Customer Reviews

Sanus Systems VMAA26B Universal Articulating Mount with Extended Reach for 37" to 56" Displays (Black)

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I purchased this mount because I wanted the flexibility to position my new flat panel away from the wall at different angles and distances. I had seen a couple of others but was wary of the way they attached to the wall with just a single vertical bar. This one comes with a boilerplate quality rectangular plate that mounts with 4 large screws. There are plenty of screw holes to allow for variations in stud spacing. It is highly recommended that you have it professionally mounted, but since that can cost as much as the price of the mount itself, and I'm handy with stuff like this, I did it myself with a little help from two others. The biggest potential problem was mounting the wall plate level, because the the arm attaches to the hardware on the flat panel with just one screw and the slightest tilt could send the panel careening into the wall, especially if the arm is extended. You can tilt the mounting point where the TV is attached, but don't think that this will compensate for poor leveling. So if you get pro installation, make sure that they get it absolutely level, even if it doesn't look that way (your ceiling or floor may not be true level). If you mount it yourself, the biggest risk is dropping your TV or getting a hernia trying to hang it on the wall plate. Instead of mounting the TV with the arm attached (per the directions), consider mounting it with the arm attached to the wall plate instead. I followed the directions, and it was scary. Also, you may find the bolts provided for the TV hardware to be either too short or too long. That was my situation, so I sawed the ends off the long bolts rather than use the short ones.
The result overall is very good. The ability to bring the set a little closer to the viewer or have it against the wall helps to find the best viewing distance, which is tricky with a big screen. If you're a neatnik, this also makes cleaning behind the panel easy. Overall I would give it a 5, but the balance of the TV could be better engineered, with some rachets or locking points to prevent the set from swinging one way or the other. The only controls provided are just tightening down screws, which don't handle the weight well unless it is perfectly balanced. In practice, you may want to avoid extending the TV all the way from the wall for that reason. When I do extend it, I hold it in place for a moment and then take my hands off, seeing if it is going swing back into the wall. I suspect minor adjustments may be needed for a while to get the balance just right.

Very nice unit for hanging a plasma TV on the wall to save space. We really like the way it swings out to allow TV to be watched at different angles. I'd say the package has just about anything you need to hang any plasma TV on the wall.

I had to call Sanus to ask a question from the tech support department. I was VERY pleasantly surprised to find I reached a REAL american support person!! He had all the answers I needed...

This is a very well thought out universal mount. This is my second Sanus mount. The first was for a small flat panel in the kitchen. I am VERY impressed with the workmanship, and material quality of their mounts.
The backplane that mounts on the wall works well with varying stud widths. If you take particular care to level the backplane exactingly up front, drill an accurately centered pilot hole, and get the lag bolts dead center of the studs into some good meat, everything will fall into place swimmingly afterward.
The arm assembly can me adjusted from side to side on the backplane to allow for some positioning when the studs are not centered where you need them. I was happily surprised by that as I was envisioning ripping off sheet rock and adding blocking to get the thing centerd in a tight spot.
Read all the installation instructions first (I'm a man, I can change, if I have to, I guess) and the install will go smoothly. The only problem I had was that the tapped mounting holes on the TV were slightly recessed so that if you were to tighten the mount's brackets to the TV, it would deform the perforated metal back of the TV. The included spacers for mounting a TV with a curved back were too long, so rather than cut them down I stacked two flat washers between the bracket and the TV on each screw. That provided the required amount of relief.
I was able to hang the TV (42in.) by myself with no difficulty but it is a very expensive gamble. Get a second person and you won't even break a sweat! I can't emphasize enough the importance of reading and understanding the installtion instructions first, they are very clear, and will make your life much simpler. (Yes, I actually followed my own advice on this one!)

The VMAA26B is well engineered and solidly built. The design and construction pay off in this mount's adaptability to various installation situations and the ease of adjusting the viewing angle and position.

I needed to place my 42" TV precisely within an opening in existing built-in cabinetry, have it flush to the cabinet when not in use, and adjustable for different viewing angles. No problem for the Sanus with its 26" articulated arm. The full measurements and instruction manual on the Sanus website gave me confidence before buying that the mount would meet my needs and that I could do the installation. One question I had was promptly addressed on the phone.

It's worth noting (as emphasized in the instructions) that the mount MUST be screwed into wooden studs. You'll need a good stud-finder and some test holes if the studs are behind thick paneling, as in my case.

Mounted this myself, very easy instructions. I am using it to mount my 46" Samsung in a corner of the room. This mount is quite a bit of engineering, very impressive and sturdy. Instructions simple and clear, and I was quite impressed with the hardware. Called Sanus with a question which they answered promptly. Absolutely would buy this again.

