** Help 14 ft viewing distance, 5080HD or 60a2020?

[thegreenmenace]

So I just moved into my brand new loft last night. Of course the night before I went to best buy to get a new HDTV as my 32 LCD Viewsonic was not going to cut it. I went in researched with the intention of buying the 60a2020. The reason being is that my living room is a shared space with the kitchen. The total room is 20ft x 18 ft with 9 ft windows along the 18 ft wall. Anyhow the way the room is laid out I would prefer not dividing up the room by floating a small couch 7ft to 10ft from the TV. At full length, with the BDI TV stand and leather sectional I have picked out, viewing distance will be roughly 14ft.

Now here's the question, last night I went in to Best Buy planning to buy the Sony 60a2020, mainly because it was the most reasonably priced a 60inch screen, good quality image. I was/am very concerned about the 14ft viewing distance. Anyway, I walked out with a Pioneer 5080HD because the picture quality is just wicked, but am having second thoughts. If I am 14ft away should I switch to the Sony 60a2020? or should I stick with the better image quality and try a 50inch plasma at 14 ft? I am a gamer, but also watch a lot of sports (Go Bears!).

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I set 11.5 ft from a 50" plasma and it seems too small for me.

 

[thegreenmenace]

That's exactly what I am afraid of. So either I have to totally rethink the furniture (pain in the a$$) or go with the 60 inch DLP.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

It's up to you. If I am correct 10ft is about the max for a 50" but someone will get on here shortly and provide a distance calculator. I wish I had of went bigger.

 

[supervij]

Personally, I'd try to find a seventy-incher, if I were you. I'm 8'3" from my 50" screen, and it's pretty awesome. Fourteen feet away? That's gonna be one tiny screen with that plasma. Going with the 60-incher, I wonder if the difference in picture quality would be negligible at 14 feet. I'm guessing it'd be roughly the same, but you gotta go with your eyes on this.

cheers,
supervij

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I dont know if 60 will be big enough either. I wouldnt go from a 50 to a 60 in my application but then again; I am looking for an excuse to buy a PJ.

It's funny; I am 15ft away from my 42" LCD in the bedroom and it seems ok but when I am in my HT 50" is too small at 11.5 ft.

 

[thegreenmenace]

Thanks a lot for your advice.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Great advice huh...you just learned that you have to move your couch or spend more money...

Remember; we are not normal!

 

[abefroeman]

These are my crude caclulations for the *ideal* distance from the screen. I am sure someone else would be more accurate or could provide a max distance for you.

50" 7.14'
60" 8.57'
70" 10.00'
80" 11.43'
90" 12.86'

 

[xboxweasel]

The distance you sit from the screen is also determined by the native resolution of the display. You have to sit closer for the same size display if it is 1080P versus 720P. (IE: closer for higher resolutions). Strange, but I have seen it in many articles.

 

[emorphien]

The distance you sit from the screen is also determined by the native resolution of the display. You have to sit closer for the same size display if it is 1080P versus 720P. (IE: closer for higher resolutions). Strange, but I have seen it in many articles.

You don't have to, but if you're at the distance where 720p is fine for your eyes (it varies from viewer to viewer) going to 1080p won't gain you anything in picture quality since your eyes simply can't resolve pixels that fine.

look here for the chart: http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30910 This chart is assuming 20:20 vision I imagine.

 

[cornelius]

http://www.myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html?distance=5&shape=2&size=1&customdiag=42&customwidth=&currentangle=17.3&maxdist=15.8&smptemaxdist=5.7&thxmaxdist=6.6&thxoptdist=4.7&smptewidth=64.3&smptediagstd=80.4&smptediagwide=73.8&thxwidth=78&thxdiagstd=97.5&thxdiagwide=89.5&ntscdist=14.6&hdtvdist=5.5

 

[thegreenmenace]

do you think pioneer is on the right track to some degree with this black level contrast ratio over resolution line?

I have heard through friends in the "biz" that 1440 is about a year away from store shelves, and though the jump from 720 to 1080 is amazing, black levels and color richness seems to be a bigger thing. I mean I can compare 2 1080p tvs and not like the image produced by one, but tvs with great contrast always seem to look good. Then again people process images differently and I might just prefer it.

 

[emorphien]

Just what we need, the resolution nonsense from say digital cameras to invade TVs. I agree, there are other things I'd much rather see improved over higher resolution screens.

 

[mtrycrafts]

That's exactly what I am afraid of. So either I have to totally rethink the furniture (pain in the a$$) or go with the 60 inch DLP.

Here, check out this chart and vision acuity:

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/assets/download/0602_tech_talk2_large.jpg

 

[The Dukester]

With all the problems Sony has had with their SXRD tvs, I would stay with the Pioneer hands down, even though it has a smaller screen. I really looked hard at the Sonys, but in the end went with a plasma, especially after all the horror stories with the SXRDs.
I sit about 14 ft away from my Pioneer 50" plasma and it's OK with me. Then again, I have a 92" pull down screen and front pj for movies and the really good sporting events

 

[thegreenmenace]

I appreciate all the advice and suggestions-I am going to go with the plasma and change the layout accordingly: 7/8ft.
This forum has been much more helpful than the experts even at more specialized electronic stores like ABT. Thanks for not making fun of the n00b! I'll post some pics when everything comes in on Saturday!

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Good move!

I appreciate all the advice and suggestions-I am going to go with the plasma and change the layout accordingly: 7/8ft.
This forum has been much more helpful than the experts even at more specialized electronic stores like ABT. Thanks for not making fun of the n00b! I'll post some pics when everything comes in on Saturday!

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

If I am 14ft away should I switch to the Sony 60a2020? or should I stick with the better image quality and try a 50inch plasma at 14 ft? I am a gamer, but also watch a lot of sports (Go Bears!).

With a 14' distance, an 8' screen would be perfect

If you cant go that big, then get as close to that as possible.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

It's up to you. If I am correct 10ft is about the max for a 50" but someone will get on here shortly and provide a distance calculator.

There are different schools of thought on that subject. In general, 1.5x to 2x your screen width as a guide for ideal seating distance is the calculator I most agree with....