Minimum Sound Bar Height

Don't forget the ergonomics of putting a TV over the mantle.  If you are too close it forces you to keep looking upwards.  Also, a soundbar can be under the TV as well.  Another alternative is to forego a sound bar and use L and R speakers built into the walls next to the mantle, along with matching surrounds.

Lastly, some TV's have really decent sound built in.  For your use it may be just fine.

Elliot, Mounting the center channel lower puts it in front of the wood burning fireplace. Wife vetoes this approach on aesthetic grounds. (We have great memories of burning logs last Xmas when we purchased the house.)

Erik, The TV mount is a MantelMount 540. It pulls down 27", which puts the center of the TV right at eye level while sitting on the couch, assuming a 5" high center channel speaker hanging below the TV.

The TV is an OLED65C2PUA. If I had considered possibly not using a receiver before I bought the LG, I probably would have purchased the Sony Bravia instead, and just added a sub.

Sounds like it's going to work.

I would be tempted to build a box full width of the TV, and put the center channel speaker in that full width box, Then you have many locations in the back to attach the box.

IF you are tempted by any used speaker, i.e. that little bose, or the Klipsch for instance. you can search for ’buy it now’ and ’free returns’

order it now, try it, keep it, work with it’s size, or return it

https://www.ebay.com/itm/145109792891?hash=item21c937b87b%3Ag%3AJvcAAOSwG0hkdNmT&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA0BWnYjoMqlvNt9YQT4mAzeLzjGr5DmesxxBv%2BJvYWJVUj22mBALGS6bQlrriHc9Is%2B0LaqEG8SBUgvbd%2BkDYp6A%2BE2%2BzETSeFlYEk9O0guDctUlmvnLZ0zgStiHYPGlekwFTwAdEz7DEnmoi7TKADsB5hrQB%2F0nC3vsjQ13S1SQoTLlm8KiDDIT84dBxtfWIlCoO8F7Ch%2BEi3sDSWMiOGPGzDi%2BOyz08d0yMNsFQAft%2FFkChXfyCidbi8F7vPsOvfcFlCY8cbUr9G%2FG8e6hJZOY%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_7zxfaVYg&LH_BIN=1&LH_FR=1

https://www.ebay.com/itm/266245737081?epid=10025586026&hash=item3dfd7b8a79%3Ag%3ATBQAAOSwW-FkU%7EzV&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwF33UK%2B7q4EuCugVQQYIvKMQXNIDZzK05n7ifgcKW7dOSE4D1O710Fa%2F%2Br2nFfZeeUCO84%2B6Z5C%2Fuf4D%2FZShs8tD7KsE4bQ0pMzcUcPb4RpCU2LW4wCK37%2Bs8UtjbbZNt0bFVC9caITmgIdGrN8ZVGz0HF036qo%2B8DM5h2p%2BhG%2BeDwlFXacsEZGrzFIcztEILfftj5BtmDrk74Uds8WK1CMCYO8Mof3bVcMzYwPS0bixgpLrJwLRgm8CXKCjYur5zg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7KRoveVYg&LH_BIN=1&LH_FR=1

As I mentioned, the little Bose sounds surprisingly good, however, notice the top has some slots for sound dispersion, which negates boxing it in too tightly. That was the primary reason I changed to the Klipsch, to have it under a glass shelf below the TV, and no rear ports

It’s a lousy photo, but the 3rd photo shows my HT setup

https://www.audiogon.com/systems/9511?_gl=1*1h50sbc*_ga*MTI4MDg3OTI2OC4xNjc0NDkxNTU3*_ga_SR0PMVVEN1*MTY4NjU2NTg4Mi40NTUuMS4xNjg2NTcxNDY5LjUuMC4w

I modified a tall unit, then built a C shaped riser of matching wood, placed a slab of glass on the riser, the TV on the glass.

Above the TV is a piece of art my brother made, not a speaker.

That photo is 'beyond lousy'.

Elliot, I’d love to see the photo of your setup but got a 500 error, which I’ve reported to Audiogon. Maybe they will advise me how to access it.

Thanks for suggesting I buy from an ebay seller that accepts returns, which will enable me to audition a center channel speaker. I’m going to some stores today to check out what used speakers are available locally.

I searched for info and opinions on the Klipsch R30C you mentioned a few days ago. It’s attractive, efficient, and only 5" tall but I’ve read that some find it overly bright. I’m curious what you think about this reaction. Also, I found a used pair of Monitor Audio Radius 225 Speakers. If you’re familiar with this speaker, would one work as well as the Bose or Klipsch for my center channel?