AV Install in fireplace!

[Mikelowry]

I've decided i'm buying a Panasonic th42px70 to go on my chimney breast using a tilted wall mount, and I want to utilise the fireplace to put the dvd home cinema, virgin box and video recorder, now this is what im not sure what to do, ive seen some nice ideas on here in other threads, I would like to use some spot lights in there to light it up too, but im unsure how to do it, either to just make 1 big opening and maybe buy a stand to fit in it or to make shelves to put each it item on myself, here is a pic of what ive done so far.

Ive decided Im going to buy the panasonic scpt850 and I want to buy the tv and the home cinema next thursday so im hopeing that they will still be the same price as they are on dixons at the mo, can anyone tell me the ideal height the mount the wall bracket up the chimney breast?
All coments appreciated.

[Andy98765]

As for the wall bracket, never too high, sit in your ideal position and imagine looking at the set so as not to get a stiff neck as you have mounted it too high.
As for the home cinema system?
Only one optical in for external sources. Think through EXACTLY what you are going to connect up now and in the near future. For instance I cannot see the need for a video player for much longer, the quality is so poor just wait till you see it on the big screen.
Virgin cable, check out this site for all the people who have poor quality on the SD service, so if you upgrade to say Virgin HD there is the first optical cable needed for 5.1. Will not be long before BLU-Ray becomes the norm (price), what happens then, another optical lead? Don't rush into things too quick, get the TV, mount it and hopefully enjoy it. Then look into getting an audio system that will handle many sources.

[Mikelowry]

Also my missus wants to keep a video player, are there any panasonic video players? I would like to keep all the same gear.

[Andy98765]

Updating the Video player will not make things any better. If it is for recording TV the best way is a PVR which is built in to the likes of Virgin/SKY/Freeview. If it is a hand full of old films then it would be cheaper to to replace with DVD's.
I did the same for my wife over four years ago, brought SKY+ and put the Video in the cupboard and said if she did not get on with SKY+ I would get it back out, well four weeks later we got rid of it.

[Mikelowry]

I would love to get rid of it, but the woman is adament she wants to keep a video player, my missus says she still watches films, As for virgin hd, what channels do they do? in hd? I carnt see me upgrading to a blu ray or hd dvd within the next couple of years, everything will be accessable, I intend to cut a hole in the chimney breast which will be hidden behind the telly and fit some ducting to run all the wiries through, and use a cable tidy or some conduet which will be visable but like I say I want to be able to access it, At the mo I will be just connecting up a virgin v box, video recorder, and the home cinema, and the wii, can anyone tell me what height they have there tv, I would like a messurement from floor to bottom of the tv.

[bytesize]

Hi, just to say that I have built my AV gear into my fireplace, will take some photos tomorrow and post on my website. Hopefully will give you and your other half some ideas ..

[Mikelowry]

Look forward to it, thanks.

[Mikelowry]

Any inspiration much apreciated!

[Beerfuelledman]

My AV install starts tomorrow with the removal of a fireplace standing some 4'3" tall. Panny PX70 arrives on Weds and have a Sony HTDDW890 6.1 awaiting. Main concern at the minute is the wiring to the TV through the Chimney. I have no HDMI inputs yet (Xbox & HDDVD via VGA & a freeview HDD via Scart & Optical) but bought a cable to put in place in case I need it in the future.

Incidently, my freeview box, DTR0207, is brilliant for recording programs, excellent for converting Luddite wives

Going to put a small burner/stove in the fireplace hole, want to keep some sort of living room feel instead of filling it with AV equipment personally.

[Mikelowry]

I forgot to take a picture as it was before, but we just had a fire surround, with marble back and harth, the back had a cut out in it but we had just covered it with a mirror, we have a bay window where the current tv is and we want to put our 2 seater in there makeing more room, so thats the main reason for it going on the fireplace, I carnt really do much untill we get the chimney baloon, which should be here on friday, Im going to run a cable from my nearest socket and install 2 double sockets in there then plaster board the inside on saturday hopefully, will be buying/ ordering the tv and system on saturday too, if I dont get time thurs or fri!

[Mikelowry]

This is how it is at the mo.

[Mikelowry]

Just phoned virgin and we can upgrade to v+ for free but will have to pay a £70 instalation charge, but does anyone know what colour the box is? I want a black box!, and would the box have audio out?

[Garieth]

Just got the tentative go ahead from the 'lady in charge' to move the 42" plasma from a corner stand to the wall over the fireplace... only took nearly a years worth of saved brownie points to get her to agree . I plan to put all the AV boxes into the fireplace then maybe smoke glass the front. I can't find any pictures on any sites to give me ideas though. Has anyone seen any ?

[dalex1]

got this passed by the better half and finished just before xmas
hard graft but worth it
tip:-buy and install a cable for every connection on the back of the tv even if you dont need them now

dave

[Mikelowry]

Any chance of a closer picture of the fireplace where the shelves are?