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how big tv should i get? about 8.5-9 ft away

  • Thread starter Thread starter usher
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55 It's the only way that you would be able to see all the detail in a 1080 picture. (i think, this is from memory)
 
Here is a link for calculating distance, if you want to see all of the detail of your set:

HDTV Viewing Distance Calculator + Guide | Articles - Digital Digest

If you have 20/20 vision, you would need a 65" TV to see all of the detail (of 1080p) displayed from 8.45 feet.

If your only choices are 50 & 55", go with the 55". Bigger would be better, assuming you want the picture to be bigger. Some people like having a smaller screen, and so they ought to choose accordingly. But most people do not wish they had purchased a smaller TV later on; usually, they are more apt to wish they had gotten a bigger one.

Here is more reading on this subject:

http://carltonbale.com/1080p-does-matter/
 
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In all honesty, go for the biggest set you can fit and afford.
 
Check how the suggested distances look in the store. When we got ours, I did all the reading about screen size vs viewing distance. But then in the store when I viewed the different size screens at the "optimal" distances, I was a bit surprised. It was kinda like sitting in the front row of a movie theatre. I could see a lot of detail, but I could not see the whole picture. I was constantly looking left & right and up & down to find and follow the primary action. It quickly became tiresome... just like the front row of a theatre.

We finally chose a 55" for our viewing distance of ~12'.

Everybody has their preference. Experiment in the store w/ various screen sizes and distances.
 
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If you like movies and sports, 65 isn't out of the question. I have a 65 and I sit about 8 feet away. My last TV was a 50 and I always wished I'd gone bigger at the time.

Jim
 
herbu said:
Check how the suggested distances look in the store. When we got ours, I did all the reading about screen size vs viewing distance. But then in the store when I viewed the different size screens at the "optimal" distances, I was a bit surprised. It was kinda like sitting in the front row of a movie theatre. I could see a lot of detail, but I could not see the whole picture. I was constantly looking left & right and up & down to find and follow the primary action. It quickly became tiresome... just like the front row of a theatre.

We finally chose a 55" for our viewing distance of ~12'.

Everybody has their preference. Experiment in the store w/ various screen sizes and distances.
Click to expand...


Yes, it is a good idea to measure the distance in the store, and see what one likes. If one likes a small screen, one should go with a small screen.

You are, however, exaggerating about the front row of a theater. You must not have done that in years.

Also, as an aside, you might as well have a 720p set at that distance, unless you have significantly better than 20/20 vision. (See this.) Don't bother with 4k, as it will be a waste for you.
 
In my experience that distance is perfect for a 55" screen. Any bigger gets a bit much.
 
Buy as BIG as you can! Youll ALWAYS regret not getting bigger. Or let me put it to you this way buy as much as you can and then another 200.00 more
 
While there are a very few who will sit in the back of the theater and swear the screen is still too big, the majority sit in the center of the theater and they don't swing their head around when viewing, they just sit there.

In a typical movie theater, the screen is .66x the viewing distance in with. In more simple terms, a 12' viewing distance will have a screen size that is 8' wide, or a 110" diagonal! Think about that for a minute. That's to recreate a 'true' home theater experience. At 8' you would actually want a screen that is 64" wide, which is over a 70" diagonal for that same impact. So, while going smaller is a personal opinion, which you are free to have, choose, and decide upon, it is a simple fact that 65" is already small by THX guidelines.

It is also fact that the number one complaint people have after buying a HDTV is that they wish they had purchased the next larger size.

I very recently told a family that they should move their 50" flat panel to their bedroom and install their 70" flat panel in the family room and put a 120" front projection screen in the basement.

The wife was like "Won't that be to big?" - I promised her that she would be used to it in a shockingly short period of time.

I installed the 70" TV in the morning, and before I left the house that evening, she took me aside to specifically let me know that she was already used to the size and was very glad I had strongly suggested the 70" in the family room.

It just is established that for most people, they will get used to what is in front of them, and for the detail that HDTV offers, starting with THX recommendations and the viewing distance chart is a great baseline. From there, if you go smaller, and then wish you went larger, you really do only have yourself to blame at this point.
 
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I agree, that you need the largest size that is practical.

Physical restraints come into play.

My first HD TV was a 50" plasma, bought in 2006. It has done well, and in 2006 the cost of a plasma larger than that was out of sight. At a 9' to 10' viewing distance it was too small.

IMGP1913-XL.jpg



The biggest problem was discongruity between the size of the image and the sound stage. The sound stage is huge, and for opera and some movies this issue was a problem and definitely detracted from the enjoyment.

So I recently put in a 65" screen.

IMGP4742-XL.jpg


This has placed the margins of the screen in the peripheral vision, at least for the front row. This has greatly enhanced the audio reality. The other bonus is that the increased size has made control of the HTPC much easier.

Now there are practical considerations. The screen would be better a little bigger. However, that is the largest practical screen size. The center speaker has been moved up as high as it can go. If it were higher, in any event, the center speaker driver, just above the screen would be too close to the ceiling, and if below the screen would be too close to the floor and not give optimal room coverage.

As in all things the results are the sum of the best compromises. In any event the change has definitely enhanced the AV experience.
 
Going from old and dead 42" to now 55" at about 9ft distance but I wish I'd gotten 65" or more. Wife initially complained but got used to it very quickly
Don't go for overly expensive model ST series from Panasonic plasma's offer best balance b'ween video quality and value
 
Pyrrho said:
You are, however, exaggerating about the front row of a theater. You must not have done that in years.
Click to expand...

You are exactly right. It has been years. Guess I should give it another try. I will admit that when Dorothy stepped out of her wrecked house and the screen burst into full color, it was magnificent!!! ;)
 
Go bigger

I sit 8' away from a 65" Panasonic ST60 series and it's amazing, the TV could even be a bit bigger. -Jon
 
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