Audiovisual support: It is surprising how TV-makers seem to deem sound- reproduction a secondary concern behind dressing up the features — much like makers of portable music players.

In the case of televisions, the audio shortfalls have created a secondary market for sound systems to go with your flat-screen wonders. Equally, crafting furniture to suit expensive high-definition wonders is rather neglected.

Yamaha, known for its audio equipment, has taken a sound approach to the question of TV furniture with its just-released TV stand, the Polyphony YRS-1000.