Which Size HDTV is Right for My Room?

With standard-definition TVs, the rule used to be that viewers would feel comfortable watching a set from a distance of 3 to 6 times the screen size in inches. With HDTV, the resolution is so much better that you can sit closer to a larger TV without noticing the pixels. So with HDTVs, the rule tends to be you can sit anywhere from 1.5 to 3 times the screen size (in inches) for the best experience.

These rules have been designed to tell you where to sit in relation to your new TV. Look at it another way: You know the size of the room you have already, where you want to sit, and where your new HDTV should go once you get it. So, which size TV should you get?

Doing the math backwards, you get this formula:

Minimum size= Viewing distance/3

Maximum size=Viewing distance/1.5

Doing that math straight up can give some unusual size numbers, so if we round the math to existing common HDTV sizes we get this handy chart:



If the TV you need for your room is 40 inches or less, a flat-panel LCD TV is your best bet. Between 42 and 60 inches, you can choose between plasma, LCD, or rear-projection sets. Plasma HDTVs tend to be the most popular choice in this size range, as they offer good picture quality and flat-panel allure. Flat-panel LCDs are now competitive in price with plasma in the 40- to 46-inch sizes, but generally not available over 52-inches--and at that size they can be pretty expensive.

Rear-projection TVs, such as DLPs or 3LCD rear-projection TVs, are often going to be the best priced of these large-screen TVs. These sets offer a great picture, but where flat-panel HDTVs are about 4-inches thick, rear-projection models are anywhere from 10 inches (on the very slim side) to 16 inches--so you aren't going to be hanging one on your wall. It turns out most flat-panel HDTV buyers don't end up hanging theirs on the wall either. Another rear-projection option is LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon). This technology is highly regarded for picture quality and is generally only available now in full 1080p resolution models. LCOS is a generic term; the two different implementations of this technology you'll find on Amazon.com are the HD-ILA TVs offered by JVC and the SXRD sets offered by Sony. While there are subtle technical differences between these two, we find both provide excellent picture quality.

If you want to go really big with your TV (it's OK, don't be ashamed to admit it), you're looking at a rear-projection model or a front-projection model. Rear-projection models (including LCD, DLP, and LCOS) are available up to 70 inches in size (a little bigger for some brands). That's a really, really big TV set. Please measure your room first, check the dimensions on the model you're looking at, and make sure that's really going to fit. For screens bigger than 70 inches, you need a front projector, also known as a home theater projector or a home entertainment projector. These are just what they sound like; they project the image forward like a movie projector does. The technologies available are the same as for rear-projection TVs. If you buy a home theater projector, you'll also need to think about the screen you're projecting on to. Also remember that home theater projectors don't come with built-in TV tuners, these are really just for projecting an image. To get TV, you'll need to hook your projector up to an external tuner and/or DVD player. At this size, seriously consider stepping up to HD DVD or Blu-ray for your movie needs. At the very least, make sure you have an upconverting DVD player. Standard-definition images look pretty poor at really large sizes. Also remember that if you want to go with a front projector, you'll also need to get a screen.

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