Flat Panel (LCD) Viewing Angles

[brushro]

Hello to all-My wife & I have a 42" Mits RPTV that we're considering replacing ...I've been window shopping/studying & researching a new flat panel (LCD) HDTV purchase & wondering about the viewing angle issue...while I rarely lay or sit on the floor so close as to notice or have a concern,some of the online reviews I've read from BB & CC have frequently mentioned this...especially the 42"-46" Samsung vs. Sharp units.
We do use a side dining room for entertaining & all the specs I've seen plainly state a 175* to 180* viewing angle.
Should I not expect the same picture quality from even a "slightly" off center viewing angle
Thank You

 

[A/VUSMCSGT]

I don't notice any diminished picture quality from viewing my LCD from an angle. This might be specific to individual TVs though. Mine might be great form an angle while others might look terrible. I guess it depends on how much of an angle you're talking about. Mine looks great as if you're looking straight at it up to about 80 degrees from either side. After that you can still see the TV perfectly, but your perception of the image is going to make it undesirable to look at. No TV is gonna be able to be viewed from 180 degrees like some companies say, that's from the direct side. No TV I've seen has screen on the side of it. If you can, go to the stores and look at the sets you're considering in person. View them from about where your dining room sitting position is and see what you think. While you're there, you can choose between TV's based on picture quality and other things like that also. Good luck on your choice, make sure to post your decision.

Joe

 

[Jacksmyname]

I have a Sony 40" XBR that I bought back in December. I have to really view at a pretty extreme angle before a notice any difference.

Jack

 

[Sleestack]

I have a great plasma and several great LCDs. Even the best LCDs suffer from viewing angle problems compared to plasmas. That being said, LCDs have come a long way. For most people, I think LCDs are perfectly acceptable at normal viewing angles. You really have to stand off to the side for it to be bad.

 

[Duffinator]

For most people, I think LCDs are perfectly acceptable at normal viewing angles. You really have to stand off to the side for it to be bad.

I agree. You hear a lot of people concerned about this but my Sharp 45" LCD has a better viewing angle than my Toshiba 56" WS CRT RPTV.

 

[Sleestack]

I agree. You hear a lot of people concerned about this but my Sharp 45" LCD has a better viewing angle than my Toshiba 56" WS CRT RPTV.

Although I use plasma for my large panel movie viewing, these days I actually recommend LCD to most people. IMO, overall versatitlity, ease of use, excellent picture quality these days and beter pricing make it a better choice for most people.

 

[Duffinator]

The price on the Sharp 65" LCD just dropped to $10,000. When it gets to $6K I'm buying one for my HT. Check it out here.

 

[Buckle-meister]

Ho Duffinator! Long time no see.

 

[Duffinator]

Ho Duffinator! Long time no see.

I'm still around here almost daily. Just not posting much. I've been hanging out at a vintage audio forum for the past year.

How are things on the other side of the Atlantic?

 

[Buckle-meister]

I've been hanging out at a vintage audio forum for the past year.

Which part's vintage, the audio or the forum?

How are things on the other side of the Atlantic?

Not bad, thank you for asking. Very busy these days. Happy and sad. The 30's are turning out to be very unsettling years for me - and I've a while to go yet!

Cheers.

 

[Audioholics]

The Westinghouse monitors have a poor viewing angle before they start to lose contrast - with that aspect you really do get what you pay for.

 

[Duffinator]

Which part's vintage, the audio or the forum?



Not bad, thank you for asking. Very busy these days. Happy and sad. The 30's are turning out to be very unsettling years for me - and I've a while to go yet!

Cheers.

Man the 30's should be the time of your life. Maybe you are working too hard?

Click on my HT link and check the first post to see what I'm talking about.

Another point on the viewing angle, many that complain about the viewing angles are the same ones crying over the demise of CRT's. But they don't make 65" CRT's, let alone one that can hang on the wall, so plasma, LCD, and chip based sets are the future.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

I just checked my two Olevia's. The 20" I use for my pc yellow's a bit at a pretty extreme angle, but my 37" is almost perfect until out of sight.

 

[Sleestack]

The price on the Sharp 65" LCD just dropped to $10,000. When it gets to $6K I'm buying one for my HT. Check it out here.

You might want to pass on that one. No native 1080p input and rapidly dropping LCD prices made me pass on that unit. I wasn't thrilled with the picture either. You might wait for their next gen. panel. Then again, at $6k it would be a great buy.