I've got a 3 year old 56" 720P Samsung DLP and I'm looking to upgrade to 1080p.

Viewing distance is 11'

What screen size should I go for?

Are there significant enough differences in manufacturers that I should pick one brand, or TV over another? It seems to me that these DLP sets are nearly equal for the average consumer.

...I'm looking to upgrade to 1080p. Viewing distance is 11'
What screen size should I go for?...

I sit 11 feet (measured from screen to eye) from my 52 inch D-ILA and it seems OK. I wouldn't mind maybe one size bigger but feel no need for anything bigger than that. The limiting factor for most people is not the number of pixels but the quality of the signal. In my case I watch a mix of HD and SD over satellite. The SD is not bad and the HD can be very good unless it's heavily compressed which some is. But if I was closer or had a bigger set the imperfections would be more noticable.

If you intend to watch mainly high quality HD signals or HD DVD you could easily go larger. Some people in this forum say that you can watch even a 70+ at that distance but I wouldn't want to be that immersed. But if you're the sort of person who likes to sit in the front row at movie theatres, well it's your money.

56" to 61" would be fine. Samsung and MIts DLP, and Sony and JVC LCOS are the most popular. Go check them out in stores.

So the 67" Samsung I was checking out is too big. I knew I should have jumped on that $1300 60" Sony XBR. It was floor model at Magnolia but they were willing to throw in a 5 year warranty. I wasn't sure about the size because I wanted a step up from my 56".

Size & Distance (http://www.myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html) according to this at 11' you would want a 84" TV . For some of us thats way to0 big. So if you want the full benefits of 1080p move closer for a smaller screen, but even if you don't you will get a very nice picture.

I sit 11 feet away and I have a 57", past week for fun I did move a sit just 6.3' away and it does make a difference. Just not as much as I would have thought.

So try moving up a few feet (current tv) and see if you like how close you are. But I would think as it's been suggested that 57" to 65" would be just fine.

Larger is always better.... if you have the room.

Cheers

So the 67" Samsung I was checking out is too big. I knew I should have jumped on that $1300 60" Sony XBR. It was floor model at Magnolia but they were willing to throw in a 5 year warranty. I wasn't sure about the size because I wanted a step up from my 56".


I would go for that 67 inch. I sit around 9ft away from 65 and cannot even imagine going smaller...

I would go for that 67 inch. I sit around 9ft away from 65 and cannot even imagine going smaller...

I've been trying to decide between a 55" or 60" for myself. I sit 10-11' from my old 36" screen now, so I don't have a good point of reference on sizes.

I've looked at every calculator out there and by all accounts, I should get the 60" or bigger easily. However, the same calculators say I should be sitting even further back on 480i NTSC material. I'm having a hard time finding info on whether 10' is too close on crappy SD material, which is still a majority of my viewing. If I get the 55", I could split the difference, I suppose. If I get the 60", will analog cable look too bad at 10 feet?

Robert

I sit 10' (from eyes) to a new model 65" Toshiba and regret not having gotten this size sooner. Clear and crisp picture and digital sd even looks very good.

Used to have a 57".

Remember that the screen size gets smaller and smaller through the years.

Shelly

Used to have a 57".

Remember that the screen size gets smaller and smaller through the years.

Shelly

Haha so very very true :D

If I get the 60", will analog cable look too bad at 10 feet?

Analog cable will look bad no matter what you try. You just end up getting used to its crappyness.

...screen size gets smaller and smaller through the years

? Not sure how serious you're being here but I certainly haven't found that my idea of screen size has changed in the (going on) two years I've had my D-ILA. The only reason I'm slightly more inclined to say that my next set will be maybe one size bigger is that as time goes by there's more HD to watch.

But that said we all have a right to our own tastes and to spend our money how we choose. Enjoy your giant TV!

