The VIVO VP02W is a is a universal projector mount that provides a surprising deal of flexibility. With a telescoping height adjustment, adjustable mounting arms, and the ability to swivel, tilt, and rotate in three-axis, it’s useful in a wide range of different situations. We recently installed a VP02W in a home theater setting to see if the impressive specifications really measure up in reality. We tested things like ease of installation and use, the quality of construction and included hardware, the design of the universal mount, and more.
Design: Basic utilitarian style fades into the background and gets the job done
The VIVO VP02W is a utilitarian projector mount that’s built with utility in mind rather than aesthetics. The steel construction feels sturdy, and three separate pivot points provide a wide range of motion. The unit consists of three main components: the ceiling mount, a telescoping arm, and the projector mount. The ceiling mount attaches to the telescoping arm, which can be folded up nearly parallel to the mounting surface or extend directly perpendicular to the mounting surface. Where the arm connects to the projector mount itself, you can achieve about 15 degrees of tilt and swivel, and also rotate the projector 360 degrees. The telescoping arm is 15 inches long when collapsed, 23 inches long when fully extended, and is hollow in design. The ceiling mount also has a large hole that lines up with the center of the telescoping arm, which means you can route cables through the arm and into your ceiling and wall for seamless cable management.
Setup Process: Some slight annoyances that could have been fixed in the design phase
This mount comes in three pieces that have to be put together before you can attach it to your ceiling or wall. It comes with all of the necessary hardware, but the pouches are poorly sorted, so it takes a while to locate the correct bolts and washers. Initial setup is fairly easy and involves bolting the telescoping arm to the ceiling mount and projector mount. In the case of attaching the ceiling mount to the telescoping arm, this process is complicated by the fact that the bolt holes in the arm aren’t threaded. Instead, you need to reach inside the hollow arm, position two small threaded plates, and then hold them in place while you install the bolts. Other than that slight annoyance, the rest of the setup process is fairly straightforward. The only problem you are likely to run into is that it may be difficult to line up the modular arms on the projector mount with the mounting holes on your projector if the holes are especially close together. The system works well enough, but we could see where you might end up fighting it with some projector configurations. Most of the included bolts are Allen heads, and it comes with an Allen wrench to fit them. The exception is that it comes with Phillips head bolts to secure the mount to your projector, so you will need your own Phillips head screwdriver to complete the setup process.
Construction: Built to handle heavy projectors
The VP02W is constructed entirely of steel, and it feels sturdy enough. The steel is fairly thin, but the unit is only rated to hold up to 30 pounds, so you aren’t likely to place much strain on it. Even with the relatively thin steel construction, the 30-pound capacity means it’s capable of handling most projectors. The caveat here is that this mount is designed to hold 30 pounds when hanging directly down from the ceiling. If you need to mount on a wall and hold the arm at an angle, or mount on the ceiling and position the arm at an angle, we wouldn’t recommend hanging a 30-pound projector on it. While the mount itself can take the weight, the pivot bolts are quite thin and present a potential failure point if pushed too far.
Compatibility: Universal mount provides good coverage
The mounting plate uses four adjustable arms that have offset mounting points to provide a wide range of coverage. The arms can be positioned up to 12.5 inches apart, and as close together as two inches. If the mounting holes on your projector fall within that range, then this mount should work for you. The only difficulty comes when multiple mounting holes are close together, as the arms tend to interfere with each other when positioned to match some mounting holes. If you have an especially light projector with mounting holes that are positioned close together, or fewer than four mounting holes, you may need to remove one of the mounting arms.
Range of Motion: Three-axis of movement for perfect positioning
This mount provides a wide range of motion thanks to the telescoping arm and multiple pivot and swivel points. You can mount it anywhere from 15 inches to 23 inches from the ceiling when extended straight down, and also swing it up toward the ceiling. In order to achieve the best positioning, and avoid using keystone compensation, the mount also provides 15 degrees of tilt, 15 degrees of swivel, and 360 degrees of rotation. Due to the way that you can swing the arm in or out, you can even use this mount to attach your projector to a wall instead of the ceiling, or to a sloped or angled ceiling.
Price: Right in line with the competition
Typically selling for about $12 to $18, the VP02W is priced right in line with similar mounts. Most similar mounts are priced just a bit higher, and alternatives that can hold more weight or improved functionality tend to cost quite a bit more. If your ceiling height requires a telescoping projector mount, and your projector weighs less than 30 pounds, you won’t do much better for your money than this.
Competition: Unremarkable unless you want to spend more money
Check out our guide to the best projector mounts you can buy today. The VIVO VP02W is a well designed telescoping projector mount that represents a great deal if you have high ceilings. The adjustable length makes it suitable for a range of ceiling heights, and the way the arm swings up makes it suitable for wall mounting as well if your ceilings are especially high. Stay away if your projector weighs more than 30 pounds, or if the mounting holes are really close together. If it’s compatible with your projector, and you have high ceilings, it’s worth a look.
