Im building a home and just framed in a fireplace and a spot for a 50 inch tv. Im wanting to get the new Pioneer 50" when it comes out but not sure what to expect mounting it above the fireplace. The Fireplace guys said that they've had no issues with any tvs above there fireplace but wanted to check with you guys also. What do you think? And whats the model # and timeline on the new Pios?

When we were building our house a few years ago, I drew out a picture of what I wanted the (gas) fireplace wall to look like. I included specifics around stud placement, and I also had the builder put a sheet of plywood over the studs before the drywall went up. Additionally, I had them run two lengths of 2" PVC conduit to the built-in bookshelf next to the fireplace. My components are all inside of a cabinet, and the cables go from there to the TV through the conduit. Of course, I also had an outlet installed behind the TV spot. I had a Pioneer 43" in that spot for the past three years, and I never had any issues with heat. Part of the wall design was a very thick mantle that the builder framed and drywalled. It's not a traditional wood mantle. To complete the look, I had columns framed around the TV as well. It's kind of hard to explain, so I included a picture (excuse my crappy cell phone photography). In any case, the purpose of the thick mantle was to help direct heat from the fireplace away from the TV wall. I ran some tests with the fireplace on, and after an hour of having the fireplace running, the wall above the mantle was no warmer than before I turned it on. I just replaced the Pioneer with a 50" Panasonic (the Pioneer is shown in the picture). In case you're wondering, I have three in-wall speakers across the front of the fireplace wall (also specified in the framing drawing I gave the builder), and the center channel speaker is what you see immediately above the TV.

The original Pioneer TV hung there for more than 3 years before I upgraded last week. The picture was still great on it, and I had no reservation selling it to one of my best friends. If you're careful about it, I don't see any reason not to hang a TV above a fireplace (although some may debate the aesthetics of such a setup).

Plan ahead for cables that you'll need to run to the TV (conduit is great for this), plan ahead for power, plan for stud placement, and plan for heat deflection. I'm really glad I did all of this during the building stage.

Also--my house is not custom by any means. I worked with a very large national builder that does traditional subdivision homes. Because I kept the wall design relatively simple, they agreed to build it to my specs, and they didn't charge me any more than they typically do for a fireplace wall.

jj

I like the looks of that! I also ran a piece of conduit for future cable runs. My headend will be in the basement so I have about a 40 ft run to get my wires to the tv. Im debating as to whether I will need more than a 2" piece of PVC. Its currently empty but Im going to need a few HDMI cables ran thru there.

jeffthx,

I like the looks of your set-up. With a gas fireplace it seems OK, but I don't think I would want to use it with a wood fireplace, where soot might be an issue.

IB

I totally agree. While most people think that heat is the enemy of plasmas in this type of setup, the bigger problem is soot from a wood fireplace. That's why I threw the word "gas" into my original post--to call out that this wasn't a wood fireplace. I don't know that there is a way to mount a TV above a wood fireplace without shortening the TV's life.

jj

Mine will be a gas unit also. Its a 42" model (not sure on BTUs). I really would love to pull the trigger on the Pio 5010fd....
Sheet rock goes up next week so Im scrambling to get all my ducks in a row before they enclose it.

I can't imagine actually watching a TV above a fireplace. Are these used as primary displays, or something extra to have on here and there?

The FBI estimates that 71% of all serial killers have plasmas mounted above their fireplaces. It's bizarre and your friends will laugh at you when they leave your house

It's our set for primary viewing, but not critical viewing. That is, I watch most of my Tivo'd HD shows and DVDs down in my front projection theater. However, the plasma in our family room is more like an appliance. It always seems to be on, and it's used by everyone (including my 8- and 5-year old). We have a couch that you kind of sink into, so when you're watching TV, your head naturally tilts upward to the screen. After 3 years with this setup, I can safely say that neck strain isn't an issue for any of us.

While it's quite possible that 71% of all serial killers mount plasmas above their fireplace, I fall into the 29% category ("potential serial killer"). My friends were laughing at me long before I bought my first plasma. Sometimes they didn't even wait until they left my house.

jj

It's our set for primary viewing, but not critical viewing. That is, I watch most of my Tivo'd HD shows and DVDs down in my front projection theater. However, the plasma in our family room is more like an appliance. It always seems to be on, and it's used by everyone (including my 8- and 5-year old). We have a couch that you kind of sink into, so when you're watching TV, your head naturally tilts upward to the screen. After 3 years with this setup, I can safely say that neck strain isn't an issue for any of us.

