Buying Monitors for Takedown Advantage
Takedown Advantage
Takedown Advantage holds two monitors back to back, and the monitors aren’t included. Here’s what to look for when you buy them, and what not to pay for.
What the monitor must have
- 24″ to 32″. Don’t go bigger than 32″ or smaller than 24″. 27″ is the sweet spot.
- 100 mm VESA mounting holes. The Advantage monitor mounts use the 100 × 100 mm VESA pattern. Check the spec sheet before you buy.
- Less than 15 pounds. Stay under the Advantage weight limit for each monitor.
- A flat screen, not curved.
- A built-in power supply. Skip monitors that run from an external power brick.
What not to pay for
- High refresh rates. 60 Hz is all a scoreboard needs. A faster screen costs more and does nothing on Takedown Advantage.
- Extra inputs. One HDMI input is all you need. Don’t pay for inputs you won’t use.
- Built-in speakers. They’re generally not powerful enough for a gym. Don’t pay for them.
Where to buy
- Free is the best price. Schools often have spare monitors like these. Check with your school’s administration first.
- Used works fine. eBay is a good source for used monitors. Look for sellers with several units available and a high seller rating.
- New: Amazon is a good source.
- Watch the price. Monitor prices move all the time. Keep an eye out for temporary price cuts.
The stand
Takedown Advantage sits on a tripod stand, which isn’t included. Speaker stands on Amazon are inexpensive, and a collapsible one is easier to store.
Coaches: don’t wait until the last minute. Buy the monitors and the stand well before your first home event, so there’s time to assemble and test the whole setup.
See Takedown Advantage for what’s in the box, and the assembly instructions for putting it together.