I've read various articles debating the importance of the 1080p. I want to set the record straight once and for all: if you are serious about properly setting up your viewing room, you will definitely benefit from 1080p (and even 1440p.) Why? Because the 1080p resolution is the first to deliver enough detail to your eyeball when you are seated at the proper distance from the screen. But don't just take my word for it: read on for the proof.
There are a few obvious factors to being able to detect resolution differences: the resolution of the screen, the size of the screen, and the viewing distance. To be able to detect differences between resolutions, the screen must be large enough and you must sit close enough. So the question becomes "How do I know if need a higher resolution or not?". Here is your answer.
Based on the resolving ability of the human eye (with 20/20 vision it is possible to resolve 1/60th of a degree of an arc), it is possible to estimate when the differences between resolutions will become apparent. Using the Home Theater Calculator spreadsheet as a base, I created a chart showing, for any given screen size, how close you need to sit to be able to detect some or all of the benefits of a higher resolution screen. (Click the picture below for a larger version.)
What the chart shows is that, for a 50-inch screen, the benefits of 720p vs. 480p start to become apparent at viewing distances closer than 14.6 feet and become fully apparent at 9.8 feet. For the same screen size, the benefits of 1080p vs. 720p start to become apparent when closer than 9.8 feet and become full apparent at 6.5 feet. In my opinion, 6.5 feet is closer than most people will sit to their 50" plasma TV (even through the THX recommended viewing distance for a 50" screen is 5.6 ft). So, most consumers will not be able to see the full benefit of their 1080p TV.
However, front projectors and rear projection displays are a different story. They make it very easy to obtain large screen sizes. Plus, LCD and Plasma displays are constantly getting larger and less expensive. In my home, for example, I have a 123-inch screen and a projector with a 1280×720 resolution. For a 123-inch screen, the benefits of 720p vs. 480p starts to become apparent at viewing distances closer than 36 feet (14 feet behind my back wall) and become fully apparent at 24 feet (2 feet behind my back wall). For the same screen size, the benefits of 1080p vs. 720p start to become apparent when closer than 24 feet and become full apparent at 16 feet (just between the first and second row of seating in my theater). This means that people in the back row of my home theater would see some improvement if I purchased a 1080p projector and that people in the front row would notice a drastic improvement. (Note: the THX recommended max viewing distance for a 123" screen is 13.7 feet).
So, how close should you be sitting to your TV? Obviously, you need to look at your room and see what makes sense for how you will be using it. If you have a dedicated viewing room and can place seating anywhere you want, you can use this chart as a guideline. It's based on THX and SMPTE specifications for movie theaters; the details are available in the Home Theater Calculator spreadsheet.
Looking at this chart, it is apparent that 1080p is the lowest resolution to fall within the recommended seating distance range. Any resolution less than 1080p is not detailed enough if you are sitting the proper distance from the screen. For me and many people with large projection screens, 1080p is the minimum resolution you'd want.
In fact, you could probably even benefit from 1440p. If you haven't heard of 1440p, you will. Here's a link to some info on Audioholics.com. It is part of the HDMI 1.3 spec, along with 48-bit color depth, and will probably surface for the public in 2009 or so. You'll partially be able to see the benefits of 1440p at the THX Max Recommended viewing distance and the resolution benefits will be fully apparent if you are just a little closer. I've read of plans for resolutions reaching 2160p but I don't see any benefit; you'd have to sit too darn close to the screen to notice any improvement. If you sit too close, you can't see the far edges of the screen.
In conclusion: If you are a videophile with a properly setup viewing room, you should definitely be able to notice the resolution enhancement that 1080p brings. However, if you are an average consumer with a plasma on the far wall of your family room, you are not likely to be sitting close enough to notice any advantage. Check the chart above and use that to make your decision. Also, the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) states the the most important aspects of picture quality are (in order): 1) contrast ratio, 2) color saturation, 3) color accuracy, 4) resolution. Resolution is 4th on the list and plasma is generally superior to LCD in all of the other areas (but much more prone to reflections/glare.) So pick your display size, then measure your seating distance, and then use the charts above to figure out if you would benefit from the larger screen size.
