What Is The Best Size Tv To Get For My Family Room? 32″, 37″ Or 42″?
February 15, 2010 by Rich
Filed under Frequently Asked Questions
I sit about 5-6 feet away from my flat tube 27″. good size, but I kinda wish I had a 32.
We watch some TV, buta ton of DVDs. I also have an Home theater PC hooked now to through the s-video in. We have a Wii as well. I live on a 2nd story apartment so a DLP is out of the ?.
Because we use alot of still frame video devices such as the Wii and HTPC, I have read my best bet is an LCD. A plasma TV seems to be the most prone to screen burn.
With the prices as they are, I really don’t want to get more than a 720p/1080i.
So from that distance, what should I get?
A 32″ WS is the same height as the 4:3 CRT that I have now. 37″ is equivalent to a 32 and a 42 is a 36 equivalent.
I was set to just get a 32, but a 37″ is looking more attractive as prices have come down . I am thinking that if I end up spending that kind of money, why not get the 42 so I won’t regret not going bigger. I am planning this as a family XMas present.
will the 720p 42 be a prob that close?
http://www.plasmadepot.com suggests, as an optimal 16:9 viewing distance:
35″ – 7.5′
40″ – 8.5′
45″ – 9.5′
50″ – 10.5′
But it really depends on the individuals viewing preferences. I view my 50″ at about 9.5 feet and it’s good for me. Don’t believe all the drivel you read here from the uninformed and overly opinionated about plasma! Check out professional reviews at:
http://WWW.CNet.com;
http://www.Plasmatvbuyingguide.com; and
http://www.LCDtvbuyingguide.com, go look at a bunch of them in major brands, and form your own opinion. Good hunting.
Remember that your new LCD TV can be mounted on the wall, freeing up a bunch of family room real estate and making other seating arrangements possible. I recommend the largest screen size possible and the Sony LCDs look terrific. Good luck.
get a 42″ …we have one and at first it looked funny in a small family room but we got used to it and love it, smaller t.v’s just look funny now.
5-6 foot away is a bit close though for a 42″ but if u ever move or put it in a bigger room you might always think “what if” i had the bigger size…..
Rule of thumb is to get the biggest screen you can comfortably afford. It will seem big at first, but you will get used to it. I went form a 35-inch tube tv, to a 42″ plasma, and it seemed huge, then that was ruined in a fire, so I went to a 60″ lcd, and that seemed gargantuan, but now I am very glad I got the 60″.
Ideal distanec for 720p quality picture is about 7 feets so I would not suggest you go beyoung the 37″. If you really want to buy now 32″ will be your best choice because they are at sweet point right now so not much price drop space.
I have found that going to circuit city and giving them the dimensions of your room and viewing circumstances, they will give you the best size for your room. 5-6 feet is not much area and I honestly feel that you are looking at too big a screen for such a small viewing area. I have 25 feet that i view my 42″ from and that is just great I feel that any bigger than that will be too big for my room. Be sure to buy it somewhere you can return it if you are not happy or maybe try one and then return it for the other, I did that also, I went to walmart and got a 37″ and then decided it was too small so I took it back and got a 42″ at Sam’s club, but give Circuit City a visit even if you don’t buy from them. I have talked to some real jerks at different stores one guy told me I need a 60″ I know that would be way too big for my small space. hope this helps.
I have a 15×13 living room and sit 5-6 feet away from the TV as well. We bought a 32 inch LCD flat screen last year and I wish we had bought the 37 inch.
My boyfriend did a lot of research and we decided LCD was best for us. Plasma does fade over time.DLP does not have a nice picture when you look at it from the side. (I shouldn’t say that because I work for the trade association that represents the technology used in the DLP and should promote it) I do know that the DLP technology is very reliable and lasts a long time. I prefer the LCD picture myself. We have a sharp aquos.
If you can afford it, get the 42 inch. It’s not that huge and the prices are coming down more and more. Check out Costco. They have some amazing prices and well reviewed products.
We have a 32 and it seemed big at the time, but now it’s just like what we used to have. Its enough, but its not like a luxury. I think 37 is sufficient, and then you can spend your savings on something else.
I’d stick with a 32 or 37. Anything bigger is going to be too big for your room. We have a bigger room and the 32″ we have is fine. I’d go with LCD. Stay away from plasma. Look into the Sharp Aquos.
I’d also go with the 42″. Have yourself a nice surround system going and start popping the corn…..then charge admission to your friends to pay for the dam thing.
You should know by now; Bigger is always better:)LOL
Get the 42″. You won ‘t regret it.
I myself got a 46″ and I am glad I didn ‘t step down the size.