Peerless SA740p Review

In: Articulating Mounts| Peerless Wall Mounts| Wall Mount Info

8 Apr 2009

sa-740-lg-282x300

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The Peerless SA740p has a lot going for it – A reputable brand, arguably one of the best in the industry, internal cord managment and a removable plate for easy installation.  So, is the SA-740 the be-all-and-end-all when it comes to articulating wall mounts?  Read on to find out.

Ultimately a wall mount has one key job, to keep your tv firmly connected to your wall without allowing it to fall (see the tv in the article about choosing the correct weight for your wall mount for the consequences of that).  To this end, engineers have designed a variety of joints, braces and swivels each with their own advantages and disadvantages.  The SA740 uses a dual-vertical, single-horizontal swivel which offers the advantage of smooth, precise adjustments when bringing the tv in and out from the wall, including horizontal adjustments for angling the tv into different rooms and seating positions at similar heights.  The load carrying ability of this design allows for one-touch movement which caused our reviewers to marvel at how effortlessly the 105lb LG plasma moved on this mount.  The disadvantage to this design is that due to the locking bolts on the single vertical hinge, frequent vertical adjustments can be more time consuming than with other mounts.

That said, viewing angles on current LCD and plasma tvs are in excess of 45 degrees vertically, so viewing at a variety of angles should produce very satisfactory results.

Peerless produces quality mounts and the SA740p is no exception – Cable management was easy to use, although our only complaint was that more than 5 cables became a bit tricky.  Using HDMI, this results in one having to have more than 5 separate video/audio sources before this is an issue, but we thought we would mention it anyway.

All in all, if you have an LCD or plasma in the 22? to 37? range and are looking for an articulating mount that offers 180 degrees of swivel from a quality manufacturer, you can’t go wrong with the Peerless SA740.

Thoughts, comments, or want to see a mount reviewed?  Write us a comment below.

Flush mount or tilt and swivel?

In: Articulating Mounts| Flush Mounts| Tilt Mounts| Wall Mount Info

31 Mar 2009

pivotingWhen mounting your LCD or plasma tv to the wall, there are several types of mount including flush mounts, simple tilt mounts, swivel or pan mounts and extension arm mounts.

Flush mounts: Sleek look, approximately 1” or less from the wall.  Simplest installation with two brackets (one on tv, one on wall) that slide into each other to finish. Little to no motion range once tv is mounted.

Simple tilt mounts: Screen can be tilted down or up (towards the floor or ceiling) for mounting above a fireplace or other location higher/lower than the seating area.

Swivel or pan mounts: These mounts allow the tv to be moved left and right, perfect for a kitchen placement where viewing angles are changing or non-conventional.  Swivel mounts also offer the highest level of extension from the wall, typically up to 20 inches!peerless

Extension arm mounts: Pulling out from the wall on a double-articulated arm, these mounts come with a variety of motion options including distance from the wall and viewing angle.  While often the most versatile mount, those with more simple directional needs may find the extra adjustment dimensions cumbersome over time.

With heavier tvs (30” or above) a feature that many people look for is the ability to be adjusted easily, often with a single finger.  This allows the range of motion to be finely tuned and prevents struggling with the full tv weight when adjusting.  Some mounts include a locking knob which prevents further movement once set (ideal in locations where the tv may be bumped).

articulatingInstallation is simplest for flush mounts as the pieces can be screwed together separately before sliding the assembly together.  Other types of mounts are similar in difficulty and two people are strongly recommended (one to hold the tv, one to join the various pieces of the mounting hardware).  The required mounting hardware is included with almost all mounts, so the only additional items which may be useful are a stud finder to locate studs behind the walls (approximately $15 from hardware store) and a vacuum for the drywall/wood material removed by the screws.

A beautiful mount can quickly become spoiled by unsightly cables dangling loose, so look for a mount with the ability to run the cables through a channel or with ties for cable management.

There are many options when it comes to LCD and plasma mounts, but many of the options are excellent choices – the important thing to remember is to take your time with the installation and get it right.  Follow the instructions with the mount and post any questions below!

Selecting the right TV wall mount

In: Wall Mount Info

19 Mar 2009

If you read the last article on choosing the correct mount based on weight rating, you now understand about UL ratings and how to select the right mount for your tv’s weight.  While the weight capacity of a mount is certainly an important part of the equation, if the mount won’t screw into the back of your new LCD or plasma properly, what’s the point?

Perfect viewing angle!

Perfect viewing angle!

A variety of patterns for attaching your screen exist, with almost all screens adhering to the Video Electronics Standards Association hole layout or VESA for short.  And if you’re wondering what the point of standardizing only to have dozens of variations on the standard was, don’t ask – I’m just as frustrated as you are.

The VESA layouts are measured in either metric or imperial, and will describe the grid pattern using the following:

  • Imperial: The manufacturer will say ‘Fits 3? x 3? VESA hole pattern’ where 3? could be substituted for 4?, 5? or in the odd case, 6?
  • Metric: The manufacturer will say ‘Fits VESA 75? or 100, 200, 300 etc where the number indicates the separation between the holes in millimeters

With the variety of hole patterns available it’s very tempting to find a mount which claims to be “universal” and be done with it, however it is still in your best interest to verify these mounts against your pattern because what is universal in one country may not be universal in another.

Once you know your tv’s specifications for both weight and hole pattern, you should have the fundamentals to purchase your perfect mount.  But wait, what about if you want to move the tv once it’s mounted or have a different viewing angle than the “standard”?  There are a variety of styles of mounts ranging from low-profile invisible flush mounts to arms that come out several feet from the wall and allow your tv to ‘float’ in the air.

In the next article we’ll look at some of these mounts and discuss the advantages and drawbacks of each choice.

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LCD or Plasma?

The only consideration that sets the two apart when shopping for wall mounts is that Plasma screens are typically heavier and therefore require a mount with a higher weight rating. Check your tv specifications for weight and find a corresponding UL rated mount in our directory.

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