"I don't like reading charts – just tell me what resolution I need"
If you don't like reading charts and are looking for a quick answer, enter you screen size below to see how close you'll need to sit to fully appreciate various screen resolutions.
Thanks for the response. I was OK with the resolution but wasn't aware of the 1:1 criteria. From what I've read since it appears most TVs that support 1:1 are configurable. Is this because the 1:1 setup necessary for full screen viewing of a PC output doesn't work or creates issues with TV viewing?
Grant: older analog content can frequently have noise along the sides of the picture. To prevent consumers from complaining about their TV not working correctly, pretty much every one on the market crops the edges to eliminate potential noise. Now that all signals and all new shows are digital, noise isn't a problem, but old analog content broadcast over digital still has it.
Very cool! Love the write up and the Calculator is TiTs.
@Carlton Bale
Color me impressed. I have read through your comments and such and really appreciate your insights in regards to setting up a suitable 1080p home theatre. Now I am in need of your expert advice.
At the moment, I'm in the market to invest in a FULL HD LCD. My sitting distance is approx 10-11ft. My viewing environment ranges from well-lit (during the day) to dim (during the night). Just for some background. I started my search and was getting ready to invest in the Pioneer KRP500m. Then I read your article and saw your chart of optimal viewing distances and saw that at my seating distance I wouldn't be able to fully appreciate 1080p with a 50" monitor. Then I was ready to purchase the Pioneer KRP600m. BUT then I read the "horror" stories of consumers receiving panels that have "the buzz" issue which at the price I would have invested (equiv. to $6,456.oo USD – I'm based at the moment in the Philippines) is not worth the risk.
I have been very satisfied with my Full HD Philips 42PFL7403. But then after reading your optimal distance article, I always felt that I was not utilizing the full benefit of 1080p viewing (seating distance from the 42" = 9ft). I have had such a great experience with my Philips that I always hoped to find another LCD unit that just like it, but 55 in. or above.
That led me to the LG Full HD 55LH50 (240Hz TruMotion)-Philippines version. I believe that in other regions (United States, etc) it is the 55LH55. The one aspect of my Full HD Philips panel that I appreciated was the matte screen. Absolutely no glare or reflection. I demo'ed the LN52B750 & LN55B650 and got a headache from the glare and seeing my reflection during totally black screens, which is prevalent in my all-time favorite movie – Batman The Dark Knight. Then I noticed your advice regarding LG having a matte screen! I demo'ed the 55LH50 and was quite impressed. With just a few quick calibrations (mainly turning off the 240Hz Trumotion, adjusting backlight, etc.), I really like the PQ of the LG. It had a myriad of picture settings! If only Samsung's panels were not glass and extremely reflective, I may have taken the plunge with the 55B650. I also looked at the Sony 52V550, but I felt I would benefit more from an additional 3 inches to get the cinematic, Full HD experience.
Anyways, just wanted to say thanks for your research and was wondering if you strongly recommend at my seating distance of 10-11ft, will I benefit in investing in the 55" LG FULL HD,1080p panel?
PhiPsi032679: I'm in 100% agreement with you. The LG panels are awesome. If I were to purchase a new flat panel right now, the 55" LG 1080p with LED backlighting is exactly what I'd get. The matte screen makes it a better performer than the glossy Sonys and Samsungs, and it costs less as well.
Carlton I find your site and spreadsheet very useful. I'm attempting turning an unfinished space in my basement into a dedicated theater. Finished dimensions will be 10'6\ wide by 24' long. The screen would be roughly 122\ diagonal (cinemascope) I'm really worried about getting the seating locations right for the video and the audio. I have them set on your spreadsheet at 12ft and 16.5ft that number is supposed to be to the eyeballs right?? Seating will be essentially a couch, on the first row, and then a right and left arm love seat sectional, so essentially a four person couch. My real question I guess is what would be the ideal seating distances I've used the spreadsheet and just want to see if there is a better location other than the acceptable one it gives me. Reason for the big distance between row 1 and row 2 is some ottomans.
