what size TV do I get?

[giacona]

I have finally made up my mind to get an HDTV flat panel. Not sure if I am going to get plasma, dlp, lcd or rear projection. But that will be a question in another thread. My question is what size can I get in my living room.


From my back wall to where my couch is mesuring wall to wall where my current entertairnment unit sits is 14 and 1/2 feet length wise.

I also mesured the width of the room and that is about 14 feet as well. I don't want to get anything too big that will kill my eyes and will wind up getting motion sickness or something, but i'd like to get something decently sized. I am doing reaserch now on the different types and plan to purchase within 6 months or so. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[no. 5]

How far will you be sitting frome the TV?

 

[avaserfi]

With a 14 foot distance I would look into getting a 50-60 inch set if possible.

Deciding what TV type to get gets a little more interesting. If the room is a dedicated HT which it sounds like it isn't I would recommend plasma. Since its not you should ask yourself how much control do you have over light in the given area. If you have great control go with plasma. I say this because in my and most peoples opinions plasma tvs have the best picture of the bunch you have listed but do not do as well as LCDs in uncontrolled light environments. If you decide to go plasma I would recommend looking and Panasonic and Pioneer for LCD I perfer sharp and samsung as well as the ultra pricey sony.

 

[giacona]

tv

The couch will be sitting up against the wall and i will be sitting on it so i'd have to say maybe a 13 foot distance. I do plan to dedicate this room for home theatre. I'd like to get a 60 inch if I can, but I don't want to have eye strain, not sure if that distance will hurt or not.

As for the light I have 2 windows mesuring 35X64 each directly behind the couch. I do have window treatments and blinds. I also have recessed lighting in the room.

I am consdering plasma, but have heard bad things about gas that they run on. Once it leaks out, the Tv is shot. Also that the light in the room has to be perfect for the plasma to look right.

As far as dlp only thing I dislike is the bulbs need be changed after a few years and that can get costly.

 

[Adam]

I handy calculator for screen size versus sitting distance:

http://www.dtvcity.com/plasmatv/plasmascreensize.html

 

[no. 5]

At 13 feet with a 720 native display, you could theoretically go to a 66" screen before your eyes would max out for resolution.

As far as Plasma TV's leaking gas, as far as I know, such a thing does not happen.

 

[avaserfi]

If you are going for a dedicated HT I would recommend a plasma.

I think you are referring to the gas getting used up perhaps? Generally plasma displays have a life somewhere around 70,000 hours which if you do the math is 20+ years of life time service. I think after that 70k mark they have hit their half-life and become half as bright which shouldn't matter because if you are investing in a dedicated HT you can probably swing to get a new tv in that time frame .

 

[markw]

As far as Plasma TV's leaking gas, as far as I know, such a thing does not happen.

My wife has more of a problem with me leaking gas than the TV.

As for types, with the windows directly behind your main seating area, light will be a problem. You may want to avoid projectors.

Unless plasma's have done away with the "burn in" effect, watching a lot of 4:3 programs in 4:3 mode may or may not cause a problem. Check on your particular set when you narroe down the field.

Of course, if you don't mind watching SDTV in the "s t r e t c h" mode or you go with an LCD set, burn in is not an issue.

 

[no. 5]

My wife has more of a problem with me leaking gas than the TV.

Perhaps because the gas in the TV is inert?

 

[AVRat]

For a good HT environment a 60" at that distance is a no brainer. Viewing distances over 8' should be plenty comfortable.

 

[markw]

Perhaps because the gas in the TV is inert?

Perhaps. The only thing she wants bringing tears to her eyes is the show she's watching.