I want a flat panel tv for my living room. From where I am going to put the tv to the couch is 14 feet. So, I'm assuming I'd need a larger end tv, right? What would you recommend? Also, sitting that far away, I am going to notice the difference between 720 and 1080?

I'm thinking that I'm going to go with a LCD, mainly because there's a wall of windows on one side, but what's your take?

I want a flat panel tv for my living room. From where I am going to put the tv to the couch is 14 feet. So, I'm assuming I'd need a larger end tv, right? What would you recommend? Also, sitting that far away, I am going to notice the difference between 720 and 1080?

I'm thinking that I'm going to go with a LCD, mainly because there's a wall of windows on one side, but what's your take?

At 14ft, 1080p is moot, you wont see the added benefits. At that distance 60" is probably the smallest you want, and at that size Plasma is what you will predominantly find, (you could find LCD but you will definately pay more). Can you control the lighting in your room at all? I have large windows on my east wall, and my plasma on the west wall. If the windows are open it is glare/reflection city, but really not any worst than a CRT. If you really want LCD, samsung makes a 57" set. If you want a plasma, pioneer/panasonic/visio/phillips all have models that are 60" or higher. If I were you, I would narrow it down betweena few sets, and then go and look at them at magnolia/BB/CC/etc and see what looks best to you.

I can control the lighting with shades, so the lighting situation is not as bad as I first made it out to be. Thanks for the info!

I should mention, too, that the windows will be to the right of the TV, not directly behind it - not sure if that makes a difference....

I should mention, too, that the windows will be to the right of the TV, not directly behind it - not sure if that makes a difference....

Same situation as mine. My TV is on the west wall, facing east. On the east wall I have 2 large windows and a sliding glass door. With windows open during the day I do get glare/reflections that can be annoying, but closing blinds takes care of it. I pondered if I needed an LCD at first as well...I have had my pioneer 5071HD for a little over a month now, and not one regret in the world. I love the set and couldn't be happier.

I can control the lighting with shades, so the lighting situation is not as bad as I first made it out to be. Thanks for the info!
I've got my plasma on my west wall, seating on my east wall. Two 6' tall windows on the south wall with blinds, and a whole wall of window on the "north wall" about 35' to the side. The wall of windows does not have any shades.

The only time I get a problem is when I have the south blinds open & sunlight is streaming into the room. Then the reflections from the patches of light on the furniture/floor are distracting.

Thanks for your input, guys. So you really think, from my viewing distance, that there's no noticable difference between a 720 and 1080?

The difference will be difficult to detect at that distance. 1080p certainly is much more detailed when viewed at a close distance. I was in BB yesterday looking at TVs though. They had a 42" 1080p LCD right next to a 42" 720p LCD (I think they were 42.. maybe 52 which would make the difference more evident). At 9-10ft I could definitely tell the difference. So, try to do the same with the largest two 1080p/720p TVs you can find displaying identical content, then try to stand 14ft away :)

As mentioned above, at 14ft, you're going to want a large TV.. 60" 720p plasma is a good choice.

I'm convinced about the 60"; now it's time to convinence the wife

Thanks for your input, guys. So you really think, from my viewing distance, that there's no noticable difference between a 720 and 1080?

IMO, you would just be throwning money away that can be used on other HD components, or, if need be, something to help "convince" the wife ;)

I'm convinced about the 60"; now it's time to convinence the wife

Let us know the outcome, if you survive the "discussion", that it :D

Yeah, we're pretty far apart on how big, big is. Sometimes that's good (haha), but obviously in this case it's not. I'll be sure to let you know what happens.

Yeah, we're pretty far apart on how big, big is. Sometimes that's good (haha), but obviously in this case it's not. I'll be sure to let you know what happens.


14 ft is so far away. I sit 8.5-9.5 feet (depending on the chair) from my front projection screen! 720p, 16:9 is about 90" diag :) I will be sitting about 8.5ft from my 60" hdtv when I pick it up soon.