Brandon: You should use that recommended distance as a minimum and move forward from that. You may be able to benefit from slightly higher resolution if you sit closer, but in my experience, you won't be complaining about need more or being able to notice any issues. Having a very wide screen filling your entire field-of-view is the most important factor of a movie theater experience. So unless you're a few feet from the screen, you probably are not too close.
@Carlton Bale
Thanks for the reply. Have re-considered my Home Theatre upgrade and have decided to invest in a 1080p projector (Panasonic PTAE-4000) and an 0.8 gain, white matte screen, 100" diagonal (manufactured by Crystal Vision).
My seating distance is approx. 11-12ft from the screen. Will I get the "full" appreciation of 1080p resolution? From other sources I have found that THX recommended seating is approx 11.2 ft. Just want to make sure that I will achieve a "cinematic experience".
My decision of not getting the LG 55" LCD is simply because the cost of the projector with the screen is approx $350USD less than the LG – am presently based in the Philippines at the moment, so go figure.
PhiPsi032679: You'll get a much better widescreen experience from a projector and big screen – that's what my primary viewing room is. If you have light control, it's the best performance for the investment.
My wife has had a 19-inch tube tv in the bedroom that she always watches from approx 4 feet away, laying in bed, hooked up to cable. I bought her a 25-inch/1080p/LCD tv that I thought would be much better, but the picture is not clear at all. I told her that she needs to be farther away from the tv for it to be clearer. Do I need to purchase a bigger flat panel for it be more clear?
Tony: Your problem s most likely the cable TV signal not being clear and not the TV itself. See how it looks with a DVD player to judge.
I think I just found my answer on your Audioholics link! Your blog has answered alot of questions already. Thank you!
If only such a chart existed for optimizing the consumption of cheese puffs, my quest to spend thousands of dollars on getting both fatter and stupiderer would be complete. Must watch more magic pictures.
I am considering replacing my lcd projector. In viewing a dlp projector I found the rainbow effect to be distracting (Vivitek H1080FD). Loved the clarity and brightness though. Does the effect go away with higher-end dlp, or is 3lcd the better technology?
Faster color wheels minimize the appearance of rainbows, but it still varies by user. I think LCoS is the best technology, especially as implemented by JVC in their D-ILA products. There are some fantastic deals on last year's models as they are being cleared-out for the new, only slightly changed, models released in late 2009/early 2010. Check out http://AVSforum.com for details.
Hi Carlton.
First of all, congratulations on an excellent and very useful website.
I have a question. I'd like to buy a TV for my room (i.e. not a "Home Theater" per se), on which I can watch sports, movies, etc.
I'm exactly 10 feet away from my TV, and had originally intended on getting a 1080p 50 inch Panasonic Plasma (TX-P50GW20).
Your chart indicates full benefit of 720p would be visible.
1) What do you think of the Pano?
2) Difference between 720p and 1080p will be absolutely unnoticeable for that screen size and viewing distance?
The Panasonics have a great picture. I don't like the gloss finish on the screen as it is very prone to reflections, but this is a matter of personal preference. Just be sure to look for this at the store. Turn it off to easily show reflections as they will appear in dark scenes.
At that viewing distance, you should be fine with a 720p screen. If 1080p is not that much more expensive, you might consider it, but it shouldn't be a requirement. But try to compare them side-by-side if possible to see how your eyes perceive the difference.
Thanks for answering my question.
Are all Panasonics glossy (in particular the TX-P50GW20)? I would definitely like a matte screen.
I was thinking of getting 1080p anyways. You say at that distance, 1080p wouldn't make (much of) a difference, but could it actually lower the perceived quality of the image?
Would you have any alternate recommendations for the TV? Different brand/model?
Thanks again!
Lawrence: In general, all plasmas have glossy screens and many LCDs now do as well. They may advertise having an "anti-reflective coating" but even that is now where near as effective at eliminating glare as is a matte screen. The LG LCDs, to my knowledge, all have matte screens and offer great performance at reasonable prices. Be sure to look at the TV in person with your own eyes before you buy it.
