Welcome back, Dreamedia family! Today, we’re tackling an exciting home theater upgrade—mounting a 98-inch TCL QM7 in our friend Giles’ home theater.

This beast of a TV is replacing a projection setup with a direct-view display, and we’re going to walk you through:

✔ Choosing the right mount for a massive TV
✔ Securing it properly into studs
✔ Running power and HDMI cables for a clean install
✔ Fine-tuning the tilt, level, and alignment
✔ Our thoughts after seeing it in action

🔧 Whether you’re upgrading your own home theater or just love big-screen tech, this one’s for you. Let’s get into it!

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🏡 The Setup: Transitioning from Projection to Direct View

Giles had a projection system in place but decided to upgrade to a massive direct-view display for better brightness, contrast, and everyday usability.

🔹 The New TV: TCL 98” QM7 – One of the best 98-inch TVs in its price range, offering incredible size and picture quality.
🔹 The Mount: Sanus VX7-DB2 – Designed for 65-140” TVs, ensuring future-proofing for any potential upgrades.
🔹 Surround Sound System: Trinnov AVR + Kaleidescape – Ensuring a cinematic audio-visual experience.

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🔨 Step 1: Prepping for the Installation

📌 Key Considerations Before Mounting:
✅ Check TV weight & mount capacity – This 98-inch TV weighs close to 200 lbs, so we needed a heavy-duty, stud-mounted solution.
✅ Find the right height – Ensuring optimal viewing angle while avoiding foot or furniture obstruction.
✅ Secure wiring & power – Making sure HDMI and power cables are routed properly before mounting.

🔹 Choosing the Right Mount:
✔ Sanus VX7-DB2 – Supports TVs up to 140”, making it future-proof for any future upgrades.
✔ Tilting Design – Helps with glare reduction and minor angle adjustments.
✔ Steel Construction – Rock-solid build quality to keep the TV secure.

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🛠 Step 2: Attaching the Mount to the TV

1️⃣ Lay down a moving blanket to protect the TV.
2️⃣ Remove the TV’s feet (this model doesn’t snap into place like some others).
3️⃣ Attach mounting arms to the back of the TV, ensuring alignment with the VESA pattern.
4️⃣ Use the provided spacers – This helps allow room for power cables & HDMI connections.
5️⃣ Tighten everything securely – This TV isn’t going anywhere once it’s on the wall.

💡 Pro Tip: Use a cardboard template (included with high-quality mounts) to mark the mounting holes before drilling into the wall.

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🛠 Step 3: Finding the Perfect Wall Placement

Now that the mount is on the TV, we need to ensure perfect placement on the wall.

📍 Key Measurements for Wall Mounting:
✔ TV height: 49 inches tall
✔ Desired clearance from the ceiling: 8 inches
✔ Total mount position from ceiling: 33 inches

🔹 How We Measured:
1️⃣ Measure from the TV’s top edge to the mount’s top hook (25 inches).
2️⃣ Subtract from our target placement (8 inches from ceiling).
3️⃣ Mark the exact spot where the top of the mount will sit.

📌 Centering the TV on the Wall:
✔ Find the center of the viewing area using a laser measuring tool.
✔ Mark the studs (always anchor heavy TVs into studs).
✔ **Ensure at least two lag bolts are anchored into wood for maximum stability.

💡 Pro Tip: Dry-fit the cardboard template before drilling to verify stud locations.

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🔩 Step 4: Mounting the Bracket to the Wall

✅ Drill pilot holes into the studs.
✅ Use heavy-duty lag bolts to secure the mount.
✅ Double-check level before fully tightening.

📌 What If Your Studs Don’t Line Up?
✔ Sanus mount offers adjustable width, so we could tweak placement while keeping everything secure.

💡 Check for proper compression: When tightening, the wall should slightly compress, confirming a secure hold.

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📺 Step 5: Lifting & Securing the TV

🚀 Time for the moment of truth—lifting the massive TV into place!

🔹 Mounting Process:
✔ Lift the TV onto the top hooks of the wall bracket.
✔ Ensure the bottom locking teeth click into place.
✔ Check level before finalizing tilt adjustments.

💡 Fine-Tuning After Mounting:
✅ Slide the TV left or right if needed for perfect centering.
✅ Adjust tilt angle to reduce glare & optimize viewing height.
✅ Ensure HDMI & power connections are secure.

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🎬 Step 6: Powering Up & Final Adjustments

🔥 The TV is mounted, level, and secure—now it’s time to fire it up!

✅ Connect HDMI cables – Routed neatly for a clean setup.
✅ Use eARC port – If using built-in apps with a surround sound system (not needed in this case).
✅ Check picture settings – Adjust brightness, contrast, and motion smoothing as needed.
✅ Test surround sound system – Ensuring audio is perfectly synced with the new display.

🎉 Success! The TCL 98” QM7 is mounted, powered up, and looking absolutely stunning.

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🌟 Final Thoughts: Is a 98-Inch TV Worth It?

✅ Absolutely! This TCL QM7 delivers incredible size and picture quality at an unbeatable price.

✔ Direct-view is perfect for everyday use – No need for blackout curtains like a projector.
✔ Bright, vibrant colors – Ideal for movies, sports, and gaming.
✔ Cinematic feel – A true home theater experience without needing a projector.
✔ Great value – At around $2,200, this is one of the best 98-inch TVs available today.

💡 Pro Tip: If you’re upgrading from a projector to a massive TV, consider:
✔ Wall space & mounting strength (these TVs are HEAVY).
✔ Viewing height & distance (ensure a comfortable experience).
✔ HDMI & power cable management (keep it clean!).

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📍 Ready to Upgrade Your Home Theater?

At Dreamedia, we specialize in high-end home theater setups, from TV mounting to full surround sound & automation systems.

📞 Need expert advice? We offer:
✔ Virtual consultations nationwide.
✔ Full installation services in select locations.
✔ Professional product recommendations & support.

🚀 Contact us today to transform your home theater into something truly epic!

🎬 Like this setup? Give us a thumbs up, subscribe, and drop a comment below!

🔔 Stay tuned for more big-screen builds & home theater content.

Till next time—this is Zach, Chase, and Giles with Dreamedia. Thanks for watching! 🚀