# I'm shopping for a new TV, and a wall mount, any advice? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 16, 2023, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shopping-for-a-new-tv-and-a-wall-mount-any-advice/978336 "2023-01-16T23:37:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shopping-for-a-new-tv-and-a-wall-mount-any-advice/978336/1 "2023-01-16T23:37:51Z")
I’m about to get a TV for newly finished space in my basement. This will be my first large TV (I have one that’s maybe 30" in the den) I have about 4’ of space above a 3’ bookcase, where I want to mount the new TV. I use a Roku in the den, and my default is to get a new Roku for the new TV, which will be in the basement. I anticipate using it mostly to watch movies, but it would be nice to be able to use it to play video games from a PC or a switch or maybe some other device. I suppose I’ll also want to plug in a DVD/bluray player. I’m more looking for “hang out with friends and watch TV” than “reproduce a theater experience”, and the sound in movie theaters is typically painfully loud. What should I be looking for? Any advice? Any advice on mounting the thing? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shopping-for-a-new-tv-and-a-wall-mount-any-advice/978336/2 "2023-01-16T23:44:12Z")
Do you want it mounted flat to the wall, or on an extensible arm that allows the TV to be angled to one side or the other? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shopping-for-a-new-tv-and-a-wall-mount-any-advice/978336/3 "2023-01-16T23:44:56Z")
How big a TV? TVs are surprisingly light these days - but you still want to anchor the mount into at least one stud. We use a single-arm swing-out mount for our 50", and a double-arm mount for our 70". [Single-arm](https://smile.amazon.com/Articulating-Extension-Rotation-200x200mm-Pipishell/dp/B07SHFPD8S/ref=sr_1_9?crid=M7O9K875D21H&keywords=monitor+mount+tilt&qid=1673912576&sr=8-9) [Dual-arm](https://smile.amazon.com/USX-MOUNT-Articulating-Centering-600x400mm/dp/B093SX9QM1/ref=sxin_15_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.14a246c3-7a62-40bf-bdd0-5ac67c2a1913%3Aamzn1.sym.14a246c3-7a62-40bf-bdd0-5ac67c2a1913&crid=2AE888Y7UKE1K&cv_ct_cx=monitor%2Bmount%2Btilt%2B70%22&keywords=monitor%2Bmount%2Btilt%2B70%22&pd_rd_i=B093SX9QM1&pd_rd_r=5d8eb33f-fca9-4618-a425-18d0adac40c1&pd_rd_w=7IM30&pd_rd_wg=XWzaw&pf_rd_p=14a246c3-7a62-40bf-bdd0-5ac67c2a1913&pf_rd_r=RKSWKVX78G8MQT0SYRXY&qid=1673912650&sprefix=monitor%2Bmount%2Btilt%2B70%2B%2Caps%2C138&sr=1-3-a73d1c8c-2fd2-4f19-aa41-2df022bcb241-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc&smid=A1T1R1M57M8TL&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFHM0hXMUw2MTRZT0QmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAxMDA4NzAyTFlaMlQ0VVRRQkhCJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA0MjI0MjQyUFBGMENZQzNaVFlEJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3Bfc2VhcmNoX3RoZW1hdGljJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ&th=1) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shopping-for-a-new-tv-and-a-wall-mount-any-advice/978336/4 "2023-01-16T23:56:38Z")
I was thinking an arm mount is more flexible, unless there are downsides I’m not thinking of. I wondered if there are arms that would let it pull out and move down a little, as starting 3’ high seems higher than ideal. But maybe that’s not a thing? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shopping-for-a-new-tv-and-a-wall-mount-any-advice/978336/5 "2023-01-16T23:59:53Z")
How big? I dunno. What do people like these days? Everyone else’s TV looks huge to me, but maybe i should get with the times. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shopping-for-a-new-tv-and-a-wall-mount-any-advice/978336/6 "2023-01-17T00:03:37Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I wondered if there are arms that would let it pull out and move down a little, as starting 3’ high seems higher than ideal. But maybe that’s not a thing? I don’t know. Having the bottom of the TV at three feet off the ground doesn’t seem too high to me. (In fact I’ve seen some TV sets above the fireplace, and in such cases the bottom might be five feet off the ground. _That_ seems too high to me.) As for the size, I recommend getting the biggest one that will fit in the space. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shopping-for-a-new-tv-and-a-wall-mount-any-advice/978336/7 "2023-01-17T00:04:32Z")
I certainly want to at least be able to angle it down, to face the viewer, i think. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shopping-for-a-new-tv-and-a-wall-mount-any-advice/978336/8 "2023-01-17T00:31:05Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > As for the size, I recommend getting the biggest one that will fit in the space. … within your budget, of course. I’m a cheap ass so I just go to Walmart every 7 years and buy the best $500 TV they have. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shopping-for-a-new-tv-and-a-wall-mount-any-advice/978336/9 "2023-01-17T00:35:06Z")
Looking at the Walmart website, you can get 75" sets for under $700, so I think a really big screen will probably fit the budget. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shopping-for-a-new-tv-and-a-wall-mount-any-advice/978336/10 "2023-01-17T03:46:27Z")
Yeah, the TV is a fairly small part of the cost of this project. I don’t want to buy something that’s bleeding edge and is grossly overpriced, or more likely to break. But I’m pretty sure “a popular size that fits” is going to fit my budget. I may need to pay more to get one that has low latency for gaming or something, but i expect that won’t be a problem. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shopping-for-a-new-tv-and-a-wall-mount-any-advice/978336/11 "2023-01-17T05:46:08Z")
