Tilting center speaker recommendations please!

[DPT]

Hi Guys,
I am in the middle of mounting my plasma above the fireplace and getting my surround speakers installed in the next few weeks. I have finally decided to mount the center speaker above the TV instead of on the mantle. I just bought the B-tech center mount but I notice it doesn't tilt down at a desireable angle. I've searched but can't find any thing on this. :( Any recommendations would be appreciated:D

Thanks guys

[Willow]

I know this is not what you want to hear, but maybe another location, the reason is that above the fire place is to high, you could get neck strain and the heat from your fire is not the best for the TV.

[DPT]

I know this is not what you want to hear, but maybe another location, the reason is that above the fire place is to high, you could get neck strain and the heat from your fire is not the best for the TV.

Yeah,
I know it's not ideal but it's the only place i can put it. I have a baby on the way and the image of him cracking the glass still haunts me:o In any case if I place the speaker on the mantle, the TV would definitely be too high.

[scottvamp]

I know this is not what you want to hear, but maybe another location, the reason is that above the fire place is to high, you could get neck strain and the heat from your fire is not the best for the TV.
I don't know where this ideal came from. I'm sure there are pictures found in some flat panel advertizements in magazines and fliers that have sparked this strange craze. It was never meant to be practical aplication - it just looked good in the ad. Above a fireplace has to be one of the worst places to mount a TV.:confused:

[Early B.]

Above a fireplace has to be one of the worst places to mount a TV.:confused:

Yep.

Especially for HT, because to make it work right, you gotta mount the center channel in the fireplace or use a center channel stand and move it in front of the fireplace every time you want to watch a movie.

Do NOT place the center channel above the screen.

[hoosier21]

just put some type of spacer between the mount and the wall to tilt.

you will need some type of way to hold the speaker on the mount, double sided tape (3M or some other GOOD kind)

You guys act like he is the first to mount a flatscreen over the fireplace, it is very popular, in most new homes it is the ONLY wall space given the number of windows and open floor plans.

[sickicw]

mounting above the fire place "might" be alright as long as you are a) standing up when watching tc, b) can tilt the plasma down, or c) watch tv from a relined position like a recliner or laying a couch.
For the center channel, you might look into using door stopers to tilt the speaker down.

[DPT]

just put some type of spacer between the mount and the wall to tilt.

you will need some type of way to hold the speaker on the mount, double sided tape (3M or some other GOOD kind)

You guys act like he is the first to mount a flatscreen over the fireplace, it is very popular, in most new homes it is the ONLY wall space given the number of windows and open floor plans.

Exactly,
This is a newly built home and this is the only reasonable place to put it without hogging up a whole lot of realestate. Besides, I would really like to keep everything away from my son's curious hands.:D

[scottvamp]

just put some type of spacer between the mount and the wall to tilt.

you will need some type of way to hold the speaker on the mount, double sided tape (3M or some other GOOD kind)

You guys act like he is the first to mount a flatscreen over the fireplace, it is very popular, in most new homes it is the ONLY wall space given the number of windows and open floor plans.
No one is saying it can't be done. None of these people take home theatre serious either. You can also mount a flat panel on the ceiling above your bed.
Several magazines have shown applications of FP on a post in the middle of a room and it swivels 360degrees and one on moveable track system.
I have a huge open floor plan and have a 10.5' projection screen infront of three windows.:D (24 windows in my house)
Much better ways to mount FP than high above a fire place. If your not going the use the fireplace then put a stand in front of it and do it right.

[DPT]

mounting above the fire place "might" be alright as long as you are a) standing up when watching tc, b) can tilt the plasma down, or c) watch tv from a relined position like a recliner or laying a couch.
For the center channel, you might look into using door stopers to tilt the speaker down.

Yeah,
I bought a Sanus tilting wall mount from Costco for this very reason. My seating area will be about 14 feet away so I figure i'll be OK.

[Early B.]

The issue is not about mounting a TV over a fireplace, it's about center channel placement. The optimal placement is probably not OVER the TV, but under it, however that oocurs.

