LCD TV dilema... opinions need.

[CunningStunts]

Ok, so I currently have a 56" Samsung rear projection TV I've had for about 5 years and have been looking to get an LCD for full HD and so that I can give my sister my old one (though I think her husband will enjoy it more than she will). After doing a lot of homework and waiting for the prices to drop, I finally just ordered a Sony Bravia KDL52XBR9KDL 52"LCD TV. But I have a dilema before it's delivered on Friday:

I was considering mounting it on the wall above my gas fireplace, would be very nice there and remove the stand from being in the den. But I'm worried it may be too high above eye-level when seated to be comfortable. Does anyone have their TV wall mounted at a height above, say 5 feet? Is it a pain to watch? Do you regret mounting it that high?

Thanks for any insight... seems like a fairly trivial problem, but once I drill the holes, it's done!

Also, interested to see if anyone has this TV, and if so, how do you like it?

Thx :hatsoff:

 

[Friday on my mind]

I don't have such a nice TV but I have a friend who bought 40 inch Sony LCD set couple years ago and we have argued about how high he has it set up.IMO no TV should ever be above line of view level in height.

 

[grimey]

Yeah, I think your eyes would get tired constantly looking up, but I dunno.

Just try it for a while and see how you like it. I'm sure you could return the wall mount . :thumbsup:

 

[Rey C.]

It depends on how far back from the set the closest person would be sitting and how high your seating is. A buddy of mine has one of those home theater rooms and his 50 something inch set is probably about 4.5' to 5' from the floor. But with two rows of seating, his had to be high enough that the people on the back row aren't staring at the back of somebody's head. The people on the back row are slightly elevated and probably 15' back from the screen if that helps.

 

[CunningStunts]

Good point Rev... Large couch and a chair in the room are both 15 feet from this wall.

 

[whoremaker]

It's a little awkward at first, but you'll get used to it.

 

[HeartBroker]

I know someone that has a similar mounting situation.
Rey C. is right.
Minimum viewing distance should be roughly 1.5 times the height of monitor.
From a distance of 20+ feet it's all up to preference.

Good luck,


~HB

 

[habo9]

I do Ive had my TVs on the wall for the last few years now & Im going to move it down because my necks starting to get sore sometimes for no reason & I reckon its with the looking up all the time

 

[Shindekudasai]

You gotta be more specific. Will the bottom edge of the TV be at 5 feet or the top edge?
If you mean the bottom edge, I'd seriously reconsider hanging it that high. After all it's an LCD, not a Plasma. The smaller the angle between screen and line of sight, the worse the picture. At least that's a problem of many LCDs so far. I don't know, if this Sony model is any better. Why risk it?

But for the money you spent on that LCD, you could have easily bought a high end Plasma HDTV from the Panasonic Viera line or a good one from Pioneer. You'd have to handle those Plasma TVs more careful than an LCD, but you'd definitely have a better picture, no matter what viewing angle you'd have or in which height you'd choose to hang the TV.
I bet you my Plasma has better colors (especially the black levels) as your more expensive LCD will have. The black levels of most LCDs are not that great. And if you're a gamer: the rumors that LCDs are better for gaming are only that, rumors.
At least this Sony has WCG-CCFL Backlight and x.v.Color Technology, which is "rumored" to be quite good in Sony's TVs. So you'll probably still beat most of the LCDs on the market.

If you don't have the opportunity to test it first (the influence of the viewing angle on the colors and the brightness), I'd rather not do it.

 

[CunningStunts]

Bottom edge of the TV will be 4 1/2 feet from the floor.

Thanks very much for the opinions, I suppose I'll just have to try it and see if it's too high before I can judge the difference.

 

[STDiva]

And if you're a gamer: the rumors that LCDs are better for gaming are only that, rumors.

I thought it was common knowledge that Plasma was better for gaming. I've never heard someone say LCD's were better. :dunno:

 

[Facetious]

Just try it for a while and see how you like it. I'm sure you could return the wall mount . :thumbsup:

lololol Sure, after all of the bolt / screw heads are spun out. :1orglaugh :hatsoff:


Aside - How much are the "environmental charges" on such a set, Stunts ?
That pisses me off, they hit you up at the point of purchase, then you have to pay extra when you junk pile the things ! Grrrr ....Assholes & their special interest derivatives. :hammer:

 

[AnnaMiller]

In our bedroom we have ours up high so we can lay around in bed like logs and watch it...

Anyone have issues with a TV above a fireplace though? I would think you would need to set up some kind of circulation system to keep the high heat from reaching your TV..

 

[D-rock]

In our bedroom we have ours up high so we can lay around in bed like logs and watch it...

Anyone have issues with a TV above a fireplace though? I would think you would need to set up some kind of circulation system to keep the high heat from reaching your TV..

The other problem with anything by a fireplace that is used unless it's the completely sealed kind it tends to generate a lot of dust and soot which will need to be cleaned off of anything by it.

 

[Neutron66]

I would never put a piece of electronics above or anywhere near a fireplace.

But that's me.

 

[24788]

52 inch Plasma, my gaming kid on my dresser. My dresser is 4 feet and it's on a 2-3 inch stand. It works fine for me and it's easier to see the TV if someone walks in front of it or something minor to that effect.

I want a 22 inch LCD for hardcore gaming though. Get it set up like the pros do it.

 

[No_Man]

I had one set up like that until a few months ago. It wasn't ideal, but we got used to it. Be careful of light sources in the room. We found that at that height, virtually every window, lamp, wall sconce, and ceiling light reflected off the TV, whereas a lower position tended to avoid quite a bit of it.

Also, I agree with a lot of the previous sentiment: Be absolutely, 100% sure that NO excess heat or smoke from the fireplace is going to be reaching the screen. It will destroy it in a matter of months.

 

[CunningStunts]

Clarification: it's a gas fireplace, so no particulate residue to worry about, only a little heat, but after leaving it on for a while last night it doesn't seem to be very hot above the mantle at all.

Thanks again, I suppose I'm just going to have to try it both ways and see what works best... both positions have their pluses and minuses.

 

[Neutron66]

Thanks again, I suppose I'm just going to have to try it both ways and see what works best... both positions have their pluses and minuses.

That line could be read a few different ways.

 

[Red Spyder]

I would never put a piece of electronics above or anywhere near a fireplace.

But that's me.

Same here, maybe you should think twice about setting it up there, that is unless you got something already set up to prevent it from being damaged by the heat. And also, I don't know about your TV but my Sanyo 45" generates quite a bit of heat itself too. I was fiddling with the playstation cable once and it felt quite hot when it was on.