Cheetah Mounts APTMM2B

Though some might cringe at trusting an expensive flat-panel TV to a $30 wall mount, user review after user review indicates that the Cheetah Mounts APTMM2B is more than up to the task. Some reviewers -- even those who seem completely satisfied with the TV wall mount -- say that more expensive TV wall mounts seem better built, but most add that as long as the screen size range (32 to 65 inches) and weight limitation (160 pounds -- more than enough to accommodate any modern flat-screen TV of the appropriate size) are respected, the Cheetah mount is more than sturdy enough to get the job done. That's a good thing, as the mount is not covered by a manufacturer's warranty -- just a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, with a 30 percent restocking fee. Your TV's size affects its tilt range, but it is at least 15 degrees with the largest sets.

Reviewers say assembling and installing the Cheetah Mounts APTMM2B is easy enough, though the company could do a better job of helping things along. We saw lots of complaints that it takes a bit of head-scratching to figure out the instructions, though once that's done things go pretty smoothly. Some say they received mounts with missing or different parts, but that Cheetah's customer service department was usually -- but not always -- responsive in getting things sorted out. While this universal mount is designed to work with any VESA mount-compatible TV, some owners report needing to purchase different-length screws or spacers for their particular sets. The included bubble levels (including one built into the mount itself) and 10-foot HDMI cable are nice touches -- though a handful of owners report receiving mounts missing the latter and/or that the bubble levels are not particularly accurate.

If your budget is a little bigger, we saw some good feedback for the Sanus Systems VMPL50A-B1 (*Est. $65). Build quality is more robust, and the ProSet feature, which allows modest tweaks to the TV wall mount's level and height settings even after the TV is installed on the wall, helps make installation as painless as possible. Though its weight limit is slightly lower (150 pounds), it is designed to accommodate screens as large as 70 inches.

Amazon.com is the best place to learn about the Cheetah Mounts APTMM2B, as over 1,100 owners have posted user reviews of the TV wall mount there. TopTenReviews.com also offers a short report.