LCD TV Installation (2): A Guide to LCD TV Mounts

A Guide to LCD TV Installation (2)
LCD TV Mounts

The many different types of LCD TV mounts - from LCD TV wall mounts to pedestal stands - open a whole new world of mounting possibilities otherwise impossible with traditional bulkier TV sets.

In this second part of our LCD TV installation guide, we look at the various LCD mounts available for the job, together with their pros, cons and application.

Choosing the right LCD TV Mount for the Job

Almost all LCD TVs come with a tabletop stand as a standard accessory. This in itself should do a fine job as long as you happen to have a suitable table or cabinet of the appropriate height.

Yet this is just one of the many mounting options available for flat-panel televisions.

The reality is that these less than 4-inch deep display panels have given rise to a vast range of alternative LCD mounts. These range from the modern-looking pedestal stand complete with shelf supports to take AV gear, to wall-type tilting and articulated swivel-arm LCD TV mounts, and TV ceiling mounts.

Important: Irrespective of the mounting option you choose, ensure that the LCD TV mount you opt for comes with a VESA compliant mounting hole pattern.

This is the standard measurement for flat-panel TV mounts. Universal stands designed to fit various sizes normally come with multiple hole patters to fit the different screen sizes.

The VESA mounting standard includes the VESA 50, 75, and 100, while larger models may use the VESA 200.

The number behind the VESA standard indicates the mounting hole pattern in millimeters. For example, the VESA 100 will have four holes placed at the corners of a 100mm by 100mm square.

The exception is the VESA 200, which comes either in VESA 200x100mm, or VESA 200x200mm hole pattern.

So let us look at each of these mounting options...

Pedestal Stands

Samsung floor stand for 42-inch plasma TV sets

Samsung FS420 Floor Stand

Floor space is not an issue? Then a possible option is the 'pedestal' type floor stand. It provides that ultra modern look that better fits flat-panel TVs than the standard 'tabletop stand/cabinet' combination.

This type of LCD TV mount do provide an easy mounting option for flat-panel televisions. It is the way to go especially if you have limited DIY skills since you do not need to drill any holes in walls

Pedestal type LCD TV mounts would normally enable you to hide all interconnecting cables inside the supporting column. This mounting option is also a great straightforward option for spaces without small children.

Mounting an LCD TV using a pedestal-type floor stand is no different from installing an ordinary TV. Just follow the instructions to assemble the various parts together using the provided Allen-key and/or spanner, and adjust the height of the supporting column and equipment shelves - if included, as necessary.

You then need an extra pair of helping hands to lift and place the LCD HDTV on the stand. All that remains is to connect the inputs and outputs by following the installation instructions that come with the flat-panel LCD TV and AV gear.

SANUS SYSTEMS PFFP Universal Flat Panel TV Stand

There are various pedestal stands to choose from. A high quality yet affordable floor stand is the SANUS SYSTEMS PFFP Universal Flat Panel TV Stand.

This SANUS LCD TV floor stand is presently selling at amazon for around $250. It is not among the cheapest mounts available online, but it represents good value for money and comes in an attractive silver finish.

The whole package includes the SANUS VMPL50S LCD TV mount - designed to accommodate flat-panel displays up to 50 inch, and a glass shelve to support an HDTV set-top box, a DVD, etc. Additional equipment shelves are available if required.

An upgraded version of the PFFP LCD TV mount is also available - the SANUS PFFP2B Universal plasma/LCD TV floor stand. It has the same metal structure as the PFFP except that it comes with two equipment shelves as standard. The PFFP2B is available in either matt black or silver finish.

LCD TV Wall Mounts

LCD TV mounts designed to hang your display on a wall are available in a large variety of models and come from many different brands. LCD wall mounts vary from the standard fixed wall mount to tilting mounts and articulated swivel-arm mounts.

The use of a tilting wall mount is ideal for hanging your LCD HDTV above eye level - say, if you are going to watch TV while laying in bed. Articulated swivel-arm mounts lets you swing your flat-panel TV either side for better viewing from different angles.

All LCD wall mounts consist of two main parts, a back plate that mounts onto the wall, and a front plate with the VESA mounting hole pattern that is screwed onto the back panel of your LCD television. What happens in between these two plates determines whether the wall mount is fixed, tilting, etc.

