Upgrade your entertainment space
I have been writing about video games for the better part of my life and this is a first. I was recently given an opportunity to review a gaming-themed entertainment center. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. I recently downgraded my office area from an 85-inch TV to a more manageable 55-inch. Obviously, the stand for the 85-inch was taking up a massive amount of space so getting rid of it was much appreciated. In comes the NTENSE Glitch Gaming TV stand. So, the question is what makes this entertainment center gaming-focused, and how does it handle things like wire management and space?
Upon arrival of the box the first thing I noticed was how heavy it was. This was a good sign because it meant that the materials would be sturdy. The last thing anyone wants is a flimsy piece of furniture to hold their expensive TV and game consoles. I cracked open the box and quickly realized something was amiss.
MSRP: $249.99
Price I’d Pay: $249.99
The instructions were nowhere to be found. Thankfully I was able to obtain them online and got started. Now I am not the sharpest tool in the shed sometimes so I decided I could build this thing on my own. I recommend if anyone picks this up to get help from at least one other person. There is a lot to keep track of and some of the pieces are relatively heavy. I was able to get it done alone, but I suffered for a day because of it. Putting it together is pretty straightforward and I got through the process without much issue. The one thing I hated, and this is true of all furniture of this kind, are side-locking screws. These are the absolute worst. I always get one or two to go in a little crooked, making piecing the top and bottom together a little off.
Once I had it together it was time to get down to the most important part, putting everything into place. The stand will hold up to a 60-inch TV, which is perfect as I am currently rocking the 55-inch LG CX for my gaming needs. The TV fits almost perfectly with just a few inches on each side. Since the TV is so flat though I had plenty of space in front for my soundbar. I had originally had my PlayStation 5 and Series X on either side of the TV on my old stand, but that is certainly no longer an option with this set.
The shelves underneath are made of tempered glass and sit on an aluminum bar for support. The one thing to note about this entertainment center is that it is quite short off the ground. It comes in at just under 18 inches off the ground, which means the shelves have very little room between them. This means that consoles will not fit vertically underneath it. Instead, I had to set my Series X and PlayStation 5 on their sides, so if that is a big deal to you, this set might not be the answer. Of course, if you are rocking a smaller TV you could easily have room for them on top.
One of the features of this stand is the LED lighting that is featured on the shelves. Installing this was a breeze as it runs across the top of the inside and has a nice channel that leads out the back. This uses a USB power that I plugged directly into the TV, so it comes on and off with the set. There is also a remote with an array of colors and features that can be used. It actually works a lot better than I expected. It really creates a solid amount of light that looks great when watching in a dark room. I paired the color to my LED light in my office for a great ambience when watching movies or playing games. It also makes the PS5 look awesome inside the shelf, not gonna lie.
Cable management is always a concern with setting up a new entertainment center. One of the things I love about this set is that the back is a more solid piece that I actually used screws to put in instead of the normal nails. I know that I have had my fair share of the cheap plywood most centers use and this one is a huge improvement. Each shelf has a hole in the back that is easy to access once I had the unit in place. I spent far less time fishing cables down behind it than my previous one.
Not gonna lie, this thing is sleek and makes everything look great.
Another cool feature is the front sliding door which is mostly for aesthetic purposes. I keep the PS5 and some controllers on one side, with the Switch and my external hard drives on the other. I can slide the door over to block out cable management underneath and give a crisp clean look below. It also has a set of holes that shine through the LED light for a cool effect. It just looks slick all around. I also recommend the white if possible as it shows less dust over time and really accents the new consoles, especially the PS5.
Outside of the vertical deficiencies for the new consoles with a 50+ inch TV this is by far the best gaming entertainment center I have used. It just looks slick when paired with all my expensive toys. I love how sturdy it feels, and the LED lights are really a nice touch. The front sliding door just rounds out the package making this a grand addition to my home office. I know it sounds silly, but having a nice looking setup makes playing games and watching movies all the more enjoyable for me. I would recommend this stand for anyone looking to upgrade their setup with a small footprint and a sleek design. It has definitely improved my home office ten-fold.
Review unit provided by publisher.
