Other Tips

 

Mount your TV at around eye level when you’re sat down. This is usually around a meter from the floor. People are often tempted to mount it higher and, although some find this a better experience for watching movies and gaming, most people find it more relaxing to be looking at a screen at eye level.

Once you have found the first stud in the wall, look for the next one around 450mm away. This is the usual distance used, but do not rely on this. Still use a stud finder to confirm where it is.

Power outlets are usually placed next to studs so there is a good place to start looking.

Cables in the wall should be of high quality to reduce interference with other cables that may run nearby. The last thing you want is for your TV to flicker or distort sound when you turn the lights on.

It is a good idea to put in cables for components that you may buy in the future. For example, if you buy an HD Blu-Ray player and you haven’t put an HDMI cable in the wall, then you will have to dismount the TV to do this later. By spending an extra $20 now, you can save yourself a lot of work in the future.

A piece of wire or a coat hanger is very useful when you are pulling the wire through the wall.

To save holding up a heavy TV cut a piece of cardboard to the same dimension and stick it to the wall so you can judge the position.

If the wall you are mounting to is uneven cut a sheet of plywood or MDF to slightly bigger than the mount and securely fasten this to the wall. Then attach the mount to the sheet.

Position data cable outlets and/or power outlets above or below the TV bracket, but still behind the TV. Power outlet boxes must be closed at the back, whereas low voltage data cables can run into boxes with open backs. This makes running additional cables at a later date easier.

A laser level is more accurate than using a spirit level when aligning the holes. They can be bought for twenty to thirty dollars.

To create a truly professional home theatre system, consoles and recorders/players can be hidden in a cupboard or even another room. Infrared receivers are available to allow remote controls to work through doors and walls.