Does Sitting Further Away Than Recommended Really Ruin the Experience?

[PearlcorderS701]

Yes -- I've read all the online and print tutorials that proclaim you must sit a certain distance from a display, given its size, otherwise you "lose" the "impact" of maximum 1080p resolution. I have studied the charts. I have discussed it with others. When it comes down to it, you really should be like just mere feet from a display in order to get maximum benefit from it, and to achieve a "theater-like" experience -- I agree with this to a point, but at what cost? Vision strain/loss? I mean, in my last place, we were eight or so feet from a 50" rear projection set, and it seemed too big most of the time, hurting my wife's eyes for most material.

Now, we've transplanted the same set into a new house and the viewing distance has grown to 11 feet -- suddenly, any "theater effect" has been stripped from the experience, but there's simply nothing we can do about it now. The budget will not allow for a new display, compounded with the fact that we bought a rather expensive wall unit for it, and it houses a 50" set, or maybe slightly bigger, like a 52...

So I'm wondering, are all the Blu-ray Discs I've bought now simply worthless because I am sitting 11 feet from a 50" screen? Is HD something I need to simply give up on because of the recommended distance charts? Is there no way -- whatsoever -- that I can experience true 1080p due to the fact that I am so far from my screen?

Essentially, what I am asking I suppose, is, is there absolutely no way to enjoy high definition material if your display isn't corresponding exactly to a seating distance chart? Is there reason to watch 1080p material at all?

 

[SopRage]

There's a chart that's pretty good at explaining this, so I'll link it for you: http://s3.carltonbale.com/resolution_chart.html

The long and short of it is that you're definitely not going to get the "full 1080p" experience at that viewing distance. If you look at the chart, you're getting more of a "some 720p" experience. To answer one of your questions, your Blurays are not worthless - they should look markedly better than DVDs would - but no, you're not getting their full value.

Assuming this is one of the charts you've studied you may already know this, and your question seems to be "can the laws of visual acuity and viewing angle/human perception be altered" which I'm afraid is a resounding "no."

The only way you're going to get the full benefit of a "theater experience" (e.g. the screen filling more of your viewing area) and 1080p is either sitting closer or buying a projector at that distance.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Save those pennies; I'm guessing you could buy a projector and screen for less than/about the cost of your HDTV!

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

See Commandment #6 -6) Thou shalt not skimp on thine display
http://www.audioholics.com/news/editorials/10-audioholics-commandments

 

[BMXTRIX]

There is only one good solution...

Dual displays.

People often question it, but the reality is that for day-to-day casual viewing, a good size flat panel is a great way to go. At 12' a 60"-70" display is a good size, but it is nothing like the movie theater experience. A 50" display is viewable, but feels more like TV.

Remember - The #1 complaint of new HDTV owners is that they should have bought a bigger display.

So, you have the nice day-to-day viewing experience which you enjoy, and maybe feel is small from time to time - but those times when it is small is when you are watching things that you really want to see big. Movies on Blu-ray, major HD sporting events, etc.

The solution is the front projection setup with a screen that drops in front of your existing display. There are almost always ways to pull this off, but the price associated with this is not typically inexpensive.

Yet, a cheap way to do it really can be had for just about $1,200 with a Optoma HD20 and a manual retractable screen on some ceiling eye hooks.

 

[AVRat]

I remember an older expression, “Don’t sweat the small sh!t!” The best HT experience is at the closest distance you’re most comfortable with. Not whether or not your eyes can resolve a certain resolution. Although that can come into play if you’re too close.

With digital displays, you really want the best resolution match between source/display to minimize scaling for the best picture. And down-scaling is preferred to up-scaling, if you happen to have a 720p native resolution display.

 

[supervij]

Your Blu-rays aren't worthless, in my opinion, because you're still getting a better picture, better colours, etc. Even at your present distance, the picture will look better than if you were watching the equivalent DVD. Plus, assuming you've the setup to support it, you're getting lossless audio as well.

cheers,
supervij

 

[PearlcorderS701]

Thanks Everyone,

I appreciate the input and opinions on all of this; it concerns me that the initial response was going in the direction of the fact that there is no way I can be getting the benefits of 1080p from my current distance -- which is what I suspected -- but on the other hand, there is really nothing we can do about it right now based on budgetary constraints, room layout and other factors. The suggestion of dropping a screen in front of the rear projection screen for serious film watching was intriguing, and something I have seen done in many hobbyist publications, but it's something I'll have to discuss further with Hitler (I mean the wife...sorry).

