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What size Plasma?

post #1 of 34
Thread Starter 
Looking to upgrade my 42-inch Panasonic Plasma with something a bit bigger in the living room. I'm torn between 50 and 55 inch Plasma. I'm about 8 and a half feet away from the TV. Went to the store here and compared the two sizes but it's hard to see how big it will be in a smaller room compared to the open space at the store. Any help appreciated.
post #2 of 34
Its like buying a sub get the most your budget can afford you never hear I bought to much from either camp.
post #3 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jammers10 View Post

Looking to upgrade my 42-inch Panasonic Plasma with something a bit bigger in the living room. I'm torn between 50 and 55 inch Plasma. I'm about 8 and a half feet away from the TV. Went to the store here and compared the two sizes but it's hard to see how big it will be in a smaller room compared to the open space at the store. Any help appreciated.

@ 8.5 feet I would definitely go 55.
post #4 of 34
most likely if you buy the 50 you'll be wishing you bought the 55
post #5 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jammers10 View Post

Looking to upgrade my 42-inch Panasonic Plasma .... I'm torn between 50 and 55 inch Plasma. I'm about 8 and a half feet away from the TV....

If you are watching primarily blu-ray, &/or Very Good "HD TV" channels, would opt for the 55".

If you watch mainly upconverted SD DVD, &/or either SD TV or lower quality "HD TV," then the 50" might be a better choice.


IF your budget is tight, AND you do NOT own a blu-ray player, would opt for an Inexpensive 50" Panel - heck, saw a 51" 1080p Samsung plasma for around $750 at Costco yesterday - then invest the difference in a blu-ray player and start collecting blu-ray movies instead of SD DVDs.

That's what we did about 2 1/2 years ago: When we recently bought a 60" Plasma (Pan ST30), the COMBINED cost of the 2 1/2 year-old (1366x768p) plasma PLUS the new 60" panel, was LESS than what a 58" was running when we bought the 50; we have a decent blu-ray collection to enjoy on the larger panel, AND prices of blu-ray movies have also fallen significantly!

Obviously, YMMV!
post #6 of 34
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sonyboy View Post

@ 8.5 feet I would definitely go 55.

A 55-inch TV wouldn't be right in my face at that distance?
post #7 of 34
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dierkdr View Post

If you are watching primarily blu-ray, &/or Very Good "HD TV" channels, would opt for the 55".

If you watch mainly upconverted SD DVD, &/or either SD TV or lower quality "HD TV," then the 50" might be a better choice.


IF your budget is tight, AND you do NOT own a blu-ray player, would opt for an Inexpensive 50" Panel - heck, saw a 51" 1080p Samsung plasma for around $750 at Costco yesterday - then invest the difference in a blu-ray player and start collecting blu-ray movies instead of SD DVDs.

That's what we did about 2 1/2 years ago: When we recently bought a 60" Plasma (Pan ST30), the COMBINED cost of the 2 1/2 year-old (1366x768p) plasma PLUS the new 60" panel, was LESS than what a 58" was running when we bought the 50; we have a decent blu-ray collection to enjoy on the larger panel, AND prices of blu-ray movies have also fallen significantly!

Obviously, YMMV!

I'm looking to upgrade my home theater situation also later this year which includes a blu-ray player.
post #8 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jammers10 View Post


A 55-inch TV wouldn't be right in my face at that distance?

Not at all from that distance.
post #9 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jammers10 View Post

A 55-inch TV wouldn't be right in my face at that distance?

That's a question better answered by yourself. Take a tape measure to the store, measure out 8.5', and decide.
post #10 of 34
I was in your situation. My viewing is from around 8 feet away. I went for the 50 and am glad I did. In my situation 55 would have been to big for me. I know alot say you will regret not going as big as possible but for me I'm glad I didn't go with the 55.

Now if all your channels are great quality HD then 55 might be perfect for you but mine is a mix between great quality HD, so so quality HD and some standard def.
post #11 of 34
Thread Starter 
My channels are mostly SD right now with some HD channels mixed in but i'm going to upgrade to a blu-ray player soon.
post #12 of 34
My thought is you worry more about the quality of the set then the size. Set your budget and then buy the best TV you can, even at 50". If you have enough, get the VT, else GT then ST.
post #13 of 34
http://myhometheater.homestead.com/v...alculator.html

http://www.thx.com/consumer/home-ent...r/hdtv-set-up/

http://www.hdhes.com/tv/hdtvviewdistance.aspx?NoJS=1 (2.5x)

8.5' = 102" (Tip of nose, when seated comfortably, to centre of screen).

