I am planning on making the jump to a flat panel display (thinking 50" plasma Panny P50s1) but the problem is that the only place the wife will let me put it is above the fireplace mantel.

The bottom of the panel will probably be about 5 1/2 feet above the floor. I plan on using a tilt mount. Viewing distance will be about 9 feet.

Has anyone tried a similar setup? How has it turned out - I know it isn't ideal, but did it seem to be OK?

Thanks,

Mark

try something...

cut out a piece of cardboard the size of the display...

put it up over the fireplace...

then sit there with your wife for 4 or 5 hours staring up at it and see how uncomfortable it is...

My cousin has your proposed setup. I hate it. You have to basically lay down to be comfortable. I stand a lot when I go there if we are watching football so I don't have to sit down.

They have NO WHERE else to put it. They have an older house that is not designed for TV. Do everything you can to avoid that situation.

Every Dick&Harriet wants to put it on top of the fireplace. Wow, such discovery.

U will have to crank your necks up, or buy some theater-type seats so it's high enuff to support your necks.

Now the heat... I won't even go into that.

I have your proposed situation for the EXACT same reason...WAF...I am used to it and it is by no means bad, however I do wish I could put on a normal stand and sit 4 feet away from it. Way up there on the wall you lose that immersion which is pretty important, but what are your gonna do?...

I am planning on making the jump to a flat panel display (thinking 50" plasma Panny P50s1) but the problem is that the only place the wife will let me put it is above the fireplace mantel.

Sounds like you need a new wife.

Just kidding.

Not really.


Maybe you should work together to find another place for the TV. TV's over the fireplace are played out and suboptimal.

I have seen that kind of set up in a model home(one of those Dream homes), and I found that the only way to view the set was standing up!:eek: This one was even higher than what you propose. I personally am not a fan, and I would try to explore different avenues before making a final decision.

I have seen that kind of set up in a model home
That's just it. I think ppl who wants to put it there because they want to show off the house, they don't want ppl walking in and the first thing they notice is your big-a**-screen-TV. I happen to agree with this, but for viewing pleasure, it doesn't help.

Solution: New house with a dedicated viewing room. Everybody is happy. Except the accountant. :D

I have helped several friends mount flat panels above their fireplace. Most are not pleased with this after only a short while.

First you will get neck aches even with the TV angled down because you will still need to tilt your head backwards.

Second, even though plasma has better viewing angles than most other formats, the off-angle viewing is usually worse in the vertical plane than it is in the horizontal.

At the end of the day your neck will hurt, and your butt will hurt because you are not getting the joy that you should from a rather substantial purchase.

By the way, one of my friends that did this connected all of his components via coax and a coax switcher. Could not talk him out of this. 50" plasma TV and all he is seeing is rather crappy SD content over coax. His wife is happy though.

I have helped several friends mount flat panels above their fireplace. Most are not pleased with this after only a short while.

First you will get neck aches even with the TV angled down because you will still need to tilt your head backwards.

Second, even though plasma has better viewing angles than most other formats, the off-angle viewing is usually worse in the vertical plane than it is in the horizontal.

At the end of the day your neck will hurt, and your butt will hurt because you are not getting the joy that you should from a rather substantial purchase.

By the way, one of my friends that did this connected all of his components via coax and a coax switcher. Could not talk him out of this. 50" plasma TV and all he is seeing is rather crappy SD content over coax. His wife is happy though.

+1 to that

That's just it. I think ppl who wants to put it there because they want to show off the house, they don't want ppl walking in and the first thing they notice is your big-a**-screen-TV. But that's exactly what you notice when you place it over the fireplace at the cynosure of the room. It is the show-off location. I know that some people have no other option but too many actually think it is the ideal spot!

WE mounted it over our fireplace for the WAF as well. Even my wife (now) agrees that it is too high. However, she won't let me change it as to do so would requre ripping out our brand new fireplace and starting all over again....

She's hoping that theater-style seating will help.

As for me, I'm living with it. It is far better than no hdtv at all. I haven't seen any problems with clarity, color, etc. due to off-angle viewing with our Sony XBR4, however. We have it hooked up to our computer and our PS3. On occasion, I'll throw up a 1080p photo of a painting on it to make it look like a painting over the mantle....

One thing I know, next house I buy will have NO fireplace. It's now politically un-green. Kinda ugly looking if not maintained, and the extra maintenance, oi. U guys can fight for it.

One thing I know, next house I buy will have NO fireplace. It's now politically un-green. Kinda ugly looking if not maintained, and the extra maintenance, oi. U guys can fight for it.Well, that's one way. My wife likes the fireplace, uses it and maintains it. The A/V system is in another room.

My wife likes the fireplace, uses it and maintains it.
Keep her! Not sure about the other fellahs' :)

After posting on this site for 3 years, and helping many friends and family members with their setups (always advising strongly against the "over the fireplace" setup, which is as unique and special as tattoos and piercings anymore), I have a tremendous appreciation for my wife. Not only does she not dictate anything from an aesthetic standpoint, she actually can appreciate my setups for their audio/video quality. She can sit and actually enjoy my Def Tech BP7001sc's in the family room, my DT BP30's flanked by dual MFW-15's in my theater, etc., instead of insisting on those "cute little Bose cubes that you don't even notice" because she realizes how much better my audio setups sound. She can sit and look at my Pioneer 151 on a big old TV stand in the family room instead of insisting on it being wall-mounted up high and "out of the way", because she understands the ergonomic and visual limitations with "compromised" setups. I honestly don't know where this tolerance and appreciation comes from in her, but believe me, as much as I have loved her for her other intangible qualities since the day we met, this only increases my love for her.

So, I'm giving a shout-out to all those spouses that not only tolerate those of us in this hobby, but encourage us to build the best systems we can, regardless of aesthetics. Besides, my big BP7001sc's are pretty darn attractive in their own right. :)

I have a 40"LCD mounted above our fireplace in the bedroom (lower edge is at about 5 feet). We have a couch at the foot of our bed that faces the fireplace and tv, figured this would be the ideal place to watch. It's only about 7 feet from the tv, and I learned very quickly it was not comfortable at all. The only really watchable position is laying in bed and watching it above my toe line. The really best position is laying across the bed, but my wife always wants to get in bed, go to sleep, and makes me straighten up and scoot over (imagine that). Tough situation, as others have mentioned, it looks "great" from a decorating standpoint, just not functional as a tv. Depends on what you want.

Thanks for all the opinions everyone. I think I will abandon this idea and put the new TV in my den instead.

Mark