Helpful chart for choosing TV size/resolution

[yellowcakeuf6]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

My set is 60" and I sit approximately 8' 3" from the screen. According to the chart I'm well within the suggested range so I'd say this chart is pretty accurate. At least for my preference.

I have a 60" set also. I found that sitting at the recommended chart viewing distance of 7' 8" made the picture look too harsh. I am now back to 12' and the picture looks smoother and more natural.

[NuSoardGraphite]

I sit about 10' back from a 40" display. I don't want to sit much closer than this because compression artifacts become readily apparent when watching HD cable. Also, at a closer distance, motion blur is more noticable. Far less so from where I'm sitting currently.

As far as losing detail....I don't buy it. Trust me, I notice the difference in the detail between a 480p DVD and a 1080p BD. The difference is huge, even where I'm sitting. When I stand up and get closer to the tv, the image just gets a little bigger thats all...I don't really notice that many more details by getting closer.

[jcd29]

I'm getting a 40". I usually watch at either 6-10 feet away from the TV. Will this be okay?

Lots of blu-rays and games coming, but I also watch a lot of SD at night (and it seems you have to sit way far to appreciate SD)

[Afrobean]

Originally Posted by NuSoardGraphite

As far as losing detail....I don't buy it. Trust me, I notice the difference in the detail between a 480p DVD and a 1080p BD. The difference is huge, even where I'm sitting. When I stand up and get closer to the tv, the image just gets a little bigger thats all...I don't really notice that many more details by getting closer.

Further distance doesn't mean "can't tell HD from SD", it means "cannot make full use of the 1080p picture on the 1080p screen". You should still be able to tell the difference between a HD picture and a SD picture from a greater distance, but to make 1080p worthwhile over 720p, a closer distance is required (or super-keen eyesight).

Originally Posted by jcd29

I'm getting a 40". I usually watch at either 6-10 feet away from the TV. Will this be okay?

If you've got good eyesight, 6 feet shouldn't be too bad for seeing 1080p quality, but much more than that would mean that your 1080p is likely going to waste. Try looking at some 720p sets in the size range you want and 1080p from the viewing distance you figure it'll be and see if you can actually tell the difference. So if you can get equal picture for the distance on a 720p set, you can save a little money.

[jcd29]

Originally Posted by Afrobean

If you've got good eyesight, 6 feet shouldn't be too bad for seeing 1080p quality, but much more than that would mean that your 1080p is likely going to waste. Try looking at some 720p sets in the size range you want and 1080p from the viewing distance you figure it'll be and see if you can actually tell the difference. So if you can get equal picture for the distance on a 720p set, you can save a little money.

Oh no, I can definitely sit closer, heh. I was just wondering if at 6 feet it wouldn't feel "too big" you know? Like having to move my eyes from left to right constantly.

[kartangle1]

I think what we would need to know is what you plan on using the TV for. Do you play video games? You'll need HDMI ports to get the most out of the TV.

[Batman1980]

Looks like my next TV will be a 1080p 40" Sony Bravia based on viewing distance, question now is where to get it since I would need it wall-mounted.

[BarkingGhost]

Originally Posted by Craig Ruchman

Many watching high def material are sitting so far back they can't see the difference between 480p, 720p and 1080p. They are suprised to learn how close you need to sit to the screen, how in your face HD really is. Unfortunately the decor usually puts the TV in a less optmial spot and we end up looking at a small set from far away.

In my beadroom I have a 32'' set that I can sit 3 feet from to enjoy 1080p. Good PQ depends in part on the relationship of Screen Size/Distance/Resolution as determined by the Inverse Square Law for point sources.

A useful tool on proper viewing distance:
Viewing Distance Calculator
Viewing Distance Post

Many people buy on hype (ahem, marketing). Some don't even get their vision checked to make sure that they can at least know where they stand in their viewing abilities. This is analogous to people spending tens of thousands of dollars on audio equipment and not getting their hearing checked regularly. Fools for Ignorance.

[iwanttobeabmoviestar]

so i want a 65-72 inch tv and i have 8ft from viewing area would it suck or what

[pashots]

Guys, need your help on this as I really can't decide for myself, and I know this has been asked a lot... as the title says go bigger with lower resoultion or a bit smaller for full HD? Moving into a new apartment, viewing room is 19x12, the shorter side is where the tv will be. I have two options, Panny 720p 50" plasma or Philips 47" FullHD LCD with the same price. As far as my research, it's all leaning towards the plasma. Any thoughts or comments on this?

