Review: Vogel’s Next 7355/7356

Today we reviewed the Vogel’s Next 7355 motorized TV wall mount (€749) and the Vogel’s Next 7356 (€849), the version designed exclusively for OLED TVs. They are both high-end, electric articulated TV wall mounts. The Vogel’s Next 7355 and 7356 mounts are compatible with TVs measuring between 101cm and 165cm across and weighing up to 30kg. They can be paired with the Vogel’s DesignMount Next 7840 cable column as well as one or several Vogel’s DesignMount Next 7825 shelves to hold your A/V equipment. The Vogel’s Cable 10 cable column is also compatible.

The Vogel’s Nest 7355/7356 wall mounts can also be used with the Vogel’s Sound 3400 universal soundbar mount. The Dutch manufacturer also has two more affordable, non-motorized versions of this wall mount in its catalog: the Vogel’s Next 7345 (€419) for LCD LED TVs and the Vogel’s Next 7346 (€449) for OLED TVs.

Vogel’s Next 7355/7359: the brand

Founded in 1973, Vogel’s is known worldwide for the quality and innovative nature of its TV and projector mounts, around which it has developed a range of TV furniture with integrated mounts, as well as speaker stands, speaker wall mounts, cable cover columns, TV accessories and even iPad cases with wall and car mounts.

Vogel’s history is marked by technical innovations that have led to great commercial successes. As early as 1973, Vogel’s became known to the general public thanks to its BEK 100 speaker wall mount.

2001 saw the introduction of the first Vogel’s universal ceiling mount for LCD and plasma televisions, then in 2002 the first wall mount with pneumatic springs/shock absorbers for flat screen televisions was released. 2002 also saw the release of the first modular audiovisual concept for LCD/TFT screens.

With a global reputation for the quality of its products, Vogel’s has won many awards:

• 2006 – Dutch Design Award for the Click & Switch projector mount system.
• 2007 – iF Product Design Award for the 6000 Series projector mount system.
• 2008 – Plus X Technology Awards for the Glider.
• 2009 – “Good Industrial Design” award for the EFW 8345 TV wall mount, the EFF 8340 TV stand with integrated A/V support and the PPS 800 projector mount.

• 2010 – Red Dot Award and iF Product Design 2010 award for the EFW 8345 wall mount.
• 2011 – Red Dot Award and iF Product Design 2011 award for the THIN 345 wall mount.
• 2014 – Red Dot Award and iF Product Design 2014 award for the Next 7345 wall mount, the “manual” version of the Vogel’s Next 7355/7356 motorized TV wall mount which is the subject of this review.

Vogel’s Next 7355/7356: packaging and accessories

The Vogel’s Next 7355 (for LCD LED TVs) and Vogel’s Next 7356 (for OLED TVs) wall mounts are already assembled for easy installation.

Vogel’s Next 7356 (for OLED TVs): in the box

• 1 x TV mounting frame with cable guides that is VESA 200 x 200 to VESA 400 x 200 compatible;
• 1 x cable cover plate to attach onto the back of the TV mounting frame;
• 1 x TV wall mount with pre-assembled motorized articulated arms and wall plate;
• 1 x cover in two parts for the wall plate;
• 1 x adapter for the Vogel’s Cable 10 cable column;
• 1 x power cable;
• 2 x TV power cable adapters (1 x IEC C7 / 1 x IEC C5);
• 1 x flexible braided cable sock;
• 1 set of 4 screws + 4 universal Fischer wall plugs + 4 spacers for mounting the wall plate onto the wall;
• 1 set of screws (M6 and M8) to attach the mounting frame onto the back of the TV;
• 1 x Allen key;
• 1 x mounting instructions;
• 1 x drilling template;
• 1 x print-out to visualize the position of the screen in augmented reality with the Vogel’s TV Mount Guide application.

Vogel’s Next 7355 (for LCD LED TVs): in the box

• 1 x TV mounting frame with cable guides that is VESA 200 x 200 to VESA 600 x 400 compatible;
• 1 x TV wall mount with pre-assembled motorized articulated arms and wall plate;
• 1 x cover in two parts for the wall plate;
• 1 x power cable;
• 2 x TV power cable adapters (1 x IEC C7 / 1 x IEC C5);
• 1 set of 4 screws + 4 universal Fischer wall plugs + 4 spacers for mounting the wall plate onto the wall;
• 1 set of screws (M6 and M8) and spacers to attach the mounting frame onto the back of the TV;
• 1 x Allen key;
• 1 x mounting instructions;
• 1 x drilling template;
• 1 x  print-out to visualize the position of the screen in augmented reality with the Vogel’s TV Mount Guide application.

