OmniMount PLAY25 Full Motion Mount with Height Adjustment for 19-Inch to 37-Inch TVs

I wanted a wall mount that would allow me to move my TV up and out of reach of children, and also to expand seating when we had people over. Once you decide against a cheaper fixed-position mount, your options are pretty much between this and fireplace mounts. The Omnimount Play70 seemed to offer the most range of motion and I love all the options it gives you. This mount does it all but you'll want to know what you're getting into and you'll need *at least* a 50" TV to be satisfied with it. (I have a slim-bezel 55" TV and I don't think I'd go smaller.) With that size TV, you will completely cover the mount when positioning the TV to the left or right of it against the wall, excepting extreme angles (see pic). A smaller TV would allow the considerable mount to show and I wouldn’t recommend it outside of an industrial application.Being my first wall installation, I took my time and read the instructions more than once. I also watched the installation video and used a level to make sure I was getting it right. Installation is fairly simple but could be dangerous if it goes wrong, so don’t be shy about hiring a pro. The arm itself is extremely heavy and is hung on the wall with 3 bolts. After hanging the TV you turn a tension screw until the arm can support your TV’s weight at all heights.Despite many advantages it is worth considering the downsides this mount has compared to a fixed-position mount. For instance, the arm creates unique mounting challenges. A traditional wall mount would let you drill into a stud and then slide the TV to the left or right, but with this mount you need to account for a fixed starting point and a 20” arm. This can make choosing your mounting point tricky/ counterintuitive and it may even be impossible to have the TV positioned where you want while also hiding the mount behind it. It's also worth noting that the TV cannot be flush against the wall at every angle. If it is positioned directly above/ below/ in front of the mounting point, it will stick out. “Flush” is a relative term anyway since the arm plus mounting apparatus will create a roughly 7” gap between the wall and your TV. This isn’t dramatic at all in practice, and it makes sense for cord management, heat dissipation, etc. But the end result is more of a floating object than a picture on the wall.I think the best thing about the Play70 is that I don't have to commit to one viewing angle. Contrary to what I had heard, there are plenty of scenarios where a TV that is way up high and angled downward is more comfortable than one at eye level. Having the TV out from the wall makes it look profoundly larger. And since we are relatively new to our house, there is plenty of range available to reposition the TV in a way that would be more aesthetically pleasing should we want to move the furniture around.Good Points:Incredible range of motion in all directions, plus bi-directional tilt and even a few degrees of rotation.Looks more or less like a traditional wall mount when desired.Once installed, anyone can manipulate the tv without difficulty and the TV stays where you leave it.Compared to many mounts, this one looks almost elegant. The arm is enclosed in metal and has no scaffolding or innards showing.The ability to move the tv closer to the viewer (2 feet from wall!) makes your screen appear substantially larger.The arm is hidden in all but a few positions.The mount is ready for that 70” OLED in a couple years:)Bad Points:Takes some calculation to choose the right installation position.It’s a beefy mount and creates a 7” gap between the TV and wall at its closest point.The weight of the arm makes the install a little bit scary if you’ve never done one before.A TV with less than a ~53” diagonal footprint would look awkward since it wouldn’t hide the mount. The 40" to 60" description is obviously not the intended range for a product called PLAY70.

I just received the item (Play40), so for those who, like me, are wondering before they buy if they have all of the right tools, the included socket does NOT fit the lag bolts, despite the non-answer provided by the seller and the incorrect answer provided by the manufacturer when I asked in the Q&A section. For those who are wondering exactly what you'll need to install this, read on.You will need a 1/2" size (or metric equivalent) box wrench or socket for the lag bolts that go into the wall, as well as the large hex lag bolt in the hardware kit that is in a bag labeled "P-K, M8 HEX Screw."FWIW, the lag bolts that go into the wall are pointed with threads that indicate they are clearly meant to drill directly into the wood, so if you are going to replace them, just get some screws/bolts that are meant to hold a lot of weight (these look like they're each rated to 500lbs - about 3/8" thick shafts), and will not slip through a washer hole that would be stopped by a 1/2" hex head (or just buy your own washers to fit whatever you buy - the ones included are 3/4"(22mm) in diameter). Hope this helps someone in the future.UPDATE: After installation I discovered that a fair number of the larger screws are optional, depending on your TV's VESA configuration. If it is larger than the 400 size, you may need a larger sized Phillips, otherwise a #2 will be all that you need. Most of the tools needed are listed in the manual, but a complete list of the tools you will need are:- A drill- 1/2" (or metric equivalent) box wrench, socket (preferably with a 1/4" drive, see below)- You will want to get a socket adapter that goes onto a drill (for the lag bolts that screw into a stud). Trust me, you'll thank me later. If you get the drill adapter, I recommend a 1/4" drive so it will also fit the small socket that's included in the hardware kit for tightening the arm. Obviously, if you're buying a socket, you'll want a 1/4" drive on that too.- 3/8" box wrench or socket for some smaller lock nuts- I recommend having an adjustable crescent wrench also.- Some of the screws take a larger than standard Phillips. Based on my cursory examination, you're going to want Phillips sizes 2, 3, and 4 (NOT LISTED IN THE MANUAL).- Scissors to cut the zip ties if you use them- The rest of the parts all appear to be pretty standard sizes and types- You'll probably want a measuring tape, level, stud finder, and pencil, but that kind of goes without saying.If you didn't understand most of what you read above, I'd recommend having a pro install it for you, or having a friend help you out with the installation - preferably one who owns a lot of tools, and knows their way around them.UPDATE CONT'D: Once I actually got into the mounting process, it's very easy, and it's a great product, so I'm giving this mount 5 stars!