42" or 50" Plasma for Small Room?

[modman]

I am planning the jump from a 42" rear projection to plasma. I need help with a few questions:

1. My viewing room is 15' x 15', with the distance from the viewer to the flat screen approximately 13'. I had been planning on a 42" screen, since my current 42" rear projection seems fine. However, a 50-inch screen is not that much more money, it has higher resolution....but I have heard that if you sit too close to the larger screen units, you do not get as good a picture. Whacha think?

2. I was going with a Panny TH-42PHD7UY, given it beee-yooo-tiful simple, industrial appearance and good reviews. I was going to order it from Visual Apex, given their good rep on this site...but they are out of stock and are now pushing the new version, the TH-42PHD8UK. I'm wondering if I should wait for the new model...does anyone know of any improvements? I can't find any reviews. The older Panny is still for sale at some on-line places.

Thanks for any help.

 

[mike c]

what was your previous rear projection tv? (is it rear projection CRT or LCD?)

 

[Mort Corey]

I sit about eight feet from my 42" plasma display and it shrunk about two months after I bought it.......at 13', go for the 50.

Mort

 

[Ax-man]

Here's a chart to give a basic rule of thumb for viewing distances...

How Far?

...hope it helps.

 

[Ax-man]

I sit about eight feet from my 42" plasma display and it shrunk about two months after I bought it.......at 13', go for the 50.

Mort

Yep, we sit about 9' from our (at the time) big 37" plasma...now the thing looks puny!

We've got a new 73" Mitsu on order for our larger room, I just hope the same thing doesn't happen to that one.

 

[Tsunamii]

I sit about eight feet from my 42" plasma display and it shrunk about two months after I bought it.......at 13', go for the 50.

Mort

I also have a 42 in plasma. They look nice and big in the store and on the wall for the first month or so, then they shrink. I am looking at sets (a year or more down the road) and would like to look into projection or one of the 70+ plasmas...
Go for the 50....

 

[Ax-man]

I also have a 42 in plasma. They look nice and big in the store and on the wall for the first month or so, then they shrink. I am looking at sets (a year or more down the road) and would like to look into projection or one of the 70+ plasmas...
Go for the 50....

Tsunamii, we were originally contemplating a smaller TV along with a pull down screen and front projector but the ambient light in the room wouldn't really justify having both the front and rear projection systems. We are in the process of building the room and I'm still going to wire it up for a front projector...just in case.

 

[modman]

good info

Thanks for the comments and info. The "how far" link was particuarly helpful.

For the record, the current television is a regular rear-projection Tosh, 42 inches, and it has been quite nice.

 

[plasmalvr]

Shrinkage is always a problem and bigger is better.

Shrinkage is always a problem and bigger is better.

The televison may look quite adequate in the store or even huge because one may be used to a smaller tv at home. The new plasmas and lcd's allow one to sit much closer and still see a terrific picture.