Price Paid:  $200.00 from 2 @ TWEETER / 1 MAIL ORDER

Summary:
O.K. WORKING ON A SECOND AUDIO/VIDEO SET-UP FOR THE MASTER BEDROOM I NEEDED A STAND THAT WOULD HOLD A CD PLAYER, 2CH AMP, DVD, & A TV. THE BELL'O AVS-686 FIT THE BILL FOR NOW, SINCE IT WOULD HOLD MY 20" MONITOR. HOWEVER SINCE THIS MAY BE UPGRADED TO 32-34" THE AVS-707 WAS A BETTER CHOICE.

NEVER HAVING SEEN A AVS-707 ANYWHERE OTHER THAN A CATALOG. I ORDERED ONE FROM THE GUYS @ TWEETER. IT CAME IN BOX IN GREAT SHAPE YET WHEN OPENED THE SHELVES WHERE ALL DENTED, PAINT CHIPPED EVERYWHERE. UNIT NUMBER 2 WAS ORDERED, SAME THING! NOT TWEETERS FAULT, BELL'O THROWS 55LBS. OF STEEL PARTS IN A BOX WITH THE SMALLEST GAUGE BUBBLE WRAP I HAVE EVER SEEN & A FEW PLASTIC BAGS. NO STYROFOAM, OR CARDBOARD SUPPORTS , ANYTHING TO KEEP THINGS FROM CLASHING AGAINST ONE ANOTHER IN TRANSIT.

SO GUESS WHAT I GOT FOR XMAS, A 3RD AVS-707 THIS TIME ORDERED FROM A AUDIO DEALER ON THE WEB SO I'M TOLD.

I FINALLY TODAY GET THE DESIRE TO ASSEMBLE IT. I OPEN THE BOX. GUESS WHAT ONLY TWO DENTED SHELVES. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS, LOCATE ALL PARTS.

ITALIAN DESIGN, BULL@#$& THEY MUST BE FROM THE PART OF ITALY THAT BORDERS POLAND. THE WORKERS MUST DRINK ON THE JOB. YOU'LL NEED TO DRINK TO ASSEMBLE IT. NOTHING LINES UP, YOU HAVE TO BEND IT TOGETHER AS YOU DO THIS ALL THE PAINT ON THE WELDED JOINTS CHIPS OFF.

HONESTLY, I AM VERY MECHANICALLY INCLINED, THERE ISN'T MUCH I CAN'T DO. I HAVE ASSEMBLED MANY PREFAB PIECES OF FURNITURE, NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. THE SCREWS THEY GIVE YOU TO ATTACH THE TOP TV SHELF ARE TOO SHORT. THE JUST DO NOT BITE THE THREADS OF THE THREADED BUSHINGS. AS I BENDED TO ALIGN THE HOLES IN BOTH JOINING MEMBERS ONE SCREW JUMPED ALMOST TOOK MY EYE OUT. (WEAR SAFETY GLASSES, OR WINE GLASSES LIKE BELLO' EMPLOYEES)THAT BUSHING WAS STRIPED HAD TO RE-TAP THE TREADS.

O.K. IT'S ALL TOGETHER 45MINUTES TO AN HOUR LATER. IT'S ONLY 14 SCREWS, WHICH SHOLD HAVE TAKEN 10-15 MINUTES. IT IS SORTA, KINDA, SOMEWHAT CROOKEDLY SOLID ONCE ALL TOGETHER, BUT NOT SQUARE, OR PLUMB. THEY ALWAYS SHOW THESE UNITS FROM A DISTANCE IN THE CATALOG, NOW I KNOW WHY.

ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT AFTER 2 YEARS OF LOOKING AT THE AVS-656, THEN FINALLY GOING FOR THE BIGGER DESIGN STAND OF THE TWO. I AM REALLY VERY DISAPPOINTED, & CAN HIGHLY "NOT" RECOMMEND BELLO' TO EVEN MY WORST ENEMY. THE ONLY 32" TV THIS UNIT WILL SUPPORT IS ONE OF THOSE CARDBOARD, PLASTIC HOLLOW ONES SEEN AT FURNITURE STORES.

I'M GONNA CALL THE TOMMORROW GIVE THEM A PIECE OF MY MIND,
HOWEVER I THINK I LOST MOST OF IT ALREADY ASSEMBLING THIS UNIT. SEE IF THEY CAN SEND ME A 55 GALLON DRUM OF TOUCH-UP PAINT.

FIRST GUEST INTO MY HOUSE WHO STATES THEY LIKE IT GETS TO TAKE IT HOME!

Strengths:
LOOKS GREAT IN THE CATALOG

Weaknesses:
BELL'O DESIGNERS, BELL'O QUALITY CONTROLL, BELL'O PACKAGING, BELL'O ................ETC.,ETC,.........

Similar Products Used:
$9.99 IKEA TV STAND, TARGET,WALMART,K-MART $19.99 TV STANDS