We are nearly finished with our basement project and will be purchasing a TV VERY SOON, like maybe in one to two weeks. So based on what I've researched, I was leaning towards a Samsung DLP HLT 5687S.

The Optimum viewing location will be here in what will be called "The Capatins Seat" :p

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f75/Phantasea466/Home%20Improvement/Basement/SofaandLoveSeatP1010016.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f75/Phantasea466/Home%20Improvement/Basement/SofaandLoveSeatP1010015.jpg

Rough distance from the Chair to the TV will be 12 feet. So I've been reading about optimum viewing distances and now I'm wondring if I wouldn't be better off with the 61" version HLT 6187S. The real kicker would be explaing to my wife why we need a larger TV and the increase in price. :rolleyes:

Here's a picture of the opposite wall before the furniture.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f75/Phantasea466/Home%20Improvement/Basement/CarpetTracyP1010005.jpg

So what is the rule of thumb for screen size vs optimum viewing distance?

Thanks

http://www.cnet.com/4520-7874_1-5108580-2.html

http://www.myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html

You don't say what kind of input you'll be watching, but if it's HD-DVD or good quality HD broadcast, you can sit as close as twice the diagonal size of the TV and not be bothered by signal imperfections. That means that with a 61 inch you could sit between 10 and 11 feet away.

On the other hand, if you want to watch SD broadcasts or regular DVDs, a ratio of 2 1/2 is probably preferable for people of normal vision. Otherwise you're staring at signal noise. That makes a 61 just a bit too big for your seating distance, but not much.

If it was me, with my mix of SD and HD over satellite, I'd choose 61 in your situation, but a 56 incher would work fine too.

Thanks for the input guys.

Initially we won't have a HD DVD player or Blueray but it is in the future plans. However we are planning on getting the HD receiver from Direct TV.

I have a 55" 1080p set (Sony 55A2000) and I sit about 8.5 feet away. It looks excellent for HDTV/Blu-Ray and watchable for SD (I recommend watching w/ pillarboxing so that the screen size is a little smaller for SD)

Bottom line, I would recommend going 60-70" for a 12 ft viewing distance.

I have a 55" 1080p set (Sony 55A2000) and I sit about 8.5 feet away. It looks excellent for HDTV/Blu-Ray and watchable for SD (I recommend watching w/ pillarboxing so that the screen size is a little smaller for SD)

Bottom line, I would recommend going 60-70" for a 12 ft viewing distance.
I agree. I have a 60" and watch all programs from 10 feet away.
Since I have digital, SD is at 480p so the picture is tolerable.

I watched HD DVD/Blu-ray and the 60" is starting to look small already.
Also take in to consideration that when you watch widescreen format movies, you'll lose a couple inches of the screen to the top and bottom due to the blackbars.
So about 56-57" of 60" is only being used when watching widescreen(letterbox) movies.

Go for a 70"+ you know you want it. :)

As per SMPTE or THX, you need to be about 9' away from a 61"...otherwise why spend $$$ on a 1080p ??? You won't appreciate the detail.

At 12', you would really need about an 80+, but if you are not into FP, then get the biggest honking RP...~70"-73" available.;)

I would say the 61" would be better.

And I also have to say: Nice wife, nice kid, nice house, and nice cat!!! :p

Enjoy! :)

Thanks for all the input. Due to budget constraints (Basement projects are EXPENSIVE!) I really can't afford a 70+ TV. After doing a little more research I believe the 61" will be the best option at this time.

I measured last night from my sitting position to the wall is 14.5' and a gueestimate for the TV will be 12.5' to 13' depending on the size of the TV stand an how far away it sets from the wall.

Now I'll have to wait for HH Gregg to have another 20% off sale or order the unit from amazon.com. I'll speak with the manager at HH and see if they will give me the 20% off now but who knows. In the mean time, I'll do a little more research and see if I can't find a smoking deal on a larger TV, not likely though.

Here's pictures of my evil minions that have been 'helping' with the basement project :D

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f75/Phantasea466/Cats/ButtersOct2207P1010012.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f75/Phantasea466/Cats/KittyCondoP1010001.jpg

I have a 55" 1080p set (Sony 55A2000) and I sit about 8.5 feet away. It looks excellent for HDTV/Blu-Ray and watchable for SD (I recommend watching w/ pillarboxing so that the screen size is a little smaller for SD)

Bottom line, I would recommend going 60-70" for a 12 ft viewing distance.

+1
Your eyes will likely adjust to any problems with SD or bad sources. Or you can add a processor like the Algolith Flea for around $500 that'll make it a bit more tolerable. But as sources become better and better in quality, you'll wish you'd gone with the bigger set. There are many deals to be had in the 60-70" range as well - some around $2k or even less. Enjoy.