[alex888]

nice chart. Thanks for the heads up

[Grand Bob]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

For 1080i HD sources (lite green line), the recommended sitting distance is..

20 inch TV= 2.8 feet
26 inch TV= 3.5 feet
30 inch TV= 4 feet
34 inch TV= 4.5 feet
40 inch TV= 5.3 feet
50 inch TV= 6.5 feet
60 inch TV= 8 feet

If that is correct, there doesn't appear to be much of an advantage to market higher resolution displays greater than 1080p for the majority of home video users in the future.

cool

[RedJamaX]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

The main difference between 720p and 1080p will only be noticeable if the TV is a 46" display or higher. Once you breach the 46" scren size barrier, that's when lower resolutions begin to show their true natures. So, for any TV under 46" in size, there is no need to worry about the difference between resolutions.

Agreed! I can actually see the difference on a 42" screen. Depends on your own vision I suppose. But just as a fail-safe, I advies people that if they are goig higher than 37", you definitely want 1080"p" resolution.

In the 40 inch and up range you will also see a difference in picture clarity between "i" and "p". Honestly, once your TV is setup at home, most people won't notice the difference, or care about the difference between "i" and "p".

But I would have to say, at the larger size screens, unless you're legally blind, you can see the difference between 720 and 1080.

[RedJamaX]

Originally Posted by pashots

Guys, need your help on this as I really can't decide for myself, and I know this has been asked a lot... as the title says go bigger with lower resoultion or a bit smaller for full HD? Moving into a new apartment, viewing room is 19x12, the shorter side is where the tv will be. I have two options, Panny 720p 50" plasma or Philips 47" FullHD LCD with the same price. As far as my research, it's all leaning towards the plasma. Any thoughts or comments on this?

At 50", I would get a TV with 1080 resolution because I can notice the difference. If you have an HHGregg in your area go there and ask them to hook up a bluray to the two TVs you are looking at and see if you care about the difference in resolution. HHGregg employees get paid commision, so if you puch hard enough, or make them beleive you are definitely going to buy a TV, they will help you any way they can.

If you are comparing them at Best Buy, Walmart, BJs or other places like that... From what I have seen, their advertisement feeds running in HD all seem to be at 720 so it doesn't look like there is a difference from one TV to the next.

You really need to see a Blu-Ray being played to see the difference.

[frogmort]

I have a 42" 1080p Panny plasma, and I had to have it repaired after a lightning storm. The repair guy loaned me a 42" 720p slightly older model Panny plasma. I could tell a huge difference. I do sit with my eyeballs 4' 7" from the screen, as THX recommended 36° viewing angle suggests. http://myhometheater.homestead.com/v...alculator.html

My tv is actually 41.6" diagonally, so the Recommended THX viewing distance (36 degree viewing angle) is 4.6 Feet
(4' 7 3/16"). If I lean forward just a few inches, I can see the pixels. I want to get the absolute most out of my tv.

[jonmoz]

Another guide is to sit about one and a half screen widths away from your display,which in my case is 12 ft away.

[wahabmo]

I have a optoma hd20 projector, and a sony blu ray player. the problem im having is that i cant go to the home menu on the blu ray because it says no signal on the projector. there is no signal until the movie begins playing, so when i pop in a movie i have to blindly press play and wait until the movie begins. ive hooked up the blu ray player to a tv and it works fine, and ive also tried hooking up an xbox to the projector and it works fine. only when the blu ray and projector together that there is no signal! please someone help me, thank youuuuuu

[Alan Brown]

You must have your threads mixed up. Please double check the thread topic.

[ImStylinOnYaBro]

i currently have a 1080p 40" class samsung , i believe at 60 hz. I want to upgrade to a 55 inch class led samsung 1080p at 120 hz. I have been wondering, with the larger screen size, can't yoiu notice a difference in detail when your up close, say you sit 5 feet away for the 40" what if i sit 5 feet away for the 55" will i notice less detail because hte same resolution is on a larger screen? The reason I ask is because that is the max distance i can sit from the tv w/ my current room setup;