Top pick
This mount offers some of the advantages of a full-motion mount while maintaining the stability and sleek profile of a tilt-only option.
Key specs
| Type of mount: | tilt | # of VESA patterns: | 17 |
| Degree of tilt: | 7 to -12 degrees | Maximum weight limit: | 150 pounds |
| Depth of mount: | 2.10 inches | TV size range: | 42 to 90 inches |
Historically, we’ve selected tilt-only mounts as our top pick because they combine the strength and durability of a fixed mount with some of the flexibility of a full-motion mount. The Sanus VLT7 checks those boxes while also adding a small degree of extension and swivel so that you can access your TV’s connection panel more easily. This design allows the maximum degree of movement for larger TVs, something most tilt-only mounts can’t fully achieve.
The VLT7 is a UL-approved mount designed for TVs from 42 to 90 inches, and it can hold TVs up to 150 pounds. It doesn’t hold TVs as close to the wall as some tilt-only models, but we think its greatly increased flexibility justifies the slightly thicker design.
This tilt mount offers some of the advantages of a full-motion model. The VLT7 is designed in such a way that it can extend out almost 7 inches from the wall, which allows for a four-way tilt (up, down, left, and right). Not only does this make it much easier to access your TV’s power and AV connections after installation, but it allows for a much larger degree of tilting (compared with standard tilt-only mounts) when you’re using a larger-screen TV.
In total, the VLT7’s “advanced tilt” design allows it to tilt up 7 degrees and down 12 degrees, and it can also swivel around 5 degrees to the right or left. The materials that empower this flexibility are really high-quality: We were easily able to pull our TV out from the wall and move it up or down with one hand.
This extending, tilting, and swiveling action can be used to somewhat imitate the functionality of a full-motion model. We were able to pull out the TV and angle it toward various parts of the room, though the range was inherently limited compared with an actual full-motion mount. We wouldn’t argue that this feature is the major selling point of the VLT7 — it won’t replace a legitimate full-motion mount — but it’s a nice bonus nonetheless.
We installed this mount in around half an hour. The VLT7 was surprisingly easy to install, and we did almost everything on our own. We couldn’t see around the TV while hanging it, so we needed a second set of eyes just for that last step.
This mount includes all the components you need to install into either a traditional wooden stud, dry wall, or concrete, and comes with an easy-to-use mounting template. Sanus also supplies a QR code that will bring you to a video that walks through the installation steps and provides a HeightFinder tool to help with initial mount placement. But we didn’t find that we needed any help to get the installation right the first time.
Like a lot of Sanus mounts, the VLT7’s mounting plate is designed in an “open” manner that also allows it to be easily mounted over an AC outlet or even an AV rack, if you so need or desire. It has folding plastic latches that open up to allow you to install the lag bolts and then fold back over them for a cleaner-looking install.
The extension mechanism makes post-install adjustments a lot easier. One longstanding issue with tilt-only mounts involves reaching around the TV to lock its tilt angle in place. Especially if you have a larger TV on your wall, unless you’re preternaturally tall or second-breakfast short, you’ll likely end up trying to stand way off to one side or the other to reach behind the TV and access the twisting knobs that lock/unlock the tilting motion. This can be especially aggravating if you find yourself tilting the TV often in order to get some light or glare off the screen.
With the VLT7, it’s very easy to pull the TV away from the wall, swivel it in the direction opposite the bracket you’re accessing, and twist away at the locking knob. When you’re done, you can just push it back into place. We wouldn’t say this design makes older tilt-only designs obsolete, but it really is a huge advantage.
One thing to keep in mind is how much wiggle room your source devices’ cables leave once they’re plugged into the TV. It’s easy to accidentally disconnect something if you extend the TV out too far.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
You’re definitely paying more for the VLT7’s flexibility features. The VLT’s MSRP is quite a bit higher than that of our previous top pick, the Sanus VMPL50A-B1. It’s newer, yes, but it will probably always be a little more expensive than average due to the “advanced tilt” features.
We think it’s worth the difference in price, but if you’d rather do more pre-install labor and pay less, check out our budget pick below.
You’ll have to be somewhat vigilant about keeping it flush. One advantage that fixed and simpler tilt-only mounts have over full-motion options is that as long as the mounting plate is level and straight, the TV will be too.
Since the VLT7 splits the difference between traditional tilt-only and full-motion, it picks up some of the latter’s disadvantages: It can be easy to pull, swivel, or tilt it accidentally (especially because these motions are so smooth).
The extension mechanism can make mounting/dismounting trickier. The VLT7’s extending brackets don’t lock. That means it’s somewhat easy for them to shift out of alignment while you’re trying to hang the TV on the mounting plate, which (especially with larger TVs) can make things difficult.
This also applies when you’re taking the TV off the wall: After you disengage the lower bracket locks, the extension arms will likely extend fully as you try to lift the TV off the wall, which can be awkward to work around. We strongly recommend having a second person help, even if your TV isn’t all that heavy.
