Placement of TV (1 Viewer)

[dentcorn]

Hello,
I am new to the whole world of home theater (not necessarily sound equip). We are going to remodel a home. I would like to put our ht setup in the family room, which is about 15 x 20 with a kitchen/eating area off to one side. The only good place to put the 50" plasma is above the fireplace. We have 8 ft ceilings, the fireplace mantel is about 5 above the floor, and the seating position is about 12 to 14ft back from the screen. Will this lead to neck strain, etc? We could put it in the corner, but the sound system would not work out so well there. The other idea was to get some linear bearings and rail setup and make a counterweight up in the attic to move it up and down over the fireplace (???). Also, I plan on using JBL Studio-L Series along with a custom bulit sub using a JBL 2245H driver. Any and all comments will be much appreciated.

 

[Joseph DeMartino]

Ideally the TV should be slightly above eye level from the seating position. Anything higher than this will indeed cause neck strain. I'm also skeptical about some of the blythe assurances I read about how such proximity to a major heat source can't affect a plasma or LCD TV. The rail idea is an interesting one. Even more practical could be a front project system with a motorized screen that drops down in front of the fireplace.

As for the sound system - don't forget, the electonics don't have to be where the speakers are. Your front three speakers need to be near the TV, the surround speakers to the sides of the main seating area (and behind it, in the case of a 7.1 system.) But the receiver, DVD player and cable or satellite receiver can be anywhere you can run the wires to.

Regards,

Joe

 

[dentcorn]

Yes, I know it should be at eye level. I could do that if i put it in the corner, but if i put i diagonally in the corner it is about 50" from the edge of the fireplace hearth to the other wall. This does not leave any room for L-R channel speakers. If I did this one would have to sit in front of the fireplace, and the other would have to sit on a stand on front of the west window, then you have problems with curtains, etc, it it would just look awkward I think. Plus the whole sound setup would be skewed into kind of a diamond shape. Any other ideas?

 

[CB750]

Here is what my brother in law did. He put his new 52" Samsung in front of the fireplace, and got a DVD with a collection of different fires in 5.1 sound to keep my sister happy.

In my case I didn't have a mantle on my fireplace so I mounted my 52" Sony on a wall mount with the bottom of the TV at the just above the fireplace opening. That puts it about 32" off the floor. My fireplace does not draw well and have only used it one in 10 years. To me having the TV and sound system in the right place 24/7 beats having a fire a few times a winter.

 

[Joseph DeMartino]

I've already suggested a front projection system, which would solve most of your problems. If you can control the room lighting you can probably get a motorized screen and projector combo that will work in your space. I'm not up on current models and prices, but I wouldn't be surprised if there are systems available that are comparable in cost to that 50" plasma.

Another option: If you can't lower the screen, raise the couch. You might want to look into the idea of building a low platform under the couch to raise it a few inches and reduce neck strain. (Would also be a cool place to conceal wiring for the rear speakers and possibly some bass shakers.

)

Regards,

Joe

 

[Iconoclast]

If you watch from a recliner you will not get neck strain. I have a similar set up with a huge, deep alcove above a dual fireplace. There are couches and divans that work as full recliners. Lane used to make these.

One future problem may be that you will plan all your wires, connections based on 2009 technology. Try to have flexibility for changing all connections & cables for any future technology. I did not do this & while I ran the appropriate wires for 1991, it soon changed leaving me with a huge problem with the TV isolated from everything else & no “good” way to run cable.

Good luck!