What Size Screen Will Make A Difference For 4K vs Blu-ray?

[Rayjaymay]

I’m reading reviews of 4K discs and when they are compared to the existing Blu-ray disc, the reviewer usually says that the differences in video will typically be more noticeable on a larger screen. It makes me hesitant to run out and upgrade a Blu-ray I already own (that has received a good review) since I only have a 55 inch screen.

I know there are other factors involved (LED vs OLED, Dolby Vision and HDR, etc.), but how big of a screen are we talking about to see marked improvements?

[VanHiscers]

You can notice differences with a 55” TV if you have a more intimate viewing environment, meaning you’re within 10-13 feet of the TV, but if your TV room is bigger, and allow you to get more than 15 feet away from your TV, then you will need at least a 65” TV.

[Lee A Stewart]

The key to appreciating 4K is to sit closer to the display than you would for BD.

[nick4Knight]

The key to appreciating 4K UHD is to weigh the resolution part the least, actually.

Because so few titles are native, and even if they're scanned 4K film content that doesn't mean the resolution is appreciable to that for every title. It will depend on choices with the cameras/lenses used at the time, film stock used, with intent and cinematography; and with CGI or compositing quality of effects if lots of it have these shots included.

[unberechenbar]

this graph from Rtings is pretty helpful:

For what it's worth I sit about 4-5 feet from my 65-inch TV.

[Auditor55]

Originally Posted by unberechenbar

this graph from Rtings is pretty helpful:

For what it's worth I sit about 4-5 feet from my 65-inch TV.

That's too close, you're going to get eyestrain. If you have a sound system, at that distance, you're right on top of the FCR speakers.

[Auditor55]

Originally Posted by Rayjaymay

I’m reading reviews of 4K discs and when they are compared to the existing Blu-ray disc, the reviewer usually says that the differences in video will typically be more noticeable on a larger screen. It makes me hesitant to run out and upgrade a Blu-ray I already own (that has received a good review) since I only have a 55 inch screen.

I know there are other factors involved (LED vs OLED, Dolby Vision and HDR, etc.), but how big of a screen are we talking about to see marked improvements?

Keep in mind, it's the HDR that makes a difference over resolution. That should be your primary reason for upgrading. The TVs that perform HDR the best.

[Vilya]

I sit about 8.5' from my 85" 4K TV (which is the Rtings.com recommended cinema distance with a 40 degree angle of vision for my screen size) and I never get any eyestrain even when I binge watch for hours on end; I found the Rtings.com viewing distance chart to be quite helpful. At this distance my TV screen fills my field of vision nicely; it is a very immersive experience.

I also have an Atmos surround sound system and the audio experience is just as wonderful as the visual one.

Rtings.com wrote a lot more about viewing distance and viewing angles in this article, which is also the source for that chart posted above:

https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/by...e-relationship

[nick4Knight]

There are no absolutes here. Our tastes vary in terms of "immersion", the maximum benefit charts is a generic average thing. I sit about 9 or 10 feet from the 55" screen. I would prefer to be about 7-8 for this screen size. And the chair I put in front of the couch for viewing 4K UHD's (usually war movies) by my lonesome is about 6 feet where I think I need to be to pixel peep more. At that range I feel like I get eye strain or I just generally can only sit through an hour of a movie at a time; even though technically its 'more immersive'.

I also don't like cinema or projector setups because something that is taking up too much of my field of view makes me focus on small area of the screen too much. And when things cut a lot I feel myself doing that adjustment and making conscious choices over which area TO focus on takes me out of the experience.

So for me a 65" screen would be PERFECT from about 9 feet as I intend the couch to be placed eventually. That's my next planned purchase and setup for positioning.

Other people from 9 or 10 feet would insist you need to get 75 MiniLED, 77 or 82 inch OLED from that distance to appreciate the resolution of the format. Each to their own, as they say.

[CreasyBear]

I sit about 10-11 feet back from my 65 inch OLED. I could move up a couple of feet, but I generally like this 8-10 foot distance the most, especially for the sound. 10 feet is the sweet spot.

[slimdude]

Actually, there is no right or wrong answer. It's all based on personal preference as to how far or close the viewer wants to sit from their TV screen, considering the size of the room. Statistics can't speak for everybody because people are different.

[avs commenter]

I'll just add that on my Oled, the differnce between HD and UHD is less noticeable than when I use my LED, which I can always tell the difference.

[Noremac Mij]

Distances are simple… TV must be eye level or slightly lower. None of that over the fireplace ridiculously aesthetically ugly nonsense.

55” - 5.5ft. viewing distance
65” - 6.5ft. viewing distance
75” - 7.5ft. viewing distance
85” - 8.5ft. viewing distance

4K will be clearly an upgrade if above is followed.

[teddyballgame]

I'm about 6' back from 55" and 7' from a 65". 4k is noticeable

[Anthony P]

It depends on size, distance, content, eyesight and most importantly how much someone cares.

How does one even start to define "see marked improvements?" i.e. for me if I can see it it is marked enough, others might not see a marked improvement even if the TV is off vs on.

[Noremac Mij]

At the distances 99% of people are sitting at, they wouldn’t differentiate VHS from UHD.

[Biniaris]

Originally Posted by Noremac Mij

At the distances 99% of people are sitting at, they wouldn’t differentiate VHS from UHD.

sorry but no. you only need to be like...20' away from a 55" tv to take advantage of 720p.

and that's ignoring the other benefits of UHD and just looking at resolution.

[CreasyBear]

Originally Posted by Noremac Mij

At the distances 99% of people are sitting at, they wouldn’t differentiate VHS from UHD.

Next you're going to tell me 35mm film has a resolution of 600 lines!

[lgans316]

Originally Posted by Biniaris

sorry but no. you only need to be like...20' away from a 55" tv to take advantage of 720p.

and that's ignoring the other benefits of UHD and just looking at resolution.

Actually there are many folks out there who sit way far away from their TV.

A friend of mine sits 14 ft from his 50 inch TV and he said I am nuts to be sitting 8 ft away from my 77 OLED. When he visited my place second time and watched a movie, he did admit it looked very pleasant to his eyes and the TV didn't look too big and dominating.

[jess1581]

Originally Posted by noremac mij

at the distances 99% of people are sitting at, they wouldn’t differentiate vhs from uhd.

🤡