To Big?

[shokhead]

Maybe its me but reading threads it seems some are getting much bigger TV's then is needed.

 

[Duffinator]

I've never seen a TV too big yet. I firmly subscribe to the theory that bigger is better, expecially when we are talking video displays and screens. Plus with HD monitors you can sit closer before you start to see the individual pixels. Have you ever watched a DVD on a 120" screen in someone's HT? It's simply amazing and you can sit relatively close to a screen that large with a 720P projector.

 

[BMXTRIX]

...then is needed.

Television is hardly a necessity. A old B&W TV that still works with an antenna is more than needed for about anyone.

So, on the fun side of things, bigger is good right up to the point where it gets difficult to view the show. For picking such a size I would go with the THX standards as a baseline, then go up or down in size as desired.

THX standards say that about the ideal screen width is .66 times your seating distance. So, if you are sitting 15 feet from the screen, then a 10 foot wide screen is appropriate.

Go to most movie theaters and you will find that the seats in the middle of the auditorium are about 1.5 times the screen width away from the screen.

I find that most people tend to go to small, or care way to much about resolution for a specified seating distance. Visual acquity of the human eye begins to negate the ability to see individual pixels after a certain distance anyway.

50"? No, I don't think that's nearly big enough for my needs .

 

[shokhead]

I'm kinda talking about a small room,13X15 and you put a 60" in there. Dont tell me thats ok,thats to big.

 

[Duffinator]

I'm kinda talking about a small room,13X15 and you put a 60" in there. Dont tell me thats ok,thats to big.

First off it's "too big". And a 60" HD monitor sounds about right for that room. But it' your room, if you are happy with a 30" why even bother with this post?

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

"Too big" is a holdover from standard-definition TV, when you could buy a Monster 48" RCA rear projection and the signal from your 11' dish would look like crap.

With digital cable/satellite, DVD, and HDTV the screen can be much much larger before the picture suffers. A 60" TV may be too big for a 12' wide room, but thats also compounded by the Tv cabinet is usally 2 feet thick (unless its a plasma).

 

[BMXTRIX]

I'm kinda talking about a small room,13X15 and you put a 60" in there. Dont tell me thats ok,thats to big.

No, it absolutely isn't okay.

It is far to small for THX recommended seating distance for proper viewing.

Using front projection from a HD projector (let's say a Panasonic AE-700) and you are sitting on the rear of the 15 foot wall - let's knock a foot off for the recliner.

So, you are viewing from 14 feet.

14 times .66 = 9.24 feet or about 110 inches WIDE

...

About a 128 INCH diagonal is appropriate.

You don't have to agree, but these are the rules I follow when I design a proper home theater, it is also the rules that commerical movie theaters use when designing a theater where you see the movies.

To much for the evening news? Perhaps, but you actually get quite used to it and find it very enjoyable to not have to squint when looking at the screen all the time. It's FUN remember? No need to limit your size to what you grew up with.

Especially when for a few thousand dollars you have the option these days of going that large. Very cool and fun.

 

[Aarong]

I recently put a 50" DLP Samsung in a room that is approx. 12' x 15' and I would say that it's just right. Going to a 60" screen in this room would probably be pushing excessive, but it would probably work out. My 50" is an upgrade from my old 27" Magnavox and I must say I'm glad to not be squinting anymore while watching TV.

 

[shokhead]

First off it's "too big". And a 60" HD monitor sounds about right for that room. But it' your room, if you are happy with a 30" why even bother with this post?

First off,dont correct me. Why are you bothering to reply? You seem upset. It just seems everybody is after as big as they can get no matter what size room. I'm 10 feet from my 30" and its just right.

 

[MDS]

Using the rule of thumb that the seating distance should be 1.5 to 2 times the diagonal, a 60" tv could be used for a seating distance of between 7.5 feet and 10 feet. But those guidelines are for HD. 10 feet probably isn't going to be so great for SD.

I am currently 11' away from my 32" and that is a tad too small. When I get around to buying an HDTV, it will most likely be the 55" Sony LCD and 11' would probably be a good compromise for both HD and SD. In the end, its all personal preference anyway.

Using the THX recommendation, I should get 132" x .66 = 87" TV. No way, no how...that will absolutelly be too big.

 

[BMXTRIX]

I think this website which includes a projection distance calculator is excellent:
http://www.myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html

It is not really a rule of thumb, these are SMPTE and THX standards we are talking about. Yes, the rule is HDTV for the format, and I agree that for normal TV viewing a smaller screen is fine. When you get into your home theater and are going for a HOME THEATER environment to watch movies and HDTV, then 1.54x screen width is the recommended seating distance and 2.17 times screen width is the MAXIMUM recommended seating distance.

Tell you what, AFTER you put your home theater in, with a 10 foot screen and good audio and do some serious movie watching at home - then you decide. Most home theaters surpass the commercial movie experience in many ways including image quality, audio, and (of course) the comfort of your own home... with a pause button.

 

[shokhead]

Using the rule of thumb that the seating distance should be 1.5 to 2 times the diagonal, a 60" tv could be used for a seating distance of between 7.5 feet and 10 feet. But those guidelines are for HD. 10 feet probably isn't going to be so great for SD.

