Help! Is 42 big enough?

No, and at your viewing distance 55" or even 65" would be much better.

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Displays have a way of shrinking, as the saying goes. A TV that looks enormous today, you'd quickly get used to. But often times our other halves object to a really big TV in the living room.

To answer your question specifically, a 47" will cost you very little more, if at all, than a 42". It's because they're selling more of them. The average size has been increasing, and currently 55" is the "sweet spot". Anyway, good luck and welcome to the forum.

46/47 would be the minimum, unless you're going to be watching mostly SD content. Plasma will be best for off-angle but they don't come in 46/47 thought there are plenty of 50/51 inch models available and that would still not be too big.

You have to get at the very least a 60". Bigger will be better if you can afford it.

55" at the minimum

I sit about 8ft from my 46 incher, and for me it's big enough. I may go to a 50'' someday, but anything bigger then that would overwhelm my small 10X20 ft. room.



Ian

Kuro.

Somebody had to say it

If you primarily view HD material, would opt for a 50 - 55" panel at that distance. A 60" would look fine with blu-rays - marginal with less-than-HD programming (that is, almost Anything Else...).

For SD programming, including SD DVDs, would stick with a 50". If you view Mixed Programming, but expect a transition to more HD material, 55" makes a wonderful "compromise" size.

?? as to Windows depends upon their location in relationship to the panel, whether you have any covering (drapes / curtains / blinds....) for them, the direction they face, and how much viewing you do at the "difficult" times of day (for your location).

Note that few panels have a Matte Finish now (visit Cnet: they maintain a running list of matte finish sets), and thus Reflections can be a problem for most LCDs as well as Plasma panels.

Plasma still provides much better off-angle viewing than LCD sets - but the latter do vary, with some being distinctly better than others (Consumer Reports rates panels for Viewing Angle, and would be worth looking at).

Good luck with your research!

Count another vote for at least a 55" but if you can swing it get a 60". I have a 42" plasma and sit just a few inches further than you do and definitely wish I had gone with a larger size when I bought it a couple of years ago. I was coming from a 32" LCD and initially thought going up 10" in size was going to be a huge difference but it began to "shrink" around the one year mark. I plan on upgrading this year and want to get a 55" so that means I'll be buying a 60" (I say go the next size up from what you think you want just in case unless your space physically cannot accommodate it). Also as others have mentioned, I recommend you go plasma due to the excellent viewing angles and your seating being off to the sides of the display.

Small room? It's narrow, but not small.

Believe me it's small, especially when you have a breakfront and sliding doors cutting off half of the seating area in the room.





Edited by mailiang - 2/2/13 at 10:59am