Big Screen TV - how do you determine..

what is the best size. A freind of mine's parents have one that is way to big for the room, so how do you determine what is too big??

Our den will be 20 x 12 and it will probable be in the longer wall, so the couch will be less then 12 feet across from it.

Are you already in your house?

If not, I would wait until you get into your house..and then take measurements of the wall where you'd put the TV... =)

I have a simliarly sized living room and that is why im so against the big screen.

Right now we have a 36 inch tv and it is pretty big in there. Anything more would look really out of proportion in my opinion.

I think if you get a wide flat screen, those tend to look smaller since they are thin and wider..but i would still not go over 42 inches. And the picture quality is very good even a few feet away so you dont have to be very far to get the definition.

If you are planning on getting one of the projection big screens, i would say dont do it! it will look like you are running a movie theater AND the picture quality will not look as good being so close.

We don't plan on buying now, we just wanted to see what was out there, and get an idea of what we would be spending, and we now that size determines price.

My friend said that her father in law's, (a 60 inch) is uncomfortable to watch becasue they are so close and we are concerned about that. I don't want to be right on top of this huge TV, but I think my DH would want like a 50 inch at least. Maybe we could set up the room the other way, so the couch is farther from the TV.

My sis has one, it's pretty big, and the TV is in one corner and the furniture is diagonally across from it along the longer wall. (Does that amke sense?)

When the first got it they joked around about watching TV from the porch but they are used to it now and enjoy it.

we just bought a 65 inch and its kind of big for my LR but we plan to move soon and will be sure we have a big LR

We and our guests love it, and my DH got some sort of cable thingy and our picture is CRYSTAL CLEAR

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Posted by Sonicstef


If you are planning on getting one of the projection big screens, i would say dont do it! it will look like you are running a movie theater AND the picture quality will not look as good being so close.

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not true.

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Posted by Sonicstef


If you are planning on getting one of the projection big screens, i would say dont do it! it will look like you are running a movie theater AND the picture quality will not look as good being so close.
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Posted by Jennbaby
not true



I agree Jenn, We have the 65 inch projection and the picture is incredible

This is going to sound WAY corny but I always believed you had to sit at least 2-3 times the size of the TV to be confortable watching it. So if I had a 36inch TV then I'd be at least 7 feet away from it to watch TV.

Oddly enough I HATE sitting in front of big TV's. It just feels wrong. I also hate feeling like the TV is too small. I like it 'just right'. So I normally figure how big the TV is I want then multiply by 2 and see if Im sitting far enough away. So if I wanted a 42inch TV (which is nice enough for me) Im sitting 7 feet away. More than big enough for me.

I wish sometimes they didnt say inches..lets face it.. thats a 3 foot TV set youre sitting 7 feet from. Makes more sense.

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Posted by Xelindrya

This is going to sound WAY corny but I always believed you had to sit at least 2-3 times the size of the TV to be confortable watching it. So if I had a 36inch TV then I'd be at least 7 feet away from it to watch TV.

Oddly enough I HATE sitting in front of big TV's. It just feels wrong. I also hate feeling like the TV is too small. I like it 'just right'. So I normally figure how big the TV is I want then multiply by 2 and see if Im sitting far enough away. So if I wanted a 42inch TV (which is nice enough for me) Im sitting 7 feet away. More than big enough for me.

I wish sometimes they didnt say inches..lets face it.. thats a 3 foot TV set youre sitting 7 feet from. Makes more sense.

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You are a total riot!!! This is just WAY too much math for me today!

Xelindrya - I am an accountant, and that is too much math, so if I have 9 feet, how big can I go?? (figuring 12 fewet deep room - 3 feet for furniture)

Also did you test this theory with other size tv's, like to pull up a chair right up to the 13inch??

Xelindrya - I don't do the math but I agree with the TV needing to be the right size for the room. We have a 27' in our bedroom that was fine when it was at the end of the bed but now that it's in the corner on a diagonal it's tiny.

I have this 'thing' about math

Actually yes I did test the theory.

Jim wanted a big butt TV set and I said 'Uhm babe, (walk to the point our couch would be) this is where we sit.. can you sit this close to the TV?'

He asked how i figured the distance and I told him. He laughed but admitted it was too big.

I was never the kid who sat in front of the TV. Even now I freak out if it's too close. Well actually I do get half the distance when I play games but that's only because the cords aren't long enough.

Oh did I mention I'm a freak?

Our room is 12 X 21 and we have the 36' flat wide screen on the long wall also. It's perfect perfect perfect. The picture is beautiful and the distance/size is great.

You could go to 42' easily without it being overbearing.

ETA:

'If you are planning on getting one of the projection big screens, i would say dont do it! it will look like you are running a movie theater AND the picture quality will not look as good being so close.'

She's right, if you have a 12' wide room , a big projection screen 56'+ doesn't look as good. (Not saying it's not good, or that the picture isn't good). This is too small an area/distance to watch that size TV from and it effects the way you see the picture. You would be darting your eyes back and forth to keep up with it. Best friend has a 65' in a room that is less than 11' wide, it's awful.

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Posted by shelzyp


Xelindrya - I am an accountant, and that is too much math, so if I have 9 feet, how big can I go?? (figuring 12 fewet deep room - 3 feet for furniture)

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I'd start at 52inches and feel your way up nothing past 70 inches. If you want average comfy size... I'd stick with the 42inch.

IF you wanted my opinion.
hehehe

since you are bothering John right now...hes been doing alot of studying on this topic...you can ask him

We have a 57 inch, and we LOVE it