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HDTV size and viewing distance
What is the best size for a flat screen HDTV with a viewing distance of 6-9 feet? We will be getting a 40" or 46" LCD 1080p 120 hz Samsung. Please don't provide bare links (I can google too). However, links to support your opinion are welcome. I'd like to hear about your experiences; the size of your own flat screen tv and the distance you watch it from. Thanks!
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Depends on what're gonna watch... we have 4 46" to display producction data here at work... and you can see it from 4~6 meters away... to far away, info gets blurry!!! the info is no TV, it is graphics generated by a program... so no HDTV only VGA!!!
^^^
There's a nice chart on the link above
There's a nice chart on the link above
ASKER
Rog the chart says basically the same range for the 42 and the 47 (besides that is a bare link with no personal opinion).
This is for home viewing which will be either about 6 feet to about 8-9 feet. At a friend's house the 46 seemed huge but we're not used to big tvs.
This is for home viewing which will be either about 6 feet to about 8-9 feet. At a friend's house the 46 seemed huge but we're not used to big tvs.
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A guy answering questions at a Best Buy forum is saying 40" for 9 feet.. I'm getting confused..
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P.S.
My wife had never had a large screen TV before she and I got together. Now, when we go to the movie theater, she says it's not that much different from watching a movie at home.....whereas before it was always a big difference.
I do not believe you -need- to listen to the "approved recommendations".....
My wife had never had a large screen TV before she and I got together. Now, when we go to the movie theater, she says it's not that much different from watching a movie at home.....whereas before it was always a big difference.
I do not believe you -need- to listen to the "approved recommendations".....
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This is very helpful (I really do appreciate the details)! More opinions will help settle this decision; so far the input is about 50/50 for the smaller/larger. I'd like to see more info/opinions; the sooner the better..
>a decent entry level 5.1 sound system
We need a sound system too?!! He (the hapless bf) is gonna freak lol. Always one more thing.. Then we need to get some kind of dvd/blue ray player thing.. then the dvd's.. omg
>a decent entry level 5.1 sound system
We need a sound system too?!! He (the hapless bf) is gonna freak lol. Always one more thing.. Then we need to get some kind of dvd/blue ray player thing.. then the dvd's.. omg
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>..like sitting in the front row of a movie theater.
This is what I want to avoid; but don't want to get a tv that's too small as we won't be buying another tv for a long time (forever lol) 8.5-9 ft. is the max viewing distance for now.
This is what I want to avoid; but don't want to get a tv that's too small as we won't be buying another tv for a long time (forever lol) 8.5-9 ft. is the max viewing distance for now.
Most likely a 47" would be satisfactory for you but I would go a store that has the different sizes displayed and spend 5-10 minutes watching each from your normal viewing distance.
Or visit that friend again.
It's your preference after all.
[If it helps...my local watering hole uses a 42" for the main TV over the bar. It displays nicely for sports, etc. up to 20ft.]
Or visit that friend again.
It's your preference after all.
[If it helps...my local watering hole uses a 42" for the main TV over the bar. It displays nicely for sports, etc. up to 20ft.]
ASKER
>..go a store that has the different sizes displayed and spend 5-10 minutes watching each from your normal viewing distance.
We did that; at Best Buy. We have a gift certif. for part of it so that will be the store. Hard to tell really in a big store like that.
We did that; at Best Buy. We have a gift certif. for part of it so that will be the store. Hard to tell really in a big store like that.
If you can't tell the difference between the two at that distance, you may be tempted to go with the smaller (and no doubt cheaper) option. IMO you should plan for the future -- for a bigger house/room. Better to have to much than to little!
Another thing to keep in mind is what kind and how many inputs the TV has.
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The PC mag article says I can sit 4.6 feet from a 46/47 inch tv? (
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2218288,00.asp) Hmm.. Nice articles though. I found Google.com myself; sort of stumbled across it; very helpful!
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2218288,00.asp) Hmm.. Nice articles though. I found Google.com myself; sort of stumbled across it; very helpful!
:-D
ASKER
Thanks for your input
ASKER
Thanks all. The point distribution reflects your input; not easy to split the points up here.
Good luck!
Thanks and happy shopping