Vogel’s Next 7355/7356: presentation

The Vogel’s Next 7355 and Vogel’s Next 7356 motorized TV wall mounts can accommodate televisions that measure between 40 and 65 inches across (101 to 165cm) and weigh up to 30kg. The Vogel’s Next 7355 is compatible with the VESA 200 x 200 to VESA 600 x 400 mounting standards. The Vogel’s Next 7356 is compatible with the VESA 200 x 200 to VESA 400 x 200 mounting standards. 

Vogel’s Next 7355/7356: design

The Vogel’s Next 7355 and Next 7356 TV wall mounts both consist of two aluminum articulated and motorized arms, attached to a wall mounting plate. A base attached to the end of the two articulated arms is intended to accommodate the frame mounted on the back of the TV. 

These last two elements are what differentiate the two Vogel’s wall mount models we tested. The holes in the VESA pattern are positioned lower on OLED TVs than they are on LCD LED TVs. Consequently, the frame that attaches to the back of the TV and the base meant to accommodate this frame are different on both TV mounts. 

Vogel’s Next 7355/7356: motorized wall mounts

The Vogel’s Next 7355 and Next 7356 TV wall mounts are motorized and can be controlled via an app for iOS (Apple) and Android smartphones and tablets. It is possible to control the direction of the television up to 120°, in other words, 60° to the left and 60° to the right of the TV’s initial position when it is flat against the wall. At most, the distance between the television and the wall can reach 72cm. The television is secured when it moves so that it doesn’t bump into the wall on which it is mounted. However, it goes without saying that it is important to make sure the wall mount is not installed close to any obstacles that might block it as it moves.

Thanks to the app, it is possible to program up to 10 different viewing positions and name them so that they can be easily identified. This allows you to define a different viewing angle depending on whether you are watching a show from the dining room or a movie from the living room sofa, when the TV is placed in between the two.

Vogel’s Next 7355/7356: power supply

The Vogel’s Next 7355 and Next 7356 TV wall mounts are mains-operated. Incidentally, they come with two power cable adapters to supply power to the television via a cable that runs out of the right arm. If the TV has a removable cable, it can be directly powered by the wall mount. This solution has two advantages: 

• Only one power outlet is necessary for both the TV wall mount and the television.
• The TV wall mount can detect when the television is turned on and off.

The latter allows the Vogel’s Next 7355 and Next 7356 TV wall mounts to provide a VERY useful feature: you may define how the wall mount behaves when the television is turned on and off. For example, it is possible to have the mount move to a specific position when the television is turned on. You may also decide to automatically reposition the TV against the wall when it is turned off. In both cases, both the Vogel’s Next 7355 and the Vogel’s Next 7356 TV mounts detect when the television is turned on or off and carry out the operation specified in the app.

Cable management is another of the advantages offered by the Vogel’s Next 7355 and Vogel’s Next 7356 TV wall mounts. A cable management system is integrated in the right and left arms, allowing power cables and HDMI cables, for example, to be concealed.

Note: if the television doesn’t have a removable cable, it is still possible to power it via the Vogel’s Next 7355/7356 TV wall mount. In order to do so, however, you must connect the connectors of the TV’s power cable directly to one of the adapters provided by Vogel’s.

Warning! This must be carried out by a professional electrician. Moreover, as it involves modifying the TV’s power cable, it may nullify the manufacturer’s warranty.

Vogel’s Next 7355/7356: key specifications

• Motorized TV wall mount
• Compatible with TVs measuring 101 to 135cm across (40” to 65”)
• Maximum weight load: 30kg
• VESA compatible
• Screen rotation: 120° (60° to the left and 60° to the right)
• Maximum distance between the wall and the television: 72cm
• Control via an Android/iOS app

Vogel’s Next 7355/7356: installation

We installed the Vogel’s Next 7355/7356 motorized TV wall mount in an L-shaped room, one section of which is used as a dining room and the other as a living room. The installation was carried out on an outer wall made of cinder blocks and covered by plasterboard lined with polystyrene insulation.

Our goal was to replace the current setup, comprised of a Panasonic plasma TV placed on top of a NorStone Pui AV TV cabinet, with a Samsung QLED 55Q90R TV mounted on Vogel’s Next 7355 wall mount. We also took the opportunity to test the installation of an LG OLED65E9 TV on the Vogel’s Next 7356, whose wall plate is identical.

