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Does mounting plasma over fireplace cause neck strain?

1769 Views 41 Replies 29 Participants Last post by aserhal, Oct 15, 2004

Simeon Tregarth

Discussion Starter · Oct 12, 2004

We are considering mounting a plasma television over the fireplace but I am concerned about getting neck strain watching something up that high. Has that been a problem for anyone?

If you have this type of setup and it is working well, what is the height of the television from the floor and how far back is your seating?

Thanks!

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1 - 20 of 42 Posts

HooStat

· #2 · Oct 12, 2004

One thing to consider is the viewing angle to the top of the screen. I have heard it should be less than 20 degrees, but people differ wildly on what is appropriate.

bobaphx

· #3 · Oct 12, 2004

I've been curious about why anyone would mount a Plasma above their fireplace. I think they've seen it in magazines (hung over fireplace like you would a picture or mirror) or model homes. But, in real life, it doesn't seem like a comfortable way to watch TV.

CycloneGT

· #4 · Oct 12, 2004

I sit far enough back that it is not a problem. But if you do get close, it will be uncomfortable. And that is no way to enjoy your purchase.

hiker

· #5 · Oct 12, 2004

Yes, it caused neck strain for me. I took it down and it now sits on a low table in front of the fireplace. Of course we don't use the fireplace anymore, but we can now put on a burning log DVD.

robnalex

· #6 · Oct 12, 2004

Except for those who absolutely have no where else to put their display, I think over-the-fireplace installations are pretentious and stupid. It's a TV, not a painting. But then maybe these people all have some kind of elevator loungers?

Faustus

· #7 · Oct 12, 2004

Well I'm feeling really pretentious and stupid, although I can truthfully say we had no choice but to mount our plasma over the fireplace. I live in an older house with lots of fireplaces and not a single spot large enough to fit the 42" plasms other than over the fireplace in the living room. Would I rather have it lower down? Of course. Would I rather have it in a location that doesn't look like it's pretending to be a portrait of a dead ancestor? Of course.

But the current arrangement is what I do to have both the video viewing that I want and the house I want.

I do notice some neck "discomfort" sometimes, but only after extended viewing (more than just a movie or a game) and not even every time at that. Maybe I'm getting used to it...

revmike

· #8 · Oct 12, 2004

I would think that if the hearth was raised or not would be a factor in it's placement over a fireplace.

iraweiss

· #9 · Oct 12, 2004

I've tried homes with the plasma set up over the fireplace and as far as I am concerned it is the cornerstone of the chiropractors and orthopedist's full employment act.

revmike

· #10 · Oct 12, 2004

LOL

rkwak

· #11 · Oct 12, 2004

"Except for those who absolutely have no where else to put their display, I think over-the-fireplace installations are pretentious and stupid. It's a TV, not a painting. But then maybe these people all have some kind of elevator loungers?"

I guess I'm pretentious and stupid as well. I placed mine above the fireplace because it put it at eye level due to the configuration of the fireplace and my normal viewing position and centered it in the room in the best acoustic position between the L/R speakers.

qkslvr

· #12 · Oct 12, 2004

Some of the furniture manufacturers have taken this into account by having reclining media loveseats and chairs with adjustable headrests. Although we don't have the plasma over the fireplace yet, our seating adjusts exactly for that type of viewing. check out the Ekornes Stressless line for alternative seating.

kingtut(So.Cal)

· #13 · Oct 12, 2004

How many of you sit straight up. I have just a leather couch with ottoman and I find my optimum viewing angle is not head high but several feet higher than that. My Plasma is 5'2 at the bottom and I have no neck problems. If I had a recliner it would be even sweeter.

chumbley

· #14 · Oct 12, 2004

Mine's going above the FP as well. Same reason - I'm pretentious and stupid too. Actually, I have no other decent place for it.

My normal viewing position, in my recliner, it is MUCH more comfortable to view things at that level than it is when they are lower. We also have a projection setup, and the top of the screen is just a few feet from the ceiling, the bottom being about 4' above the floor. The focus of the viewing area of the screen is very similar to what the plamsa above the FP will be. We've never had any issues watching it.

I believe it is all dependant on how far from the screen you are (changes the angle) and what your normal viewing position is. I've always found sitting in a chair / couch / recliner and watching sets that are close to the floor uncomfortable, because you are always looking down at them, which for me causes neck strain everytime. However, if you normally pile onto the floor and lounge on pillows 4 feet from the screen, above the FP is not going to be much fun.

Jeff

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luder1

· #15 · Oct 13, 2004

i have mine over the fireplace, i love it there. So i must be lovely stupid. anyway, i got the tilt mount and from 8 feet away, its perfect.

ab11bc48

· #16 · Oct 13, 2004

luder1 - how high up and how much tilt are you using. I want to be pretentious and stupid as soon as my new set comes in.

Quote:

i have mine over the fireplace, i love it there. So i must be lovely stupid. anyway, i got the tilt mount and from 8 feet away, its perfect.

dsmith901

· #17 · Oct 13, 2004

Plasmas don't have to be mounted on the wall, you know. They can sit on a table, and you can even get lifts that raise them for viewing and drop them out of sight.

chumbley

· #18 · Oct 13, 2004

After being told (for more years than I care to count) that someday we would have TV screens that hung on the wall - you can bet I'm gonna hang mine on the wall!

Really - some of us just don't have a choice. Integrating large displays into the family room of our open floorplan designs with lots of windows and open space to other rooms leaves little alternative much of the time.

Jeff

a. macree

· #19 · Oct 13, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by Simeon Tregarth
We are considering mounting a plasma television over the fireplace but I am concerned about getting neck strain watching something up that high. Has that been a problem for anyone?

Nope. (But I was lying propped up in a hospital bed at the time...).

But such high-angle viewing under normal living conditions not only gives me a crick-in-the-neck; It makes ME nauseous, and further, causes our various housepets to become sullen--howling and refusing to eat for days at a time....

AMc

robnalex

· #20 · Oct 13, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by rkwak
"Except for those who absolutely have no where else to put their display, I think over-the-fireplace installations are pretentious and stupid. It's a TV, not a painting. But then maybe these people all have some kind of elevator loungers?"

I guess I'm pretentious and stupid as well. I placed mine above the fireplace because it put it at eye level due to the configuration of the fireplace and my normal viewing position and centered it in the room in the best acoustic position between the L/R speakers.

Not at all. You get an exemption.

1 - 20 of 42 Posts

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