Should we opt for wall mounted TV?

TheCyclingProgrammer

Please don't go down the trunking route. You have an ideal opportunity to conceal your cables and this will always look best. Trunking looks rubbish, no matter what you do to try and hide it. An OK compromise option if you're already decorated and can't be bothered with the time, hassle and expense of chasing walls but in your situation you'd be mad not to do it properly.

If you can spare a few inches you could build a false stud wall in front of the masonry wall, run all the conduit and cabling you need before plasterboarding (don't forget to put some extra stud work in to attach your TV bracket and speakers/soundbar) and have some access panels or brush panels so you can pull new cable through if necessary. You could consider hardwiring the TV into a fused spur too. Get the TV at the right height, a nice unit underneath for your equipment (or hidden away) and it will look great.

When renovating our place we had a false chimney built around the real one with a recess left for the TV bracket (just the bracket is recessed and fixed to the real chimney which allows the TV to go right up to the wall but you could recess the whole TV if you prefer that look), and then the cables are routed through the false chimney, out a hole in the side and all of the AV gear is in a built in alcove cupboard.

I also went the whole hog and ran speaker and subwoofer cable under the floor, chased out conduit for the rear and front speakers and installed speaker terminal wall plates, a subwoofer outlet and a 5.1 connection terminal that it all routes back to. I just connect my amp to this with a few fly leads. But we were having the room plastered so I was allowed to make a mess.

I recommend the AVForums home cinema building forum for more inspiration.

blackshirtuk

If you do end up going for a wall mount, you might consider putting speakers in the ceiling for your rear 5.1 speakers very neat! Now is the time to plan it before the room is built.

twohooter_2

Thanks guys - some really helpful information coming through for which am very grateful. I am not very techy minded so am trying to get my head around what is possible. Inset speakers in the ceiling sound like a great idea and I will definitely research this. I am afraid I could not live with visible trunking no matter how well done - yes, I am very fussy! Also, if I plan correctly now, I shouldn't have any need for it as the room hasn't been built yet (work starts on Monday) so I am in the fortunate position of starting from scratch although this of course does means lots of research, learning and decisions!!!


My two main concerns are 1) clean finish with no cables /wall sockets showing and 2) comfortable positioning of TV. My next battle will be trying to get a media unit that is high enough to cover the power points as I don't ant o see these above the top of the unit - most media units are vey low.


Thanks again to everyone who has replied.

robatwork

Put in a spare HDMI cable or two for future proofing (extra satellite boxes, Playstation 6 etc). HDMI is unlikely to go outdated in the next few years.

Bear in mind you will also be watching the TV slumped or lying on your sofa - don't put it too high. As others have said, get a tilting mount too.

SplanK

robatwork wrote: »

HDMI is unlikely to go outdated in the next few years.

HDMI goes through different version revisions. IE the original HDMI cables when they first came out will not support 3D video. IT would be a waste of money to put in cables now for something you may get in a couple of years. IE you have 4k TV, or even 8k or what ever they dream up next which will need newer HDMI cables. In fact, I think HDMI could be replaced...


IF you are going to do it, best just to make it as easy as possible to replace cables rather than having them fixed.

andyhop

Power points at high level with a 50x25mm duct would be more than sufficient . Get some data cables in to

BG have a good range of brush plates and modules to finish

brightontraveller

andyhop wrote: »

Power points at high level with a 50x25mm duct would be more than sufficient . Get some data cables in to

BG have a good range of brush plates and modules to finish

Data and power without segregation or correct distancing apart is a no no :rotfl:

andyhop

Why would you run twin and earth off a ring main in a encased conduit with AV ?

In the years I'm been renovating property to the UK public all power chases are set into the plaster, audio and data cabling set into conduit or tube only crossing power cables at 90 degrees where it must meet

Wind your neck in :beer:

brightontraveller

andyhop wrote: »

Power points at high level with a 50x25mm duct would be more than sufficient . Get some data cables in to

BG have a good range of brush plates and modules to finish

In case you,ve forgotten what you posted and again learn the regs

andyhop wrote: »

Why would you run twin and earth off a ring main in a encased conduit with AV ?

In the years I'm been renovating property to the UK public all power chases are set into the plaster, audio and data cabling set into conduit or tube only crossing power cables at 90 degrees where it must meet

Wind your neck in :beer:

You are the only person that has mentioned AV encased etc ????? There are also regs for cables concealed etc Amendment Number 3 to BS7671: Maybe you could ask an electrician to lend you there regs book ?

Waterlily24

twohooter wrote: »

Thank you all for the helpful replies. We have a blank canvas as the room is yet to be built so are keen to make the right decision and ensure the builder installs correct in wall trunking etc. should we opt for the wall mounted option.


However, having thought about it all day, we are quickly coming to the conclusion that having the TV freestanding on a media unit would be the safer (albeit not the most stylish) option. We will be viewing it from a sofa about 4m away (facing straight on) so if it was to be wall mounted low enough to be comfortable, it would need to be only slightly higher than the media unit so may look odd and create problems for the future should our setup change.

We decided to go for the free standing unit too. We were in the same position a new room being built on. We were going to have it on the wall first but thought about it and decided not to.


I'm glad we did it that way as it's at eye level and I think it looks better than being stuck on the wall.