New Plasma Install in a week Any suggestions?

hidefman30 · 02-22-2006, 09:05 PM

Ok let me first explain what I am hoping to achieve in mounting my new 55" Hitachi Plasma (HDT52). First and foremost I want to take advantage of the slim design by fixed wall mounting. Placing it at the proper height is important for two reasons. One the mount is fixed so there will be no tilting up or down for adjustment. Two I have little ones and want the tv out of 1-2 year old range. My current set is a Sony KP57WS500 which is a big rear projection CRT, it seems to sit at a perfect height for viewing onits built in pedestal. So I am thinking of going perhaps a bit higher than that. I want to make sure there is no neck straign and I am not looking up unaturally at the screen. IS there a formula for calculating the height at which to wall mount a plasma? Can I inspect the installer to be knowledgeable at height and placement. Also I am wondering how to place the tv from left to right. I was plannig on telling the tech to simply center the tv on the wall measuring the room from left to right and then centering the tv. My current set is approx center of the room. I am also wondering should I have an electrical outlet placed behind the tv prior to install? I am hearing contradicting reports on this. The salesman I bought the plasma from said that these outlets are not as well grounded as the monster power center strip I have, and that they are subject to line noise that will degrade the plasmas picture quality. Another sales at another store told me that an outlet behind a plasma is a must, proper electrical code, and that they wouldn't install a plasma without an ac outlet behind it. My biggest fear is that without placing an ac outlet behind the tv, the tv's power chord wont reach far enough to straight in the wall, drop down to the floor, then come out at ground level and reach my monster power strip. I see no need to move the coax out wall jack that feeds my HD DVR as it sits in front and not far from my HD DVR which will feed the plasma via hdmi. Of course I am looking for the cleanest look with my plasma, no wires visible behind it. So I'll need to run one hdmi (hddvr), one componet to dvd, and one componet to madcatx componet switcher (game systems), and the tv's power chord, all in the wall. I also have the standard ominous rack of audio gear to the left of my tv. Not too much I can do about this. I have managed to hide all stereo wire. And will do my best to reroute and hide everything else. Last but not least I am not sure what to do with my center speaker. It's a nice size JBL S-series that currently sits ontop of my projection tv. Can't put it on top of the tv anymore. I thought of below, but it linda kills the sleekness of a wallmounted plasma, if you have a shelf above or below it with a center speaker sticking out. Please give me any thoughts, experience, or suggestions for a clean looking upgrade.

krelldog · 02-23-2006, 03:24 AM

To determine the best height for your plasma I would cut a replica of your screen dimensions(plywood or cardboard will work fine)hang it on the wall and make this determination for yourself(do yourself a favor and include your wife in on this decision)When I hung mine if I had listened to the general conscensus I would of ended up remounting my bracket. My plasma is basically mounted as if it were a picture. When I'm standing up the middle of the screen is at eye level. Contrary to popular belief its not to high/I don't have to strain to view for long periods of time. I also think this is the most astetically pleasing look,but ultimately its a personal preference. I also would highly suggest you run all your cables behind the wall your mounting your plasma on. There are alot of creative ways to do this without to much wall repairing. I also stongly disagree with an outlet box behing your plasma. I have mine plugged into a Monster Cable HTS 5000 surge protector/power purifier. This not only gives you surge protection,but also some form of power purification to boot. Your installer works for YOU-you dictate the terms. If they don't want to comply-find some one else. Its really not that difficult. The best advice I can give you is to think the whole installation process out. Make sure you have the proper lengths of all your cables. Don't overpay for your bracket. A good swivel bracket costs about 100.00 dollars. If your dealer charged you more-take it back and buy your own. A swivel bracket will also allow you more access to your inputs and outputs once the plasma is mounted. I have recieved alot of great info from this audiogon.com If you have more questions or concerns these websites are a wealth of information. Good luck and congratulations on your purchase.

hidefman30 · 02-23-2006, 06:18 AM

Thanks for your input. I have definitley considered mounting the plasma higher, and will. As for the wallmount I did go with a standard fixed wall mount for $99. However you idea of a swivel sounds good purely for being able to access the back of the tv. However if that type of mount leaves the tv bit further out from the wall I would be opposed. The tv is 4 1/4" deep so I want it as close to the wall as possible for the picture affect. I plan on planning out all the wires ahead of time, so I want to get my main wires (hdmi, 2 componet, and center spkr. in the wall at the time of install. As for my massive audi rack I have taken everything out, and rewiring everything behind the wall a componet at a time. I was thinking of even placing the monster power conditioner behind the wall and having all ac chords run in the wall (crawspace on other side of mounting wall).

ugamoose · 03-03-2006, 04:00 PM

I know this thread is a few days old but I thought I could help. I have just ordered my 42" plasma a few days ago. However, I had my home built last summer and wired for surround sound and a flat panel over my fire place then(before sheet rock went up). I had a electrical outlet put in then, where the tv is going. In addition I bought a moster power HTS 500? to mount on the wall and plug the tv into. I've also got a moster power center for my componets and a small one for my sub woofer. Just a thout. I'm mounting the tv with a Sanus that can tilt all though I don't think I'll need it. Something to think about. My chair is about 13 or 14 feet from the tv so the angle I have to look up is not very bad.