Irrespective of the model and brand, the mounting process for an LCD TV mount is practically always the same. You just screw the back plate onto the wall, attach the front plate to your LCD TV, and then lower the whole LCD TV/front plate assembly in place into the rest of the wall mount assembly. You would need the help of an extra pair of hands here. Models vary, so make sure you follow the installation guides that come with both your mount and LCD TV.

Mustang MV-STAT3 LCD Wall Mount for 36" to 60" TVs

Fixed LCD Wall Mounts: These wall mounts take up the least amount of space - in that they add no more than two inches to your flat-panel television set depth. The Mustang MV-STAT3 fixed-type LCD TV wall mount displayed on the right adds just 1.625" to the overall depth of your flat-panel TV.

These type of wall mounts are also the cheapest wall mounts you can buy; the same well-built MV-STAT3 is presently selling online for approximately $80.

There is even more in favor to the standard fixed-type LCD TV wall mount. This is also the easiest to install yourself; if you have ever hung a bathroom cabinet, you can handle the job, but...

Unless you have some sort of restriction with the additional increase in depth resulting from the use of adjustable wall mounts, try to avoid using fixed LCD TV mounts. True that these are the easiest to install, but once you lower your LCD TV in place, it would be difficult if not impossible to manage the inputs at the back of your television. This is important as not all LCD HDTVs come with conveniently placed inputs. In the worst case, you may have to remove the LCD TV from the wall bracket each time you need to pass a new cable.

ST660S Universal Tilting Wall Mount for 32-63IN Flat Panel Televisions

Tilting and Articulated-Arm Wall Mounts: Tilting and swiveling wall mounts add a bit more depth to the overall mount than fixed LCD TV wall mounts. The tilting wall mount shown on the right is approximately 3-inches in depth as against the less than 2-inches for a standard fixed-type wall mount.

But then these mounts leave your interconnecting options open, as they will enable you to add more cables to support new gear later without having to remove the LCD display panel from the supporting brackets.

Tilting wall mounts provide for a change in the vertical angle of view (typically �15 degrees) of the television depending on the viewer position. These LCD wall mounts are best suited where the ideal mounting height is not feasible.

A swiveling bracket allows also for a change in the horizontal viewing angle. This means tilting and swiveling/articulated arm LCD TV mounts have a further advantage. Through the proper adjustment of the LCD panel, it is possible to improve the viewing experience while minimizing, or even eliminate glare problems.

Opting for a wall mount that allows for vertical and/or horizontal movement is the best way to go if the additional increase in overall depth is not a problem. Price wise, the additional expense for a tilting LCD TV mount with respect to a standard 'fixed' type wall mount is minimal, yet the convenience gained is significant.

Sanus VMAA26S VisionMount TV Wall Mount for 30 to 50-inch LCD TVs

Articulated-arm LCD TV mounts provide for even better positioning of the LCD panel while maintaining all the benefits associated with tilting and swiveling mounts.

These type of wall mounts however, are somewhat more expensive than fixed or tilting LCD wall mounts. The SANUS stand shown here is selling at Amazon for just under $300. Still, this mount is good value for money considering its solid heavy-gauge steel construction. Further more, it comes in an attractive polished silver finish, and features tilt, swivel, pan, and extended motion adjustments.

Articulating LCD Ceiling Mount

Ceiling LCD TV Mounts

Last but not least, you can go for a ceiling mount - another good bedroom option.

Note however that this is the most difficult to do it yourself. Unless you are a professional, we do not recommend that you try installing a ceiling mount on your own as you need to take the structural integrity of the ceiling into account.

Ceiling mounts are generally more expensive than the fixed wall-type LCD TV mounts though when you purchase online, the price difference between standard wall mounts and ceiling mounts is not so pronounced.

In fact, the articulating LCD ceiling mount featured on the right is selling at amazon for less than $80; this is practically the price of a good quality fixed-type wall mount.

This silver finished ceiling mount is both VESA 100 and VESA 200 compliant, and can support up to 100lbs - meaning that it can easily take a 42-inch LCD or plasma screen. It also features a 5-degree upward and 15-degree downward tilt mechanism for better positioning of the flat-panel TV.

Buying Tips:

When you purchase an LCD TV mount, purchase only from a reputable source.
Buying online offers a price advantage, but ensure that you get a good return policy in case you discover that the selected mount is not suitable for your needs. Most major online stores - including amazon, do support appropriate policies in this respect.
When you buy an LCD TV mount, ensure that it fits your LCD TV. Check both the mounting hole pattern on the mount, and equally important, its load bearing capacity with respect to the weight of your flat-panel TV.