How I mounted my center channel cheaply

[WebImages]

My problem was that I wanted my Center Channel speaker above my new TV but (1) The center channel weighed 38 pounds and (2) The TV had no way to support the weight.

Everyone told me to buy a shelf and bolt it to the wall.

What I actually did was

1. Buy two pieces of electrical conduit ($2.59 each) and bent it 90 degrees with a pipe bender.
2. Paint the pipe the same color as the back of the TV ($3.99)
3. Mount the pipe to the back of the speaker stand ($2.99 for brackets)
4. Purchase a piece of Oak shelving ($27.00)
5. Stain and Varnish the shelf ($11.00)
6. Mount the shelf to the conduit ($2.99 for brackets)

The project took about 4 hours (over a three day period of time for drying of various stuff) and will easily support a hundred or more pounds.

Pictures are posted below.

Hope this will help somebody else with the same problem/desire...

JohnJ

 

[brian32672]

This probably should have been posted in the DIY area.
I have seen this done before, but yours does look like it came out quite well.
Good job

 

[MDS]

Pretty clever idea. I like the way it turned out.

 

[RLA]

Here is another one for you I use these all the time
13" universal TV mount allows tilt and has cable management and is easy to install No need to damage or drill into the speaker either about $40-50

 

[CaliHwyPatrol]

Off topic but:

I love those Hitachi's with the power swivel, it is so fun!

~Chuck

 

[RLA]

I love those Hitachi's with the power swivel, it is so fun!

They are nice. That install was done in a client's RV garage that opens out into a pool area.

I picked the power swivel so they can watch from the patio when not in the main viewing area also have outdoor speakers set up on zone 2 With a quick press of the remote the plasma swivels into view

 

[ht_addict]

My problem was that I wanted my Center Channel speaker above my new TV but (1) The center channel weighed 38 pounds and (2) The TV had no way to support the weight.

Everyone told me to buy a shelf and bolt it to the wall.

What I actually did was

1. Buy two pieces of electrical conduit ($2.59 each) and bent it 90 degrees with a pipe bender.
2. Paint the pipe the same color as the back of the TV ($3.99)
3. Mount the pipe to the back of the speaker stand ($2.99 for brackets)
4. Purchase a piece of Oak shelving ($27.00)
5. Stain and Varnish the shelf ($11.00)
6. Mount the shelf to the conduit ($2.99 for brackets)

The project took about 4 hours (over a three day period of time for drying of various stuff) and will easily support a hundred or more pounds.

Pictures are posted below.

Hope this will help somebody else with the same problem/desire...

JohnJ

Looks nice but you've got one wee problem. Because the speaker is still siting behind the top off the tv, your going to get a reflection problems as the sound bouces off the top. If the pipe is strong enough, I'd by another piece off wood that is wide enough to allow the speaker to sit flush with the front off the tv. Or go buy 2 more pieces of pipe thats longer than what you have, so the speaker sits a little higher than the tv. You could also put something under the back off the speaker to raise the back end and angle the speaker more too the listening position.

 

[WebImages]

Looks nice but you've got one wee problem. Because the speaker is still siting behind the top off the tv, your going to get a reflection problems as the sound bouces off the top. If the pipe is strong enough, I'd by another piece off wood that is wide enough to allow the speaker to sit flush with the front off the tv. Or go buy 2 more pieces of pipe thats longer than what you have, so the speaker sits a little higher than the tv. You could also put something under the back off the speaker to raise the back end and angle the speaker more too the listening position.

Thanks for the advice - - If you look closely you'll see that the speaker is mounted approximately 1/4 inch above the bezel of the TV and is supported exclusively by the platform. I've tried moving the speaker to be flush with the front of the TV and have also tried tilting the speaker down to the listening position and find that with this speaker there appears to be no difference in sound -- therefore I positioned the speaker where it 'looks best' to my eye.

Note to RLA: I was unable to find a swivel mount that would successfully support a 38 pound speaker.

JohnJ

 

[mike c]

if you dont mind, webimages, whats your tv? is it a 3lcd? (i think i might have the same problem)

 

[CaliHwyPatrol]

if you dont mind, webimages, whats your tv? is it a 3lcd? (i think i might have the same problem)

Yeh, its a 3lcd, looks like the 42" (my favorite tv we carry )

~Chuck

 

[WebImages]

TV is:

Sony KDF-E42A10 - - Sony is very specific in their unpacking instructions that you should NOT grasp the bezel when you are lifting or positioning the TV - - which makes me think that you also should not put any weight on the bezel from your center channel speaker.

I'm very pleased with the TV at this point (one week).

Good Luck with your build project - - It really was very simple to work with the conduit.

One caution - - be absolutely certain that the bottom of your pipe does not contact the floor - - otherwise you'll scratch a wooden floor (I inserted a plastic 'stopper' in the bottom of each pipe so the pipe is up off the floor by about a 1/4 inch and the 'stopper' slides on the floor....)

JohnJ

 

[mike c]

thanks calihwaypatrol and webimages

 

[tcc]

Bringing this thread waayyyyyy back from the dead and hopefully WebImages sees this .

I'm having the same issue with trying to find a way to mount a new Paradigm Studio center channel.

What are the brackets used to attach to the stand? And do you think this would stand up to 80lbs?

 

[ImcLoud]

I use these innexpensive picture hangers from home depot, takes about 10 minutes to hang a center channel and you can move it around...
Hangman 13-Piece French Cleat Picture Hanger Kit with Wall Dogs-55312 at The Home Depot

you can cut them into smaller pieces and drill new holes, or buy different sizes, they come with a little level that clips into the piece you put on the wall, then just bolt the other piece to the speaker and hang it on the piece on the wall, simple and strong, I have one holding up my ascend 340se and no issues in 5 months..

 

[tcc]

Thanks ImcLoud. I actually saw those while researching but don't want to drill any holes into a $900+ speaker . Plus, not sure if that could handle 39-80lbs.