-Evan

PS- Believe me, I know financially stretching for a larger set can be painful. But adding even a couple of hundred to go to a bigger set (even waiting a few months to get there) really is worth it, especially with your viewing distance. As everyone in the thread apparently agrees, you'll wish you had upsized shortly after getting your set. My 58" looks downright puny in my great room with similar dimensions to your new place. I'm looking for other options, but now I have to figure out where to put a 58" set somewhere else in my house. Big hassle.

Evan,

Thanks for the input. On my basement project thread a projector was mentioned. This may be another viable option IF I can find some way to hide the cables and IF my ceiling fan isn't in the way :rolleyes:

I got a 61" JVC and sure wish I had went for the 70". In the scheme of things it just would not have been that much more. But I would of had to order it from Buydig or whatever they are called. It was nice locally picking up the 61" at BB.

Hi Phantasea466,

A projector would be amazing in that space, and is an excellent suggestion. You would be able to stay well within your budget. You might want to paint the wall with the screen paint rather than get a screen your cats could shred (I know mine would be tempted) - plus it's cheaper. There's also no plastic RPTV screen to be broken, by animals or anyone else. Make sure you allow for blackout window coverings. The pictures you posted show a large amount of light coming through the glass. Enjoy and post pics when you are done!

-Evan

Evan,

I'd LOVE to have a projector NOW that I think about it however the celing fan is in the way :mad:

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f75/Phantasea466/Home%20Improvement/Basement/CarpetTracyP1010005.jpg

When the lights are out and shades drawn, it's DARK ;)

8-9 ft. Max.

You'd have to wire up the projector so moving the fan wouldn't be such a big project. You could either feed the lines across the ceiling behind the drywall or use those metal channels that are paintable. It's a step to consider if you have any reservations about conduits attached to the walls or if you need to pay someone to run the line. I think your room screams for a FP though...

-Evan

What is the width of your room?

How does one measure the distance? From your knees to the screen, or from your face to the screen?

Then again, my eyes are located in my face and not my knees, so I guess I answered my own question ;-). But I would take a guess that most people just measure from the sofa to the screen, which would equal the knees to the screen.

room is 15 feet wide and 50 feet long. I measured from the sitting position to the approximate location of the screen. We will most likely move the love seat forward one foot.

Wife said NO to moving the ceiling fan :D

As per SMPTE or THX, you need to be about 9' away from a 61"...otherwise why spend $$$ on a 1080p ??? You won't appreciate the detail.

At 12', you would really need about an 80+, but if you are not into FP, then get the biggest honking RP...~70"-73" available.;)

The only issue with THX or SMPTE recommendations is they assume the viewer wants to be enveloped by the movie, like at a theater. If you only watch movies, that's fine. But the feeling of being overwhelmed, or part of, my local TV News broadcast gives me a headache. The same might be true of Barney or SpongeBob, if you have kids.

The second problem is they aren't quite lying, but aren't telling the truth either. If you sit too far back from a 1080p screen, yes, you may not be able to appreciate all that resolution, but that's not to say it won't be noticed. You can still tell a "better" 1080p video from a 480i video. Your eyes may not discern all that 1080 goodness, but they can certainly tell it's better than 480. If you sat at a particular distance from a particular sized screen and your eyes could only make out approximately 800 or so lines of resolution, would it still be worth it to watch a HD movie over a DVD? You bet.

Oh, WOLVERNOLE, this is by no means an attack on you, just my opinion and observation of all those THX/SMPTE calculators out there. Just take 'em with a grain of salt. ;)

Robert

If I may hijack this thread for a related question of my own: When looking at distance charts or using distance calculators I always come to the same conclusion: With my face being 11 feet away from the screen position, I should get a 61" set, maybe even larger. However, such charts or calculators never take into account the poor quality of SD channels. Comcast in my area only has very few HD channels, and for most SD channels, even though they are digital, the quality is just not very good.

Therefore I don't want to get a set that will pronounce the imperfections of the signal too much, but I also want a set that will allow me to enjoy my only 1080p input source at the moment (an Xbox 360) and future HD DVDs.

Does anyone think I will be better advised getting just a 56" over a 61", given my distance of 11 feet and the bad quality of SD channels?

Thanks!
Jan

Jan,

DirectTV has over 70 HD channels as of October and adding every day, just a thought. Reminds me of the commercial "You want to make $50 the easy way?" :p

Damon, thanks for the hint. My appartment is in fact pre-wired for DirectTV, and there is a big dish on the roof of my building, shared by all 40 appartments. So all I'd have to get is the box. Worth a thought...

So I guess I'm in the same boat as you are. Similar viewing distance and the question 56" vs 61"... have you decided yet? :)

-Jan

Jan,

61" it will be. I did some measuring and mockup last night with the screen at 54" wide, IMO it will be just fine. I sat in my controller seat and I could almost see the TV in front of me, so much for day dreaming ......