I'm about to purchase a new TV, probably a Sony A3000, and some speakers

I'm curious about center channel placement. I'm wondering how much weight can the TV hold?

I like having my center channel mounted above my TV, but I've heard that rear projection TVs are can't hold as much weight as CRTs. I'm looking at center channel speakers between 20-40 pounds. Is that too heavy to place on top?

I'm worried that the shelves on most stands won't be tall enough to hold a medium to large size speaker.

Where do most people place their larger, heavier center channel speakers?

Thanks

Tom

Oh yeah. None of the newer RPTV's recommend center channel placement on top.

I have a JBL N24 center channel on top of my 60 inch SXRD XBR1 with no problems. I use a stand that has adjustable longer back legs since the back of the TV is slanted. the Center channel speaker is probably 15 lbs though.

.........and it's an XBR1.;)

I have a 30lb center speaker which I think could damage a RPTV. I use a floor stand in front of the tv, the speaker is angled up and it sounds very good.

If your tv is near a wall, you can shelve it.. There are also stands for that... However these RPTV cases are not good speaker stands.

The old "big wooden box" rptvs were built like tanks and had a nice wide solid top surface ideal for center channel placement.

The new sets just aren't meant to have anything placed on top at all. Most people put the center channel speaker on the middle shelf of whatever stand they're using.

Thanks for all the responses. I'm not going to be able to use a shelf from behind my set. So it will have to go below the TV.

Has anyone noticed any negative changes to their soundstage from keeping their center channel so low?

This really makes shopping for a stand & speakers that much harder. Urgh! :-)

Thanks for the responses
Tom

I'm in the exact same situation.

My Polk is 30lbs and I was considering the Omnimount stand, but I dont' want to take the chance.

So I've been looking for tv stands that have the space for a large speaker right in the middle below the tv.