The Sonorous Studio STA161I-WHT-BLK is an audio-video furniture designed by the Turkish brand Sonorous, present on the European market since 2004. It consists of a white structure and a black tinted glass door. This model offers storage spaces adapted to multimedia equipment and can integrate into different types of interiors.
The Studio STA161I-WHT-BLK is manufactured by Sonorous from MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) panels. This material is used for its dimensional stability and resistance to deformation. The panels are covered with a white matte melamine coating, designed to limit scratches, facilitate maintenance and ensure good durability. The matte finish reduces reflections and gives the furniture a sober appearance.
The upper part of the furniture features a white tempered glass plate, a material that has undergone specific heat treatment giving it mechanical resistance up to five times greater than ordinary glass. This surface can support up to 50 kg, largely sufficient to accommodate modern televisions from 40 to 65 inches. The tempering process also ensures increased safety: in case of accidental breakage, the glass fragments into small non-cutting pieces.
The drop-down door constitutes the distinctive element of the “I” model in the Studio range. Unlike the “T” versions equipped with acoustic textile coating or the “F” versions with melamine finish, the “I” model integrates a black tinted glass door. This specific tint is not just aesthetic: it allows infrared signals to pass through while elegantly concealing the equipment stored inside. This selective transparency to infrared waves results from a precise balance between glass thickness and tint intensity.
The Studio STA161I-WHT-BLK is equipped with casters integrated into a 2 cm plinth. These, not visible during normal use, allow moving the furniture which weighs 63 kg. This device facilitates access to rear connections for equipment installation or maintenance and limits the risk of floor damage.
The drop-down door opening system deserves particular attention. Sonorous has opted for a “push-to-open” mechanism that eliminates the need for visible handles, thus preserving the purity of the furniture’s lines. A simple pressure on the door triggers its controlled opening, thanks to high-quality hinges guaranteeing smooth and silent movement even after thousands of usage cycles.
The possibility of fixing the furniture to the wall constitutes an additional safety option, particularly relevant in homes with young children or in seismic zones. The supplied mounting system allows stable wall installation while maintaining access to the casters for occasional movements.
The Studio STA161I-WHT-BLK has six storage compartments intended for multimedia equipment such as game consoles, Blu-ray players, decoders, amplifiers or streaming boxes. The interior shelves are height-adjustable, allowing space adaptation according to device dimensions.
Cable management, often neglected in consumer furniture, receives particular attention here. The interior partitions are strategically perforated to allow orderly cable passage between different compartments. The furniture’s rear, largely open, ensures optimal natural ventilation while facilitating cable routing to wall outlets. This passive air circulation prevents electronic equipment overheating, thus extending their lifespan.
The integrated infrared repeater system deserves to be detailed. This device captures signals from your remote controls and retransmits them to devices stored behind the closed door. Concretely, this means you can control up to eight different devices without ever needing to open the furniture, thus preserving the clean aesthetics of your installation. It should be noted, however, that certain decoders, notably those from CANALSAT/C+, may require the use of a specific infrared repeater like the CONNECT RESEARCH CIRB510.
The STA161I-WHT-BLK model is distinguished by the inclusion of an STA5060 bracket, an accessory usually sold separately on other models. This support column, available in black finish matching the furniture door, radically transforms the ergonomics of your television installation.
Compatible with VESA standards from 200x200 mm to 600x500 mm, the bracket can accommodate virtually all televisions on the market weighing up to 40 kg. Its 45-degree rotation capacity allows orienting the screen according to the desired viewing angle, a functionality particularly appreciated in open living spaces where viewers can be distributed over a wide arc.
Installing the bracket on the furniture’s upper shelf creates free space between the screen and the glass surface. This space can accommodate a soundbar or a center speaker, a crucial element for home theater configurations. The additional height offered by the bracket also improves viewing ergonomics, particularly when the furniture is positioned relatively low.
Technically, the shelf surface (165 cm width) could accommodate larger screens, but Sonorous recommends a maximum size of 65 inches to guarantee optimal stability. Beyond that, the overall center of gravity could be compromised, particularly if the bracket is used. For 70-inch screens or larger, it would be preferable to consider models from the larger Studio range.
The integrated system works with the vast majority of standard infrared remote controls. However, certain proprietary decoders, notably those from CANALSAT/C+, use specific protocols that may require a dedicated repeater. Bluetooth or radio frequency remote controls do not need the repeater since they naturally pass through obstacles.
The concealed casters are designed to largely support the furniture weight (63 kg) plus the maximum recommended load (100 kg total). Their design guarantees balanced weight distribution. However, they are primarily intended for occasional movements on flat and hard surfaces, not for daily mobility.
These three references correspond to finish variants of the drop-down door. The “I” model (like this STA161I-WHT-BLK) has a tinted glass door allowing infrared passage. The “T” model integrates a door with acoustic textile coating, ideal for home theater installations where acoustic absorption is priority. The “F” model presents an MDF door with melamine finish, offering total concealment.
The bracket is designed to be removable. Its mounting system allows removal if you wish to return to a configuration where the television rests directly on the upper shelf. This flexibility allows adapting the furniture to different usage scenarios or when changing televisions.
With a total depth of 45 cm and considering the space needed for air circulation and cable passage at the rear, devices can measure up to approximately 40 cm deep. This dimension comfortably accommodates most current home theater amplifiers and game consoles, including the most voluminous models.
David
Superb product, I'm still using it currently with a 65" TV and several Hi-Fi & Video components inside, so it's full, no issues, robust and good quality.
Comment from December 20, 2022 — Experience from December 17, 2018
Fabrice
Super product, extremely practical, very aesthetic!!!
Comment from June 20, 2018 — Experience from February 10, 2017