1080p will in no way negatively impact image quality vs. 720p. As you step away from a 1080p TV, you will be able to notice less and less detail, and it will eventually look just like at 720p TV. At a great enough distance, it will look just like a standard-def TV. No better, no worse.
I returned the tv I commented about and purchased a Samsung 23" 1080p/LCD tv instead. This was perfect for the bedroom. This tv was much easier to program and pulls in the local HD channels, something the other one failed to do. I added a Toshiba upconverting DVD player to go with it. The picture is perfect. I finally got my WOW!
Mr. Bale,
Could you pls suggest me lcd tv? I own a ps3 slim so i am going to watch movies and play some game..
i cant decide what to buy.. I want the new led tvs but they are too expensive right now and they are just baclitting not the rgb LED.
Sony 40w5500 – ex505
Samsung 40B7000
These are some of my choices.. But again i cant decide what to buy…
Thanks for the help..
I think the most important aspect of a new TV is the screen finish: glossy vs. matte. Glossy has slightly better contrast ratio, but unless it's in a dark room, the reflections and glare are extremely annoying, especially for gaming. The latest Samsung LCDs have a very glossy screen and the Sonys are fairly glossy as well. I highly recommend you compare glossy and matte side-by-side. I highly recommend the LG LCD TVs. To my knowledge, they all have matte finishes on the screen. The prices are very reasonable, even for the higher-end LED-backlight models.
Carlton, once again thank you for your precious help.
I like to rely on the advice of people with no vested interest in my purchase – such as yourself.
And judging by the caliber of the material featured on your website, I like to think you know exactly what you are talking about.
So I went into a general electronics store today asking for information on TVs, all the while being skeptical on any advice they could give me.
The salesman told me that a 50' 1080p screen should be 11.5 to 13 feet away, so as to "Not show any artifacts and other irregularities". This of course does not concur with your chart, which indicates full benefits of 1080p are visible at about 6.5 feet, or HALF what I was told at the shop.
I watch mainly 1080p content (HD channels and HD MKV movies), and thus would like to be able to benefit from it, hence a preference for a 50'.
The TV won't be in a dedicated theater room but in my bedroom in front of my bed, 10 feet away. Could a screen of this size at that distance be harmful to my eyes? A friend of mine told me he would be scared to have such a big bright screen "so close" to his eyes. I don't watch a HUGE amount of TV, maybe 15-20 hours a week. So could this be harmful to my eyes?
Thank you for your time and knowledge.
Lawrence, sitting that close is not better/worse than sitting very far away. Think about how close you sit to a computer monitor, and how much relatively farther away you would be from your TV. Having uncorrected vision at a given distance should be your only concern. I'm frequently 6' away from my 42" LCD with zero issues. I highly recommend the largest screen that fits your budget and your room.
I am also about to take the plunge into HD. I was in Japan last year and watched plenty of over the air HD content on a 40 inch Sharp Aquos from about 9 feet away and felt that it was amazingly crisp and clear (almost lifelike). I recently watched a friend's new 52 inch Samsung from 10 feet away (Comcast cable HD and Blu-ray movies from a PS3) and instantly noticed artifacts and felt overall that I was not watching a crystal clear picture. The older analog content looked absolutely horrible.
I am thinking that getting too large of a television right now may be a mistake. Maybe it comes down to personal preference, but a crystal clear picture, at least to me, is a top priority for a good viewing experience. I am wondering if anyone else feels similarly. I am thinking about getting either a 42 or 46 matte screen, and am leaning toward 42. My viewing distance is 9 feet.
The source material is the most important aspect of a great picture. Broadcast OK, satellite and cable are generally a little worse than that. Compare TVs with a Blu-ray player hooked directly to each for a solid reference. You will notice source material deficiencies more on a larger set, but can see full-HD detail more as well if the source is high-quality (such as Blu-ray.)
[...] Originally Posted by warrentdo Anyone got any suggestion for the best size? Cheers Warren. See this warrentdo , full article can be read here [...]
