Fireplace setups.....

brettw22

I have no idea if this is the right area for this, but other than that.........

I'm moving into my place and really about the only place (other than in bedrooms, which is a no go any more) for my 52" LCD is above my fireplace. Normally I'd have a rack etc to set everything up in but I don't know how to make this work really. There is an outlet and a coax connection that home runs to the basement where all coax hookups start off....

I'm pretty sure that I'm not getting dish anything (hate the cable mess on the side of the house) so I'm going to do cable something........but if I want HD channels I have to get the HD box. Where the hell am I supposed to put that thing if the TV connection above the mantle terminates in the basement? I'm not putting the box on top of the mantle and making it look all gimpy....I'm also not thrilled that the only option I have to hook up to my TV is the coax, but unless I hack the hell out of my fireplace and put a nook in the side of it for equipment, I don't know what my options are........

Any suggestions?

F1nut

brettw22 wrote: »

Any suggestions?

Move

brettw22

I am.....just not in the direction you're implying........keep up.

F1nut

I'm way ahead of you.

Move, as into a different place than you are planning to. Yeah, I know it's a smartass comment, but it is 4:30AM here.

brettw22

You're drinking aren't you.......i'm pretty excited......finally got the garage openers (somehow that's one of the more exciting things about buying a place.....ha).....

Off to bed so I can get up and watch the movers move all my stuff.......it's gonna be hard work supervising that.......nite.

engtaz

2 Guru's need sleep. Run a long HDMI cable to the TV. Monoprice has them in longer lengths.

Ricardo

I think I might be missing something....but isn't that coax cable to feed the cable signal to the cable box, DVR or whatever you're getting? Is there any other place to put these other that where the TV is? Don't you need it there so your remote will reach them when you want to change the channel?

Congrats on moving.

Ricardo

Oh.

Remember I just turned 50 so I'm slow when it comes to these new gadgets

kcoc321

brew, send some pics..
Also, is the basement under the fireplace area and the place you want to place the components?

What is outside/ behind the Fireplace? Is it am masonry FP or and incert?

All of these will determine how you can get the signal to the TV.

I don't think there isa 1080p wireless tech, yet, or if her eis I am sure it is more $$ than running wire.

The IR remote posted will solve the remote usage issue, if the "stack" is not going to be in an convenient location.

treitz3

brettw22 wrote: »

You're drinking aren't you.......

I don't think so.

Try a little bit of mess and man's work. Custom.

Conradicles

I would NOT mount it above the fireplace. TV's should be eye level when sitting down. Just reconfigure the room.

F1nut

brettw22 wrote: »

You're drinking aren't you.......

You know better than that.

i'm pretty excited......finally got the garage openers (somehow that's one of the more exciting things about buying a place.....ha).....

LOL....yeah, it is. Congrats!

Off to bed so I can get up and watch the movers move all my stuff.......it's gonna be hard work supervising that.......nite.

Don't kill anyone when they drop your most prized possession.

dkg999

Use the cable for high-speed internet. Get a Roku box to set by the TV and connect wireless to the internet. Screw cable or dish TV. JMHO.

McLoki

Conradicles wrote: »

I would NOT mount it above the fireplace. TV's should be eye level when sitting down. Just reconfigure the room.

I have had no issues with the TV mounted well above my seated eye level for the last 8 years. (The middle of the TV is currently about eye level when I am standing - viewing distance is about 13' to my 50" plasma)

Here is a picture of the setup. (the picture is my previous LCD rear projection - it has since been replaced by a plasma TV of the same size that actually sits a little higher)

madmax

I have mine mounted above the fireplace, I think it sucks being that high. Some day I'll move it to an eye level position.
madmax

tonyb

McLoki wrote: »

I have had no issues with the TV mounted well above my seated eye level for the last 8 years. (The middle of the TV is currently about eye level when I am standing - viewing distance is about 13' to my 50" plasma)

Here is a picture of the setup. (the picture is my previous LCD rear projection - it has since been replaced by a plasma TV of the same size that actually sits a little higher)

You haven't had any neck problems ?? Hmmm....maybe your just used to it from all those porno's you watch.:)

Seriously,you have a gas fireplace,your good. If it was a wood burner,absolutely not. As for the op's question,the cable box is fed by the coax cable,hdmi to tv or go thru the receiver. I would put it at eye level anyway as others suggested.

McLoki

madmax wrote: »

I have mine mounted above the fireplace, I think it sucks being that high. Some day I'll move it to an eye level position.
madmax

Then again, maybe its not for everyone.....

I will say, that the closer you sit, the more of an issue it would be.

madmax

Just an opinion, no better than anyone elses. I think it should be given a trial in that position before doing all the work to make it permanent though. Luckily I didn't do the wiring first.

brettw22

I have to think about the fireplace thing......I really have zero desire to put it there, but this living room area is a funky layout and is the only place that i can put the tv.....

