TV wall mount tilt, does it matter?

[ghost recon88]

Hey all -

Looking to convert my 32" LCD into my computer gaming monitor, and I need to mount it on the wall. I plan on sitting 2-3 feet away from it :\ I've been looking at wall mounts on eBay, and see some say 0-10 degree tilt, and some are 0-15 degree tilt. Say I want to sit 2-3 feet away and game, but then move back say 10-12 feet and watch it from my bed. With that panel (being Alpha-IPS) would I need to tilt it at all to get a optimal viewing angle from both places, and if so would I need a 15 degree tilt?

The two mounts I'm looking at are:

http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Adju...5549546&sr=1-1 (0-10 degree tilt, only sticks out 1.81" from the wall)

http://www.amazon.com/Adjustable-Uni...5549546&sr=1-3 (0-15 degree tilt, but sticks out 4" from the wall)

 

[Tiamat]

Depends very much on your seated height at both locations. This also depends on the specific TV as different TVs have different vertical viewing angles. Many times, the viewing angle looking down onto the TV is different than the viewing angle looking up onto the TV so you need to figure out what your TV performs in this regard.

With my 24" dell 2408 monitor, the panel has pretty uniform viewing angle so I don't need to mess with tilting regardless if I am standing or sitting at the computer desk, standing away from the computer desk, or sitting/laying on my bed. All of these situations represent at least a 3' span of vertical distance which could be significant depending on your TV screen's viewing angle.

Also, this depends on the height you mount it on your wall. You could probably optimize/compromise the height at which you mount the TV to satisfy any tilting capability of any of the mounts you linked to. You just have to view material on your TV and walk around (or go from sitting to kneeling to standing) to find out how its vertical viewing angle works for you.

 

[ghost recon88]

Thanks for that, guess I'll have my buddy hold it while I check the viewing angles from each location.

 

[0roo0roo]

Yea well for computer use 2-3 feet flat against a wall isn't quite that natural. You are sitting upright, not laying back on a couch where staring at a vertical wall image would work. Most computer monitors are slightly viewed downward from an angle, and have an upward tilt for comfort/ergonomics. wall mounts are tilt down for couch viewing if mounted slightly higher than eye height. i just think it is a bad idea.
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/components_monitors.html#Angle
if you are going to wall mount you need some kind of monitor arm that has more articulation than regular tv mounts so you can adjust it correctly. even then it won't work well because you need different height/angle for distance and close up viewing.

 

[LookBehindYou]

Just an FYI for ya, just because they say they tilt, doesnt mean they are easy to tilt. I have one similar to the one in the second link that I got from monoprice (you should definitely check there for the mount, much cheaper, big selection) and it tilts, but it takes some work getting both sides even and turning the screws. It's definitely not something i'd want to all the time, it'd get annoying quick.

 

[kalrith]

I'm in a very similar situation and plan on getting an articulating mount from monoprice (I can look up the specific one tonight if you want me to). One nice thing about an articulating mount is that you can pull it out from the wall to bring the screen closer to you when you're sitting far away. In my situation, I have a couch to one side of my desk and an exercise bike on the other side, so I have a need to turn the screen one direction or the other. You might not have that need, so a tilt mount might be sufficient. Some people just buy a tilt mount solely for ease of access to the back of the TV.

 

[wirednuts]

funny you say that. in my new apartment i rammed 6" lag bolts into the livingroom wall just so i could swing the 42" tv out of the way when i need to work on the stuff behind it. it could have easily went onto a nice little tv stand, but it would have been hard to move around while still easy to steal. with the wall mount, its easy to move and hard to steal.

 

[NutBucket]

The bigger the TV the harder it is to steal

 

[0roo0roo]

funny you say that. in my new apartment i rammed 6" lag bolts into the livingroom wall just so i could swing the 42" tv out of the way when i need to work on the stuff behind it. it could have easily went onto a nice little tv stand, but it would have been hard to move around while still easy to steal. with the wall mount, its easy to move and hard to steal.

Well no because the attachment to the tv itself is pretty standard screw or bolt at 4 points, if someone were really out to get ur tv, it would still be easy

But yea you need very hefty bolts to withstand the strain of a tv on an extended arm.

I've never bought an adjustable arm but I have doubts the cheap ones are very well counterbalanced/spring loaded for regular adjustment of tilt and such without adjusting of clamps or something.