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WanMan
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 10273
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 Link Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 10:38 am Post subject: Semi-OT: Family room & Flat-panel over Fireplace |
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How many of you have installed a flat-panel over the fireplace? About what was the angle of inclination (or rise over run) for seating opposite the display?
I have a 16'x18' family room. One long wall is littered with the fireplace and windows. The fireplace is of a more contemporary/model style and not rustic by any means. There is a 12" cultured marble surrounding a drop-in (token) fireplace, which is then surrounded by wood (~8" on the sides, and 12" on top). The mantel sits on top of the wood trim.
The idea was to simply mount the flat-panel (42" LCD now, 50" plasma planned for) on the mantel. Sweet-spot viewing would be across the room directly opposite. This allows us to place two sofas and two comfortable chairs in the room for 8-10 seats.
This is a cookie-cutter home, meaning everything is a token in effort and designed to not be easily changed. Kind of like punishment for not buying a custom home. Still, the benefit of moving the fp to above the fireplace is to recapture linear wall space for seating. We originally had a monster 65" RPTV that dominated a short wall and limited the other long wall.
Note: We are not concerned with the angle as such as this is a family room. It is meant for casual use and not critical use.
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kal
Forum Administrator
Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 17860
Location: Ottawa, Canada
TV/Projector: JVC DLA-NZ7
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paw
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 1176
Location: Arvada, CO
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| Link Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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| kal wrote: | IMHO, no matter what you see in the designer mags, plasma/flat panel displays shouldn't be placed about the fireplace. It puts them way too high to be comfortable for viewing. Everyone has to constantly crane their necks up to look.
Kal |
Well, unless you watch standing up.  I believe the recommendation is that the middle or bottom third of the screen should be at eye height.
Though WANMAN said he didn't care around the angle. I'd do two things
1 - Run the fireplace for a few hour and then take the air and surface temps. A regular thermometer will work for the air. You could use one of those fancy thermometer guns for the surface temp or buy a cheapy, sitck on aquarium thermometer. Thought they may not register high enough. Wally mart might have a wider range version of this. It looks like a strip of plastic. Reply back if you want a pic. Make sure it's not too hot for the TV.
2 - Temporarily mount (maybe with a table top stand?) the existing LCD. What it for a few days and see what you think about the height.
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Aubrey
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WanMan
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 10273
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| Link Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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Kal, I haven't looked at a magazine in a couple of years. I do not buy into the 'ornate' aspect. I am all about function. I'm trying to find a function that works best by maximize linear wall space for seating. Of course, I am not against removing the fireplace either. I have never used that token object.
BTW, does everyone sit straight up, backs completely vertical, and eyes straight forward, or am I the only real guy and admits to slouching on the sofa?  In fact, when I'm slouching and in uber-relaxed mode, I usually have to crane my eyes down because the display is too low.
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greg_mitch
Joined: 03 May 2006
Posts: 5321
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| Link Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 7:19 pm Post subject: |
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Originally I was getting scared off by all the "dont put it there it is too high" criticism. I have been to a few houses where the TV is installed like this and IMHO if you sit far enough back it is not a big deal. You get a tilt mount and tilt it down and then people who are sitting, laying, slouching in the couches see the TV just fine.
I have not purchased my flat panel yet (wife slapped my hand) but I plan on doing this.
Any progress on yours??
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