Hey Guys....need some help deciding the proper tv size for my living room. The room is 16x18 and I'm looking to get either a DLP or projection LCD. I'm trying to to figure out if 50" would be good enough or would it be better to go to a 55 or 56.

 

The general rule is to multiply the screen size by 2 1/2.

So ideal viewing distance for a:
- 50" TV is 125" or 10.4'
- 55" TV is 137.5" or almost 11.5'
- 56" TV is 140" or almost 11.7

So the first thing you need to do is figure out how far away the seating area will be from where the TV will be located, then go from there.

 

I just bought the place so I'm in just yet but I can tell you that from the back of the couch to the front is about 48" and it will probably sit about 1-2ft from the wall so I guess that would leave about 11-13ft b/w seating and the tv.

 

So even on the low-end (11ft) you're fine with any of the TVs...

FYI I sit 13' from the main big TV and we have a 50". Next year I'll be upgrading to a 61", not b/c the 50" is too small (it's fine), but b/c I want 1080p....

 

I guess thats my main concern is will 50" be too small and do I really want a 1080p or just hold out for a couple yrs and just get a 720p Sammy or something.

 

Well 50" won't be too small. You know you can fit any size from 50" to about 61"... so it comes down to money and features... what you want to spend and what you want to look at

I'd say to stick between 50" and 56" since they will probably be the ideal size. Anything else may be too overpowering for that room...

 

Yea thats what I figured...damn it now back to the drawing board or penny counting is it.....Thnx for the advice

 

^ No problem.

FYI, the room that we have the 50" TV in is 19'6" x 23' and has 22' foot ceilings... and the TV fits in well there.

Here's kind of an aerial shot of it. You can't see the whole room and the setup is slightly different now (side speakers are on top, furniture is rearranged, etc), but gives you an idea. This way you can consider the size of the TV with the size of the room so the TV doesn't take over the area...

 

nice....thnx for the help once again, appreciate it. cant wait to play with whatever it is i'll get.

 

50 Inch will be more than enough. You wont get total emersion, but it will still look great.

 

Leo, congrats on buying a place. Touch base in the DFW thread sometime.

 

Thnx Peter.....I know I havent posted in there a whole bunch lately, been so busy with the whole house thing.

 

Hey JB - nice fireplace!!

 

^ LOL, thanks! Seems like all the new homes have similar styles on that. We actually wish we went with the black marble so it stood out more from the wall color.... but shouldn't be a big deal since we'll be putting an accent color on that wall next year anyway... so the fireplace won't blend as much with the paint color.

 

how deep is that tv? Like 2"?

 

^ Mine? No, it's only that thin around the screen. The bulk of the TV is at the bottom in the back. It's a Sammy 50" DLP... so it's standard DLP depth in back on the bottom.

 

I have a sofa and with a counter behind it. Sofa viewing is 8-9ft depending if you are reclined or not. COunter is 11-12ft. 50" just for reference.

 

Answer: Large enough to make your neighbors jealous.

 

Wow I didn't know that. I should have a 50" since I sit 10 feet away. No wonder my 36" tube looks small.

 

Go big or go home, I am running 120" 16:9 with a maximum viewing distance of 21' away. Though if I get new speakers I can go up to about 220" which is tempting, resolution only drops a touch and it is fucking HUGE. I previously had 100" 4:3(which is about 87" 16:9) at 16', once you have gone this big the little screens are hard to watch. Its not a great picture but will give you a sense, this is my old place with the 100" 4:3 screen, the thing on the left bottom corner is the corner of the first seat(which was too close) and the black tubular thing in the middle was moved out of the way when watching moves, but left in place for music listening.


I have no pictures of my new place, I may try to get some together this weekend.

 

That may be a little big for him seeing that he'll only be sitting 11' feet away. I'm actually looking at a 120" screen for our theater room, but may actually do a little less. Haven't quite decided yet.... still getting quotes for different setups...

 

If you have a theater room, or media room, then go nuts with a big projector. But for a family room, thats just not practical and looks like ass most of the time. Just my

 

I would never do that setup in anything other then a dedicated theater room...

 

same here, that would just be used for a theatre room that had a good viewing area. BTW, juniorbean, you might want to dust ur entertainment center.

 

^ There's no dust on it. The top is unfinished. It has fake plants and vines on it now since that pic was taken a few days after it was delivered.

 

What speakers are those?

 

Von Schweikert DB99mkII

I actually sold them and now have Innersound EROS MkII's

 

this might help:

http://www.myhometheater.homestead.c...alculator.html

 

My current projector quietly sits on top of a 4 shelf bookcase. A simple setup, if the projector has lens shift. Nothing ugly about it at all. (hanging from the ceiling can look a bit gross though)

Projectors are awesome and I'd never be without one again.
However, they do require some thought and planning.

It's far better to go too small than too big. You can tire yourself out real quick
with a screen that is too big.