We downloaded the Vogel’s TV Mount Guide app then installed it on an Android phone to follow the mounting tutorial, while keeping an eye on each step in the paper version that comes in the box.

Vogel’s Next 7355/7356: important note

The Dutch manufacturer does not recommend installing the wall mount on a plasterboard wall. Moreover, the guide only mentions two types of installation: on a wall made of solid materials (solid concrete or bricks) or a wall with wood columns. You have to read through the small print of the warnings in the guide to find the following indication: 

“The wall mounting accessories provided are exclusively intended for installation onto walls made of solid brick, solid concrete or solid wood columns. Any material covering the wall must not exceed 3 mm / 0.12 inch. For mounting on walls made of other materials, such as hollow bricks, wood panels or plasterboard, please consult your installer and/or specialist supplier.”

Taking into consideration the weight of the wall mount itself, with the weight of the television on top of that, it is clear that plasterboard isn’t strong enough to support this equipment. Even with Molly screws that can bear heavy loads. In addition, the force exerted on the fixation points rises when the TV is moved away from the wall, due to a powerful leverage effect.

For those who still think that it is possible to install this type of wall mount on plasterboard, we tried… and failed. 

Don’t worry, no-one was injured during the operation and no televisions were harmed in the making of this review!

This rather extreme test carried out with a particularly heavy TV wall mount and a large television demonstrates the precautions that should be taken and the limits not to cross when wall-mounting a TV. However, it is still possible to mount a television onto a plasterboard wall with a standard, non articulated TV mount that allows the TV to lie flat against the wall. In this case, there is only vertical pressure and no pull-out force is exerted on the TV wall mount’s fixtures.

It is even possible to install an articulated, non-motorized (therefore light) TV mount on plasterboard with a small TV (up to 24″/60 cm) that does not exceed 3 or 4kg.

Vogel’s Next 7355/7356: installation tutorial 

Vogel’s is renowned for the solidity and intelligent design of their TV mounts, speaker mounts and projector mounts. It is clear that the brand has also mastered the art of simplifying installation: the hard copy of the TV mount guide is very straightforward. The tutorial in the Vogel’s TV Mount Guide app is extremely well-designed and very informative.

Vogel’s Next 7355/7356: mounting the frame

First, you must align the frame’s two metal vertical braces with the VESA mounting holes on the back of the television. Both posts are held in place by two metal screws that can be loosened using the Allen key provided, allowing them to slide in order to adjust the spacing.

Once the spacing is correct, you may mount the frame onto the back of the television with the screws and spacers provided.

Vogel’s Next 7355/7356: preparation for wall mounting

Before drilling any holes, you need to decide the height of the television on the wall. To do so, the Vogel’s app uses “augmented reality” technology that exploits the computing power of current smartphones and tablets as well as their integrated camera. On the screen, the app can then superimpose a virtual object to scale, in this case the TV previously selected, on the wall in the room. Naturally, you must allow the app to access the camera to use this feature.

Vogel’s Next 7355/7356: mounting the wall plate

After our “experience” mounting the Vogel’s Next 7355/7356 TV wall mount directly onto plasterboard, we decided to use a chemical anchor in the cinder block wall, behind the plasterboard. For those of you who are not familiar with this technique, it consists in drilling directly into the wall to insert large anchors shaped like cylindrical mesh cages. You then inject a resin and hardener into the anchors, before inserting the fixings, which in our case were 12mm threaded rods.

The resin is dispersed through the holes in the anchor and forms a mass around it. Once set, the resin, anchor and threaded rod are solidly secured in the cinder block. We made sure that only a centimetre of the threaded rods protruded from the wall. This corresponds to the thickness of the wall plate (2mm) plus the gap under the cover to add the spacer and screw in the nut (8mm).

Vogel’s Next 7355/7356: mounting the screen

Once the frame is attached to the back of the LG OLED65E9 television and the wall plate is fixed onto the wall, all that’s left to do is mount the screen onto the arms of the wall mount. It took three people to do this: two to hold the screen and position it, and a third person to guide the operation and fasten the thumb screws. 

To mount the television, the frame attached onto the back of the TV must be hooked onto the two metal tabs situated on the base at the end of the arms using the groove under the upper bar.

The same procedure is used to mount the Samsung QLED 55Q90R TV onto the Vogel’s Next 7355 wall mount. Because the frame mounted onto the back of the television is bigger, the mounting base is sized accordingly. Both are secured by three fastening screws.

