best LCD/Plasma to get with a budget

[CallMeJoe]

42" too small for 10 foot..that is far.

When you're used to 27" at 10', 42" seems large.

 

[0roo0roo]

When you're used to 27" at 10', 42" seems large.

well 27" was from a time when everything was so far from optimal that one had to write off the idea of optimal. 42" is small for that distance for appreciating film or 1080p,... it is way too small.

 

[Eug]

A 10' viewing distance with a 42" TV is perfectly fine. That's actually closer than my 42" TV in my living room.

And I say this as someone with with a 90" projection image from 9', in my home theatre room.

BTW, I have a 26" in my home office.

 

[0roo0roo]

Well its fine in that you can see it. It is however far from optimal, from that distance the detail of 1080p is wasted, and the tv is so small in your visual field it is not immersive for films.
http://myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html
42"
Maximum THX viewing distance 6.6ft
Recommended THX viewing distance 4.7ft
so as u can see, 42" is far from optimal size.

 

[Anubis]

TBH the calculator is crap, i have a 50in and i sat at 5.6 feet or whatever it recommends and its TOO FUCKING close to the TV, seriously IDK anyone who sits that close to a TV

 

[0roo0roo]

Is it a true 1080p 50" tv? It isnt too close at all. If it were too close projectors would force you to sit in the next room back

 

[Anubis]

yes its a true 1080P 50 inch

too close according to THX no

too close to comfortably watch TV, YES

i sit between 9-10 feet away from it

 

[0roo0roo]

Then it is just your taste because the recommendations are based on the eyes ability to resolve detail at a distance and the amount of the visual field filled by the screen. I just don't see the point of buying a tv just to sit so far away that it becomes small again.

While 50" sounds big, at 2.35 aspect ratio film you end up watching a 1.5 foot tall stripe of image across the screen. 1.5 foot tall image from 10 feet back is just that...a strip of image, not a cinematic experience at all, or even close.

 

[CallMeJoe]

Is it a true 1080p 50" tv? It isnt too close at all. If it were too close projectors would force you to sit in the next room back

If he was uncomfortable sitting 5' away from the TV, then it was indeed too close - for him. Not everyone wants full immersion video.

 

[CallMeJoe]

Then it is just your taste because the recommendations are based on the eyes ability to resolve detail at a distance and the amount of the visual field filled by the screen. I just don't see the point of buying a tv just to sit so far away that it becomes small again.

I would be hard pressed to call a 50" TV from 10' away "small".

 

[0roo0roo]

I would be hard pressed to call a 50" TV from 10' away "small".

Have you actually stood back 10 feet from a 50"? Sure up close its big. At 10 feet the impression is rather diminished. Add any letterboxing and it gets a whole lot smaller very fast. Sure its big compared to a 27" crt, but anything is. Even worse is those old crts stuck out from the wall 2.5-3.5 feet, whereas the flat panels tend to be that much further back. So while not tiny, at 10 feet you can hardly call it optimal, esp for bluray.

 

[Eug]

Well its fine in that you can see it. It is however far from optimal, from that distance the detail of 1080p is wasted, and the tv is so small in your visual field it is not immersive for films.
http://myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html
42"
Maximum THX viewing distance 6.6ft
Recommended THX viewing distance 4.7ft
so as u can see, 42" is far from optimal size.

THX recommendations are often irrelevant in the real world, and sometimes quite impractical. Not everyone wants to sit 4-5' from a TV. For those who want to sit further back, not everyone wants a 60" TV taking over their living room either. And even if someone might want a 60" TV, that same someone might not want to spend thousands of $ on one, when a $600 TV will suffice.

And like I said, I know what a big image looks like. I have a dedicated home theatre room, and I project a 90" image with seating at 9' and 13' back. In fact, that's closer than that calculator's THX-recommended viewing distance, with a 40 degree viewing angle. (THX recommended is 36 degrees.) Yet, despite having this, I think a 42" TV at 10' back is just fine, esp. if you're coming from a 27" TV (esp. if it's a 4:3 TV). In fact, if you look at that very calculator you linked, their maximum recommended viewing distance for a 42" TV is 15.8'.

The only TV I really find "small" in the house is a 26" at 12 feet, in my home office. If that TV dies, I'll probably replace it with a 32" TV, but no bigger, just because I don't want a ginormous TV in my home office. Even if the 32" and a 40" were the same price, I'd buy the 32".

So while not tiny, at 10 feet you can hardly call it optimal, esp for bluray.

Really, for "optimal" you need a dedicated light controlled home theatre, with a popcorn machine in the back, and a couple of servants serving up drinks.

 

[0roo0roo]

That is the point, thx points out that such small screens are compromises, things like 40" tv's have no good seating distance in most living rooms.

You can change the lighting in a room after the fact rather easily. You can't change the size of the tv after you bought it.