Eventually when the basement is finished there will be a 17x17 theater room that i can load up, but until then, I really don't like the fireplace compromise.....

The problem ultimately is that where the tv/stack would go, there's a massive 20' high fireplace in the living room.....nice feature, except that it **** up everything else......lol......

kcoc321

Where's our pictures? Can't hep yah without seeing what you have.

brettw22

Here ya be......

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=104784&id=522548543&l=dc2f00c52a

mmadden28

Not sure if one is made-but with all the gadgets on the market today.....What about a wall mount that allows you to pull the TV out and down to the proper level when you're using it?? Of course then you have an issue with your center channel....

A friend of mine was in a similar situation. I suggested making a nook in the side of his fireplace. There was enough empty space that he could do it. What he actually ended up doing was putting his AV gear in a nearby room, and running HDMI and IR repeaters--he's happy with it.
That's actually similar to how I'm setting up my dedicated Home Theater--All my gear will be on the side wall in the back--nothing up near the screen (except the speakers), and I'm sure I'm not the only one doing it that way.

brettw22

I've seen arms that swing around and adjust, but I don't want some monstrosity of a bracket that makes the TV stand 10" off the wall......it's not an ideal situation and there's really no way around it....

It's a temp thing, but I don't want to install something high up for 'temp'........capiche?

kcoc321

AHhh...that makes it easier......

IS the space to the right not big enough?

You could go either place... right side would let you keep the TV 'eye height' I did one with a Peerless full extension arm in a built in cabinet...that way you can angle it if yo want...plus makes easier to connect.

As Far as componnents...how wide is the alcove to the left...looks perfect for a built in cabinet...

As far as connections, that is just a zero clearance metal box, so easy-peasy...
just need to be above the Firebox...although I would put in conduit....makes it easier to change out
cables ect later if you want to upgrade them.

Hardest thing is to pick where you want it... Get out the hole saw...hehe

BTW: IS that a direct vent (metal vent on outside wall) or a vertical vent?

add: lol...sorry I am a "slow poster" in the middle of cooking dinner...

brettw22

space to the right means the tv gets corner loaded.....and if the fireplace is at 12, there's an alcove at 3, but i don't want the tv in front of the windows.......might have to though.......i could get the tv, vm30s, a microsub and it would work out well for the most part.......aside from the fact that it would eat my windows.......

kcoc321

definitely don't want to "eat the windows"....

What about some LSi's or RTi on top of the cabinets aimed down alittle?

Depends on how "Audiophile" you want to go. AND $$ of course.

You could go wireless with the sub under/ in a coffe table/ end table.

disneyjoe7

I agree with the eye level comment, but for some houses it the only option is above the fireplace. It's not so in my house, but my neighbor it's the only option he has.

brettw22

the one problem with the alcove idea is that there is no cable over there at all.........

I might end up doing that regardless of the windows issue because that's better to me than having to go full recline to watch tv.......

I'll work it out over the next week or so between business trips........too much goin on to focus on that one thing at this point........but it is an irritation.......ha.

kcoc321

oh that is no problem, since you have cable in the front, we know it comes from one side or the other...probably whichever is closest to the hub you talked about, which I am guessin is on the left. Just cut in a junction box (I use double gang, since they are big enough for a hand) then pull the wire to there and run a new cable to the FP location (if you want to keep it) and to the other side for the new cable run.

If you can't access the cable, I would then cut a larger access panel (cutting at the studs for easy re-patch. Keep away from corners if you can..easier patching...
Even if you put in built-in cabinets, you still want to 'fire tape' all the seams.

Post the measurements...
and it is an opportunity not an irritation....hehe

danger boy

i'm sorry if this pisses anyone off.. but putting an LCD/plasma mounted over the fireplace is so passe now.. everyone does it now.. personally.. I think mounting them there is way to high.

good TV viewing would never have a TV mounted that high. even if sitting far back.. you're still looking up.

Brett.. you have a flat panel TV. the mounting possibilities are endless. Personally.. I think flat panel TV's mounted on a plain wall look the cleanest and you can vary the height pretty easily.

I understand not everyone has the ideal house/wall for the new larger screen TV's. but a wall is solid.. and it doesn't compete with the fireplace. Personally... i'd hate to be watching TV and have to stare into a fireplace.. whether it's going or not. The fireplace flickering would bug the holy bejesus out of my TV watching enjoyment. I like a room dark and nothing flickering when I'm watching TV.

but that's just me.

danger boy

madmax wrote: »

I have mine mounted above the fireplace, I think it sucks being that high. Some day I'll move it to an eye level position.
madmax

good for you sir... you've realized above a fireplace is way to high.

Just because all the advertisers show pics of a TV mounted above a fireplace.. doesn't mean it's right. or wrong for that matter. I guess it's just my preference that I don't like it mounted 5+ feet off the ground.