LCD flat panel TVs have been flying off the shelves in recent months. If you have been one of the lucky ones to have purchased a new TV or if you plan on purchasing a new flat panel in the near future, you are no doubt considering mounting your flat screen on the wall. A properly mounted flat screen TV will not only provide optimum viewing for your new TV, but will also help spruce up the décor of your room.
When considering an LCD TV wall mount take these 5 things into consideration.
1. Size of TV - When purchasing a wall mount, one of the first things you will see is that there are different wall mounts for different size TVs. There is a huge difference in size and weight in a 22 inch LCD compared to a 50 inch model. Mounting hardware will provide more support for bigger TVs such as connecting them to multiple studs instead of just one. The brackets for fastening to the TV will also obviously differ from a large TV to a small one.
2. Type of wall - Flat panels can be mounted on various types of wall. The most common type of wall is one with wood studding. You will need a stud finder in order to locate the center of the studs which you will mount your TV to. Another common mounting option is to mount the TV to a solid concrete wall or a cinder block wall. In order to install on these walls you will need to use concrete anchors for a secure connection. Most wall mounts will include the proper fastening hardware.
3. Type of LCD TV wall mount - There are many types of wall mounts to choose from.
o A fixed wall mount does not have the bells and whistles of the other types. Once your TV is mounted you will not be able to move it at all so take extra care in making sure the TV is exactly where you want it to go.
o A tilting mount provides some extra flexibility by allowing you to tilt the TV up or down to ensure a proper viewing angle. Generally a tilting mount will rotate up about 5 degrees and down about 15 degrees. This is a good choice for many large screen flat panels often times found in a home theater or family room.
o Another option is an arm mount. These are more common for smaller LCDs as opposed to big screens. These will allow your TV to be flat against the wall or will allow them to swing out a foot or more from the wall in order to view it from a variety of locations and angles. Many arm mounts will also allow the TV to swivel or tilt as well and are sometimes referred to as articulating arm mounts.
o For the ultimate in wall mounts you can consider a motorized wall mount. They allow virtual silent operation allowing you to rotate the TV for an optimum viewing angle with the touch of a remote button. These can certainly provide a "wow" factor for your home theater.
4. Cable management - You will want to make sure you plan on how your TV will be connected to the rest of your home theater components. Some people simply install molding in order to hide the wires, while most people will install a wall plate that allows the connectors to be run through the wall to ensure a clean clutter free look. Be aware of the proper electrical code and consult an electrician if necessary. Power cords should not be run through the walls and most times a receptacle will be installed behind the TV in order to provide power to the TV. HDMI cables have simplified things by allowing both audio and HD video signals through one cable, but make sure to also consider adding component and composite connections as well since it is much easier to do it now rather then adding them later. Many LCD TV wall mounts will have cable management options built in to them for added convenience.
5. Where to mount your LCD flat panel - Finally you will need to figure out where to mount your TV. The location will be dependent upon your room environment as some people choose to mount above things in the room such as a fireplace. It is generally agreed that for an optimal viewing experience you should mount the center of the TV slightly above eye level of your viewing position. Also keep in mind to leave enough room for your center speaker and front speakers of your sound system.
A clean install of a high quality LCD wall mount will be a welcome addition to your home and a great way to showcase that new LCD flat panel.
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