Excellent article explaining how this all works. I always thought that people were letting the 1080p thing get to their heads, after reading this chart, I now know I've been in a few seating arrangements that simply didn't benefit, and it was in fact in their heads.
I sit at approx 11 feet from my wall i will be mounting the tv on. I am stuck on wether to buy a LG 50pk550 or a 60pk550 plasma or would i even benefit from the 1080p both of these provide?
You will start to see some of the benefits of a 60" screen at 11 feet. The bigger the screen, the better.
Carlton,
Hope you can give me some advice. We are planning on purchasing a TV for our conference room. The conference room is potentially going to be partitioned in half to create a new office in the future. If that happens, then the conference room will be roughly 16' x 16'. It has one small conference room table that sits long ways down the middle of the conference room. It seats about 10 to 12 people. The TV will be on a portable, rolling stand and when in use will sit toward the head of the conference room table.
So there will be two rows of people – a row on each side of the conference table with the TV at the head of the table.
Our intended use for the TV is multi-purpose.
We are planning on purchasing a Samsung LED-LCD HDTV that is compatible with the SKYPE FREETALK TV Camera for Samsung. We have a handful of vendors we plan on communicating via webcam using Skype. The Samsung TV's that are compatible with the Skype Camera are 7000 and 8000 series cameras.
We also intend to use the TV for Webex presentations when we have a vendor who wants to demonstrate a new piece of software. We will also use the TV for vendors who come in-house to do a Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation. As well as for in-house orientation for new hires for them to watch DVD's we have as part of our orientation process.
So it will be used for a wide array of things.
We are also hoping to use it for true video conferencing (not Skype) in the future as well (Tandberg equipment).
The Samsung 7000 and 8000 series TVs are networkable to the Internet and work with Skype among other media streaming services (YouTube, Flickr, BlockBuster On-Demand) etc.
Anywho, my concern is getting the right size TV for the conference room for these multiple purposes. I am curious if the PowerPoint Presentations will appear too small where the text is not readable VS using a project. We do have a projector and screen so we can always use it as backup if need be. But if the TV will work perfectly then that is most desirable.
I am torn between either a 46" or 55" LED-LCD HDTV by Samsung.
Any ideas, advice, wisdom you can share to help me make the best decision?
Thanks!
I meant to add that the people closest to the TV will probably sit 3 feet or so from the TV – maybe further just a little but not much. The people at the end of each row will sit about 10 or 11 feet from the TV – for when we have a full conference room of people.
Not all meetings are packed – so the setup will vary.
I'm anticipating – worst case scenario – fully packed conference room.
Sorry I did not include this information in the first post.
You definitely need to go with the 55" screen. The bigger, the better. If there is a larger size, I would recommend it.
A 55" screen should work well for everything except for vendor software demonstrations. Unless the presenter has a low screen resolution and it is zoomed to fill your screen, the font and cursor will be too small for everyone but the first 2 or 3 rows of seats. As long as presentations don't use tiny (i.e. 12 point font), they should be fine.
Wow – thanks for the quick prompt response!!
I think the biggest they have in the Samsung 7000 and 8000 series are 55". According to their website (Samsung's) they say in their chart that the 8000 series is available in 65". But they do not show a 65" as an available model on their website. I am going to chalk it up as a typo.
Even so, I am not sure if Best Buy has one larger than a 55" that they carry in stock.
Anyway, thanks for the info!
I will keep the presentation font size in mind for future reference – good to know.
Again, thanks very much!
[...] out this article. http://carltonbale.com/1080p-does-matter __________________ Buy Games "If you are not completely confused by quantum mechanics, [...]
How close to my 14\ computer screen should I be to benefit from your chart?
For computer screens, test it for yourself: http://carltonbale.com/visual-acuity-viewing-distance-test-it-for-yourself
I have just gotten a Ps3slim and a new mlb10 baseball game with it. I believe Mlb is made to support 1080p but i probably wont be able to afford it..especially because of the price ive already payed for my playstation and game..lol. I can however muster a sony 720p i believe. Am I looking at a considerable difference in these gaming terms here by going with the lesser 720p considering this games support for 1080p?