And yes, the chart(s) provided and many others I have looked over and reviewed previously, so I understand the seating/distance relationship suggested in these texts -- some of them, however, would almost have one sitting just mere feet, as I said in the original post, from a screen when this would seem ridiculously close. I'm not sure these should be followed as ad nauseum as they are suggesting to be...

Let me address vij's reply here separately:

Your Blu-rays aren't worthless, in my opinion, because you're still getting a better picture, better colours, etc. Even at your present distance, the picture will look better than if you were watching the equivalent DVD. Plus, assuming you've the setup to support it, you're getting lossless audio as well.

cheers,
supervij

Thank you, 'vij. Indeed, I am set up for lossless via an Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray player which bitstreams the TrueHD and Master Audio codecs, and an Onkyo TX-SR605 AV receiver which has the onboard decoding for these formats.

With regard to your first comment about still being able to get the benefits of Blu-ray from my distance, I must say...I think I am beginning to understand this "you're too far to enjoy or benefit from full 1080p" theory. Last night, I fired up No Country For Old Men on Blu, and the experience wasn't as jaw-dropping in terms of detail as compared to when I used to sit just 8 feet from this same TV...in my previous setup, the eye-popping detail in the pebbles on the highway and facial closeups were blatant and in-your-face; watching this same disc at 11 feet away last night, the PQ was good -- but it looked like a "really good DVD" sitting this far away. I think I understand what's behind this now, but, as I have said, I can't do anything about it right this minute.

Still, I think there's something to be said about some of the points you make: The better colors, brighter appearance, just better overall experience as compared to DVD regardless of my increase in distance...I can sense the improvements on these fronts even from 11 feet, they're just not as dramatic as if I were closer.

I just don't want to feel as if I need to sell, or get rid of, all my Blu-rays because we're now at 11 feet away from a 50" display; that the HT experience is a complete, absolute waste.

 

[itschris]

You've figured out what it's all about. HD brings a lot to the table besides just pure resolution in my opinion. There's color and nuance and intangibles... the "ghost in the machine" theory if you will that has a synergistic effect of what we see. I still think there's a lot to be enjoyed even if yuo don't have the perfect viewing distance. All that stuff should be conisdered guidlines. It's not ruined if your setup doesn't fit in those parameters.

I have a 65" DLP, My eyes are about 11 feet from the screeen when sitting on my couch. I don't have great eyesight, and I would love to sit closer. I wanted the 73" TV at the time. The room was big enough but the tv wall was a bit short and there were other asthetic concerns due to large art glass cabinet we had in he pocket corner by the fireplace. So, it's not ideal but I still enjoy it.

 

[PearlcorderS701]

Thank You, Chris.

You've figured out what it's all about. HD brings a lot to the table besides just pure resolution in my opinion. There's color and nuance and intangibles... the "ghost in the machine" theory if you will that has a synergistic effect of what we see. I still think there's a lot to be enjoyed even if yuo don't have the perfect viewing distance. All that stuff should be conisdered guidlines. It's not ruined if your setup doesn't fit in those parameters.

Thanks for putting me at ease a bit here; there is, however, the fact that I could see where certain elements of the HD "attraction" are being lost at my distance, and this is what I am struggling with -- sure, I agree that there are improvements without the benefit of extra resolution such as color depth and intensity, facial detail, etc., but I was DEFINITELY able to tell after watching No Country For Old Men on Blu over the past couple of nights at this new 11-foot distance that much of what made this (and other) transfer pop was kind of "lost" at this distance; I can recall being able to make out that "coming off the screen" look (which my rear projection set actually doesn't exhibit all that well normally -- not like a good LCD anyway) with regard to trees, pebbles on the ground and facial elements. From this new, further distance, these effects aren't nearly as jaw-dropping. It's disappointing, but after buying and decorating this new house we're in, our resources are simply tapped out and I can't justify a new display in our family room/den/HT right now. I have to use the 50" set we have, and plus we also bought a wall unit specifically to fit this screen which my wife is in love with, so either way, I am, as they say, f***ed.

I have a 65" DLP, My eyes are about 11 feet from the screeen when sitting on my couch. I don't have great eyesight, and I would love to sit closer. I wanted the 73" TV at the time. The room was big enough but the tv wall was a bit short and there were other asthetic concerns due to large art glass cabinet we had in he pocket corner by the fireplace. So, it's not ideal but I still enjoy it.

I hear you, but I'm at the same distance as you and I would absolutely KILL for a 65" screen from this distance -- even larger.