|
 Chief Manufacturing offers a wide range of mounting solutions for all types of display installations. Our recent home theater remodel needed a wall mount solution, so we looked at Chief's new Dual Stud WMA2S design. This heavy duty wall mount is designed for mounting projectors or flat panels in dual stud or concrete applications and provides an excellent solution when ceiling mounting is not an option. In our case, the vaulted ceiling is too high to mount the projector, giving us few options. This dual stud wall mount is very strong and easily handles our 25 pound D-ILA projector without any worries. Even living in earthquake-prone California, we can rest easy knowing that this mount is holding our costly projector from a potential death drop onto the floor or even worse, crashing down on the viewers sitting below. The WMA2S can handle as much as 150 pounds when attached to concrete or wood and up to 75 pounds when mounted to steel. The WMA2S measures 11.5" x 18.5" x 13.0" (292 x 470 x 330 mm) with an extension range of 13" to 21".
 Putting it all together
Assembly is actually very easy and requires the installer to identify the location of the studs to attach the main mounting bracket. A simple stud-finder works well and was used during our installation. The mount comprises of two main assemblies. The first is the mounting bracket that attaches to the wall and the second is the arm that extends out to hold the projector. Once the mounting bracket is secure, the arm is designed to hook onto it. This makes it easy to tighten down without the need for another person to hold it in place. The center of the arm has plenty of room to run cables through for a clean look. Plastic covers are provided for the brackets that attach to the studs and for the area where the extension arm attaches to the bracket. The final result is a clean and professional looking mount.
 CMS003 & RPMA233
Also included in this review is the CMS003 3-inch column and RPMA233 mounting plate with the SLM-233 interface bracket. The SLM-233 is designed specifically for the Anthem LTX-500v (aka JVC DLA-HD950) projector and is attached to the projector using the four M5x20mm screws provided. The Chief website provides the MountFinder™ tools that is used to select and identify the compatible hardware needed for your flat panel or projector.
The RPMA Elite Custom Projector Mount allows for independent roll, pitch and yaw for an optimal picture. Our projector has a lens shift capability that corrects for any horizontal or vertical offsets that need correcting, so horizontal centering of the mount is not required. However, you should check your projector's capabilities before mounting to avoid problems after the installation.
 Mounting
The six posts on the SLM233 interface bracket slip into the open slots on the RPMA233 as shown in the photo. Once in place, simply slide the lever to the left and the projector is secure. There is even a lock with a set of keys to secure the projector in the locked position. This system makes it easy to remove the projector for simple service such as cleaning filters or replacing the lamp. The RPMA233 design has built-in cable management thanks to the large diameter of the CMS003. We ran two active HDMI cables along with the power cord through the center of the mount, giving the installation a clean and professional appearance.
 Setting it up
The WMA2S Extension Arm should be adjusted to provide adequate length for the projector being installed. We placed the assembly together on the floor to determine if the default arm length would work for us. Even with the rather long D-ILA projector design, the length of the arm did not need to be adjusted any longer. Other factors such as adequate ventilation and cable access may play into the distance requirements for a given installation, so it is a good idea to estimate this before attaching the arm. Worst case, the arm can be adjusted later assuming you have enough room to initially mount it. Note that the feet shown in the photo to hold the SLM-233 interface bracket in place was not used used in the final installation. We used them to initially size the arm length and then replaced them with the screws provided.
 Conclusion
The WMA2S Dual Stud Projector Mount (street price $130) was an ideal solution for our 25 pound D-ILA projector. The design offered a strong and aesthetically pleasing mounting solution. The RPMA233 Elite Custom Projector Mount (street price under $200) with the custom SLM-233 interface bracket (street price under $100) provided a clean interface to the projector. Cable management further improves the look of this mount by hiding unsightly wires. Our previous single stud wall mount worked, but did not have the strength offered with this dual stud design. In addition, the WMA2S has a much more attractive look. We could not think of a better mount to use given our theater room limitations.
- Kevin Nakano
| 