02-22-2006, 09:05 PM	#1
hidefman30 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 733	New Plasma Install in a week Any suggestions? Ok let me first explain what I am hoping to achieve in mounting my new 55" Hitachi Plasma (HDT52). First and foremost I want to take advantage of the slim design by fixed wall mounting. Placing it at the proper height is important for two reasons. One the mount is fixed so there will be no tilting up or down for adjustment. Two I have little ones and want the tv out of 1-2 year old range. My current set is a Sony KP57WS500 which is a big rear projection CRT, it seems to sit at a perfect height for viewing onits built in pedestal. So I am thinking of going perhaps a bit higher than that. I want to make sure there is no neck straign and I am not looking up unaturally at the screen. IS there a formula for calculating the height at which to wall mount a plasma? Can I inspect the installer to be knowledgeable at height and placement. Also I am wondering how to place the tv from left to right. I was plannig on telling the tech to simply center the tv on the wall measuring the room from left to right and then centering the tv. My current set is approx center of the room. I am also wondering should I have an electrical outlet placed behind the tv prior to install? I am hearing contradicting reports on this. The salesman I bought the plasma from said that these outlets are not as well grounded as the monster power center strip I have, and that they are subject to line noise that will degrade the plasmas picture quality. Another sales at another store told me that an outlet behind a plasma is a must, proper electrical code, and that they wouldn't install a plasma without an ac outlet behind it. My biggest fear is that without placing an ac outlet behind the tv, the tv's power chord wont reach far enough to straight in the wall, drop down to the floor, then come out at ground level and reach my monster power strip. I see no need to move the coax out wall jack that feeds my HD DVR as it sits in front and not far from my HD DVR which will feed the plasma via hdmi. Of course I am looking for the cleanest look with my plasma, no wires visible behind it. So I'll need to run one hdmi (hddvr), one componet to dvd, and one componet to madcatx componet switcher (game systems), and the tv's power chord, all in the wall. I also have the standard ominous rack of audio gear to the left of my tv. Not too much I can do about this. I have managed to hide all stereo wire. And will do my best to reroute and hide everything else. Last but not least I am not sure what to do with my center speaker. It's a nice size JBL S-series that currently sits ontop of my projection tv. Can't put it on top of the tv anymore. I thought of below, but it linda kills the sleekness of a wallmounted plasma, if you have a shelf above or below it with a center speaker sticking out. Please give me any thoughts, experience, or suggestions for a clean looking upgrade. __________________ 55" Hitachi Plasma Sony Dvd Carousel Sony Reciever JBL Speakers Velodyne Sub Xbox 360 PS3

02-23-2006, 06:18 AM	#3
hidefman30 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 733	Thanks for your input. I have definitley considered mounting the plasma higher, and will. As for the wallmount I did go with a standard fixed wall mount for $99. However you idea of a swivel sounds good purely for being able to access the back of the tv. However if that type of mount leaves the tv bit further out from the wall I would be opposed. The tv is 4 1/4" deep so I want it as close to the wall as possible for the picture affect. I plan on planning out all the wires ahead of time, so I want to get my main wires (hdmi, 2 componet, and center spkr. in the wall at the time of install. As for my massive audi rack I have taken everything out, and rewiring everything behind the wall a componet at a time. I was thinking of even placing the monster power conditioner behind the wall and having all ac chords run in the wall (crawspace on other side of mounting wall). __________________ 55" Hitachi Plasma Sony Dvd Carousel Sony Reciever JBL Speakers Velodyne Sub Xbox 360 PS3

03-03-2006, 04:00 PM	#4
ugamoose High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Macon, GA Age: 34 Posts: 34	mount a HTS 500 on the wall I know this thread is a few days old but I thought I could help. I have just ordered my 42" plasma a few days ago. However, I had my home built last summer and wired for surround sound and a flat panel over my fire place then(before sheet rock went up). I had a electrical outlet put in then, where the tv is going. In addition I bought a moster power HTS 500? to mount on the wall and plug the tv into. I've also got a moster power center for my componets and a small one for my sub woofer. Just a thout. I'm mounting the tv with a Sanus that can tilt all though I don't think I'll need it. Something to think about. My chair is about 13 or 14 feet from the tv so the angle I have to look up is not very bad.

02-23-2006, 03:24 AM	#2
krelldog High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 31	To determine the best height for your plasma I would cut a replica of your screen dimensions(plywood or cardboard will work fine)hang it on the wall and make this determination for yourself(do yourself a favor and include your wife in on this decision)When I hung mine if I had listened to the general conscensus I would of ended up remounting my bracket. My plasma is basically mounted as if it were a picture. When I'm standing up the middle of the screen is at eye level. Contrary to popular belief its not to high/I don't have to strain to view for long periods of time. I also think this is the most astetically pleasing look,but ultimately its a personal preference. I also would highly suggest you run all your cables behind the wall your mounting your plasma on. There are alot of creative ways to do this without to much wall repairing. I also stongly disagree with an outlet box behing your plasma. I have mine plugged into a Monster Cable HTS 5000 surge protector/power purifier. This not only gives you surge protection,but also some form of power purification to boot. Your installer works for YOU-you dictate the terms. If they don't want to comply-find some one else. Its really not that difficult. The best advice I can give you is to think the whole installation process out. Make sure you have the proper lengths of all your cables. Don't overpay for your bracket. A good swivel bracket costs about 100.00 dollars. If your dealer charged you more-take it back and buy your own. A swivel bracket will also allow you more access to your inputs and outputs once the plasma is mounted. I have recieved alot of great info from this audiogon.com If you have more questions or concerns these websites are a wealth of information. Good luck and congratulations on your purchase.