So I am kind of confused by your article. Let me understand the basic concept clearly. If I have a 50 in 1080p tv and sit about 10-13 ft back, I am not enjoying the full capacity? Is that to say, I will enjoy the same experience with a 720p tv at the same viewing distance?
Currenly i have 110 in 1080p epson projector at home. I sit approx 20 ft away. Is that to say if i had a 720p projector I would enjoy the same quality even at a further distance?
Thanks.
Yes, you are correct. For a 50" screen at 10' or greater viewing distance, 720p and 1080 will look equivalent. For the 100" screen at 20', you are getting about 20% of the advantage of 1080p over 720p.
[...] vs. 1080p HDTVs: 2009 update | Fully Equipped – CNET Reviews look for the jaggies. 720p vs 1080p 1080p Does Matter – Here's When (Screen Size vs. Viewing Distance vs. Resolution) | Carlt… Official "1080p Vs. 720p" Thread Discussion – AVS Forum In general if your on a budget [...]
Budget under 3500.00
Uses and sources PS3, Xbox360, TV & BlueRay Movies
Hey Carlton i am hoping you can help me with a very specific question.
A friend has a 73' Mitsubishi DLP TV. Mass Effect 2 (xbox 360) looks horrible on it. It was very pixelated even at 1080P.
I played the same game at another friends house, 40' Samsung also 1080P and it was GORGEOUS.
Will a 65' LCD look just as good as a 55' LCD in picture quality for games ? Or will it look worse on the 65' due to it being more stretched out ? I would rather have a 65' TV but refuse to give up quality.
These are the 3 tv's i am considering
60" BRAVIA EX700 Series LCD-LED
60" BRAVIA EX500 Series LCD
55' UN55C8000 3D LED HDTV
The 55' Samsung looks the best for HD TV content at the store. I just dont know how games will perform on any of them.
Thanks
TD
I think the issues with the 73" Mitsubishi DLP were due to signal processing and scaling hardware inside the TV and not with the screen size. I think 60" is a great size for gaming. I have a 123" projection screen and I sit 11' away from it and it is great for Xbox 360; PS3 should be no different. All major-brand LCD TV made within the past couple of years have fairly fast pixel rates (not the same as 120/240/480 Hz motion smoothing) and they will be fine for gaming. I read that JVC LCDs were using pixels that had even faster switching, making it slightly better for gaming, but that was a couple of years ago and I'm no longer sure if they have any advantage.
What about those of us who have had Lasik surgery and are now "cursed" with 20/10 vision? Is the required screen size then cut in half for the same viewing distance and resolution? And wouldn't it be nice if everyone took this into account when buying their HDTVs?
Carlton,
thanks for your feedback, i really appreciate it.
I'm interested in a working computer screen at 6 or 7 feet — working mostly with text. (It's good for my neck….) Right now I use a projector but I am tired of the fan noise and the low res. How can I extrapolate yr info to my situation? Because honestly, you guys take this all pretty seriously.
Although, speaking of that, being able to watch the World Cup on the same screen would not be a bad idea.
Carie: At 6 or 7 feet for a computer monitor, you'll need at 1080p LCD TV that is 55-inches diagonal or larger. You can also increase the DPI settings to make everything on the screen bigger and easier to read.
[...] closer than 6 feet which i highly doubt anyone does. and for reference (since i do my research): 1080p Does Matter – Here's When (Screen Size vs. Viewing Distance vs. Resolution) | Carlt… 4th paragraph [...]
Hi I was thinking of getting a 50" TV for my living room. There isn't a whole lot of ambient light that we can't block in the room and also I was thinking of getting the PS3 in conjunction. I am thinking of getting the panasonic TC-P50S2 (1080p) vs TC-P50C2 (720). I know in your chart says that you don't get much visual difference at 12ft but I am very picky about what I see and I use a lot of HD source videos. Playing video games and watching a lot of CG movies, will I see a difference?
Also are the 1080p TVs made a little better quality wise?