When you remodeled, did you plumb an HDMI connector and AC plug behind where your TV will be? If not, you will be dangling connectors down the wall. Your new TV will undoubtedly be “smart”, which means it’s basically a streaming service inside the TV. I assume you have requisite internet in that space? 25mbps for 4k. It sounds like you can fit at least a 65" television back there. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shopping-for-a-new-tv-and-a-wall-mount-any-advice/978336/12 "2023-01-17T11:23:48Z")
big screen TV’s are pretty much a commodity now and as long as you are happy with 4k and some variety of LED (rather than the newest OLED), and you are not chasing audiophile or cinephile top specifications then a 60-65" TV is not going to break the bank and will probably do the job. That sort of size is going to weigh perhaps 20kg and even the most standard wall mountings give the option for slight up down angle adjustment. I just bought a 65" TCL for pretty much peanuts and stuck it on a [big swing arm](https://www.amazon.co.uk/VonHaus-Double-Bracket-Management-Televisions/dp/B012CLXDOY/ref=sr_1_14?crid=2NKSIL0E6V9JC&keywords=vonhaus+tv+bracket&qid=1673954560&sprefix=vonhaus+tv%2Caps%2C138&sr=8-14) mounted above my fireplace with painted trunking to carry the cables. I’m very happy with it. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shopping-for-a-new-tv-and-a-wall-mount-any-advice/978336/13 "2023-01-17T12:55:49Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > When you remodeled, did you plumb an HDMI connector and AC plug behind where your TV will be? If not, you will be dangling connectors down the wall. I’m in the middle of remodeling. The electricians will be stringing wires for lighting fixtures today. Dunno if the plan to run HDMI through the wall, but yes, AC is on the menu. I’m thinking the TV in my den has a dozen connectors, and cables running along the mount to nearby boxes are the ticket, not wall-embedded HDMI. But tell me why I’m wrong. Also, yes, the latest WiFi upgrade included good Internet in the basement. The main connection to Verizon is actually in the adjacent garage. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shopping-for-a-new-tv-and-a-wall-mount-any-advice/978336/14 "2023-01-17T13:30:24Z")
I purchased a medium-sized (55") Samsung TV a couple years ago and considered wall-mounting it. Instead, I bought a floor stand and it has worked out really well for me. The stand has a tempered glass panel that extends froward at the base. My stereo/player cabinet covers this handily, though you could put just about anything there. All the cables to the TV are concealed within the single center post, so wire management is great. You can raise and lower it about 24" and pivot it from side to side. One reason I did this was to avoid mounting hardware on my wall and to make it all look neater. Highly recommended unless you want your TV mounted very high up. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shopping-for-a-new-tv-and-a-wall-mount-any-advice/978336/15 "2023-01-17T13:32:06Z")
I want to keep the bookcase, so the floor isn’t available. (The bookcase is 8’ long and 3’ high, only part of it will be under the TV.) ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shopping-for-a-new-tv-and-a-wall-mount-any-advice/978336/16 "2023-01-17T13:41:13Z")
Understood. In my case, the cabinet under the TV is actually supported on three sides that rest on the floor. It is open at the rear, so the base of the TV stand slides under it. The glass panel is only about 5/8" thick, so you could probably use rubber casters to raise the bookcase, if you wanted to. My den (where the TV is) is actually painted paneling, so it would be more difficult for me to patch holes in the wall. I was a bit concerned about the stability of the stand, but it is rock solid. Sorry if it sounds like I own stock in a TV stand company. I was just tickled that the stand worked so well for me, was easy to install, and looks so much better than a wall mount. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shopping-for-a-new-tv-and-a-wall-mount-any-advice/978336/17 "2023-01-17T13:42:56Z")
You are suggesting that i put this stand behind and under the bookcase? Around it? My basement walls are plasterboard and in flux. I have no concerns about putting holes in it. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shopping-for-a-new-tv-and-a-wall-mount-any-advice/978336/18 "2023-01-17T14:21:12Z")
I just checked Walmart’s site. For $500 you get a good 65" set. I’ve heard a lot of nice things about LG and the sets I’ve seen in homes (not store) are indeed very good. Better than the Samsung and Phillips sets I’ve had. I’d seriously consider adding HDMI to the wall, especially if you plan on connecting a game console and maybe a computer. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shopping-for-a-new-tv-and-a-wall-mount-any-advice/978336/19 "2023-01-17T14:23:09Z")
But where will the game console and laptop sit that won’t include wires running around? I’m not sure where I’d want that HDMI to even go. I’m envisioning a cable snaking across the floor when I’m actually connecting a laptop or game console. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shopping-for-a-new-tv-and-a-wall-mount-any-advice/978336/20 "2023-01-17T14:56:47Z")
I haven’t done this but you can have a single HDMI cable running from a wall port to the set and then have all of the various devices (cable box, game console, DVD player, etc) in a cabinet nearby. That way there is no cable mess. And for the laptop computer, you can use WiFi Direct to connect wirelessly. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shopping-for-a-new-tv-and-a-wall-mount-any-advice/978336.md?page=2)