TV Accessories

The wall mount: VESA and weight

Two numbers decide whether a mount fits, and neither is the television’s screen size.

VESA. On the back of every television there are four screws in a rectangle. The spacing in millimetres is the VESA standard — on large televisions usually 400×400 or bigger.

Weight. Every mount states a limit. A mount that cannot carry your television is not merely marginal — it is dangerous.

And a third thing that is not a number: the wall. Concrete and brick hold comfortably. Plasterboard needs fixing into a stud, not plugs alone — a 65-inch television on plasterboard without proper anchoring will come down, it is only a matter of time.

Fixed, tilting or full-motion?

Fixed. The television sits flush against the wall. The neatest result and the cheapest — but you cannot reach behind for cables without taking it down.

Tilting. It angles downwards. Essential if the television goes high — above a fireplace or in a bedroom — so the screen faces you rather than the ceiling.

Full-motion arm. It extends from the wall and swivels. The answer for a room viewed from two positions — a living and dining area, or a kitchen.

The practical rule for height: the centre of the screen at eye level when seated. A television above a fireplace looks elegant and is bad for the neck — if it is unavoidable, get a tilting mount.

What else is here

Replacement remote controls. A lost or broken remote does not mean a new television. There are originals per model and universal remotes that can be programmed.

Receivers and set-top boxes. For older televisions without a built-in tuner, or for a second set.

Connection components. Aerials, splitters and small parts needed during installation.

And a reminder: for 4K at a high refresh rate, you need the right HDMI cable. An old cable limits the picture and the symptom looks like a television problem.

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