My 'minimalistic' wall mount and home cinema setup

[haf63]

Started my install project this weekend so thought I would share. The idea is to have just the 50" plasma on the wall with all AV equipment in the next room and no wires in sight.
Equipment list
50" Panasonic Panel
Onkyo 605
Jamo HC10 speaker system
Toshiba EP35
Sky HD
harmony 895 remote
PLB105L Super Slim 36-70" LCD/Plasma TV Wall bracket

The wall is plasterboard with thermolite blocks and 1cm-ish air gap. I wante to recess the bracket such that back of TV would be flush with wall

So the pictures below describe progress to date

Starting point is the left corner of my lounge where Tv will be fitted and cables run down back of skirting boards:
http://www.avforums.com/forums/attac...1&d=1197382200
lounge corner.JPG

Next is a shot of the room next door where equipment will be housed (in the cabinet shown)
http://www.avforums.com/forums/attac...1&d=1197382405
dining room.JPG

Then there is the task of creating the slot for the wallmount bracket and fitting the bracket with a dozen chunky bolts. I had to add a 6mm MDF to get the bracket such that the TV would be against the wall exactly.
http://www.avforums.com/forums/attac...1&d=1197382405
bracket slot.JPG
http://www.avforums.com/forums/attac...1&d=1197382405
bracket test.JPG
http://www.avforums.com/forums/attac...1&d=1197382405
bracket plus cables.JPG
http://www.avforums.com/forums/attac...1&d=1197382405
bracket bolts.JPG
http://www.avforums.com/forums/attac...1&d=1197382405
fittet bracket.JPG

I then tested the bracket and general alignemnt by adding the plasma
http://www.avforums.com/forums/attac...1&d=1197382405
plasma test.JPG

The power will run to a fused spur so created space for that next to an existing socket
http://www.avforums.com/forums/attac...1&d=1197382405
power socket.JPG

I need to recess the speaker bracket to ensure its aligned with TV so cut slots for the 3 front speakers
http://www.avforums.com/forums/attac...1&d=1197382405
speaker bracket.JPG

I will comeback and add more after the next phase is complete

[Da_Rude_Baboon]

Nice progress so far.

If you put [img] tags around your picture URL the images will appear in the post.

[phunkey_monkeh]

Ive just bought that bracket.

Ebay?

I take it your not going to use the securing bar.
Ive got a similar dillema as my tv is mounted in the wall (tv alcove of sorts) and i dont have access to the sides.

[haf63]

Yes, I am not going to use the securing bar (don't see the point to be honest)

I hit a slight snag today in that I also need laptop connectivity to the plasma and as it has a vga connector and I was just going to drop a vga cable and run it along with other cables. Unfortunatly the vha connector is 4mm thicker than my plasterboard/breezeblock gap so I am now looking into making my own vga cable. That is, I drop the cable through the gap and then solder the vga connector to each end afterwards. Will see how i get on..

Originally Posted by phunkey_monkeh

Ive just bought that bracket.

Ebay?

I take it your not going to use the securing bar.
Ive got a similar dillema as my tv is mounted in the wall (tv alcove of sorts) and i dont have access to the sides.

[sel]

Interesting project haf63, interested to see how it turns out. I also just ordered that bracket (through Amazon). Too much work for me to sink it in like you - as I am mounting onto a brick wall!

What's the securing bar supposed to do?

[haf63]

The securing bar is there to stop thieves walking off with the TV. Not sure as to how it does it as i haven't bothered to look into it.
With a brick wall, you are wise to just mount it on the wall as the big attraction with sinking the bracket is to enable the cables to be hidden in the gap.
I plan to finish the install at the weekend so will post an update. Am currently trying to solder 15 tiny wires to a vga connector and in need of a big magnifying glass!

Originally Posted by sel

Interesting project haf63, interested to see how it turns out. I also just ordered that bracket (through Amazon). Too much work for me to sink it in like you - as I am mounting onto a brick wall!

What's the securing bar supposed to do?

[haf63]

Got the TV finally up and running so here are some more pics.
The bracket with cables for vga, 2 x hdmi, power and power for led's. The vga was too tight for my gap so had to strip the moulding around the cable ends and squeeze it through.

final prep of bracket.JPG

The plasma up with jamo front speakers aligned to th eedges of the screen
plasma up.JPG

The side profile showing closeness to wall and led's on either side
plasma side profile.JPG

The rear speakers using flat/sticky speaker cable
rear speakers.JPG

Have still to finalise the skirting boards but will do that after sky HD install on tuesday. I will then tidy up the HD DVD and Onkyo 605 in the next room. Still waiting for the harmony 895. Also getting DVE to do some calibration..

[haf63]

Looks like amazon/post-office have lost my harmony so they are sending me another today, which hopefully I will get by the end of the week!
Will post some 'final pics' later as the sky hd install happens today and then i can cleanup the skirting etc. All in all i'm impressed with the results.

[sameerabedi]

Originally Posted by haf63

Looks like amazon/post-office have lost my harmony so they are sending me another today, which hopefully I will get by the end of the week!
Will post some 'final pics' later as the sky hd install happens today and then i can cleanup the skirting etc. All in all i'm impressed with the results.

Excellent progress - quite the DIY epxert it seems!
How do you plan to control the equipment in the nxt room with a remote control whilst sitting and watching television?

[sel]

Great job! I got the same bracket as you and it works well, really pleased with it.

[haf63]

Originally Posted by sameerabedi

Excellent progress - quite the DIY epxert it seems!
How do you plan to control the equipment in the nxt room with a remote control whilst sitting and watching television?

The harmony 895 uses RF and has IR 'wands' that you place with the equipment. I've been assured that it should be no problem going through walls etc. Plus i can program it to make it easier for the wife to use
I have even got a RF power socket so i can control the led lights via the remote as well.

[sinizterguy]

Whats the viewing distance ?

[haf63]

Originally Posted by sinizterguy

Whats the viewing distance ?

11 feet. SD looks more than good enough and HD looks great

[haf63]

pretty much finished the setup now. just carpets and settees to change and minor things like painting the skirting boards
I'm particularly pleased with my vga port thats coming out of the skirting. It makes it easy to connect a pc for viewing photo's
I've also included some pics of the av equipment in the next room.
All in all its been an interesting project and the final result has been very different to my thoughts before i got involved in this forum.
finalview.JPG
finalview2.JPG
pc-connect.JPG
av-equipment.JPG
av-cabinet.JPG