 

[Howard]

Really, for "optimal" you need a dedicated light controlled home theatre, with a popcorn machine in the back, and a couple of servants serving up drinks.

I could never find servants anything but obtrusive.

 

[mindless1]

Then it is just your taste because the recommendations are based on the eyes ability to resolve detail at a distance and the amount of the visual field filled by the screen. I just don't see the point of buying a tv just to sit so far away that it becomes small again.

The point of buying a bigger TV is so you can put your TV against a wall and put your furniture where you want it instead of having obstacles sticking out in the middle of your room just to have someone else's idea of a perfect distance. Same thing for a computer monitor, once I started using 24"+ monitors a few years back, I finally regained most of my desk space.

There is no perfect viewing distance that's going to immerse some people including myself. Somehow I am constantly aware that there's a TV set in front of me instead of real life. :biggrin:

 

[Anubis]

Have you actually stood back 10 feet from a 50"? Sure up close its big. At 10 feet the impression is rather diminished. Add any letterboxing and it gets a whole lot smaller very fast. Sure its big compared to a 27" crt, but anything is. Even worse is those old crts stuck out from the wall 2.5-3.5 feet, whereas the flat panels tend to be that much further back. So while not tiny, at 10 feet you can hardly call it optimal, esp for bluray.

i sat 10 feet from a 50 for 3 years and it was fine

TV down stairs is a 55 and that main seat is 14 feet from it also fine

when i had the 50 i actually moved a chair inito the THX recommended distance and it was far to fing close to the TV, no one sits that close to their TVs

 

[killster1]

I enjoy 60" lgpb6600 @ 3~10' I dont care about distance tho. I use 39" @ 2~20 feet as computer monitor and pleased with that too. I dont see what people.fuss about distance and sit so far back. My eyes are perfect for 20 years viewimg any distance heh

 

[TheAdvocate]

Are we that hard up for discussion that we're now necroing 4 year old threads?

 

[Raincity]

Well just in case anybody cares. The Samsung F5300 or the LG6600 is the only game in town anymore. You can pony up for the Samsung 8500 if you got the cash or downgrade to a Samsung 4500 768P set.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Well just in case anybody cares. The Samsung F5300 or the LG6600 is the only game in town anymore. You can pony up for the Samsung 8500 if you got the cash or downgrade to a Samsung 4500 768P set.

I wouldn't even consider an LG Plasma. They aren't even close to the Samsung.

I'd go with a good Samsung LED before an LG Plasma, personally. Unless you're shopping "price only".

 

[Raincity]

I wouldn't even consider an LG Plasma. They aren't even close to the Samsung.

I'd go with a good Samsung LED before an LG Plasma, personally. Unless you're shopping "price only".

Well considering that Samsung this week announced that their plasma production will cease this fall. All the 8500 and 5300 models will probably disappear in the next couple of months. Also I own the LG PB6600 and its pretty close to the 5300 and a terrific value since your also getting a years sub to Netflix with the purchase.

 

[jacktesterson]

I wouldn't even consider an LG Plasma. They aren't even close to the Samsung.

I'd go with a good Samsung LED before an LG Plasma, personally. Unless you're shopping "price only".

I bought a 50" LG Plasma in January 2007 for about $2600. It was not even 1080p, but 720p/1080i at 1360x768. I then bought a 61" Samsung Plasma for replace my other TV in 2011. It was around $2500.00. I and anyone I know would tell you I clearly preferred the LG TV over the Samsung. Neither were budget TV's at all.

The LG just died in February but it was one of the best TV's I ever had. I replaced it in March with a 50" LED TV (My first LED) and although I like it a lot, I still prefered the color reproduction of the LG Plasma more. (Although I like that the LED is brighter during the day)

What are you basing this statement off of?

 

[Anubis]

the only real issue with the LG plasmas was the lack of any sort of anti glare filter. they were mirrors. but if you could control lighting they were great sets

 

[Makaveli]

What are you basing this statement off of?

The general opinion in the Tv industry is that Panasonic's Plasma's provide the best Picture with Samsung in a close second.

Everyone else sits below them.

I own a Samsung PN64E8000

64 inch model and sit about 9 feet from it.

 

[tential]

i sat 10 feet from a 50 for 3 years and it was fine

TV down stairs is a 55 and that main seat is 14 feet from it also fine

when i had the 50 i actually moved a chair inito the THX recommended distance and it was far to fing close to the TV, no one sits that close to their TVs

All depends on the person. I sit 10 feet from my 70 inch and I think it's too far away. But sitting that close throws off the room dynamic. So, therefore, the TV clearly isn't large enough . I'd replace it with a 100 inch LED HDTV if I could but I can't so 70 inches it is for the time being. I'll upgrade to 80+ if it ever becomes within my budget but I would ALWAYS sit closer if I could but it's just a weird room.

I would like to try a projector but I feel really nice looking at glass. Don't know if I could get used to a projector picture.