|
|
| Home | Article Search | Subscribe & Shop | |
| Screen Sizes & Optimal Viewing Distances |
 Print This |
| Home Theater | |
|
June 1, 2007
• Vol.4 Issue 6 Page(s) 20 in print issue | |
Screen Sizes & Optimal Viewing Distances Gauge Where To Sit | |
 Your TV can be too big—or at least, too big for rooms of certain sizes. An HDTV that looks modest in a large showroom can suddenly look massive once you get it home. However, the real story is how far you’ll be sitting from the screen when you plop down to watch it. Experts recommend that you buy an HDTV of a particular diagonal screen size based on the distance between your eyes and the screen. Larger HDTVs typically have larger pixels (picture elements) than smaller TVs with the same resolution (number of horizontal and vertical pixels). If you’re too close to an LCD or plasma TV, on-screen objects will have jagged edges instead of smooth lines. Stand back another few feet, and the picture will smooth out noticeably. On the other hand, if you have a big living room, it’s possible to sit too far from an HDTV, too. If you’re 15 feet away from a 42-inch LCD, a 1080p picture may look no sharper than a 720p image or a traditional TV set. Think about buying a bigger set—or moving the furniture closer. Have a helper sit on your sofa in the typical spot where you watch TV. Next, have him hold the end of a tape measure near his face as you extend the tape to the area where the front of the new HDTV will be. Remember that LCD and plasma displays are thinner than a traditional tube TV, so that might mean an extra foot of viewing distance if you’re buying your first thin-panel set. Next, look up our recommended screen sizes in this handy chart. It’s based on several formulas, but primarily focuses on a distance that is double the diagonal screen size. Various experts prescribe larger or smaller HDTVs at each distance, so consider our screen size recommendations as starting points. You may prefer a bigger or smaller set, of course. Every HDTV is different. One brand of 42-inch 1080p may look better at a given viewing distance than another, for example, so compare models in a store. Be sure to stand back at about your expected viewing distance. Oh, and check out the on-screen image from above, below, and each side. You don’t want an HDTV that looks inordinately darker when you’re sitting in a different chair or down on the floor with your kids.  by Marty Sems
|
Home Copyright & Legal Information Privacy Policy Site Map Contact Us