I am stupid please help

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Well I am about to buy my first LCD and I am planning to mount on the fire place. I think I am capable of fixing the LCD chasing in the cables etc but I need some advice and top tips.

What type of cable do I need , I realise I need scarts etc but do I need to spend lots on cables.

I will be running a Samsung LE-40A565 and possibly a Samsung HTX710T at the moment I have a sky plus box but I am going to upgrade to sky HD. I am not really sure where the units will go but there will be a space to the left of the chimney breast where the old tv and unit is now.

I suppose what I am after is an idots guide and tips in understandable language with not to much techy speak.

 

[Anonymous]

no where else to put it ?

 

[Anonymous]

The reason I ask is that, judging by the size of the screen you're not sitting that far from it and, although above a fireplace looks cool to start with, it is rather uncomfortable in the long run unless you sit about 18 feet away (IMHO). Set at eye level in an alcove (maybe on a swivel bracket) is more comfortable and, because you don't see the profile, I think it looks better that way too. To place speakers it is slightly more problematic in this set up but you don't have to worry about them mounting where your pictures/bookcase is right now.

 

[Anonymous]

My fireplace is quite low and I can lower it further to be honest so it's going to be the natural place to put it.

 

[Anonymous]

There's no real prob fitting a wall bracket (read de instructs) but
if the tv is heavy you will need to make sure the wall is strong enough
to take the coach bolts required. Single or double depth brick in good
condition is fine ( but can be weakened by careless chasing in)and make
sure you use enough bolts.

If your fire is flueless and the
chimney isn't used then theres the option of taking the cables through
the wall and out of the side to your av kit. It'll still be a helluva
job to get the cables to the telly though .......unless the 710 has
single HDMIout which I don't think it does ?

 

[Gerrardasnails]

andyb190:
There's no real prob fitting a wall bracket (read de instructs) but
if the tv is heavy you will need to make sure the wall is strong enough
to take the coach bolts required. Single or double depth brick in good
condition is fine ( but can be weakened by careless chasing in)and make
sure you use enough bolts.

If your fire is flueless and the
chimney isn't used then theres the option of taking the cables through
the wall and out of the side to your av kit. It'll still be a helluva
job to get the cables to the telly though .......unless the 710 has
single HDMIout which I don't think it does ?

Yes you are definitely better off buying a receiver and separate speaker package. Then, once you have Sky HD, one hdmi from screen to receiver and then everything else can connect straight to the receiver.

 

[radovantz]

Hi GlosRob, you are not stupid. Asking questions made you knowledgeable.

 

[Anonymous]

radovantz:
Hi GlosRob, you are not stupid. Asking questions made you knowledgeable.

I forgot that bit when I replied Rob, please forgive my lack of forum etiquette.

No question is stupid, nor the asker. Some of the answers you'll get on here on the other hand........!

 

[Anonymous]

Maybe not stupid but very very under educated in this field but at least it has got me some replies.

Just have to weigh up what to buy now don't want to go to mad with costs !

 

[Anonymous]

And some of the techy speak totally confuses me lol

Anyone reccomend a half decent amp and speaker set up

 

[Gerrardasnails]

GlosRob:
And some of the techy speak totally confuses me lol

Anyone reccomend a half decent amp and speaker set up

Budget? You could go a lot more wrong than the Sony receiver in my sig (available now for £200) along with the Jamo A10HCS5 (or whatever it's called - £180)) or Tannoy EFX 5.1 (£150).

 

[Anonymous]

Just read your other thread on the other forum and I'd say the advice there is good and you're now thinking 'Pants, thats more than I wanted to spend'. The reason for this increase in complexity and cost is your desire to put the tv on the chimney breast.

If you were to put it where the old CRT was for now, then non of this extra expense would be necessary. You could get the Samsung and cables etc,etc. all within what appears to be a ltd budget and then as time goes by you could update.

If , however, you go to the trouble of chasing and re-plastering etc now, then you're better off spending money on the cabling you will need in the future rather than doing it all again. You will need space for 2 hdmi cables at least (and maybe a scart) and the power lead to the tv as well. Thats just for starters.

 

[Anonymous]

Not to worried about the chasing plaster etc and if I want a good sound system then the advice seems to be go for the separates so I guess I would want that wherever I sit it or am I reading it wrong ?

