Sanus Wall Mount

LCD televisions have dominated the flat-screen marketplace since their inception. Their light weight, variety of sizes and low cost have permitted this technology to be adopted by nearly everybody who watches TV. When placing LCDs in your living room, home theater, or bedroom, it is important to understand a bit about LCD technology and its strengths, weaknesses and shortcomings in order to mount it at the perfect and most enjoyable height.

Size

Size is the most important factor when deciding where to mount your TV. Make sure you buy the correct size TV for your room. Generally, a 50-inch television will be most enjoyable at about12 feet of viewing distance. Any closer and you may feel overwhelmed by the TVs size. For an average-sized living room with multiple watchers, a 42-inch TV is a good starting point. Smaller TVs can be watched more closely and are better used in smaller rooms or a bedroom.

Viewing angle

The major drawback of LCD technology is its limited viewing angle. Although more recent displays have corrected this problem to some degree, the problem still exists when watching the TV from the side or from below. Depending on the angle, a varying degree of image degradation is experienced as detail and color become washed out. When placing your TV in a room, ensure it is at eye level and in full view of everybody who plans to watch it for best image quality. The TV can be mounted higher (above a fireplace, for example) but optimal viewing angle will be reduced if you sit close to it. If viewing angle becomes an issue, consider a plasma TV as they do not suffer from these problems.

Other considerations

When mounting your LCD television to a stand or a wall, proper safety precautions should be taken. Since LCDs are lighter than older TVs, care must be taken to secure smaller, lighter flat panels with a stand. Wall mounting requires a sturdy wall mount that is specifically rated for your TVs size and weight. Careful placement and attachment to at least one in-wall wooden stud is required to ensure security. Always use two people to move and mount larger flat panel TVs.