VideoSecu Mounts Flat Panel Screen Tilt TV Wall Mount for LCD LED Plasma TV with VESA up to 400x400 1FE

Solid construction. I wish it had a little more space between the monitor and wall. Doesn't accommodate my large hands for connections.

I had previously purchased other VideoSecu mounts. A couple were used to mount mid sized flat screen displays for computerized manufacturing machinery that I was building, and one was used for my dad's ridiculously large TV. I knew that VideoSecu offers good quality at a low price, and that was true of this wall mount as well. Our 32" flat screen TV was on the lower end of this mount's capabilities, so the vertical mounting arms can be seen a bit at the top of the TV when seen from the top or the sides, but I knew that before purchasing it, and it in no way interferes with the TV viewing, nor does it look bad in my opinion.The mount is heavy duty and easily up to the task, and will have no trouble with larger TVs. In this application, I preferred the simpler flat wall mounting as opposed to the articulated arm mounts that I used for the monitors on the CNC machines, or the scissor hinged arms on the larger mount for my dad's TV that needs to be adjusted side-to-side and pulled out for access to the equipment hidden behind. This low profile mount can be tilted up or down, but not side-to-side. The TV can also be disconnected from the lower two mounting points on the lower rail by pulling the convenient pull strings, allowing the TV to hinge from the upper two mounting points on the upper rail, so the bottom of the TV can be carefully pulled out to access connections behind the TV while the weight of the TV is supported by the upper two mounting points.Some of the nicer features of this mount include the large number of mounting holes and slots in the wall mounted plate which provide a very versatile array of wall mounting options, the larger holes in the mounting plate which could allow cables to be routed through the wall, the level that is integrated in the wall mounting plate (a smart phone level app can be used for mounts that don't have a built-in level), and a variety of hardware separated in heat sealed packaging so there is mounting hardware for any VESA mount on any TV on the market. The screws are different diameters and lengths, so you can test them on the TV to see which fits. There are also washers and spacers that can be handy in some installations. The hardware assortment seemed well conceived and thorough. You'll have a lot of hardware remaining. I saved the extra mounting hardware in case I bought a different TV and wanted to reuse the indestructible wall mount.Pro Tip #1: You don't need to center the wall mounting plate precisely. Get the elevation where you want it, and you can slide the TV left or right to center it on the wall before locking the upper mounting points in place.Pro Tip #2: You don't really need to use a stud finder to mount the wall mounting plate into the wall studs. This may be desirable for large and heavy TVs, but there are now convenient wall anchors (available at Lowe's, etc.) that drill their own pilot holes and then self tap into drywall using only a Phillips bit in a cordless drill. The same Phillips bit is used to drive the provided screws into the deep threaded wall anchors. They're very fast and easy to install, and a single wall anchor can support 175 pounds of shear load in 5/8" drywall. They're very secure when loaded vertically, and fairly strong when loaded axially (they resist pulling out of the wall). Four or six of these will securely support even the largest TV with this wall mount. Don't try this with the little plastic wall anchors that tap into drywall that were popular as recently as a few years ago and are still available. The new self-drilling screw-in glass filled plastic anchors have very deep and thin threads. The load rating is printed on the package. They're awesome. Amazon sells them. Search for TOGGLER SnapSkru.

Over the years, the prices of flat screen TVs has dropped drastically. So have prices for mounts. But with that price comes a change in what you get. This mount, which has sold for about $15-$25 over the past year, is not worth anywhere near its supposed list price. Although it looks similar to models that can handle "up to 55 inches" (in some cases) it's really sized for smaller sets. The mounting bracket is not much more than 16 inches wide. It's more than big enough to hold the weight of any typical TV in the stated size range, but it limits the mounting position to exactly between two beams without even an inch each way if you want to hang your TV in a different position, unless you are mounting to concrete walls or are not dependent upon studs. Fortunately, my studs were spaced in an optimal position.This is not a bottom end unit. It comes with a level attached, which makes things easier to mount on a wall. It does not come with a stud finder, and I'm not sure which mounts do. AmazonBasics models had both features but are not currently available. And with the trend in prices, I don't expect them to return as an economical alternative.Most TV mounts come with the necessary hardware for most televisions. This one seems to have enough, although if you follow their instructions, you'll find it deficient. For example, the washers are too small for many of the screws supplied, and there are no lock washers, which the instructions tell you to use. But you should be able to figure out on your own what fasteners and spacers make sense, and chances are good that what you need is included.There's also no information on what holes to use for the TV brackets, and how high to hang the wall plate. Assuming you want the TV at a specific height, you would want to know where to put the wall plate relative to where the TV will end up. I would recommend attaching the brackets to the TV first. The ideal position would be with the section that hooks onto the wall plate centered from top to bottom with respect to the TV. That will allow you to hang the wall plate so its horizontal center line is at the same height as the middle of the screen. If it's not practical to put the brackets in that position, you can figure out how many inches to offset by.There's no information on figuring out the optimal height for mounting the television, but as a general rule the center should be between eye level and 10 degrees above, assuming you will be in a sitting position. To figure that out, measure the distance from the wall to the seating area, and the height of your eyes when in a normal viewing position. Multiply the distance from the wall by 0.18, and that will give you the maximum above eye level that is considered optimal. For example, if you are 100 inches from the screen, the best position will be with the center of the screen between eye level and 18 inches above it.Releasing the TV from the wall bracket is simple, and merely requires pulling two strings before taking the TV off. The most difficult mount I've used with respect to removing a TV required using a special Torx security driver. I don't know about you, but for me the idea of the mount going on quickly is great, but coming off quickly is not. The idea behind the Torx security screws was to deter burglary. This mount allows the TV to come off in a matter of seconds. The strings are removable though.I would suggest using a stud finder (or your knuckles if you are good at it) to find the studs before you buy this. If you find that they are in a good position for mounting your TV, then this mount will work well.