Reviewed in Canada on March 31, 2023
First, let's get the soon-to-be obvious out of the way. This mount is stiff. And, I mean really stiff.
In the perfect world, there would be hydraulic pistons that allowed you easily to maneuver this unit with one finger.
And, in that same perfect world, you wouldn't be paying any extra for that convenience.
But, the world isn't perfect and a mount like that will set you back closer to $1000. I know ... because I own one.
Now, that being said, there are three swivel points with this mount - each with their own unique level of stiffness.
The first axis point is where the first-stage arm attaches to the actual mounting bracket on the wall. Very stiff. Very. It will take a lot of force to extend it out and push it back in again - flush with the wall. If that's your intention after each use, be prepared.
The second swivel point is the axis where the first-stage arm meets the second-stage arm. This is much less stiff ... yet still take a little effort to maneuver.
The third swivel point is where the second-stage arm meets the mounting bracket attached to the tv. This is the perfect stiffness. Not difficult to swivel at all.
You can see each arm I described in the picture on the box.
So, what this all means is extending the tv out from the wall (ie the first and second stage arms) and maneuvering it outward in the general direction that you want, is a bit of a chore ... so, hopefully, like me, it's not something you need to do regularly.
Remember, the first and second stage arms are really what give it the distance from the wall. I extended these arms out and pretty much leave them in their position.
Once it's set, however, the tv can easily be swiveled 180 degrees - left and right.
Alright, explaining that was exhausting.
Moving on.
The mount is solid ... and heavy. Can it be installed by one person? That depends. Who are you? Do you even lift?
You'll know if you're up for the weight when you receive the box. Don't be a hero. Ask for help if you need it
I didn't, but I'm strong-like-bull.
Plus, I'm smart and I used the paper template to line up the holes with my studs before I drilled.
A small leveling device is also included with your purchase to help make sure the template is straight or, in other words, ahem ... on-the-level.
Sorry.
Once The holes were in I put the bolts through the mount, lifted the mount and aligned the bolts with the holes. I then slid the bolts into the holes.
In retrospect, actually, maybe get someone to help. Doable for one person with superior strength and circus-level balancing skills like mine but, not for mere mortals.
If you're the strong one, you do the lifting. Your circus assistant can then help line up the bolts with the holes and push them in toward the stud.
And, speaking of studs, make sure yours are solid.
There's plenty of wide slots on the mount itself so it can be center-adjusted while on your wall - or placed off-center if you prefer - just be sure that whatever you're hanging the mount from is secure.
Unfortunately, I only have 1 steel stud that runs down the center of my not-so-wide wall ... so, I had to do some serious reinforcing. I can now confirm, however, that I feel confident I could actually hang from the mount myself.
Now, I'm sure this has all been very enlightening but, what you really want to know is: will you need to enroll in a trades school to actually learn how to assemble this modern miracle of mechanics.
And, the answer is ...
... no, this mount is EXTREMELY easy to install. In fact, it is shipped in one peice so, there's no messing around trying to figure out what goes where.
There's the mount that gets attached to the wall and there are 2 vertical hanging brackets that get attached to your tv.
Don't be intimidated by the multitude of screws, bolts and washers that are included. Most aren't necessary. Use only what you need for the size and brand of your tv. They are separated by size and each plastic pocket is labelled and correlates with what's in the instructions ... if you even need instructions. I didn't ... but, hey, it's not a competition.
1. Take the one-piece mount and attach it to the wall using the included bolts.
2. Take the 2 vertical hanging brackets and attach them to the tv using the included bolts and washers.
3. Lift tv and hang from mount. Secure in place.
Done.
Delivery said a week ... the mount arrived in 2 days.
I wrote a lot here and, in retrospect, it kind of burns me that I'm not being compensated by the company to, essentially, promote their product.
But, in the end, that's not really why I'm doing it.
If, like me, you're generally hands-on and cautious about purchasing something online - sight-unseen - then you just want to feel as confident as possible before you decide.
Like you, I read the reviews (though, none as thorough as this), I took the gamble and, fortunately, it paid off.
By sharing my experience, I'm just doing my part in paying it forward.
Enjoy.