55" x 1.5 = 82.5"
55" x 2 = 110"

60" x 1.5 = 90"
60" x 2 = 120"

Either one should work. But, what will really decide will be the thickness around the screen. For example, the old Panasonics had a 2" wide screen, so you can add 5" to the screen width. You'll be noticing that frame while watching. The same can be said about the colour of the walls. You might be able to see a black frame against a white wall a little more than if the wall was darker coloured. Then there's the height of the TV table. For example, if the room is a little too small then you can wall mount it and get another foot between the screen and the tip of your nose. And because it is mounted on the wall you may have to paint it slightly darker than it is now. Flat paint, only. No textures.

Me, I like a 1.65 ratio. 60" x 1.65 = 99", or 8.25'. Okay, okay, it's a 1.85 TV, so 55" x 1.85 = 101.75". Which is right where you are now.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optimu...ewing_distance (1.6263x)

Here's what you do if you use the THX 1.2x number. Throw on a 2.35 movie, then measure the diagonal. Then multiply by 1.2. On a 60" TV it comes out to 56.83 inches, 1.2x = 68". 60" x 0.84 = 50.4". That may be too immersive. Throw on Star Wars Episode 3...
post #14 of 34
Bigger is better!
post #15 of 34
Thread Starter 
I don't think the Panasonic VT Series has a 50" set.
post #16 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jammers10 View Post

I don't think the Panasonic VT Series has a 50" set.

I dont think they do either. You could always get a 60" st50.
post #17 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by dzt41j View Post

My thought is you worry more about the quality of the set then the size. Set your budget and then buy the best TV you can, even at 50". If you have enough, get the VT, else GT then ST.

I do exactly the opposite. I figure out the largest size I can get for my budget and then worry about finding a deal on the best possible set within that range for the size.

I have often ended up regretting very good tv's over time because I wish they had bigger screens. But I have yet to regret not getting a smaller but better set.

If most of the big tv screens were terrible I might have a dilemma but the scale is more like very good to excellent and 65" of very, very good is just fine for me versus 50" of excellent.
post #18 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by Citivas View Post

I do exactly the opposite. I figure out the largest size I can get for my budget and then worry about finding a deal on the best possible set within that range for the size.

I have often ended up regretting very good tv's over time because I wish they had bigger screens. But I have yet to regret not getting a smaller but better set.

If most of the big tv screens were terrible I might have a dilemma but the scale is more like very good to excellent and 65" of very, very good is just fine for me versus 50" of excellent.

The reason I like to buy the best quality is rooted in my experience. Years ago my brother bought two Pioneer Elite rp TV's (yea, he the loaded one in the family, he now has the 70" Elite), I liked the picture so much I bought the non-Elite version of the same TV. Well, four years later he was sitting with 2 TV's that never had a service call, while I had one that had three service calls and with a picture that sucked! I then bought the top of the line Toshiba rp in a size I could afford and it has worked for years, though now is ready to go.
So my advice is buy the highest quality for your dollars!
post #19 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by oztech View Post

Its like buying a sub get the most your budget can afford you never hear I bought to much from either camp.

^^^ This.
post #20 of 34
for me I tend to do the opposite..Buy cheap,although get the best my cheap butt can afford. I bought my 60S30 about a month ago for $799 and absolutely love that set!!!!!! Although many here would say it is junk and if you don't get the ST series you wasted money. Hey, I love this junk.I ahve a 50" Vizio(6 1/2 yrs), Toshiba 65" RPTV(6 1/2 yrs), and this new Panny. Image on all is GREAT!!

Get what you can afford. But I would try to go as large as possible. I never feel like i bought tvs too large!!

brickie
post #21 of 34
Thread Starter 
Well i have the money to buy the 55-inch Plasma but just not sure. Also i just put together a new TV Stand but's it not as stable as i would want it to be though the weight limit is 175 lbs. I'm not great at putting things together. LOL Not that it's falling apart.
post #22 of 34
I have dilemma too. Currently i own 51D555 Sammy, but im going to get new soon. I want bigger, brigther, better blacks and less reflections.

