i just had a futon delivered (damn place has only 28" door frame so the leather couch had to go back) and i measured it from the wall: ~8ft. is that good enough for ED plasma? decided that dumping all that $$$ for HD plasma isn't worth it in my junction in life. so how far do you sit from your set and what set do you have and how happy are you with it? what are the pros and cons about your set from the distance you sit from? Thanks!
How far do you sit from your set?
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Sitting from 3 feet to 8 feet.
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Plasma glass (42") to the edge of the couch is 8 1/2 feet, and another foot from glass to eyeball. We can easily move closer or further back by a few feet, but will probably leave everything where it is. There's absolutely no SDE with our ED at that distance or even a couple feet closer.
We do, however, have some awful reflections off the glass during the day from a door with blinds over the glass. The reflections disappear at night, which is when we'd likely be watching TV anyway. Of course, this has nothing to do between ED and HD. Guess we'll have to look into putting up some retractable blinds.
We do, however, have some awful reflections off the glass during the day from a door with blinds over the glass. The reflections disappear at night, which is when we'd likely be watching TV anyway. Of course, this has nothing to do between ED and HD. Guess we'll have to look into putting up some retractable blinds.
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Why is it that the SDE appears mostly in the 8-10 ft. range? Or is this when it starts to disappear? I'm still holding out on a PDP, but I'll likely be viewing within this range. Thanks.
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Quote:
HUH? Maybe I don't understand, but SDE is more noticeable the closer you get to the glass, and fades as you get further away. I suspect most people just feel more comfy watching a 42" or larger set from that distance. (Maybe it's like being at the movies, where some people like sitting up close and others in the back.)
| Originally posted by iBleedGarnet Why is it that the SDE appears mostly in the 8-10 ft. range? Or is this when it starts to disappear? I'm still holding out on a PDP, but I'll likely be viewing within this range. Thanks. |
Don't forget the 37" option, if the 42" at 8' shows too much SDE for your liking. Panny 37" ED gets consistently good comments here. Personally, I don't always buy the "biggest is best" argument.
...but it's been dropped from the lineup of announced consumer models, so don't wait too long.
...but it's been dropped from the lineup of announced consumer models, so don't wait too long.
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That's why I'm confused, turtle. I've seen it posted several times that the SDE starts to appear in the 8-10 ft. range.
It doesn't make any sense.
It doesn't make any sense.
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Beats the heck out of me. Then again, I'm not taking any drugs! 
Maybe someone much wiser (and with better vision) can explain.
Maybe someone much wiser (and with better vision) can explain.Quote:
that is true that bigger isn't always better but i would like a TV i can take to my next place of residency (most likely a home) and the viewing distance is going to be futher so 32" might get a little too small; could always just move it to the bedroom but what am i going to do with the 21" I have in there now? ebay?
| Originally posted by PerryU Don't forget the 37" option, if the 42" at 8' shows too much SDE for your liking. Panny 37" ED gets consistently good comments here. Personally, I don't always buy the "biggest is best" argument. ...but it's been dropped from the lineup of announced consumer models, so don't wait too long. |
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Quote:
For Most people SDE start to DISAPPEAR around 8 feet + on the 42" ED.
Less the 8 feet , SDE will be definitively too visible
| Originally posted by iBleedGarnet That's why I'm confused, turtle. I've seen it posted several times that the SDE starts to appear in the 8-10 ft. range. It doesn't make any sense. |
For Most people SDE start to DISAPPEAR around 8 feet + on the 42" ED.
Less the 8 feet , SDE will be definitively too visible
IBleedGarnet and Turtledoves:
If you look at a 42"ED from, say, 15', the image will appear smooth, like a photograph; you won't be able to perceive the pixel structure at all. As you walk closer, at some distance you'll probably start to see that structure. It will be as if there's a screen door in front of the image, hence screen door effect, SDE. By the time you get to 6', it'll likely be very noticeable to the point of distraction.
The SDE will start to appear at around 8-10' as you move closer; sensitivity will differ from person to person. If you get to 6', then start to back up, the effect will disappear at the same distance.
Does that clear it up? So some people say it appears at 8-10; others that it disappears at that distance. They're saying the same thing, just moving in different directions.
If you look at a 42"ED from, say, 15', the image will appear smooth, like a photograph; you won't be able to perceive the pixel structure at all. As you walk closer, at some distance you'll probably start to see that structure. It will be as if there's a screen door in front of the image, hence screen door effect, SDE. By the time you get to 6', it'll likely be very noticeable to the point of distraction.
The SDE will start to appear at around 8-10' as you move closer; sensitivity will differ from person to person. If you get to 6', then start to back up, the effect will disappear at the same distance.
Does that clear it up? So some people say it appears at 8-10; others that it disappears at that distance. They're saying the same thing, just moving in different directions.
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Anyone know the formula for determining the size set you should buy depending on your distance from the screen?