Analog cable will look bad no matter what you try. You just end up getting used to its crappyness.
Yeah isn't that the truth, I have a 57" WD-57731 and outside of waiting for a new lamp to arrive from China(That's a 27" Proscan on the left), The TV worked just fine a month back up until the lamp in the TV went out, I sit 8'6" away from the TV(If the kitchen counter[behind the recliner out of the frame] didn't project out so far I could possibly get another 6"-12" viewing distance, The room is about 14'Wx12'L), It's as far back as I can get, Heck cause of what I have in the front room, The table for rooms lamp is slightly farther back by about 6"-12" than the recliner, But Of course when I'm in My recliner I can still see the TV on Its stand which needless to say is not really meant for such a BIG TV, But weight wise the TV is within the stands ability of 100lbs(It was made by Gusdorf and is only the lower 2/3 of the stand, The rest is long gone of course). I would next time get a 61"-65" TV(depends on Who makes the Set, Either another Mitsubishi or a Samsung possibly). :D See the picture below.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n107/JokerCPoC/New%2057%20inch%20TV/TVs.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n107/JokerCPoC/New%2057%20inch%20TV/FrontRoom007.jpg

LOL I'd be scared of walking by the TV like that ;) I'll probably bump into it and have the TV fall down =\

I sit about 12 feet away and I have the Sammy HL-T7288W it's just right.. you can never have to big! :D

LOL I'd be scared of walking by the TV like that ;) I'll probably bump into it and have the TV fall down =\
VHS Tapes are stored below in the bottom of the stand, So It's pretty heavy, I'm a wide guy and sure I could move It 6" to the left, But for the moment It's fine, Which would be a bit difficult cause of the 27" and It's nightstand(Please see My latest pic above in My original comment). :) The Stand is 19.50" deep x 30.75" wide x 35" tall.

I sit about 12 feet away and I have the Sammy HL-T7288W it's just right.. You can never have too big! :D
I wonder does anybody have a bigger set? Like 83" maybe? ;)

I wonder does anybody have a bigger set? Like 83" maybe? ;)

100 LCD ($$$$$$) is the largest without going to a projector

But for us normal peeps 73 Mits is the largest

VHS Tapes are stored below in the bottom of the stand, So It's pretty heavy, I'm a wide guy and sure I could move It 6" to the left, But for the moment It's fine, Which would be a bit difficult cause of the 27" and It's nightstand(Please see My latest pic above in My original comment). :) The Stand is 19.50" deep x 30.75" wide x 35" tall.

Hehe, well I am very clumsy - so you might not want me in your house at the time =) Hope you get your lamp in SOON and working 100%.

Hehe, well I am very clumsy - so you might not want me in your house at the time =) Hope you get your lamp in SOON and working 100%.
Thanks, I spent all of $175 on the lamp and that includes $25 for shipping, It should arrive at the Post Office on either Thursday or Friday and It has a delivery confirmation number, Of course since It's coming from China He had most of His phone listed(But nothing else, Just lots of ??), But I'd forgotten that with Him being from China, eBay can't store the entire phone number on their US contact info pages(Needs fixing I'd think), Which I think is an extra 5 digits beyond the 11 digits We here in the US use and so I had a small attack of anxiety for a few days until the seller sent Me the info I'd asked for by email twice(He may have had to translate all of what I said, But then again what do I know, He sent the delivery confirmation number finally), At least It won't get lost. UPS has done that twice, Of course the local UPS driver was on vacation when It happened, But that was about a PC psu. :D

Wait a min, you paid for the lamp? Did you say your TV is a month old when lamp blew? Is Mitsubishi warranty different? Not 1 year warranty?

EDIT: OP - sorry to be off topic =\

Wait a min, you paid for the lamp? Did you say your TV is a month old when lamp blew? Is Mitsubishi warranty different? Not 1 year warranty?

EDIT: OP - sorry to be off topic =\
No the TV is older than 1 month, It was built in May 2006 and I bought the TV in Nov 06 and Mitsubishi abandoned Me as they don't like ebay as they don't authorize any online dealers there, If any say they are, They are liars. :(

You need some audio for that room! It is screaming for some ceiling or wall mouted small bookshelves. What good is a big TV without big audio?

I'm at 10.5' and 65" is not big enough for me. This is more like sitting in the back row of a very very large theater (I prefer sitting in the middle). Don't forget that when you watch movies most will still be letterboxed, giving an even smaller image...

