Cantilever Flat Screen TV Stand
- For the LCD, Plasma and LED Television
A cantilever flat screen TV stand is a good choice for many people. They can also be known as TV mount stands.
This type of stand enables you to 'hang' your HDTV in a similar way to using a TV wall mount, but allows much more flexibility when it comes to perfectly positioning the screen - or even moving it completely.
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Our buying guide for TV stands covers all the options you have when looking for TV furniture, and gives you the benefits of each type.
But here we will look at cantilever stands and discuss the pros and cons of this type.
Cantilever TV Stands
Cantilever TV stands are a new concept in TV furniture, combining the aesthetics of a wall mounted television with the practicality of a glass TV stand.
 Walker Edison Regal
TV Stand with Mount
They have brackets which allow you to hang your HDTV from a central pole, very similar to attaching the TV to a wall.
The stand may just allow for hanging the HDTV, or there are models which also include shelving underneath to store all your AV components too - such as in the picture here with the Walker Edison Regal TV stand .
Cantilever TV stands have grown in popularity since they were originally conceived in 2006. Cantilever brackets are more complex than glass TV stands, and it is absolutely essential that you ensure a cantilever TV stand can support the weight of your LED, LCD, or plasma TV.
The vast majority of flat panel TV's will have a VESA fitting. This refers to the distance between the mounting holes on the back of the TV.
For example, a VESA200 TV will have 200mm between each of the mounting holes and it is critical the mounting bracket on the cantilever TV stand is capable of supporting this VESA fitting both horizontally and vertically.
Flexibility
The main advantages of a cantilever TV stand as opposed to wall mounting a television is a significant increase in flexibility of positioning and repositioning, and also superior cable management.
When wall mounting a television the location is more or less final. If in three months you decide the TV is too high, low or too far to one side then it is a lot of work to reposition the TV.
Also, those living in rented homes will probably face a grilling from the landlord when the holes in the wall are discovered.
A cantilever TV stand overcomes all of these problems and some cantilever TV stands even include castors so they can be effortlessly moved around making them an excellent choice for bedrooms, other rooms in the house and even as exhibition stands.
Cable Management
Cantilever TV stands usually feature cable management.
Some cantilever TV stands simply have a back panel with holes in. Although this does allow cables to be run through the back panel, they will hang out of the back of the central column and it may be possible to see wiring from side angles.
 Bell'O Triple Play
TV Stand with Swivel Mount
A more comprehensive solution is provided by some cantilever TV stand manufacturers where the wiring is run through the centre of the spine, thereby concealing the cables from all angles.
More Space
Another good reason to consider a cantilever style stand is the fact that, for models that include the shelves for your equipment underneath, your HDTV will be fixed above the shelves rather than sitting on the top shelf.
This allows for more room when installing your AV equipment. A good example is the Bell'O Triple Play TV Stand pictured here.
With a traditional glass or wooden stand, your HDTV will often be standing on the top of the unit (unless you have it separately wall mounted). Therefore, this leaves less surface area to place your external hardware.
A cantilever stand will usually leave the top surface free for placing your Blu-ray player, or even your centre speaker if you have a surround sound speaker system.
Some cantilever stands have an extra small shelf attached to the central pole which is intended to be used for a centre speaker. This can be particularly useful as, in some setups, placing a centre speaker can sometimes be a problem.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Cantilever TV Stands
Advantages:
- A flexible alternative to wall mounting a flat TV
- Wide range of shapes and styles
- More safe and secure than traditional table top TV stands
- Small footprint of some models saves space
- Perfect in any room where increased viewing height is preferable
- Allows more shelf space for AV components
Disadvantages:
- More expensive than basic glass TV stands
- Some models have weak cable management
- Cantilever TV stands with single pole designs may have flimsy shelving
- More complicated due to the need to match TV to bracket
Cantilever Flat Screen TV Stand Summary
A cantilever flat screen TV stand might be the best choice for your circumstances.
Once you understand the different types of TV stands available to you, you may decide that the flexibility and looks of a cantilever stand is perfect for your room.
However, consider all the different types that are available before you make your choice, or you may end up making the wrong choice for you.
This guide was written by Paul Murphy, of Big AV - the UK's leading internet retailer for Cantilever TV Stands, TV cabinets and TV accessories.
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