Positioning LCD TV's

Legacy_user

This question is more a "how to avoid wasting money" question.

My OH has decided he wants a 42 or 46 inch HD LCD TV and he wants to mount it on the wall above the fireplace. Now I'm not against the idea but is above the fireplace a suitable position for the TV because if it isn't we don't really have enough room in the usual corner for such a big screen.

Our fire is a gas fire which is lit usually only a handful of times throughout the year because at the moment we don't use the room very much. OH's plan though is to use the room more often if we get the TV so following on from that the fire will be used more often too.

Avoriaz

I would advise against that on the basis that watching TV should be a relaxing experience.

I would find looking upwards at a screen mounted on the wall tiring for more than a few minutes.

Try staring at the space for a while and see what you think.

I think TVs, regardless of type, are best positioned at eye level or lower when you are sitting down. In other words just a few feet off the floor.

This is my opinion, others may disagree.:D

basill

I was going to say that, they look great when you walk into the room but if you cannot sit far enough away stiff necks may be a problem, also positioning a centre speaker and hiding the inevitable mass of cables might be a problem.


B

fatnbald

Ask him where all the wiring will be routed - people forget there is a wiring loom to accommodate as well.

I would agree with the previous post abou the height, keep it at eye level.

Mounting it above a working fire is bringing in other heat issues for the TV which would probably be best avoided. The ambient above a fire is pretty high and prob not good for the set.

irnbru_2

Pam17 wrote:

My OH has decided he wants a 42 or 46 inch HD LCD TV and he wants to mount it on the wall above the fireplace. Now I'm not against the idea but is above the fireplace a suitable position for the TV because if it isn't we don't really have enough room in the usual corner for such a big screen.

Sounds like your OH wants a big TV and room to himself

Get a piece of cardboard the size of the TV and stick it to the wall. Put some chairs in the room and see if it's comfortable viewing.

Have a look at the AVForums DIY forum where plenty of people place a flatscreen above the normal eyeline (i.e. where a CRT display would usually sit). He can learn a lot about hiding the associated cabling from that forum.

If you think the corner would be best suited then you can get (expensive) brackets which swing out and tilt that would rest the TV against the largest of the corner walls.

smk77

Avoriaz wrote:

I would advise against that on the basis that watching TV should be a relaxing experience.

I would find looking upwards at a screen mounted on the wall tiring for more than a few minutes.

Try staring at the space for a while and see what you think.

I think TVs, regardless of type, are best positioned at eye level or lower when you are sitting down. In other words just a few feet off the floor.

This is my opinion, others may disagree.:D

I agree with this. It's not a natural position for the head. If you go to the cinema where do you sit? From my experience most people head towards the middle or back for the best view. When I am forced to sit somewhere where I must look up I get a sore neck.

rgs1

Be bettter getting a nice new fireplace and sticking your tv in the corner beside it

david69_2

Do what I'm going to do , remove the fire place and gas fire , put the tv in its place at a nice height and fit a bigger radiator.