[scottvamp]

The issue is not about mounting a TV over a fireplace, it's about center channel placement. The optimal placement is probably not OVER the TV, but under it, however that oocurs.
Your already sacrificing (child) mounting it over a fire place - what is the purpose of the center channel!!!
Just something else that can "fall" and cause injury.......
Just buy two high quality stereo flat panel speakers, maybe Polks sound bar if nothing else.

[MikeC78]

There are some options at www.hookerfurniture.com that sit high enough in a buffet type stand that electronically lifts and hides the plasma when not in use. Just something to think about, they are expensive though.

Here is the one I have in the attached photo, take a look...


Mike

[DPT]

There are some options at www.hookerfurniture.com that sit high enough in a buffet type stand that electronically lifts and hides the plasma when not in use. Just something to think about, they are expensive though.

Here is the one I have in the attached photo, take a look...


Mike
That looks pretty nice but out of my budget. I was just hoping for wall mount recommendations that would allow me to tilt the center speaker down without any modifications. The sticky sounds good but I would feel a little worried about it eventually slipping.

[MikeC78]

I know you probably don't want to go this route, but have you thought about a phantom center? Those LSi15's image nicely, you might be suprised with it and not use a regualar center in your setup. Something to look into since you are having CC issues, that's all.

Mike

[DPT]

OK I finally broke down and decided to get the Polk LC265i in wall tomorrow. I figure I can point the tweeter down toward my seating area rather than getting a tilt mount for my CSi3. Also since the LC265i uses the same tweeter and is also 4 ohms, it should image well with the Lsi 15's. Problem solved.... sort of. I am a little leary of in wall speakers but I hope this one is somewhat comparable to the LSiC or at least as good as my box CSi3.

[DPT]

Well after all this time I have run into another problem. As I posted before I have decided to go with the LC265i in wall for a center. However, this past weekend I tried to have them installed to find out my studs are 12 inches apart and that they are load bearing studs. The installer basically said I could intall the speaker vertically but 2/3 of the speaker would be behind my plasma. Just for kicks we hooked up the LC and placed it behind the plasma where it rested against the mount and wall in approximately the same height and position it would be if installed. To both our surprise we couldn't really tell a difference with the speaker behind the tv and the speaker elevated above the TV by the second installer.:eek: Before anyone starts thrashing me about this I don't plan on doing this. I was wondering if anyone has converted an in wall to a box speaker with MDF. I figure even if I do this the speaker depth would be about 4-5inches and still be pretty flat. Any suggestions?

Thanks

[Straitup88]

You could try this as we did. We built our own cabinet to house our speakers. Hope this helps.

[kuntasensei]

I'm pretty sure they've figured something out since 2006.

[mak99]

Just for kicks we hooked up the LC and placed it behind the plasma where it rested against the mount and wall in approximately the same height and position it would be if installed. To both our surprise we couldn't really tell a difference with the speaker behind the tv and the speaker elevated above the TV by the second installer.:eek:
I find this hard to believe that there was no SQ difference. We had a CS245 sitting behind our 40" TV, which was located in a barely-wide enough opening in the built-in wall bookcase. Even with the bottom 1/3 of the speaker not being directly blocked by the TV housing, it was a horrible setup, albeit temporary. I eventually added a shelf above the TV for the center speaker, which improved the sound quality drastically.

Are you saying you had no sound reflections off the back of your TV when the speaker was blocked by 2/3? :confused:

With the 12" stud spacing, would it be possible to get a smaller speaker that would fit between the studs? Maybe even using two of these speakers side-by-side, and wire them both to the center speaker output?

[kuntasensei]

Again... this thread was revived from 2006, and DPT hasn't been here since 2008. Don't expect any answers!

[mak99]

Again... this thread was revived from 2006, and DPT hasn't been here since 2008. Don't expect any answers!
Oops, guess I should have looked at the dates more closely... :o ...but S88 started it! ;)