Jay, if you're never closer than 12', you won't likely see any difference in resolution between 1080p and 720p. But if you're going to sit or stand closer, it may be worth it.
In general, the higher end the TV, the better the picture quality. So a 1080p TV might have better performance outside of resolution, but the biggest factor is panel technology, and I'm pretty sure the two you are considering have very similar panels and electronics, so there is not likely a huge difference. But your own eyes are always the best judge.
Hello Mr. Bale,
I was wondering if you could help me out.
1st.
I just realized that this is for projectors and wondering if these distances can be applied also to HDTVs.
2nd.
Perhaps you can help me find something that could fit my wide resolution range.
This HDTV will:
- Be fed Standard Definition signals 480i at 4:3 day in and day out.
- PS3 will be connected for gamming and Blu-Ray movies.
- My maximum seating distance is 8 feet.
I have a CRT 27" 4:3 television, In order to get the same picture quality viewing 480i signals and profitting from the PS3's 720p/1080p signals.. what size HDTV would I need and should I bother with 1080p HDTV according to my seating distance?
Thanks for your time.
Christian,
This pages is for all types of displays: HDTVs, projectors, CRTs, etc.
480i SD will never look like 1080p HD. You can sit very far away from your TV so that the SD picture deficiencies aren't apparent, but then you would get absolutely no benefit from HD.
I recommend a viewing distance/screen size for your highest resolution source, and then living with the limitations of the SD sources. So for 1080p Blu-ray / PS3 at 8-feet, you'll want to go with a 55"+ screen. If this doesn't fit your room or budget, a 720p resolution screen of a smaller size is my recommendation (no harm in 1080p for this smaller size, but no perceived benefit at 8 feet.)
Thank you for your reply Mr. Bale.
So I can't seem to get the best of both worlds (SD and HD. It's either or, maybe I'm not ready for a HDTV due to the signals and shows I watch in SD and I'd feel foolish to downsize the viewing screen or downgrade picture quality to match what I already have. So until the signals are upgraded, HDTV's will have to wait.
Again thank you very much for your time and recommendation.
Christian, I think you may have misunderstood me. Your SD viewing will look no worse than it does now. In fact, it will be about the same or maybe slightly better (due to image processing electronics within the TV.) HD sources will look much, much better. So if you are going to watch HD sources, a HDTV is a great upgrade. If you aren't going to watch HD sources, there is nothing wrong with having a bigger SD image, it just won't look as sharp as an HD image.
Thanks mate.. Was thinking about getting a 1080p from a cheaper brand. Looks like 780 is the way for me at my distance, and Ill spend the extra money on a better brand, either LG or Samsung.
Cheers
I just bought a panasonic 1080 50 inch tv, what should I do to best setup the tv? I am hooking up a blu ray player and possibly a ps3
Hi Carlton,
Thanks for the valuable information. Just to make it easy for me to understand can you please guide If I should go for 1080p projector or 720p projector for a viewing distance of upto 16 feet. I already bought 120" matte white screen.
I will highly appreciate your reply on this as I am going to buy either of the projectors this weekend.
Thanks
Tandy, I think I made it pretty simple. The section at the end of the article entitled "I don't like reading charts – just tell me what resolution I need" will easily answer you question.
Type-in 120" for the screen size and hit calculate; it will tell you that 1080 is appropriate at 16' away.
Aren't these calculations and limits for a single eye? For normal vision using both eyes, i believe the field of vision gets multiplied by a factor (of 3?)…and our vision can detect resolutions greater than for that for single eye vision.
Thankful for your feedback.
Hey
I gt a 7ft-8ft viewing distance and i need the best of the best in the market,
can u suggest sm models,,,
Hey Carlton,
I've decided to go with a 40inch LED-LCD TV. Which model would you recommend (the LH90s don't exist in 40inch size)?
I've been looking at the Samsung 40C6700, what do you think of it?
Lawrence, I think the LED Samsungs are very good HDTVs.
Thank you for the awesome site. I have a question. In your calculation box, the 720p is 1280 * 720 not 1024 *768. Does this make a significant difference to the seating distance?
