(Part 2) Best audio-video shelving products according to redditors

Congrats on the setup!

I recommend getting some speaker stands for better sound and an audio stand to get everything away from the window, air conditioner, radiator and to avoid stacking.

Speaker stands:

• Monolith by Monoprice
  
• Audio Advisor where most are also available at Amazon.
  
  Audio Rack/Stand:
  
  
• Pangea Audio Vulcan TT Turntable Stand with Vinyl Record Storage or double storage with Pangea Audio Vulcan Turntable Stand with Mega Vinyl Record Storage
  
• Crosley Soho
  
• DIY Flexy Rack, Ideas on Pinterst • The TNT FleXy Table - TNT-Audio • The Official Flexy Rack Thread • Easy Flexy Rack • flex-rack-project • I made this modular stereo rack ("flexi-rack")
  
• Salamander Archetype 3.0 Three Shelf Audio Rack
  
• 4 Tier, FITUEYES, Monolith, BL Series Audio Rack, Pangea
  
  Then speaker Positioning:
  
  
• How to position your speakers for great sound
  
• Speaker Placement for Stereo Music Listening

I did not, got this component shelf for it. Really easy to install, just had to prop it up a bit/level it out to fit my wall correctly. I painted my wall and projected onto it. http://www.amazon.com/Designer-Habitat-Floating-Strengthened-Accessories/dp/B0081G30CU/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1412867372&sr=8-15&keywords=component+shelf

Maybe you can look up a small independent shelving unit that can sit on the floor so they're not stacked on top of each other but still is compact.

On a very quick search there is the following. They may not work for you specifically but could give you an idea...

https://www.amazon.com/Atlantic-Gaming-Not-Machine-Specific-630490063057006304300/dp/B003GB15EK

Or
https://www.amazon.com/Seville-Classics-Expandable-Kitchen-Counter/dp/B002ZNJHZE

Will a sound bar be an improvement over TV speakers? Yes, due to the speaker actually facing you and having a subwoofer even if it's a dinky one. My suggestion is don't get the sound bar and instead either find a place for the receiver or use something like this with 2 shelves one for the receiver and one for the center that you will get later when you have more funds. I'd go with 2.0 initially with 3.1 or 5.1 down the road. Find some lists on here for speaker recommendations and try to listen to them before you buy. A 2.0 of quality will sound better than a 5.0 for the same price. My suggestion is get either the Denon s540bt or the x1400/1500h for $150/280/300 depending on your end goals with the s730/740h being good too but you might as well invest a bit more to get to the high end stuff. Link of where to buy them refurbished.

This article should explain the limitations of HDMI arc such as no atmos.

Yeah, I don't really like the clutter on top of the kallax. My plan is to actually go for a Salamander Synergy cabinet but as were looking at buying a house in the near term we're hesitant on big furniture purchases before knowing what the style and color scheme of a room will be.

VonHaus floating shelves , the stands arent actually holding the TV's they are screwed to the wall directly.

The TV's are mounted with these

Put the speaker on one of these and then buy the piece of furniture you like rather than worrying about making sure the furniture is high enough for the speaker.

Salamander makes good and pretty cheap racks:
http://www.amazon.com/Salamander-Archetype-Five-Shelf-Audio-Black/dp/B004JO2PDI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1381326148&sr=8-2&keywords=salamander+rack

They also have shorter models.