We are building a home and want to place a plasma TV over the fireplace. I will be installing condiut for the video cables in the next few weeks, so I am trying to nail down my design. My concern is how high can these be mounted and still comfortably viewed? I am looking at a 50" TV. Are there any guides for this like there are for seating distance and screen size?

It's a individual choice, I personally would not put one above a fireplace, but that's me.

Just sit where you normally would and look at where you are ploaceing the set and ask youself if you will be happy for the long run. There are many people who place sets over fireplaces that later move them.

I have mine over the fireplace and love it there. Truth be told, some of the reasons for doing so are not related to actually watching content. One is that it keeps the screen away from sticky kid fingers and tossed objects. Another is that it allows us to add a chair in the corner formerly occupied by a big CRT & stand. Now I can sit there and read by a window instead of keeping the shades drawn to see the old CRT. Is it too high? Depends. If you sit straight up in front of it on a couch you do have to raise your eyes. Solution - recliner couch and/or tilt mount. I did accomodate the TV a bit by using a smaller (less tall) fireplace, lower mantel and recess for the TV to fit in.

I never heard of anyone mounting it above, then moving it.
This is my 2nd house with an above FP mount, this house I bought the PEerless Articulating mount that comes forward 3', and rotates left and right.
It's awesome as our kitchen is to the left.

We sit 14' back, so height has never been brought up by anyone, they watch in amazement, especially when it's pulled out "floating"
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s280/plasmageorge/Articulating.jpg

eganov said:
some of the reasons for doing so are not related to actually watching content. One is that it keeps the screen away from sticky kid fingers and tossed objects. Another is that it allows us to add a chair in the corner formerly occupied by a big CRT & stand

My wife is big on the extra furniture angle. With a 4y old and a 9 month old, sticky fingers are high on mine!! :)

Plasma George said
PEerless Articulating mount that comes forward 3', and rotates left and right

This sounds great. How flat does the mount go when not extended?


There are many people who place sets over fireplaces that later move them
If there are people withthis experience, I would like to hear why.

Thanks everyone.

I think the Peerless specs say 4" or so....it's not as tight to teh wall as my flat mount, but I never have it flat anymore.
It looks so cool being out, just a 1' or so.
And it's high enough that my 5 and 3 year olds can't touch it.

Although I caught my 5 year old son, pushed the ottoman over, and was singing the screen...he won't be doing that again....bwahahahahaha.... :eek:

Although I caught my 5 year old son, pushed the ottoman over, and was singing the screen...he won't be doing that again....bwahahahahaha.... :eek:

Oh, I can see that coming! :)

I may need to PM you for the details on how you fixed that problem!!

I have mine over the fireplace and love it there. Truth be told, some of the reasons for doing so are not related to actually watching content. One is that it keeps the screen away from sticky kid fingers and tossed objects.
+1

Some of my reasons, exactly. My kids were 5 & 6 when this started.

http://www.c-not-k.com/OddsEnds/MtHebron/HomeImprovement/FamilyRoom/Full/IMG_9807.JPG

Work in progress. Note the old entertainment center on the right. It was nice to get rid of it. The cubbies on either side of the fireplace were sized to hold DVDs.

http://www.c-not-k.com/OddsEnds/MtHebron/HomeImprovement/FamilyRoom/Full/IMG_3081.JPG

TV up. Notice with the A/V equipment above the fireplace the TV (37" Aquos) is WAY up there. Nobody seems to mind; we all kind of slouch on the sofas anyway.

I hope to replace the 37" with a 52" as soon as funds allow. I will mount it a bit lower, but again, none of my guests have complained, and when asked, they don't mind. The main sofa is about 13' from the screen.

I have mine over the fireplace and love it there. Truth be told, some of the reasons for doing so are not related to actually watching content. One is that it keeps the screen away from sticky kid fingers and tossed objects. Another is that it allows us to add a chair in the corner formerly occupied by a big CRT & stand. Now I can sit there and read by a window instead of keeping the shades drawn to see the old CRT. Is it too high? Depends. If you sit straight up in front of it on a couch you do have to raise your eyes. Solution - recliner couch and/or tilt mount. I did accomodate the TV a bit by using a smaller (less tall) fireplace, lower mantel and recess for the TV to fit in.

I would love to see a pics of or set up. Me and my wife are doing a remodel and plan to put tv above fireplace. The fireplace will be kept as low as possible. It looks like mantle will be 45-50 inches with tv above. The tv we are planing on using is the philips 63 inch plasma built in above the mantel. Every one keeps saying that it will be to high but I put my old tv on crates and with how I like to recline in the couch it semes fine height wise plus no finger prints.

I would love to see a pics of or set up.
Here you go. The top of the mantel is 48" from the floor. Yes, the better half had to have a plant and a clock on the mantel. Too sterile otherwise.
http://webpages.charter.net/eganov/theater 010x.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/eganov/theater 013x.jpg

Thanks for the pic thats was what I was thinking now I have something to show the wife. Also sure I will have stuff on the mantle as will. Thanks again.