Do not mount your new TV over your fire. It’s, fairly actually, the worst place you can put a TV. And look, I get it, it looks as if the proper place. Inside designers on TV say it is a focus. There’s a number of house there, your room might be completely organized already, and it may be up and out of the way in which. It is a entice.
Putting your TV so excessive, and above a warmth supply, can’t solely significantly lower its image high quality, however it could additionally shorten the lifetime of your TV, in addition to resulting in attainable bodily ache. Even if you happen to do not use your fire, this placement is about as unhealthy as you may get.
In the event you’re nonetheless contemplating it after that preamble, have you learnt how you will get energy and sign (HDMI or wi-fi) to the TV? The way you’re mounting it to the brick or stone? These are considerations too, however extra fixable. Actually, although, it is best to simply keep away from these potential points and simply not mount the TV above the hearth. This is why.
Learn extra: Mounting a TV on Your Deck? Not So Quick
Watch this: Why a TV ought to by no means be mounted over a fire
1. Viewing angle: A TV over a fire is simply too excessive
Ever sit within the entrance row of a movie show? Some individuals prefer it; most do not. That sore neck you get from staring up on the display? Think about that each time you watch TV. Most individuals discover staring up at one thing for lengthy durations to be uncomfortable. Worse, it may appear wonderful at first, however then you definitely develop a neck challenge later.
Not surprisingly, one of many first Google autocomplete outcomes after “TV over fire…” is “too excessive.” This is not a uncommon challenge.
Think about how far again your head must tilt to observe this TV from these seats.
Positive, this would possibly not be an issue in some rooms. The fireside may be low, you may be reclining to observe TV, you may be far sufficient away that you just’re simply barely trying “up” at it. However if you happen to’ve ever had neck points, typically from one thing work-related, this side is one thing to contemplate because it might make such an damage worse.
Most of us would a lot slightly look barely down at a TV. It is a way more pure place (just like what’s really helpful by OSHA for displays). Ideally it is best to have the ability to hold a impartial/relaxed neck place to observe your TV, which can fluctuate relying in your couch/seating place and so forth.
2. Your TV can be off-axis
Mounting a TV above a fire is nearly all the time a foul concept.
Most TVs in the marketplace at this time are LCDs. There are higher-end fashions from LG, Sony, and Vizio which might be OLED, however in any other case, whatever the advertising and marketing identify, it is an LCD.
Most LCDs look considerably worse if you happen to’re not them straight on. Even a number of levels beneath their centerline, such as you’d have sitting on a settee trying up on the TV, could make the picture look profoundly completely different than what it appears like straight on-axis.
That is pretty straightforward to repair, however you will want particular gear. Some wall-mounting brackets allow you to pivot the TV downward, so it is straight dealing with the seating space. In the event you insist on mounting your TV excessive on the wall, hold a watch out for mounts that a minimum of pivot the display. Flat-mounting the TV on the wall (the most affordable resolution) would possibly make your TV look worse.
An OLED TV just like the LG C2 tech appears significantly better from off-angle than commonplace LCD televisions. Positive an OLED TV is dear, but when your room requires off-angle seating and also you need peak picture high quality, it may be definitely worth the funding.
Learn our LG OLED C2 Collection 2022 evaluation.
3. Warmth and soot harm your TV
There’s nothing worse for an electronics product than warmth (OK, possibly water or kicking it might be worse, however you get my level). Rising the working temperature of the TV can shorten what must be a energetic and reliably lengthy life.
Worse, the soot from the fireplace can get into the TV’s innards, doing nothing good. Even worse, the harm can be gradual and over time, not straight away, so the TV will seemingly fail before it could have in any other case, however nonetheless past the size of your guarantee.
There isn’t a greatest seat on this home, a minimum of for watching TV.
This would possibly not be a difficulty for everybody. In the event you do not, or cannot, use your fire, then this would possibly not be an issue. A fuel fire won’t have soot, but when the wall above is heat to the contact, that warmth goes to heat your TV too.
4. The place must you mount it?
I perceive the frustration. Many rooms are designed so the hearth is the focus. Attempting to change issues round to battle in opposition to this inherent structure is a problem. It is value it. On the very least, purchase a TV mount that permits you to regulate the pitch and place of a TV. This allows you to angle it down towards your seating space and, ideally, scale back its general peak so you are not trying up at it. These definitely add prices however are the naked minimal if you happen to do not need to rearrange your room.
We now have another tips for the place (and the place not) to mount your TV. Take a look at Do not Put Your TV There: Massive-Display Placement Suggestions.
Backside line
Although trendy and fashionable, mounting a TV above a fire most likely is not the best choice for you or your TV. Placement is a giant challenge, and site and TV peak will be important elements relating to image high quality.
In the event you suppose we’re within the minority with our considerations about poor TV placement, contemplate there’s a whole subreddit with almost 100,000 subscribers devoted to unhealthy TV placement referred to as r/TVTooHigh. In the event you do not need to take our phrase for it, scroll by means of there and see what individuals suppose.
For extra TV ideas and tips, try our suggestions for TV image settings to vary, why it is often not a good suggestion to extend your tv’s sharpness management, and the greatest time to purchase a TV. Plus, a repair for muffled TV dialogue and 7 options for hiding ugly TV wires.
Notice: This text was first printed in 2012 however is commonly up to date with new hyperlinks and extra data.
In addition to overlaying TV and different show tech, Geoff does photograph excursions of cool museums and places around the globe, together with nuclear submarines, large plane carriers, medieval castles, epic 10,000-mile highway journeys, and extra. Take a look at Tech Treks for all his excursions and adventures.
He wrote a bestselling sci-fi novel about city-size submarines and a sequel. You’ll be able to observe his adventures on Instagram and his YouTube channel.