You need some audio for that room! It is screaming for some ceiling or wall mounted small bookshelves. What good is a big TV without big audio?
Sorry auto, It's not like I have a whole lot of extra cash every month with My fixed income as I'm disabled and so I have upgrades, Repairs and such to do, And so I have My priorities like so:

[Sep07$150 max]
3yr Square Trade Warranty on TV Lamp $14.99
1 1/2 cowhide leather belts size 58 $23.50
Thermalright HR-05 NB heatsink $25?
70mm Delta Fan $6.38
DVD Player or Recorder with HDMI & Xvid playback capability $55~?
HR-09U $25?
[Oct07$155 max]
Corsair VX450W Power Supply(33A on +12v line)PC6? N82E16817139003(newegg)$79.99($94.41)
DMV $60?
Swiffer dust pad kit $6?
[Nov07$100+$215 max] MB57DS 57" WD-57731 TV Stand(Not something to pass up If I can get one still as My current stand is about twice the stock stands height:D)
[Dec07$100 max] Honeywell Enviracare HEPA Air Purifier(Or equivalent)
[Jan-Mar08$139*3] Dual Pane window(South)
[Apr-Jul08$150*4] RWC4600 Swamp Cooler(South window)
[Aug08$75] Silver window film(South)
[Aug08$109] Parts 1.
[Sep08-Dec08$156*5] Abit AW9D-MAX for PC2?, 36"x18"x63" Wire Shelving, Abit AW9D-MAX for PC3? Parts 6a. & DMV $60(Oct)
[Jan09-Aug09$156*8] 3 Dual Pane windows(Wide)
[Sep-Dec09$156*4 Jan-Feb10$191*2] 3 Dual Pane windows(Narrow)
[Mar10-Apr10$175*2] Window film
[May10$150] Parts 4.
[Jun10-Aug10$134*3] 4-Window Awnings
[Sep10$110] Parts 2.
[Sep10-Oct10$150*2] Paint Outside of house & DMV $60(Oct)
[Nov10-Dec10$150*2] Parts 7.
[Jan11-Feb11$140*2] Parts 8.
[Mar11-Apr11]Kitchen sink & faucet
[May11$110] Parts 3.
[Jun11-Jul11]Guest Bathroom sink & countertop
[Aug11$150] Parts 5.
[Sep11-Oct11]Master Bathroom sink, countertop & DMV $60(Oct)
[Nov11-May12] Parts 6b & 9.


1.70mm fan[PC2] 7
1.70mm fan[PC3] 7
1.NX6200TC[PC2] 25
1.HR-05[PC2] 35
1.HR-05[PC3] 35
2.Ultra ChillTEC[PC2] 110
3.Ultra ChillTEC[PC3] 110
4.AW9D-MAX[PC2] 150
5.AW9D-MAX[PC3] 150
6a.Q6600 cpu[PC2] 270
6b.Q6600 cpu[PC3] 270
7.1GB Ram[PC2] 250
8.1GB Ram[PC3] 250
9.2-Q6600 cpus[PC5&6] 540

Ok that lamp is in and the cheap plastic gloves helped, See the picture below, The OSRAM 132-150 Lamp works! Look for the DLP Lamp Store on eBay as He has the Lamps for $150+$25(USPS), I bought the lamp on Aug 2nd 2007 and received the Lamp intact via USPS(It was trackable too) on Aug 8th 2007. Oh and that is My Boss Angel, She's a tough one for a 15yr old cat. You'll need needle nose pliers, a flatblade screwdriver and a phillips screwdriver. Have fun all!

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n107/JokerCPoC/New%2057%20inch%20TV/TVs2.jpg

As the others have mentioned, this is quite a subjective issue. I had a 55" Sony XS RPTV, and I originally sat away from it aoubt 6-7' from the screen depending on whether I was sitting back or slouching from the couch.

Then, I had to re-arrange things so as to permit a complete surround-sound environment and sat about 12-13' ft from the screen. The closer you are to the screen, the more immersive things become - that's pretty obvious. On the other hand, watching standard definition material is quite bad at a really close distance. Then again, I watch mainly HD programming and DVDs.

I can go with a 70' screen and sit 7' away from it. Anybody who'd complain about that mostly likely suffers from poor vision. Hell, my friend has a 90" screen for his front projector and we only sit 11' from the screen - that's one heck of a theatrical experience.

I sat 9 feet from my mits 65" diamond and instanly noticed an overall PQ improvement, BUT I also noticed a huge amount of fuzzies on white backgrounds (not sure of the official terms here)

I eventually moved it back to about 14 feet and though I am sure I am not getting the full 1080p experience, I can no longer see the fuzzies.

SMPTE answer is a 70" unit. Period.