TV mounting varies from person to person, house to house. But there seems to be one technique that a lot of homeowners use when mounting their newly purchased smart TV or OLED TV: right above the fireplace.
It seems to be the most logical spot, right? More often than not, it's right in the middle of everything else in the living room, which feels "natural" for most people.
However, according to Geoffrey Morrison of CNET, that's actually the worst area you could put your new TV in.
There are several reasons why, and you'll learn about them as you read along.
Proper TV Mounting Is All About Viewing Angles
Reminisce to the time you sat front row in a movie theater. Did you like being there or not?
A lot of people don't, because the reason is simple: the viewing angle is too high. Do this long enough and you might find yourself having a bit of neck pain.
There's simply too much stress if you have to look up to watch the TV, especially for hours on end.
The best viewing angle for your TV, according to Tom's Guide, is eye level. But of course, you have to consider a few more factors.
How high is your seat? How far is the screen from there? If you're watching from a distance, it might be fine to keep it above the fireplace. But if you're sitting a bit closer, then keep it at eye level as much as possible.
Another viewing angle consideration relies on your TV's specifications.
Like a lot of gaming displays, most modern smart TVs will feature one of three display types: IPS, TN, or VA. You can easily see this on the box that your TV came in with.
If your TV is using a TN panel, keep it at eye level or close to eye level at all costs. Because if you don't, then the screen is going to look bad if you view it from any angle other than dead center.
Read also: LG Smart TV: 325-Inch and 2,000 Pounds with 8K Display for $1.7 Million Under the DVLED Lineup
Heat And Soot Can Be Problematic
This is perhaps the most obvious thing. Even if your chimney is relatively modern, it's still burning some kind of fuel to do its job. And if there's one bad thing that remains constant for every electronic device, it's heat.
All that heat can definitely shorten your TV's lifespan if you're not careful.
Even worse is the soot. If it builds up enough, it can get inside the TV itself and do damage.
While the problems might take a bit longer to appear, the bad thing is that this could go well beyond your manufacturer's warranty.
Where Should You Put It, Then?
Dedicated TV cabinets or tables are a thing. These furniture don't cost much, and they can keep your smart TV or OLED TV at a far more ergonomic angle than high above the fireplace.
Even better, you can easily reach all its controls if for some reason you misplace the remote.
Not to mention, your likely pricey TV (especially if it's OLED) will be way safer, away from all the soot and the heat that could damage it over time.
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by RJ Pierce