Vogel’s Next 7355/7356: concealing cables

The Vogel’s Next 7355 and Vogel’s Next 7356 TV wall mounts feature an advanced cable management system, with a space inside the arms for power cables and HDMI cables.

One of the main differences between both wall mounts is the cable management system on the back of the TV. Both mounting frames feature a plastic cable guide that you may slide as needed.

The OLED TV wall mount (Vogel’s Next 7356) comes with additional accessories: a flexible cable cover plate to hide the cables on the back of the screen and a flexible cable sock to gather the cables before feeding them through the arm.

To optimize the installation of the Vogel’s Next 7355/7356 TV wall mount, we paired it with the Vogel’s Cable 10 cable column. The latter goes directly underneath the wall plate of the Vogel’s Next 7355/7356 wall mount. Only two screws are needed to hold it in place. 

Vogel’s Next 7355/7356: the end result

Vogel’s Next 7355/7356: impressions

Once the installation was completed, we were able to test how the Vogel’s Next 7355/7356 TV wall mount worked. To do so, we simply had to download and install the Vogel’s MotionMount app, which communicates with the wall mount using radio waves.

When launched for the first time, the app scans the room to detect the wall mount. Once the latter has been selected, you may access the control interface on your smartphone. 

The MotionMount app’s main screen shows the different preprogrammed screen positions at the top of the interface. By default, only the “Wall” position is available (TV flat against the wall). The app allows you to save up to 10 different screen positions.

To do this, you must first use the manual control, either by pressing “Manual Remote” or by pressing “Add new preset”. You then have access to a control interface with two settings sliders. The first is vertical and lets you adjust the distance between the screen and the wall. The second allows you to pivot the television screen 60° to the left or 60° to the right in relation to its initial position, parallel to the wall. Once you’ve found the right position, you may save it simply by giving it a name (“Save position” function).

In the options menu, it is also possible to determine whether you want the wall mount to go back to its initial position when the television is turned off. Naturally, this is only possible if the TV is powered by the wall mount. If you wish, you may also choose for the TV to return to the previous position or to remain flat against the wall when it is turned on.

The app proved to be very easy to use. However, it wasn’t very responsive. It took several seconds for the wall mount to move once the position was set on the smartphone. On several occasions we also experienced unexpected disconnections that sometimes forced us to relaunch the app in order to restore the link between the latter and the wall mount.

Other than these few hiccups, we have to admit that it was very convenient to be able to rotate the television so easily. Especially since it is done in a very secure manner so that the television never knocks into the wall. Even if you choose to rotate the TV as far is it will go when it is flat against the wall, the Vogel’s Next 7355/7356 TV wall mount ensures that the distance from the wall is sufficient before it begins to rotate. It is very reassuring.

Regarding the points that, in our opinion, could have been better, we would have liked the motor to have been quieter. We also noticed that even if the television is perfectly level when it is parallel to the wall, it is no longer level if it is rotated completely to the right or to the left. As it rotates, it tilts slightly towards the farthest edge of the wall. This isn’t a huge problem, but it could irk more demanding users.

Vogel’s Next 7355/7356: compared to…

The Vogel’s Next 7355 and Vogel’s Next 7356 TV wall mounts are so unique that it is difficult to compare them with other TV mounts. There are no comparable products on the market.

Vogel’s Next 7355/7356: conclusion

The Vogel’s Next 7355 and Vogel’s Next 7356 TV wall mounts are a high-end wall-mounting solution ideal for LCD LED televisions and OLED televisions respectively. 

They boast a robust structure in aluminum and an impeccable finish. The well-designed app that guides the user through each step makes installation pretty easy. All steps can be carried out by one person, with the exception of when the TV is fixed onto the wall mount. It is better if two people are present to hold either side of the TV to fit it correctly onto the base at the end of the arm.

As with most Vogel’s TV mounts, the cable management system is very effective, in particular on the model designed for OLED TVs which features welcome additional accessories. Another good idea is the ability to power the television directly via the right arm of the wall mount. This means that only one outlet is used to power both devices and it also makes it possible to detect the TV wall mount when the television is turned on. The wall mount can therefore move back into its initial position when the TV is switched off.

What we liked

• The solidity and build quality
• The cable management system
• The intuitive control interface
• The possibility to quickly program multiple presettings

What we would have liked

• A quieter motor
• That the television remained level, no matter its position
• Graduated markers in the app for the distance and rotation settings
• A more responsive connection between the app and the motorized TV mount
• A remote control