of today's shipping displays. However, for those of you wanting third party furniture to match Samsung's new 80" LCD announced at the 2004 CES - you're on your own!

First Impressions

This time I wasn't caught off guard when the BDI furniture arrived in flat boxes. I was well aware of BDI's ability to provide top-notch furniture that required some assembly. The Icon line is more than adequately packaged and out of the samples we've received to date, not a single significant defect has been found. Their furniture is easy to assemble and comes with all of the tools you will need to get the job done. I clocked myself this time and it took me 20 minutes from start to finish assembling the entire unit. Each of the BDI furniture lines is completely different from the next. This makes assembly an adventure each time, but in reality, it's a testimony to their commitment to make good furniture. This method invariably costs more than if they were to manipulate the manufacturing process to achieve more compatible pieces. Plus each line is unique, making the entire line more appealing - you're bound to find something that suits both your needs ad your tastes.

Steel and Glass - Fit and Finish

Most of the newer displays are "high tech" silver (almost gone are the black displays of 'old') and simply beg to be matched up with an equally high-tech stand, regardless of the nature of the rest of your furniture. For many people, the display and its corresponding stand should be a single entity. The trouble is many of the manufacturers' display stands are not up to par with the level of quality and craftsmanship found in third party solutions like those produced by BDI.

Let's talk about build quality. The Icon line uses square steel supports for dispersing the brunt of the weight of components placed onto the shelves (see inset photos). The main frame is a thin rectangular piece that essentially surrounds the inner shelf system and provides support for the top shelf, distributing its weight to the two rounded steel tubes at the bottom. The result is a glass top shelf with lots of open air and the strength to hold 120 lbs of TV.

While the Icon 9424 is specifically meant for plasma or LCD flat panel TVs, I am fully confident that it can also support a rear projection DLP TV like the Samsung 46" HLN467W, which comes in at just 75 lbs (indeed, lighter than many 42" plasma displays). I believe BDI recommends this model for flat screens only, largely because there is no support for the glass beyond the center line of the top shelf. Because of this, you'll want to keep the weight centered or towards the rear, not up front which would stress the glass anchor points. I spent a decent amount of time stressing the glass to see what it could hold - and though I stopped short of applying greater than 100 pounds, I think BDI is playing it safe with its recommendations and limits.

The Shelf System

Apart from the top glass, the Icon 9424 has two shelves. The middle shelf, which is adjustable to one of three positions - each 2" apart, can support up to 50 pounds. The Icon 9424's rather unique middle shelf essentially floats upon two L-shaped steel supports, which are centered to provide stability. This is ingenious and contributes to the Icon's modern look and feel. Since the shelf is glass, and there is nothing blocking any of the shelf edges, your equipment seems to float in space. I applied some pressure to the front and back of the center glass shelf to test it's stability and, while it is anything but rigid, it does feel capable of easily supporting a couple of hi-fi components with very little stress.

The lower shelf is built to set directly upon the bottom of the steel frame, providing a 75 pound rated capacity. Again, the balancing point of the shelf is the center line; exactly where the weight will be for most of your hi-fi components.

Icon Assembly, Style & Conclusion

The Assembly

Like most of the BDI furniture, assembly is made easy by the included tools and easy to read instructions. Once all boxes were opened and the appropriate parts were laid out I was able to very easily and rapidly assemble the Icon 9424 flat panel display stand.

One of the first steps to assembling the unit involved attaching the rear metal support bars to the steel rectangular central frame. The very next step involves placing the frame onto the platform. Special Assembly Note: You'll want to flip the unit completely upside down for this step or risk scratching the gray finish coat of the base unit (this part of the assembly can be done safely only by flipping the unit completely over in my opinion). The instructions depict the unit in a vertical position, and even turning the unit 90 degrees will not allow you to secure the base without risking damaging its surface.

Glass and Style

The "floating" glass shelf system is assembled last and, as I mentioned previously, makes this a truly unique and stylish piece. Instead of anchoring the glass with a slot and groove system, BDI utilizes polished steel discs which come pre-attached to the glass shelves. These discs then elevate, or float, the shelving from a single centerline (middle and lower shelves) or dual anchor point (top shelf). Screws are fastened into these discs, and soft pads are supplied that cushion each anchor position, avoiding unnecessary abrasions to the glass.

Cable Routing

Cable routing is adequate on the Icon 9424, in fact it is better than the fixed tie wraps of the Axis line for those of us who change out gear on a regular basis. BDI supplies hook and loop strips which securely screw into the rear of the back panel, allowing you to secure cables - and more importantly, release them or replace them when necessary. I like this methodology, and though I found an adequate solution for the Axis series of furniture, I wonder of this might be the best stock solution for their entire line.

Lasting Impressions

If you are in the market for an slim digital TV or flat panel display stand that has the flexibility to handle a center channel, multiple components, and just about any display under 175 pounds (weight capacity varies per model), the BDI Icon line is about the nicest I have seen to date. Even though we reviewed just the 9424, the remaining models offer varying conveniences such as: support for up to 65" plat panel TVs, lower profiles for taller sets, and even a rotating stand for TVs that may need to be swiveled towards the viewer.

The BDI Icon Line

BDI Icon 9424 Home Theater Furniture Review

Becker Designed, Inc.
14101 A Parke Long Court
Chantilly, Virginia 20151
800-428-2881

About BDI, Inc
BDI's goal has always been to create innovative home furnishings that offer something more: well designed pieces with a distinctive style that are within reach. Their team of designers shares a passion for creating timeless designs that are well made and of course functional. Even their packaging is thoughtfully designed to ensure that things get to you in the absolute best condition. All this is done with one thing in mind. Design. Designs that work, push the envelope, and challenge. And most importantly designs customers will enjoy for many years to come.

The Score Card

The scoring below is based on each piece of equipment doing the duty it is designed for. The numbers are weighed heavily with respect to the individual cost of each unit, thus giving a rating roughly equal to:

Performance × Price Factor/Value = Rating

Audioholics.com note: The ratings indicated below are based on subjective listening and objective testing of the product in question. The rating scale is based on performance/value ratio. If you notice better performing products in future reviews that have lower numbers in certain areas, be aware that the value factor is most likely the culprit. Other Audioholics reviewers may rate products solely based on performance, and each reviewer has his/her own system for ratings.

Audioholics Rating Scale

• — Excellent
• — Very Good
• — Good
• — Fair
• — Poor

Metric	Rating
Build Quality
Ergonomics & Usability
Ease of Setup/Programming/Integration
Features
Performance
Value