HDTV Size Help

Yeah, you are right. 32" is actually the ideal size for LCD when you
factor in the amount of pixels in the display.
I have the 32" Sony XBR LCD. The 40" model has the same amount of
pixels! So, if you sit too close, you can see a hint of the "screen
door" effect.
When I spoke of cheap Chinese knockoffs, I was thinking of an LCD tv
that is selling at my local Walmart. (I'm in Canada.). It's called
Digistar, and I believe it's a rebadged Prima.
I tried that unit first. It was horrible. When I was watching dvds
that had dark scenes, like people around small campfire, ect, you
literally couldn't tell what the heck was going on.
I upgraded to a Samsung LCD. Much better, but still had artifacts
which I found annoying. Standard tv viewing was horrific.
I bit the bullet and bought the XBR, which last Fall, was the best I
could come across.

Kevin Hawerchuk wrote:
Yeah, you are right. 32" is actually the ideal size for LCD when you
factor in the amount of pixels in the display.
I have the 32" Sony XBR LCD. The 40" model has the same amount of
pixels! So, if you sit too close, you can see a hint of the "screen
door" effect.
When I spoke of cheap Chinese knockoffs, I was thinking of an LCD tv
that is selling at my local Walmart. (I'm in Canada.). It's called
Digistar, and I believe it's a rebadged Prima.
I tried that unit first. It was horrible. When I was watching dvds
that had dark scenes, like people around small campfire, ect, you
literally couldn't tell what the heck was going on.
I upgraded to a Samsung LCD. Much better, but still had artifacts
which I found annoying. Standard tv viewing was horrific.
I bit the bullet and bought the XBR, which last Fall, was the best I
could come across.

Nice unit, no doubt. Sharps, too, as you mentioned. I hung around the
audio-visual forums and sites awhile before deciding to take a chance
on the Olmpia. Liked what I heard. I guess the whole kicker was not
many so long ago pacific rim flatpannel manufacturing stepped up their
sizes and decreased pricing. Kind of disgusting when it wasn't nearly
long enough ago, that I switched to an ACER 19" TTL and dumped the
CRTs. No sooner said and done and I turn around to see the same ACER
for half the price. What's there to do, except go out and get a
"proper" 32"LCD...

wrote:
The dimensions of my entertainment system gives me EXACTLY 36" of space
for a TV. So far, it seems that a 32" LCD would be completely out of
the question, so my options are finding a 37" that can fit in that
space, or ditching the wall unit altogether.

"Buying as big as I can afford" means adding on the cost of a new TV
stand/console, plus eating the cost of the wall unit, which is
relatively new.

So the best possible option I've found is the Toshiba 37HL95, which is
exactly 36" wide. A bit of a tight fit, perhaps, but it could work.
Something 35" would be even better. Any suggestions out there?

Thanks,
- Mike


Robert Gammon wrote:

wrote:

Greetings all,

I need some advice on purchasing a new TV for my apartment. I currently
have a 32" CRT and I'm looking to upgrade to an HD flat panel. In my
living room, I'm seated about 8.5 to 9 feet from the screen. I know
there are plenty of sites with recommendations as to the optimal screen
size in HD for a given viewing distance. The catch for me is that I
have a wall unit with a maximum TV space of 36". A 32" TV fits just
fine there, but I'm concerned that might not be good enough for a 16:9
set. I think I might even lose screen real estate with a 32" flat panel
compared to my current 4:3 set.

So the questions I have a 1) Would a 32" LCD be a good enough
experience at a 9' viewing distance? 2) Are there any 37" TVs that can
fit into a 36" space? or 3) Is my only choice if I want an optimal
viewing experience to ditch my wall unit and buy a whole new TV stand
and media rack?

I'd really rather not have to go with #3 unless I have no choice, as
that probably will be the most expensive option. But I also don't want
to pay for a TV that gives me a less satisfying experience than what
I'm getting now with my current TV.

Thanks,
- Mike



a 16x9 format TV in a 36 inch size will be plenty satisfying.

However, it does not meet the criteria for home theater at 8.5 to 9 foot
viewing range. You need to get MUCH bigger. Think in terms of how
large the image is when you sit halfway back in a movie theater. At 8
to 9 feet away, to create that same apparent screen size, its over 80
inches diagonal.

I watched a 55incher at the same distance for years. Great TV, but NOT a
replacement for a theater experience.

Check the dimensions carefully of your entertainment cabinet. You may
find that several of the 37" LCD/plasma sets will fit in that space,
particularly those that do not put speakers at the edge of the display.



Have you considered sliding in the 37 inch TV at a slight angle to the
right or left so that it will fit? Move your chair over a bit and you
are once again looking squarely at the picture

Did you get anything yet? I think the Toshiba 37HL95 is 36.1" wide. Maybe
you can use a router to remove 1/16th to 1/8" off the entertainment center's
side walls... you'd only have to do this on both sides, just inward a few
inches... I'd consider ditching the wall unit and going with an even bigger
LCD HDTV.


wrote in message
oups.com...
The dimensions of my entertainment system gives me EXACTLY 36" of space
for a TV. So far, it seems that a 32" LCD would be completely out of
the question, so my options are finding a 37" that can fit in that
space, or ditching the wall unit altogether.

"Buying as big as I can afford" means adding on the cost of a new TV
stand/console, plus eating the cost of the wall unit, which is
relatively new.

So the best possible option I've found is the Toshiba 37HL95, which is
exactly 36" wide. A bit of a tight fit, perhaps, but it could work.
Something 35" would be even better. Any suggestions out there?

Thanks,
- Mike


Robert Gammon wrote:
wrote:
Greetings all,

I need some advice on purchasing a new TV for my apartment. I currently
have a 32" CRT and I'm looking to upgrade to an HD flat panel. In my
living room, I'm seated about 8.5 to 9 feet from the screen. I know
there are plenty of sites with recommendations as to the optimal screen
size in HD for a given viewing distance. The catch for me is that I
have a wall unit with a maximum TV space of 36". A 32" TV fits just
fine there, but I'm concerned that might not be good enough for a 16:9
set. I think I might even lose screen real estate with a 32" flat panel
compared to my current 4:3 set.

So the questions I have a 1) Would a 32" LCD be a good enough
experience at a 9' viewing distance? 2) Are there any 37" TVs that can
fit into a 36" space? or 3) Is my only choice if I want an optimal
viewing experience to ditch my wall unit and buy a whole new TV stand
and media rack?

I'd really rather not have to go with #3 unless I have no choice, as
that probably will be the most expensive option. But I also don't want
to pay for a TV that gives me a less satisfying experience than what
I'm getting now with my current TV.

Thanks,
- Mike


a 16x9 format TV in a 36 inch size will be plenty satisfying.

However, it does not meet the criteria for home theater at 8.5 to 9 foot
viewing range. You need to get MUCH bigger. Think in terms of how
large the image is when you sit halfway back in a movie theater. At 8
to 9 feet away, to create that same apparent screen size, its over 80
inches diagonal.

I watched a 55incher at the same distance for years. Great TV, but NOT a
replacement for a theater experience.

Check the dimensions carefully of your entertainment cabinet. You may
find that several of the 37" LCD/plasma sets will fit in that space,
particularly those that do not put speakers at the edge of the display.