TV size / viewing distance
Discussion
Folks,
Recently rearranged the living room and our old Philips 28" CRT, although still working perfectly, is like a postage stamp.
Viewing distance from the wall to eyes is about 14 feet (maybe less a foot if it's mounted on a stand rather than bolted to the wall).
Now, according to something I found on amazon, it would seem I should be looking at 52" screens minimum. Is that the case? Seems huge, but looking in shops is impossible - I'm sure I would have no clue until sitting on the sofa at home thinking "much too big" or "much too small".
So, does that sound about right?
Obviously the PH mantra seems to be Panasonic plasma from Richer Sounds, so will have a good look at what they have.
I have no interest in 3D but want Freeview HD built in and preferably internet ready (for iplayer etc)
What sort of money am I going to need? Some of the Richer links seem to show £600+, whilst John Lewis shows £2k+
Edit - people have been recommending the 42G30B - there is a 50G30B on Amazon for £768, anything obvious that is missing from this (other than 3D and FreeSat)?
Recently rearranged the living room and our old Philips 28" CRT, although still working perfectly, is like a postage stamp.
Viewing distance from the wall to eyes is about 14 feet (maybe less a foot if it's mounted on a stand rather than bolted to the wall).
Now, according to something I found on amazon, it would seem I should be looking at 52" screens minimum. Is that the case? Seems huge, but looking in shops is impossible - I'm sure I would have no clue until sitting on the sofa at home thinking "much too big" or "much too small".
So, does that sound about right?
Obviously the PH mantra seems to be Panasonic plasma from Richer Sounds, so will have a good look at what they have.
I have no interest in 3D but want Freeview HD built in and preferably internet ready (for iplayer etc)
What sort of money am I going to need? Some of the Richer links seem to show £600+, whilst John Lewis shows £2k+
Edit - people have been recommending the 42G30B - there is a 50G30B on Amazon for £768, anything obvious that is missing from this (other than 3D and FreeSat)?
Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Sunday 5th February 00:05
I suggest you try the piece of cardboard test before spending money. A board with the same dimensions (width and height) as TV will let you get some idea of the affect it will have in your room.
Do you want the TV to be the focal point in the room?
If you have decided on the size go and have a look at one. Don't forget to view from the same distance as you would at home, and smaller TVs look even smaller when not in a domestic environment.
Do you want the TV to be the focal point in the room?
If you have decided on the size go and have a look at one. Don't forget to view from the same distance as you would at home, and smaller TVs look even smaller when not in a domestic environment.
Sony used to do a massive wall poster on something like A0 paper or similar.
The size of their various TVS, complete with the frame was printed on it so you could do the distance viewing test at various sizes, ie gradually trimming it down until you got a size comfortable with.
I got mine from Best Buy which information is square root of bugger all use to you now, but presumably a Sony shop will have one.
Edited to add, likewise I have no interest in 3D, but have found the advice from my local pana shop that "all the best 2D sets are 3D sets" actually stands up in practice.
and yes John Lewis do seem expensive.
The size of their various TVS, complete with the frame was printed on it so you could do the distance viewing test at various sizes, ie gradually trimming it down until you got a size comfortable with.
I got mine from Best Buy which information is square root of bugger all use to you now, but presumably a Sony shop will have one.
Edited to add, likewise I have no interest in 3D, but have found the advice from my local pana shop that "all the best 2D sets are 3D sets" actually stands up in practice.
and yes John Lewis do seem expensive.
Edited by F i F on Monday 6th February 15:00
I went through all this joy when getting mine. We sit about 12 feet from the TV, that meant, looking at all the charts I needed a minimum of 50" to be able to "see" the 1080p effect.
We went from a 21" CRT (although sat a lot closer) and so the 50" seemed massive. Until recently, actually it could do with being bigger - more like 60" (even SWMBO agrees).
Also depends on how you use the room, ours is a dedicated 'cinema' room so can get away with a larger size, I'm not sure if it was our daily room we'd have gone so large.
Was in Richer Sounds the other weekend and they do have some really very nice TV's, well worth dropping in.
We went from a 21" CRT (although sat a lot closer) and so the 50" seemed massive. Until recently, actually it could do with being bigger - more like 60" (even SWMBO agrees).
Also depends on how you use the room, ours is a dedicated 'cinema' room so can get away with a larger size, I'm not sure if it was our daily room we'd have gone so large.
Was in Richer Sounds the other weekend and they do have some really very nice TV's, well worth dropping in.
This is the best distance/size screen guide/resolution guide that I know, it seems very accurate.
http://s3.carltonbale.com/resolution_chart.html
The bad news is that, according to it, even a 52' will give you very little visible HD detail at 14ft...
60' plasmas start at £900 or so these days though...
http://s3.carltonbale.com/resolution_chart.html
The bad news is that, according to it, even a 52' will give you very little visible HD detail at 14ft...
60' plasmas start at £900 or so these days though...
Edited by nickfrog on Monday 6th February 15:36
nickfrog said:
This is the best distance/size screen guide/resolution guide that I know, it seems very accurate.
http://s3.carltonbale.com/resolution_chart.html
The bad news is that, according to it, even a 52' will give you very little visible HD detail at 14ft...
60' plasmas start at £900 or so these days though...
The problem with the diagram is the scale is not suitable for domestic TVs unless you have a real home cinema. How many people view at distances greater than 20' and have a TV greater than 80"http://s3.carltonbale.com/resolution_chart.html
The bad news is that, according to it, even a 52' will give you very little visible HD detail at 14ft...