I have three Sanus TV mounts and all three were easy to set up. First attaching the back plate to the wall studs with lag bolts (just big screws that hold the plate to the wall). Then you screw in two support brackets to the back of the TV. Sanus provides a variety of screw sizes to fit many TVs mounting holes. Once you have the mounting brackets attached to your TV, then you insert the two rods you see in the picture (top and bottom). While inserting the rods, you run them threw the mounting arm. Tighten down the clamps on the rods and you now have a mounting arm ready to attach to the plate on the wall. This is the most difficult part, getting help to lift the TV and hang the mounting arm on the wall plate. But once that is done, all you do is tighten screws at the bottom of the mounting arm and you are done. Now the TV is easy to articulate where you need it. In mounting all three of my TVs on the wall, I used the Sanus mount and it was a no hassle easy to do process. I'm very pleased with the quality and I'm an engineer... (meaning I'm picky)

Easy to install, attaches to two seperate studs. Fits my Sharp 42" lcd. The black finish looks very sharp as well. Looked all over and this was a steal comparitively.

My parents have the VMDD26 and I was positive I needed this mount and was set on buying it until I came across the priced significantly less VMAA26 which I ended up going with. In the end the VMDD26 is a nicer mount in my opinion, but I don't know if it's worth the extra cost when compared to the performance of the VMAA26. I would have had to pay over $100 more for the VMDD26.
I rec'd a response from Sanus on the two and here is what Sanus had to say:
"Either of these mounts would work fine with your 46" LCD TV. Each has it's own advantages and disadvantages.
The VMAA26 with it's single arm will allow the TV to be centered over either of the 2 studs, there is a 4.06" offset to either side. The plate only works with stud centers up to 20", and the level may require adjusting if the viewing position is left or right of center on the arm bracket.
The VMDD26 allows the level to remain true in nearly any positioning due to extra support under both arms. It allows the TV to travel on a straight center line from wall to full extension (ideal for cabinets, mantles, and formal interior designs where asymmetry would be noticeably out of place). It also has a plate that works with up to 24" stud centers. "

Yes, there are a few plastic parts that have nothing to do with the structural integrity of the mount. They are more or less skid plates to stop certain parts from moving and do the job. There is no need for these parts to be of metal construction.

I'm very pleased with the quality and substance of this mount. This is a very solid mount for larger big screen TVs. You can see and feel that it is very beefy and well-constructed in every aspect. It swivels easily and does not 'droop' or 'creep' once you have it set. Installation is a TWO man job, or get a pro to do it. If you've spent big buck$ on your TV, do not scrimp on the wall mount. This mount will Keep your TV on the wall where it belongs!

I used this to mount a Sony BRAVIA XBR Series KDL-52XBR9 52-Inch 1080p 240 Hz LCD HDTV, Black. When you go to the Sanus web site you'll see that this mount is recommended for this model TV, but you should also note that the mount is designed for TVs of up to 50 inches. This TV is 52 inches. As a result, there is just barely room to pivot the television 90 degrees from the wall. Another inch or two of extension would have been far better, to help keep the edge of the television from bumping into either the wall or the mounting bracket.

That issue is not the fault of the product, though I wish Sanus had been more clear about it. The mount works very well and if you scan through the other reviews here you'll get pretty good insights. Just a few points:

1. This thing is heavy. It's made of heavy-gauge steel and seems like it should last forever. The entire apparatus weighs 38 lbs according to Amazon, and if that's right I'd guess that 25 or 30 of those pounds are in the components that actually attach to the TV, and the remaining 8 or 13 pounds is the weight of the bracket that fastens to the wall (in other words, the combined weight of the 52XBR9 TV and the hardware that you have to pick up and hang on the bracket is something like 87 pounds). The mount is rated for up to 130 lbs, over twice the 57.1 lb. weight of this TV.
2. The directions are quite clear, although there are a few little quibbles. READ THE DIRECTIONS - several times, and be sure you really do understand each step so that you can anticipate what needs to happen next. Manufacturers of devices like this need to remember never to overestimate the intelligence or skill of customers like me.
3. All this weight is going to be supported by four substantial lag screws into the studs, so it's vital that they be well-located. Get a good stud-finder. Then measure at least twice. To locate the center of the studs I used the stud finder in three or four different locations on the stud and drew a vertical line through my eyeball estimate of the average center marks.
4. When you mount the TV, resist the temptation to do it alone. I'm not a weakling and am in fairly decent shape, but the combination of TV and the extension arm is an awkward thing to manage, and you really do need a second set of shoulders when it's time to actually mount the TV.

Finally, though it's not a quibble with the quality of the mount, I need to comment about the condition of the box when it arrived via FedEx from Amazon. It had apparently come open in transit. The box had been taped shut (no missing parts), and was filthy, covered in black dust which was left on everything it touched. I considered downgrading my star rating but decided to rate only the quality of the device. Nevertheless, the condition of the package was about a 2 on a scale of 5.