While it's quite possible that 71% of all serial killers mount plasmas above their fireplace, I fall into the 29% category ("potential serial killer"). My friends were laughing at me long before I bought my first plasma. Sometimes they didn't even wait until they left my house.

jj

Yes, the good news is that 29% of plasma/fireplace guys AREN'T serial killers.

yet.

It's our set for primary viewing, but not critical viewing. That is, I watch most of my Tivo'd HD shows and DVDs down in my front projection theater. However, the plasma in our family room is more like an appliance. It always seems to be on, and it's used by everyone (including my 8- and 5-year old). We have a couch that you kind of sink into, so when you're watching TV, your head naturally tilts upward to the screen. After 3 years with this setup, I can safely say that neck strain isn't an issue for any of us.

While it's quite possible that 71% of all serial killers mount plasmas above their fireplace, I fall into the 29% category ("potential serial killer"). My friends were laughing at me long before I bought my first plasma. Sometimes they didn't even wait until they left my house.

jj

great line at the end. :D

Yes, the good news is that 29% of plasma/fireplace guys AREN'T serial killers.
I was going to do the "above the fireplace" mount thing - but the lack of (a) a fireplace and (b) an extra freezer for all the spare body parts forced me to go with a more traditional method.

http://btz.smugmug.com/photos/179171892-L.jpg

I was going to do the "above the fireplace" mount thing - but the lack of (a) a fireplace and (b) an extra freezer for all the spare body parts forced me to go with a more traditional method.

http://btz.smugmug.com/photos/179171892-L.jpg


Very funny! Nice setup! ? wouldn't your center speaker be better on the top shelf, closer to the screen/picture? Move the top component down to the middle and move the Cspker up... Vocalization will be better closer to the voices coming from the picture... just my two-cents... very nice HT!

Very funny! Nice setup! ? wouldn't your center speaker be better on the top shelf, closer to the screen/picture? Move the top component down to the middle and move the Cspker up... Vocalization will be better closer to the voices coming from the picture... just my two-cents... very nice HT!

I suppose it would but I really have a lot of hate for how it looks sitting directly under the Pioneer (plus everything looks more balanced to me with it on the Xbox). I probably only use the home theater setup about 2% of the time anyway (normally only for dvd's) since my wife goes to bed early and we also have a 2 1/2 year old. Can't be shaking the house down too often 'cos if mommy and/or baby isn't rested and happy - no one is happy. And thanks for the compliment! :)

I like the looks of that! I also ran a piece of conduit for future cable runs. My headend will be in the basement so I have about a 40 ft run to get my wires to the tv. Im debating as to whether I will need more than a 2" piece of PVC. Its currently empty but Im going to need a few HDMI cables ran thru there.

I would use the biggest conduit that fits, or, perhaps better, two. Cables seem to snag on others when pulling them through. Remember to leave a strong piece of string in the conduit so that you can pull through any additional wires in the future.

I was going to do the "above the fireplace" mount thing - but the lack of (a) a fireplace and (b) an extra freezer for all the spare body parts forced me to go with a more traditional method.


Yeah, it's not cool when your buddy comes over to watch the game and finds a frozen arm in the freezer. Just ruins the second half.

I just mounted a plasma over a fireplace basically because it was the only solution for that room.

If I was building a room from scratch I probably would not choose to mount the plasma over the fireplace, for the main reason that the TV is not as comfortable to watch when it is high up on the wall.

But if I was doing it, I would definitely put a recessed area for the TV so it looks cool and doesn't protrude out from the wall, and keep it as low as possible. I'd probably also put a mantle to protect it from heat, though in a gas fireplace I doubt it is an issue.

Most definitely I would mark the locations of the studs to make wall mounting easier, or even ask the carpenters to install the wall mount, and put 2" conduits in the wall and run a dedicated clock outlet for the TV.

My tv above the fireplace is not as high as you guys are thinking. My fireplace will be flush with the ground. Its 42" high with 6" tile around the fireplace. TV will be flush mounted into the sheet rock above. We are not doing a mantle, etc... Im going to install another piece of conduit just in case. How are you people fairing with long HDMI runs? I'll have about a 40-50ft run.