60' plasmas start at £900 or so these days though...
Edited by nickfrog on Monday 6th February 15:36
The problem is that I think that chart takes little account of the typical size of UK homes, and purely looks at the problem from an optical perspective and visibility of the pixels.
If I were to have a screen size that followed the theory, I'd have a screen which would completely dominate the room and from the wider design perspective look stupid and with all due respect to the posters, rather chavvy.
On the other hand I've yet to find someone who hasn't said something like, we bought an x inch set and at first thought 'woah that is just massive!' but now reckon we'd have been fine with the (x+y) inch model.
If I were to have a screen size that followed the theory, I'd have a screen which would completely dominate the room and from the wider design perspective look stupid and with all due respect to the posters, rather chavvy.
On the other hand I've yet to find someone who hasn't said something like, we bought an x inch set and at first thought 'woah that is just massive!' but now reckon we'd have been fine with the (x+y) inch model.
most of the tv viewing distance/size guides are derived from things like THX they are there so you can see all th detail and also feel more immersed in the film etc it does work but mainly in US homes not our relatively little livingrooms unfortunately. really id look at the biggest you think you can cope with then go one size bigger 
F i F said:
The problem is that I think that chart takes little account of the typical size of UK homes, and purely looks at the problem from an optical perspective and visibility of the pixels.
If I were to have a screen size that followed the theory, I'd have a screen which would completely dominate the room and from the wider design perspective look stupid and with all due respect to the posters, rather chavvy.
On the other hand I've yet to find someone who hasn't said something like, we bought an x inch set and at first thought 'woah that is just massive!' but now reckon we'd have been fine with the (x+y) inch model.
This is what is worrying me!If I were to have a screen size that followed the theory, I'd have a screen which would completely dominate the room and from the wider design perspective look stupid and with all due respect to the posters, rather chavvy.
On the other hand I've yet to find someone who hasn't said something like, we bought an x inch set and at first thought 'woah that is just massive!' but now reckon we'd have been fine with the (x+y) inch model.
1) that I get something that *completely* dominates the room, and
2) that after a couple of weeks it feels like I'm squinting at it again
Also limited by budget - realistically, a grand I think.
I'm no power user - will mostly be used for Freeview, iPlayer, the odd DVD, and the very occasional bit of Wii. Having said that, if I ever get a Bluray it would be nice to be able to see the difference. Got an AV amp (Arcam AVR100) so got that covered.
I will chop up some cardboard at the weekend. Any 60" tellys available for a grand? I have mostly been looking at the Panasonic 50G30B which is £768 on Amazon, but worried it'll look a bit small in the living room...
F i F said:
If I were to have a screen size that followed the theory, I'd have a screen which would completely dominate the room and from the wider design perspective look stupid and with all due respect to the posters, rather chavvy.
No worries, although I've never really perceived any correlations between screen size and socio-educational status.For me it's all about function as I can't quite see the point of Bluray nor even 720p/1080i if you can't see the additional detail they offer above SD (like most set ups) and there is no magic, you need the size. I don't understand the logic either : surely, the bigger the room, the more subtle the screen will look even if it's the "right" size, not sure how the screen would dominate any more than a proportionaly smaller screen in a proportionaly smaller room, if anything chavs tend to have small rooms (I assume as I have no direct contacts). We have large rooms in a fairly unchav contemporary house and we have the appropriate size screen for the viewing conditions.
The other aspect is that most peoples' perception of a big screen is still based on conventionnal small CRT sizes and those were only small for technical/volume/logistical reasons. Another 5 years and a TV perceived as "normal" will be a 50, chav or not.
Edited by nickfrog on Tuesday 7th February 21:33
NiceCupOfTea said:
Any 60" tellys available for a grand? I have mostly been looking at the Panasonic 50G30B which is £768 on Amazon, but worried it'll look a bit small in the living room...
60 is 40% bigger than 50 in terms of screen area so make sure you do get a 60. LG plasmas can be bought for around £900 and they are excellent, although many will tell you they are rubbish compared to a Panny (they're very very close) but at your distance you'll be too far to tell that the 50 Panny is that much better than the 60 LG anyway, nice problem to have. All TVs shrink 25% after a week anyway.
Don't know why but that line tickled me.the richer sounds iphone app has a screen size calculator, you take a pic of your room, set the distance from the screen and drag the tv image to show you how it will look in your room, may help with your decision... One last thing, no matter what size it will seem far smaller after a few weeks as you get used to the size.
the richer sounds iphone app has a screen size calculator, you take a pic of your room, set the distance from the screen and drag the tv image to show you how it will look in your room, may help with your decision... One last thing, no matter what size it will seem far smaller after a few weeks as you get used to the size.
OK chaps, I have just got busy with the cardboard and scissors and made a mock up of a Panny 50" which looks to be a decent enough size. I appreciate that after a week it may well end up being a touch on the small side, but...
AIUI the Pannys are the ones to go for, but after the 50" models, there appears to be 1 55" which is 3D and over 2k, and then you are up to 65"!!
I see that LG do some reasonably priced 60" screens but I know nothing about them - would I be better off going for a decent Panasonic 50" screen or going for 55"/60" from a different make?
AIUI the Pannys are the ones to go for, but after the 50" models, there appears to be 1 55" which is 3D and over 2k, and then you are up to 65"!!
I see that LG do some reasonably priced 60" screens but I know nothing about them - would I be better off going for a decent Panasonic 50" screen or going for 55"/60" from a different make?
Gassing Station | Home Cinema & Hi-Fi | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff