If you’ve ever flipped through a home decoration magazine, it’s more than likely that you stumbled across a BDI advertisement. There are few companies in the home theater space that have consistently delivered such high-end pieces of furniture for your home stereo or home theater system. The BDI Octave is another example of their high level of craftsmanship and forward thinking products.
The company makes a range of contemporary media consoles that not only look great, but also offer functionality for A/V enthusiasts. Some of those features include a hidden wheels for easy positioning, room for a sound bar, and acoustically transparent doors that not only let sound through, but remote signals in.
The BDI Octave Media Cabinet checks all of these boxes and few more you didn’t think you needed. For starters the cabinet is built to the standards of a luxury piece of furniture. It comes nearly fully assembled. Only the wheels/base need to be screwed in. It is well ventilated, which prevents electronics from overheating. Adjustable shelving makes it easy organize equipment, but it’s the smartly placed holes between sections that not only conceal wiring but make it easier to connect components.
The BDI Octave comes in two sizes and two finishes. There’s a four-door cabinet (model 8379) for TVs up to 85-inches and a three-door console (model 8377) for TVs up to 70-inches. Both come in either drift oak (light wood) or toasted walnut (dark wood) with the same gray perforated metal doors.
If your goal is to conceal a sound bar, the Octave 4-door console could be the one for you. There is room for a sound bar up to 37.75 inches wide. Top rated soundbars such as the Samsung HW-A450 ($169 at Amazon), Yamaha YAS-209 ($299 at Amazon) or Sonos Beam ($399) fit just fine.
However, you probably want to avoid a Dolby Atmos soundbar with upward firing speakers, because those directional sounds will get trapped inside the cabinet.
Therefore soundbar placement atop the cabinet is your best bet if considering top-of-the-line Dolby Atmos soundbars, such as the Sonos Arc ($799), Vizio Elevate ($959 at Amazon) or Samsung HW-Q950T ($1499 at Amazon).
Ultimately your budget and personal style will determine if BDI Octave can have a place in your home.
With a $2,529 price tag, there are certainly less expensive media consoles on the market from other brands, but none that match the fit and finish BDI offers. Although, the BDI Sector 7527 has a similar gray facade, which could appeal to many for almost half the price.
Price and Availability
- BDI Octave 8379GFL Media Cabinet (Four Doors) – $2,529 at Amazon
- BDI Octave 8377GFL Media Cabinet (Three Doors) – $2,144 at Amazon
Tip: Pay the extra $79 for expert installation unless you’re comfortable flipping a 185 lbs cabinet around.
Specifications
| Octave 8379 | Octave 8377 | |
| MSRP | $2,529 | $2,144 |
| Style | Four Doors | Three Doors |
| Finishes | Toasted Walnut Drift Oak | Toasted Walnut Drift Oak |
| Recommended TV Size | Up to 85-inches | Up to 70-inches |
| Center compartment (width) | 37.75 in | 44 in (across all compartments) |
| Height | 29.5 in | 29.5 in |
| Width | 81 in | 61.25 in |
| Depth | 20 in | 20 in |
| Weight | 185 lbs | 152 lbs |
| Adjustable shelf capacity | 50 lbs | 50 lbs |
| Bottom shelf capacity | 100 lbs | 100 lbs |
| Top shelf capacity | 150 lbs | 150 lbs |