A link would be fine if you don't know it off hand. Thanks.
A link would be fine if you don't know it off hand. Thanks.
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Just buy an HD set and don't worry about it
It's really not as simple as a formula, though there are lots of formulas out there. (The cnet table Knievel posted uses one of the more reasonable ones, imo.) For one thing, you can't sit as close to an ED set as an HD set unless you're immune to SDE. For another, you might choose one size for a totally immersive theatre experience, and another size for the family or living room.
Next time you're early to the theatre for a movie, watch how the seats fill up: if everybody had the same preferences, the first people would sit in the 'sweet spot', the next would sit beside them, and the room would fill from the middle out. Instead some take the front rows, some the back.
I find the formulas' stated maxima to be close to my personal minima for a room I also 'live' in. Maybe if I had a dedicated theater room, but I don't and won't: movies and TV just don't have that big a role in my life.
My experience only, of course; you have to find out for yourself where your personal 'sweet spot' lies.
Next time you're early to the theatre for a movie, watch how the seats fill up: if everybody had the same preferences, the first people would sit in the 'sweet spot', the next would sit beside them, and the room would fill from the middle out. Instead some take the front rows, some the back.
I find the formulas' stated maxima to be close to my personal minima for a room I also 'live' in. Maybe if I had a dedicated theater room, but I don't and won't: movies and TV just don't have that big a role in my life.
My experience only, of course; you have to find out for yourself where your personal 'sweet spot' lies.
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Caeguy, at that distance, do you ever regret not going with a 50"? Just curious b/c I'll be from sitting 12-13 ft. away and have been eyeing nothing but 42" models. With a good speaker setup, can you still feel immersed at that distance? Thanks, man.
Quote:
I originally started out looking at 50" plasma units. My thought was that this was the "correct" size for my distance.
This was my decision process that led me to the 42"ED:
1. The 42" ED is half the cost of the 50"
2. With the 42" at my distance, a 42" HD panel did not makes sense for the increased dollars.
3. The 50" plasma would "over power" the room. I didn't want to walk into the room and just see TV. My room is a family room, not a theater.
4. A friend of mine had just bought a 42" LCD RP. I was surprised at how large the unit was in his room. In the store, they look so small. Cutting out cardboard at the different sizes helped a little. You should try this.
Do I feel immersed? Sometimes but not often. I do find myself looking at different areas of the picture. Are you that type of guy that likes to sit in the front row or toward the back of the movie theater? Everyone is different. Only you can decide. I would think that you will need to go bigger than 50" to truly feel immersed in the picture at 12-13'. I have been in digital CAVE's. That's definitely gives you the immersive feel.
This was the right decision for me. I love my set and I have zero regrets on the manufacturer, size, and pixel count. Absolutely stunning HD picture. My wife sometimes comments that it's so sharp and detailed that it's tough to take it all in.
Hope this helps. Good Luck.
| Originally posted by iBleedGarnet Caeguy, at that distance, do you ever regret not going with a 50"? Just curious b/c I'll be from sitting 12-13 ft. away and have been eyeing nothing but 42" models. With a good speaker setup, can you still feel immersed at that distance? Thanks, man. |
This was my decision process that led me to the 42"ED:
1. The 42" ED is half the cost of the 50"
2. With the 42" at my distance, a 42" HD panel did not makes sense for the increased dollars.
3. The 50" plasma would "over power" the room. I didn't want to walk into the room and just see TV. My room is a family room, not a theater.
4. A friend of mine had just bought a 42" LCD RP. I was surprised at how large the unit was in his room. In the store, they look so small. Cutting out cardboard at the different sizes helped a little. You should try this.
Do I feel immersed? Sometimes but not often. I do find myself looking at different areas of the picture. Are you that type of guy that likes to sit in the front row or toward the back of the movie theater? Everyone is different. Only you can decide. I would think that you will need to go bigger than 50" to truly feel immersed in the picture at 12-13'. I have been in digital CAVE's. That's definitely gives you the immersive feel.
This was the right decision for me. I love my set and I have zero regrets on the manufacturer, size, and pixel count. Absolutely stunning HD picture. My wife sometimes comments that it's so sharp and detailed that it's tough to take it all in.
Hope this helps. Good Luck.
Well,
When sitting on my couch from nose to glass is 10'. However when sitting on the floor its more like 7-8'. SDE is not detectable even on compresssed dish signalls. You have to be like 6' or closer but it depends on whether you need glasses or not
There is no way to 'calculate' SDE as its a matter of pixel spacing and that differes from model to model (but obviously the same in one model line).
Seth
When sitting on my couch from nose to glass is 10'. However when sitting on the floor its more like 7-8'. SDE is not detectable even on compresssed dish signalls. You have to be like 6' or closer but it depends on whether you need glasses or not
There is no way to 'calculate' SDE as its a matter of pixel spacing and that differes from model to model (but obviously the same in one model line).
Seth
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