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Tips to Display a Plasma Television

If your old television has kicked the bucket, or you’re simply ready to upgrade, a plasma television is the way to go. However, plasma televisions, with their sleek, modern shape, are displayed much differently than the old standard televisions with tubes. If this is your first, you may need some tips to display a plasma television.

Since you have just invested a lot of money in your new appliance, you want to make sure you maximize enjoyment. As such, it is important to consider the viewing distance between the person and the screen. Think about the sore neck you get as a result of sitting too close to the screen at a movie theater. To avoid this, make sure your television is an appropriate distance from your seating area. Plasma televisions smaller than 37 inches can be viewed comfortably from 6 feet away. As your screens get larger, so does the viewing distance. Televisions in the range of 40 inches should be viewed from a distance of 10 to 14 feet, around 50 inches should be given 12 to 16 feet, and you need to give yourself a viewing distance of at least 15 feet if your television is 60 inches or greater.

Once you have determined the viewing distance, it is now important to determine how you store it. If you are replacing an old tube television, you likely have an entertainment center. As long as your stand is strong enough for the weight of your television, you can mount your new, slimmer, television here. Plasma televisions can also be anchored to other sturdy horizontal surfaces, such as tables and mantles. An attractive choice is an armoire designed to display your television. When not in use, the doors can be shut. This allows you to use a living space for multiple activities, as well as protecting your plasma television. Please make sure your television is firmly anchored to the horizontal surface you choose, especially if you have young children.

Although plasma televisions can be anchored to horizontal surfaces, one of their draws is that their slim profile allows them to be attached to walls made of sheetrock, drywall, brick, stone, or tile. Televisions mounted on sheetrock or drywall should make sure to make use of stud anchors, while televisions mounted on brick, stone, or tile, should utilize cement anchors. If mounting on drywall, find the studs using a stud-finder. Most televisions require only one or two wall anchors secured with several screws. If you are using two, remember to level them so your television does not hang skewed. You will likely need a partner to hang the television. Again, it is important to ensure that your television mounting is sturdy in order to avoid damaging your television or injuring someone.

Most plasma televisions come with a tilting stand that let you adjust the angle at which you view. However, if this is not flexible enough for your use, you can purchase special tilt wall mounts for your television which allow you to tilt your television screen up about 25%. Remember that this tilting will effect the appearance of your entertainment system if you prefer a perfectly flat look.

One of the most popular ways to display a plasma television is to mount it on a fireplace. Before you choose this for the location of your television, use a thermometer attached to the outside of the area you wish to hang. If the thermometer reaches above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, you should choose another location to hang your television, as the heat could damage it. If you have a sturdy mantle above your fireplace, the easiest thing to do is mount your television there. You can also mount your television directly into the stone or brick using cement anchors.

With these tips to display a plasma television, you should be able to find an attractive place to store your new purchase!