So my options are 55ST50 on tv-stand which would make 9 feet viewing distance or wallmount 65ST50 which would make distance about 10 feet. No 60 inch ST50 here in Finland

So is there big difference 55 9 feet vs 65 10 feet? Oh yeah and the price difference between 55 and 65 is 1000€ :O

My other options are 60E6500 or 64E8000. No other size available for those tv's.
post #23 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by dzt41j View Post

The reason I like to buy the best quality is rooted in my experience. Years ago my brother bought two Pioneer Elite rp TV's (yea, he the loaded one in the family, he now has the 70" Elite), I liked the picture so much I bought the non-Elite version of the same TV. Well, four years later he was sitting with 2 TV's that never had a service call, while I had one that had three service calls and with a picture that sucked! I then bought the top of the line Toshiba rp in a size I could afford and it has worked for years, though now is ready to go.
So my advice is buy the highest quality for your dollars!

I'm not aware of any data that shows that the most expense set have a better maintenance record. Usually they are more expensive because they have features that the companies can charge more for, but most of the underlying components (including the panels themselves, power supplies and the electronic boards, which collectively will account for a vast majority of your repairs) are the same as their cheaper cousins.
post #24 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by jlb32 View Post

I was in your situation. My viewing is from around 8 feet away. I went for the 50 and am glad I did. In my situation 55 would have been to big for me. I know alot say you will regret not going as big as possible but for me I'm glad I didn't go with the 55.

Now if all your channels are great quality HD then 55 might be perfect for you but mine is a mix between great quality HD, so so quality HD and some standard def.

You sound married.

I'm about 7.5 feet away with a 55 inch. I could get a 60 inch no problem, even a 65 inch would work, although might be pushing it. Rarely can one go too big.
post #25 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbmannc View Post

You sound married.

I'm about 7.5 feet away with a 55 inch. I could get a 60 inch no problem, even a 65 inch would work, although might be pushing it. Rarely can one go too big.

We have a 64" in our family room and I got one of those nice king-sized bean bag chairs to sit right in front of it at around 7'. Our main couch is closer to 12-14' away and it's okay but a bit far. Now that chair is everyone's favorite and they all compete for it. It's not too big at all at that distance.

My wife originally indulged me upgrading from 50" to 64" but now she loves it and recently proactively encouraged me to upgrade the master bedroom TV to 65".
post #26 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by Citivas View Post

I'm not aware of any data that shows that the most expense set have a better maintenance record. Usually they are more expensive because they have features that the companies can charge more for, but most of the underlying components (including the panels themselves, power supplies and the electronic boards, which collectively will account for a vast majority of your repairs) are the same as their cheaper cousins.

Definitely true, cheaper sets do use different components. In the case of the Pioneers I described earlier it was a matter of much cheaper components in the power supply, per the repair guy. Most 'features' of sets are software driven, the real difference is in the components. You can even see it in the weight differences of sets.
post #27 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbmannc View Post

You sound married.

I'm about 7.5 feet away with a 55 inch. I could get a 60 inch no problem, even a 65 inch would work, although might be pushing it. Rarely can one go too big.


What does married have to do with anything? Money wise I could have went as big as I wanted but the 50 seemed like a perfect fit for my living room size and viewing distance.

I also know that alot of my channels and viewing aren't awesome HD or Blu-ray (it's about half and half) and IMO the bigger the tv and the closer you are the worse it looks if you aren't watching great HD or Blu-ray.

Living room size, channel picture quality and viewing distance was what I went by on my decision. I'm more than happy. If I wasn't I would sell the 50 and go bigger.
post #28 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by dzt41j View Post

Definitely true, cheaper sets do use different components. In the case of the Pioneers I described earlier it was a matter of much cheaper components in the power supply, per the repair guy. Most 'features' of sets are software driven, the real difference is in the components. You can even see it in the weight differences of sets.

The Pioneer hasn't been manufactured in 3 years. Now your choices are Samsung, Panasonic and LG. Their main components don't differ on their higher models.
post #29 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by Citivas View Post

The Pioneer hasn't been manufactured in 3 years. Now your choices are Samsung, Panasonic and LG. Their main components don't differ on their higher models.

Respectively, but no kidding they haven't manufactured Pioneers in years? I was going to buy another one! LOL

And you are wrong on different components for different sets. One clue is look at the Panasonic 65vt,gt,and st lines. Sizes are all a little different and the weight's are different, with the higher end TV's being heavier (due to better components?).
If they didn't have different components then the TV's would all be identical with software differences for different features.

You do get what you pay for.
post #30 of 34
8 feet is how far away I sit.

Get a 65 inch. The 65 inch ST30's are going for dirt cheap on Amazon right now.
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