I bought a Pioneer Elite PRO-101FD last year to replace my Sony CRT HDTV. When I had the Sony, I used to place the VP150 center speaker on top of the TV using a center speaker shelf. However, when I bought the Pioneer I had to move the VP150 below the TV. It doesn't sound bad below the TV, but it definitely used to sound better above the TV, angled slightly downward toward the listening area.

I'm considering buying a new speaker shelf that supports plasmas and larger speakers, but I'm worried about stability. I don't want anything happening to the VP150 or Pioneer.

Have any of you tried using a speaker shelf with a bigger speaker such as the VP150 on top of a plasma? Did it work out OK?

I'm considering the following speaker shelf:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_769CSB3006/Center-Stage-Bracket-CSB-3006-BLK.html?tp=36255

Old Setup:


New Setup:


Side Profile of Plasma:

Beautiful room. Nice pictures.

I have three suggestions for you.

1. (I don't think this is "good", but) how about using a Full-Metal Bracket and mounting the VP150 to the soffit? Wiring would be kind of a pain, though.

2. How about putting the VP150 on a stand up on that shelf in the back, and then putting your Kinect on the VP150? Probably not optimal, because you'd still get some nasty reflections from the TV.

3. Put the TV on an articulating mount (mounted to the wall) and set the VP150 on the TOP/front of the TV stand. I got a mount kind of like this from Monoprice for a friend's installation, and it is just great. Not sure if you can make the height work out, but might be worth a shot.

I'd do #3. Probably upgrade to a VP180 while you're at it.

Good luck!

Zero, I'm pressed for time at the moment, but if you have the wherewithal, you can make your own as I did:

I also don't think the speaker shelf would be stable enough on the thin profile TV. Any litte movement on the TV stand would topple it, I think. The kinect on the tripod mount is a cool idea. I agree with tomtuttle's option number two. I'd mount the 150 on a stand. Maybe get bracket steel (like they hang garage door openers on) paint it black, use the mounting hole on the back of the 150. You could even adapt a clamp to the bottom of the bracket and clamp it to your existing table.

MarkSJohnson, that my friend, is a wood-workers work of art!! Nicely done.

WAIT...

How about This thing?

It looks like you could screw it into the VESA mounts on the back of your TV and have a shelf. I like that idea quite a bit better than having the weight of the speaker on the top of your TV.

Please check details and dimensions for yourself; I'm just spitballing here.

Mark - that shelf looks beautiful, but I'm not sure I could pull that off.



I was considering this as well, but like you stated, I'm not sure if I could make the height work. I'll have to look into this some more. If I do go this route, I'm DEFINITELY upgrading to the VP180.



I didn't think to look for something like that, but it could work. The one you linked to has a glass shelf (won't work for me), but there must be something similar with a metal or wooden shelf. I'm going to search around and see what I can find.

Thanks for the ideas.

That's smart! I'll have to see if my wife would be willing to go for it.

What about having a platform hanging by small chains from the ceiling to place the c-channel on?

Gawd, he see one boathouse installation and goes crazy with he chain idea.

Look! There are safety glasses on the worktable (bush league)and only 11 woodchips on the floor (woodworker OCD).

Leave Mahhk's safety glahhses alone!

There were 12, Bob. One was just out of the frame.

And, you guys know I'm not from Boston, right? Wasn't born anywhere near here; don't have that accent...

The articulating wall mount isn't going to work. I checked the height yesterday night and there isn't enough space to make it happen.

I haven't been successful in finding any quality VESA mounts that will screw into the back of the TV either, but I'm still looking. Hopefully I will find something.

E-mail OmniMount, they might have something.

Not sure if this will help, but when I had to place my VP150 below the tv, I turned it upside down from previous installation (flipped the front grill to look right side up) and this angle up seems to be working fine. Just a thought and not sure if that is how you installed it or if you just moved it from above to below as it was.

I like the idea of using a little stand to raise the TV up a bit and then place the speaker on the top of the TV stand.

I just saw your comment and the Axiom Center Speaker Placement video.

I think this will work for me, but I have one question. After flipping the speaker, the women in the video says the tweeter will be upside down. She then proceeds to remove the tweeter, turn it over and reinstall. Is this necessary?

No, the tweeter flipping is purely cosmetic for the Axiom logo to be right side up should you want to remove the grill. Axiom confirmed this in another thread which I am too lazy to link to right now.

Perfect, thanks. I'll flip the VP150 upside down tonight and see if it sounds any better.