Bought a new TV for entertaining through the holidays? Is it a lot larger than your final TV? Earlier than you dive into all of the enjoyable stuff, it is advisable think about an important query: The place are you going to place it?
Whether or not you wall-mount or use a TV stand, there are some necessary, and infrequently unintuitive, elements to think about. For example, do you know that unhealthy TV placement can scale back a TV’s obvious image high quality, trigger neck ache and extra? You undoubtedly do not need to mount your TV too excessive, too far-off or at a bizarre angle.
Points created by unhealthy TV placement won’t be obvious instantly, however over weeks and months they could possibly be noticeable, annoying and probably even painful. The time hole could possibly be sufficient that you simply won’t even understand it is the TV’s placement inflicting the problems.
Is that this hyperbole? Probably not. Contemplate that the Occupational Security and Well being Administration has requirements in how your work surroundings is setup to attenuate the possibility of repetitive stress accidents. In case you’re watching 4 to 6 hours of TV at night time, it is potential you might be vulnerable to most of the identical points. Additionally, most TVs look far worse “off axis,” as in too far above, beneath or to the facet of the middle of the display screen. So all that cash you spent on a brand new TV could possibly be wasted by not it from the angle it seems finest.
Mounting a TV above a hearth can be a foul concept, as is the toilet. A slight seating shuffle, or adjusting your most well-liked pedestal placements, might yield higher image high quality or enable for a bigger TV. So earlier than you mount a TV or purchase an costly TV stand, think about these dos and don’ts for TV placement.
Do these 5 issues earlier than you arrange a brand new TV
Do verify TV top
Whereas there is no set top for TV placement, ideally you do not need the TV to be too excessive. Staring up at a TV is like sitting within the entrance row of a movie show. It isn’t ideally suited, not snug and never conducive to lengthy viewing classes. Typically talking, you need the middle of the TV to be about eye stage, and even barely decrease. That is true whether or not you are mounting the TV or placing it on a stand.
For extra on this, take a look at my information on how excessive you must put your TV.
Good couches make a fairly good TV placement look even higher.
Do verify the gap out of your sofa to your TV
It is unlikely anybody studying that is going to be sitting too near their TV. Sitting nearer to your TV has two advantages: It fills extra of your discipline of view (so it is extra immersive), and you may see extra decision (the picture is extra detailed). If you cannot or do not need to sit nearer, you possibly can alternatively get a bigger TV. Try this text on how massive a TV you should purchase for more information.
Do look out for sources of TV glare
Room lighting and reflections are the No. 1 killer of TV photographs based on a examine I simply made up. The actual fact is sort of each trendy TV has a reflective display screen, and I do not care how superior your lamps are, they are not as attention-grabbing as what’s on TV. Positive, you possibly can simply flip off the lights (or shut the blinds), however typically that is not simple or potential. If it is not, take a look at our piece on methods to rid your HDTV of reflections.
It is good when your view can outdo your TV.
In case you’re pondering of wall mounting, take note all of the Do’s talked about thus far. Plus, for those who’re pondering of getting an LCD, be sure to get a wall mount that is in a position to pivot or modify. With few exceptions, LCDs have worse efficiency for those who’re not sitting straight in entrance of them. With the ability to pivot or transfer a wall-mounted TV so it is aimed straight at your eyeballs shall be an enormous enchancment in image high quality (in comparison with the identical TV not aimed toward you). It is value mentioning at this level that TV weight is just not a limiting issue in terms of mounting.
At all times think about glare.
Do think about greater than model
With regards to TV stands, there are numerous choices. Contemplate the TV top along with no matter model you want. Most stands are pretty uniform in top, and some inches above or beneath ideally suited is not going to matter, however a big TV on a tall stand is not an important concept.
Do think about security, particularly if in case you have younger youngsters
Seems that falling TVs injure lots of youngsters yearly. Discover out methods to preserve your TV from falling over for those who’ve obtained youngsters or energetic pets.
