A flat-screen TV stand with its own mount is a good choice for many people.
They can also be known as TV mount stands or floating mount stands.
This type of stand enables you to ‘hang’ your TV, similar to using a TV wall mount.
But, it allows much more flexibility when it comes to perfectly positioning the screen – or even moving it completely.
My buying guide for TV stands covers all the options you have when looking for TV furniture and gives you an overview of each type’s benefits.
But here, I will look at TV mount stands and discuss the pros and cons of this type.
Introduction to the TV Stand with Mount
TV stands with an attached mount are a relatively new concept in TV furniture. They combine the aesthetics of a wall-mounted television with the practicality of a glass or wood TV stand.
They have brackets that allow you to hang your flat-screen TV from a central pole – very similar to attaching the TV to a wall.
The stand may just allow for hanging the TV, or some models also include shelving underneath to store all your AV components.
One of the best TV stand mounts I’ve seen is the Ameriwood Home Galaxy TV Stand pictured below.
Image Credit: Ameriwood Home
This model has plenty of room to store all your AV equipment and is suitable for TVs up to 65 inches.
With the open design, ventilation isn’t a problem, and cable management is easy, with plenty of room for maneuvering.
I think it looks great too.
Although, it might not be right for you if you don’t like the look of your equipment on open shelves. It will certainly give your room a contemporary look.
These TV stands have grown in popularity since they were initially conceived in the mid-2000s.
However, this type of stand can be more complicated to install than a glass or wooden TV stand.
You must ensure a mount TV stand can support the weight of your LED or OLED TV.
You will also need to make sure your TV has the right type of fittings on the back. It probably has.
The vast majority of flat panel TVs 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. It is critical the mounting bracket on the stand can support this size fitting.
Most of these stands do come with universal fittings, which should be suitable for most TVs. But you should check with the manufacturer if you are unsure.
Easy Cable Management
This type of TV stand usually features cable management at the rear.
Some stands simply have a back panel with holes in them. Although this does allow cables to run through the rear panel, they will hang out of the back of the central column, and it may be possible to see wiring from side angles.
Some TV stand manufacturers provide a more comprehensive solution where the wiring is run through the spine center, thereby concealing the cables from all angles.
If you are somebody who likes to keep things neat and tidy, you should consider how easy it will be to conceal the cables in the stand that you buy.
More Space for Your Equipment
Another good reason to consider a mount-style stand is that your TV will be fixed above the shelves rather than sitting on the top shelf.
This allows for more room when installing your AV equipment.
With a traditional glass or wooden stand, your TV 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 good example is the Walker Edison Wren Classic 4 Cubby TV Stand with mount (pictured below).
Image Credit: Walker Edison
This stand leaves the top surface free for placing your Blu-ray player or even your center speaker if you have a surround sound speaker system.
Below there are open shelves for placing other equipment. This unit’s open nature will mean you shouldn’t have a problem with devices overheating – which can be a problem with enclosed cabinets.
This stand also allows for cable management at the back of each shelf. Cable management is something that might not seem important – until you need to install your devices!
Some TV mount stands have an extra small shelf attached to the central pole, intended to be used for a center speaker – or maybe a soundbar.
This shelf can be handy as, in some setups, placing a center speaker can sometimes be a problem.
Flexible Positioning
One of the main advantages of a mount TV stand is a significant increase in positioning and repositioning flexibility.
When wall-mounting a television, the location is more or less final. If you decide the TV is too high in three months – or too low – or too far to one side.
Then it is a lot of work to change the TV position.
Image Credit: NB North Bayou
Plus, those living in rented homes will probably face a grilling from the landlord when they discover holes in the wall.
A TV stand with a mount design overcomes all of these problems.
Some stands even include castors so they can be effortlessly moved around – like with the NB North Bayou universal mobile television stand with mount (pictured above).
This makes them an excellent choice for bedrooms, other rooms in the house, or even exhibition stands.
Tabletop Universal Mounts
If you already have a TV stand or cabinet, does that mean you can’t get this type of mount for your TV?
No, it doesn’t.
There are a few smaller tabletop universal TV stands that you can buy. You place these on your existing stand.
A good example is the PERLESMITH Universal Table Top TV Stand pictured below.
You mount your TV using the VESA fittings on the rear and then stand the whole thing on top of your existing unit.
Image Credit: PERLESMITH
You get the advantages of this convenient mounting style, and you can adjust the height to fit your viewing distance.
This can be a good solution if you don’t want to wall mount your TV.
Of course, you don’t get the shelving to install your AV equipment – but you’ve already got that sorted with your current TV cabinet or stand.
You also lose the advantage of having the top-shelf free for placing a center speaker or Blu-ray player. Although, if the unit is deep enough, you may still have room at the front for a center or soundbar speaker.
Just make sure that you get one that is right for the size of TV that you have. The model in question here is for 37 to 55-inch TVs.
Pros and Cons of TV Stands with Mounts
Advantages:
- A flexible alternative to wall mounting a flat TV
- Wide range of shapes and styles
- More safe and secure than traditional tabletop TV stands
- The 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
- TV mount stands with single pole designs may have flimsy shelving
- More complicated due to the need to match your TV to the bracket
Conclusion
A flat-screen TV stand with a mount 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 TV stand that comes with its own mount is perfect for your room.
It can be a good solution if you don’t want to wall mount your TV and don’t want another large piece of furniture in your room.
However, consider all the different types available before you make your choice, or you may make the wrong choice for you.
About The Author
Paul started the Home Cinema Guide to help less-experienced users get the most out of today's audio-visual technology. He has been a sound, lighting and audio-visual engineer for around 20 years. At home, he has spent more time than is probably healthy installing, configuring, testing, de-rigging, fixing, tweaking, re-installing again (and sometimes using) various pieces of hi-fi and home cinema equipment. You can find out more here.
