recommend 32" tv with wifi for over fireplace

[Davegod75]

Hi all,

I in the market for a 32" ish tv with wifi. I have no cable and am really only interesting in it streaming content from my PC. Built in HD/or being able to hook up a usb hd with content would be a huge plus (most of my stuff is avi/xvid etc)

Any recommendations that fit that bill? It's going over a gas fireplace with a mantle. Eventually I'm going to put a wall socket up their and a wall mount. Anyone done that before?

 

[Soundmanred]

Mounting TVs over fireplaces is only done in movies. It doesn't make sense it real life.
Is 32" big enough for your application?
Besides it possibly being uncomfortable to have to look up to watch the TV, the viewing angle on LCD flat screen TV's is limited. It's an issue as you move off to the side of the TV and when viewing the TV from above or below. The optimal viewing angle varies from TV to TV, but the quality of the image definitely deteriorates as you move off-axis.

 

[vi edit]

Sony EX308. I own one and it's an incredibly capable TV with a ton of internet/network capabilities. Only complaint is the 2-3 minute delay when it turns on and establishes the online content.

 

[Davegod75]

Does the sony work with divx?

 

[vi edit]

I haven't tried. It will pull back all the media from windows media center without issue, but that's an .mpeg format.

From my googling it looks like a "no" for US models...oddly enough Europe supports divx.

Lame.

 

[vi edit]

Additional info....
I guess you can use a transcoding media server like wild media server to convert divx on the fly to mpeg2 and stream to Sony DNLA TV's.

 

[0roo0roo]

32" is incredibly small, the recommended seating distance from a 32" is so short it is absurd...you'd be roasting

And yea, above the fireplace...too high for viewing, let alone a screen that small. The top third of the screen should be at eye height for any reasonable sized non projection screen.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

mounting over fireplace :thumbsdown:

 

[Davegod75]

32" is incredibly small, the recommended seating distance from a 32" is so short it is absurd...you'd be roasting

And yea, above the fireplace...too high for viewing, let alone a screen that small. The top third of the screen should be at eye height for any reasonable sized non projection screen.

my gas fireplace puts off like no heat. I was thinking the tv was too big for the area. the fireplace is sorta in our kitchen so it would almost be a kitchen tv

 

[0roo0roo]

my gas fireplace puts off like no heat. I was thinking the tv was too big for the area. the fireplace is sorta in our kitchen so it would almost be a kitchen tv

Still, the fundamentals remain, you will be at a distance from the tv when viewing, atleast 6 feet, 32" is basically a large computer monitor, a compromised by design size. You need bigger.

 

[Blayze]

Go with a larger TV if you can. I thought a 32" TV would be ok in my bedroom, but I find myself sitting on the end of the bed now to watch it. Its too small to lay in bed, etc... and get the full benefit of HD content (Blu-ray, etc...).

I would also advise to not mount it above the fireplace. A few of my friends have their TV over the fireplace, and when visiting I've found it uncomfortable to watch. It reminds me of sitting in the first few rows at a movie theater.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

my gas fireplace puts off like no heat. I was thinking the tv was too big for the area. the fireplace is sorta in our kitchen so it would almost be a kitchen tv

it's not just the heat but the height as well.

 

[Modelworks]

Heat over a fireplace , most of them isn't an issue, check to be sure but often it isn't.
Ever notice that people who put candles on a mantle don't have melted ones later ?

Biggest issue I see is getting the wiring to the display.

 

[Davegod75]

Biggest issue I see is getting the wiring to the display.

bingo....I'm trying to figure out how to move the outlet.