I am currently 11' away from my 32" and that is a tad too small. When I get around to buying an HDTV, it will most likely be the 55" Sony LCD and 11' would probably be a good compromise for both HD and SD. In the end, its all personal preference anyway.

Using the THX recommendation, I should get 132" x .66 = 87" TV. No way, no how...that will absolutelly be too big.

Now that explains it abit better. No real rule of thumb and it will be different with HD.

 

[Duffinator]

First off,dont correct me. Why are you bothering to reply? You seem upset. It just seems everybody is after as big as they can get no matter what size room. I'm 10 feet from my 30" and its just right.

I'm not upset. It's all personal preference regardless of what any "recommendations" may state. But you never answered my question about watching a movie in someone's home with a large 100" to 120" screen. And I'm not talking about watching one for a few minutes at your favorite AV store. Having the opportunity to relax and watch a complete movie on a screen that size might change your mind.

 

[brian32672]

I'm not upset. It's all personal preference regardless of what any "recommendations" may state. But you never answered my question about watching a movie in someone's home with a large 100" to 120" screen. And I'm not talking about watching one for a few minutes at your favorite AV store. Having the opportunity to relax and watch a complete movie on a screen that size might change your mind.

Yeah I had 36" for a long time. After going to 96" I said, what am I doing....
So I went with 120"
And I will never turn back now.............
Actually if I could get away with 200"+ I most certainly would. But for most 50-60"+ is a great starting point. But if you can get away with a minimal 96" then you would certainly never go any smaller..

I do recall telling a friend, oh I would only watch movies on the 96" and never TV. As I thought it was a waste of bulb life. Uhmm, to bad, I started watching tv on the damn thing - So I sold the 36". Then I sold the 96" to get the 120".

Anyone looking for a 120" set-up, so I can go bigger???????

 

[majorloser]

First off,dont correct me. Why are you bothering to reply? You seem upset. It just seems everybody is after as big as they can get no matter what size room. I'm 10 feet from my 30" and its just right.

Now aren't we glad this guy doesn't work for one of the major theater chains!

There would be a 60" rear projection TV in the theater and that would be "just right".

I went conservative in my room (10' wide by 20' long) with a 100" diag 16x9. NOBODY has ever complained about it as too big. If anything they wish it could be even larger!

 

[shokhead]

Now aren't we glad this guy doesn't work for one of the major theater chains!

There would be a 60" rear projection TV in the theater and that would be "just right".

I went conservative in my room (10' wide by 20' long) with a 100" diag 16x9. NOBODY has ever complained about it as too big. If anything they wish it could be even larger!

Wrong loser.

 

[brian32672]

Wrong loser.

Thats not much to state on backing up the claims of 30" 10' away is "just right"

I sent a PM to majorloser.. I said

Whoah, thats funny. Imagine that. Hell, I don't go to theaters anymore anyways. But could you imagine having a bigger screen than the local theater..
Mind bogling.....

Edit:: How about this theory, get a 15" and sit 5' away (Heck even 4' away, to get the detail). Now that would be just right....
BTW, shokhead, you know I'm just bustin your chops

Also, he is not called majorloser for just any damn reason. He really is a loser. He works for the government. (I know him personally, and thats not saying much. Just kidding Dave.)(actually, he is borderline genius )

 

[The Dukester]

I think the "its all a matter of choice/personal preference" comment is correct. It's sort of like horsepower for cars, or even size, for that matter. How much/big is enough? 200? 300? 800? Now you're talking!
I do think it has to do with what you watch, as well. Can't imagine Pat Sajack (sp?) or Carrottop on a 120. Star Wars, well, that's a different thing altogether. The wife may also be a deciding factor when it comes down to it. I really love my sister in law, but could never live with her. She got my brother to trade in his bookshelf size missions for smaller ones. She would buy Bose just for the size and could care less about the sound quality...or lack thereof. She sometimes twitches when she walks by my Mac xrt20s. I love it.

 

[shokhead]

I think it has a lot to do with WAF. Also i'm happy with my 30" because its just what i was looking for and it fits in my room and being 10' from it is just right. Bigger room,sitting further away would have got me a bigger one. My wife keeps asking for a bigger one? I'm sure she means a TV.
Main reason i brought this up was because i've been to a few homes that have big sets and i can see all this little dots and the picture is a bit blured from the sitting area.

 

[RLA]

Lets keep it nice guys

Large displays can look poor from close proximities because they are not very good display devices or they are not calibrated correctly. Calibration can make all the difference in the world, if it does not look as though you are looking through a clean window when playing reference material then the set is of poor quality or not calibrated correctly.

Many people have different levels of satisfaction however I have never heard anyone complain after upgrading for a smaller display device to a large one.
Generally speaking a large display device will deliver a more cinematic experience.

Close seating distance standards can be shortened a little if the set is calibrated to it maximum level of performance.

Installation is another consideration If the display device is not installed at the correct height Viewer fatigue can be an issue Remember many times you will be sitting in a chair for more than 2 hours looking forward