People on another forum are suggesting I get a half decent amp/receiver that I can plug everything into then just run one hdmi cable to the screen which seems a good idea ?

Like I said I am new to all this so grateful for any advice or suggestions and in all fairness I need as much advice as I can get.

 

[Anonymous]

The one HDMI cable is the simplest thing to do.

If I can offer a bit of advice I'd run a mains spur onto the chimney and plug the TV in using the shortest power cable I could.

Do a seperate chase for the HDMI and the aerial, if you use one, and try to keep them away from the mains if you can. "data" cables and mains cables don't ever mix that well.

Read the other posts on here about long HDMI cables not working. Before you pick up your bolster or diamond saw get an HDMI cable the length you will need and try it out even if you have to borrow an HDMI compatible source. It does sound like HDMI over 5m can be troublesome. One last thing - as you are going to all the bother of chasing the wall don't forget to put in a pull cord in case you ever need to pull another cable through.

 

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't worry about a main's spur. It won't make any difference to the picture or sound.

But if you're digging the wall out then you need to bury in the wall every cable you'll ever need. Long enough to plug into the TV comfortably and with enough slack at the other end to fit into any items you have or may buy in the future. So plan carefully becuase that could be a lot of cables.

HDMI - you could get away with just one and run it to an AV amp so that you then plug your AV sources into the amp and let it do the switching. This saves you on cables as they're expensive and you really want the best one you can afford.

That's my advice!

 

[Anonymous]

So it sounds like the extra I would spend on a receiver/amp and speakers may not be to much more than an out of the box system when you consider the extra cabling needed

 

[Anonymous]

Will Harris:I wouldn't worry about a main's spur. It won't make any difference to the picture or sound.!

You are 100% correct that it probalby won't. However it is very bad practice to run extension leads (which is what you are proposing) through a wall. A spur is the correct thing to do and is only a little bit more effort really.

 

[Anonymous]

Whatever you do, the TV needs to be able to be removed and if it's a standard kettle flex and you don't care about leaving it buried in the wall, I can't see the harm. Last thing you want is a power socket on the wall behind the TV unless you're confident you can set it into the wall and it'll be unseen. It would be more professional, but really it makes no difference otherwise. That said, it's a bit sloppy having a power lead just poking out of a wall. Welshboy does have a point on reflection.

 

[Anonymous]

This is just for the tv. Next its the speakers; set as close to the height of the tv (or slightly under as your tv is going higher on the wall) and all on a level to maintain the sound stage. and you may as well hide those cables too. The furthest front speaker is best run under the fire place/floor and into the amp and whilst your down there and the carpets up why not put in 2 (or 4 for 7.1) further cables (or wire that you can use to pull through later)of good quality and pull them into the opposite corners for the surround sound. (which you will want soon because 2.1 is never enough)

See how this is snowballing ? Like I said earlier, if I were you I'd get all the things I need and then do the custom install. You're using that corner for the tv at the moment so just swap and in a few months go for it with the system you've had a chance to run in and make sure is what you want.

Incidentally, whilst you're chasing, in the Mrs will decide that this is an ideal time to redecorate and therefore spend you out and put off any further purchases !!

Well, off to change my ID to HarbingerofDoom.

 

[Anonymous]

That sounds like good advice and probably the route I will take

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry to wazz on your fireworks but I was in the same position as you except i'd already put the cables in and removed part of my chimney breast.

I bought a cheap telly (px80) to tide me over and am waiting for the next gen to come through before I finish. I've got a system in but nothing like the one I will have eventually.

Take heart (oh thats another thread) that the new HD Blue Tooth and wireless screens are on the way and this'll cut the cabling back no end. There's also wireless surround coming which will have the same effect and all much cheaper than the current systems.

Good news for us then

 

[Anonymous]

dont worry our fireplace is quite high ive got a sonyKDL40W4000 above it you tilt your head slighty but you soon get used to it and no you dont get an achy neck!

It looks great when you get used to it as if thats where every tv should be.

Our eyes are level with top of fireplace shelf and the bottom of the tv set starts 4inches above that and its absolutely fine.

Go for it easy to hide wires aswell Good Luck DAZ