Do not make these seven frequent TV placement errors
Reflections is likely to be an issue right here.
Do not mount your TV too excessive
A TV on the right top goes to look actually low if you’re standing. Which is okay, since more often than not you will not be standing if you’re watching it. Mounting a TV too excessive can actually be a ache within the neck. If you need a very good giggle, there is a energetic subreddit dedicated to photos of people that have mounted their TVs too excessive.
Do not mount a TV above the hearth
Critically. Do not mount a TV above a hearth. For the above cause and extra — not the least of which is that warmth is the enemy of all electronics. Even for those who by no means use your fire, mounting a TV above it’s nearly all the time too excessive to look at from a sofa.
Although clear trying, a bookshelf or different cupboard can scale back sound high quality and restrict the dimensions of a TV you will get sooner or later.
Do not feel restricted by a cupboard, bookcase or leisure heart
In case you have a cupboard, bookcase or leisure heart the place your TV has all the time been, it is value contemplating shedding it. That is a giant ask, particularly for a brand new TV, however think about two issues. First, it not solely limits the dimensions of the TV you will get, however the high quality. In case your cupboard can solely match a 42-inch TV, know that the higher TV tech like native dimming, OLED and Mini-LED are nearly solely out there in bigger sizes. If they are often present in smaller sizes, there are often just one or two fashions. Second, relying the place the TV’s audio system are situated, a cupboard might severely scale back the TV’s sound high quality and quantity. (In case you have a 5.1-speaker system or soundbar, this would possibly not be a difficulty.)
Do not put your indoor TV outdoors
Do not mount a “common” TV outdoors. There are TVs made for simply that. Or, for those who do not need to spend the cash on a TV designed for open air, simply know that any TV you allow on the market is not more likely to final lengthy (even when it is underneath an awning). Finest to carry it in if you’re not utilizing it.
Do not feel you want a ‘actual’ TV
For kitchens and bogs, a wise show like a Google Nest Hub or Amazon Echo Present would possibly get you all the pieces you want with out the dimensions and problem of a full-size TV.
Do not sit too far-off out of your TV
Nonetheless, you will get a bigger TV to compensate. At 10 ft away, you might get the biggest TV in the marketplace and nonetheless not see pixels.
Do not put your TV at a bizarre angle
If it’s important to flip your head to see the display screen, it is simply going to result in sore necks. Twisting your head a bit might not look like a giant deal, however preserving it that method for hours at a time could be a ache — actually.
I would advocate a subwoofer.
Backside line
Let’s take two rooms as examples. First room: You may have an important TV, mounted excessive on a wall close to the nook, with the couch and adjoining lamps, on the opposite facet of the room within the different nook. These poor people have a small-seeming TV, plenty of reflections, and stiff necks from turning and searching up on the TV. Second room: The TV is mounted at eye stage, the couch is 8 to 9 ft away and there are not any lamps to replicate on the display screen. During which room would you need to watch a marathon of Andor?
Correct placement can decide a good portion of the general enjoyment of a brand new TV. It is value contemplating adjusting your room to be extra conducive to snug TV viewing. Not solely will you acquire potential image and luxury enhancements, however within the course of, you would possibly unencumber more room for different issues. Like a rug that actually ties the room collectively.
As soon as you have obtained the position found out, this is methods to arrange your new TV. In case you’ve already obtained it arrange, listed here are some necessary image high quality settings to regulate, together with turning down the sharpness management. In case you’re having hassle listening to dialogue, there are some settings you possibly can modify that may assist.
In addition to masking TV and different show tech, Geoff does photograph excursions of cool museums and places world wide, together with nuclear submarines, large plane carriers, medieval castles, epic 10,000 mile street journeys, and extra. Try Tech Treks for all his excursions and adventures.
He wrote a bestselling sci-fi novel about city-size submarines, together with a sequel. You’ll be able to comply with his adventures on Instagram and his YouTube channel.
