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Recommended Tech/TV and home theater/Mounts and cables

Mounts and cables

Getting the TV on the wall, at the right height, with the right cable behind it.

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How to pick

Check two numbers before buying any mount: what your TV weighs, and its VESA pattern, which is the square of screw holes on the back, usually 200mm up to 600mm. Both are in the manual and on the box. After that it is about how much movement you need. A fixed mount sits flattest and is cheapest. A tilting one is worth the small extra if the TV goes above eye level, which it usually should not. Full motion arms only earn their money if you genuinely need to swing the screen round the room, and they hold the TV further off the wall. On height, the middle of the screen wants to be roughly at eye level when you are sat down, which is lower than most people mount them. On cables, there is no magic in an expensive HDMI lead, but there is a real difference between a decent one and the freebie in the box.

What I recommend

Getting it on the wall

Check two numbers before buying any mount: what your TV weighs, and its VESA pattern, which is the square of screw holes on the back. Both are in the manual. On height, the middle of the screen wants to be roughly at eye level when sat down, which is lower than most people mount them.

$$$$For most rooms

Fixed or tilting TV wall mount

4.5 · researched pick

A fixed mount sits flattest and is cheapest. A tilting one is worth the small extra if the TV has to go above eye level, such as over a fireplace, because it angles the screen down towards you.

What is good
  • Cheap and very secure
  • Fixed mounts sit almost flush to the wall
  • Tilt fixes the over-fireplace viewing angle
Worth knowing
  • Must find studs, drywall anchors alone are not enough
  • Cables are harder to reach once mounted
  • Fixed mounts make plugging things in awkward
View on Amazon →
$$$$If you need to swing it

Full motion TV mount

4 · researched pick

Only worth the money if you genuinely need to angle the screen into another part of the room, such as a kitchen you also watch from. They hold the TV further off the wall even when closed.

What is good
  • Angles the screen anywhere in the room
  • Swings out for easy cable access
Worth knowing
  • Holds the TV several inches off the wall
  • Heavier and more expensive
  • Arms can sag over years with a big TV
  • Needs solid studs, no exceptions
View on Amazon →

Cables and tidying

There is no magic in an expensive HDMI cable, but there is a real difference between a decent one and the freebie in the box.

$$$$The cable itself

UGREEN HDMI cable

4 · researched pick

If a TV or monitor flickers or drops out, swapping this is the cheapest thing to rule out first. Get HDMI 2.0 or 2.1 and a length with some slack.

What is good
  • Cheap and solves a surprising number of faults
  • Braided ones survive being moved
  • 2.1 supports 4K at 120Hz for gaming
Worth knowing
  • Very long runs can be unreliable without a booster
  • Marketing around HDMI versions is deliberately confusing
What to look for
Version
HDMI 2.0 or 2.1
Supports
4K at 60Hz minimum
Length
6 ft or longer
Jacket
Braided if it gets moved about
View on Amazon →
$$$$Hiding the mess

Cable raceway or cover kit

4 · researched pick

A paintable channel that sticks to the wall and hides the cables running down from a mounted TV. Far cheaper and less disruptive than running them inside the wall.

What is good
  • Makes a wall mounted TV look finished
  • Paintable to match the wall
  • No cutting into the wall
Worth knowing
  • Still visible up close
  • Adhesive can pull paint when removed
  • Fiddly to cut neatly
View on Amazon →

Related reading

Want it mounted properly?

Finding the studs, getting it level, and hiding the cables is the part people put off. Happy to take it on.