I will be seating at about 7.5ft or greater and hence need to find to out whether I will be just fine with a 768p (46") or need a 1080p?
Thanks for your help and clarification.
fi, There is not a significant difference between 1280×720 vs. 1024×768. Please note that the later uses non-square pixels that are wider than they are tall to fill a 16:9 screen. Check out my home theater calculator spreadsheet to get exact numbers.
Hi Carlton,
I've just about studied myself to death on PJ's for my upcoming HT. Your article certainly helps but there are so many opinions out there, it's hard to separate fact from bias.
My screen is scope 1.16 gain (microperf) and 213" diagonal. The room will be light controlled…and that's because we will nealry always be using it at night. The sole use will be for bluray viewing.
I'm thinking about the Optoma TX1080 but there are some similarly priced (but higher lumen output) 720p PJ's out there as well.
Seating distance will be between 7 – 8.5 metres.
Your thoughts and ideas would be much appreciated.
Best
Andrew
Andrew, that is a giant screen! With that much material to illuminate, you are going to have more issues with poor illumination than with resolution deficiency. Go for the brightest projector you can, and try to find reviews showing the projectors calibrated brightness instead of relying on the manufacturer's inflated brightness values.
I'm a college student that wants a regular 32" TV. At this size Ill probably be about 4-5 feet away. Do I go 720p or 1080? I'm leaning towards 720 to be honest. I feel like there wouldn't be a big difference. Right? The chart seems to agree, But i want to double check
I need your advice on the correct screen image for a 40' boardroom.
The exsting room has a glass screen (130" x 63") with a 4:3 Projected image (82 x 62").
The system is 8-years old and i would like to update it with one of the following: NEC 82", Panasonic 103" or TBD Projector.
The main media used in the room is PowerPoint (36 to 20 font)
Thanks for your help!!!
Hi Carlton.
Thanks for the advice above. Yes, it's a big screen. Your concerns re brightness AFTER calibration are certainly warranted. Many manufacturers lumen specs are wrong to begin with – that's for sure. After calibration by reviewers, I've seen some lumen outputs to be down by as much as 75% on the published spec! Just awful.
So far I've found 2 PJ's whose calibrated spec's should be okay for my screen. One is the Sanyo PLV-80 @ 2,500 lumnes and the other is the Sanyo PLV-WF10 @ 4,052 lumens. The WF10 has ECO mode so you can run it one one bulb and the lumens are cut in half. Fan noise doesn't drop though. These are both older technology I know but they can be had for a good price…..and perhaps with a screen this size, the wow factor will overide anything else.
Best
Andrew
Hi Carlton,
I really like your charts and data on your website! I was wondering if going to a 120hz over 60hz would be worth the extra money? I have a ps3 and watch sports quite often. I am a college student and I'm looking at 32-37" LCD tvs. What do you know about Insignia? Do you think it would be better to invest the extra money in a brand like LG or Samsung over Insignia?
Thanks!
Jake
Jake, 120hz may be worth it for sport, but I personally find it more distracting and inaccurate than I do an enhancement. But demo a few sets to see how you perceive it. I think you will get better performance and warranty support from LG or Samsung vs. Insignia, and that's the way I would go, but Insignia does have pretty good performance for the price.
Hey there. This helped me out a lot, but I am still torn. I am planning on buying an LCD for the first time. We sit about 6-8 ft from the tv. Was originally thinking about getting a 32" 720p until many of my guy friends freaked out and told me I had to get a 1080p. They are not the ones paying for it. If I want 1080p, I will need to go down to 28" to afford it. Do you think there would be much of a difference? My fiance and I play Wii, do not have a blueray or hd-dvd, but will have some HD channels via Time Warner cable.
On a separate note, is QAM necessary if we are still going to use a cable box? I am getting conflicting information.
These are the three I am looking at, not the best, I know, but within the budget…
Emerson LC320EMXF 32" (270 shipped)
Vizio VW32LHDTV40A-B 32"(320 shipped)
Hannspree ST289MUB 28" (280 shipped)
All through tigerdirect.
Thank you so much!