Plasma screen size

[FrankVP]

I am looking at a Panasonic TH-42PX60U. I will be sitting around 11.5 to 12 feet from the tv and watching mostly standard cable and movies. I have gotten conflicting answers as to what size screen I should get. Crutchfield said at a minimum a 48 inch and as large as 55 inch. HH Gregg and many of the screen size calculators I have seen show a 42 or 43 inch screen would be fine

Anyone have any experience with a 42 inch screen at these types of distances??

[jawatkin]

I'm sure that it is fine, but, if you have the budget for it, go as large as you can afford. At that distance, even a 58" would be great. FWIW, I am about 9 feet away and have a 50", and feel like I still could've gone to a 55".

Justin

[EJRothman]

[QUOTE=FrankVP]I am looking at a Panasonic TH-42PX60U. I will be sitting around 11.5 to 12 feet from the tv and watching mostly standard cable and movies. I have gotten conflicting answers as to what size screen I should get. Crutchfield said at a minimum a 48 inch and as large as 55 inch. HH Gregg and many of the screen size calculators I have seen show a 42 or 43 inch screen would be fine

Anyone have any experience with a 42 inch screen at these types of distances??[/QUOTE]

I have a 42" at 7.5 feet viewing distance and think I could go bigger. IMO 42" is most certainly too small for 12 feet away.

[NYFOOTBALLGIANTS]

I agree, you would really miss the immersive experience. I wouldn't go too crazy but 50" would be about perfect.

[avjeff]

We sit at about 11 feet and bought a 42" Panasonic 42PD60U. We returned it, it was just too small. Now we have the 50" 50PX60U, it's just right. I definitely recommend the 50" screen.

[afiggatt]

I have a 42" Panasonic commercial plasma that I brought close to 2 years ago. My sitting distance is a typical 8 to 10 feet. If I were buying a new plasma today, I would go for the 50" without hesitation. I find myself wanting a bigger screen when watching HD movies, especially 2.35:1 letterboxed cinemascope movies. The bigger screen would offer a better viewing experience. Same goes for HD TV shows.

HD allows for a bigger screen than one could tolerate with 480 scan line NTSC. If you have the space to put it and can afford it, get the bigger 50" screen to take advantage of HD. I have concluded that 50" is a good compromise screen size between HD and SD viewing. Analog SD channels are still tolerable on a 50" screen. Get much bigger than 50" and many SD channels - analog or digital - are going to look awful at typical 8 to 12 feet sitting distances.

[HT_Aaron]

A good rule of thumb - You don't want to be any closer than twice the screen width away from the screen. And ideally you want to be about three times the screen width away from the screen.

For instance with a 42" plasma you don't want to be any closer than 84" (7ft) from the screen because you would be more likely to see pixels, etc.

I would recommend sitting 126" (10.5ft) away from your 42" plasma. So you actually could go with a 50".

[HT_Aaron]

This rule is much more flexible when to take 1080p sets into consideration obviously because there are more pixels on the screen.

[Franchot]

I find that plasma screen sizes and viewing distances are a lot like positions for sex. There is not one universal standard for everyone and some enjoy a variety of positions. Which is probably why some people buy articulating arm mounts.

[FrankVP]

It seems 50" would be the way to go. I am going to have to go check out the Panasonic
TH-50PX60U and measure off the distance and take another look. The only other set that
has impressed me with pq is the Sony KDS-50A2000 SXRD. I am still leaning more towards
the plasma. Hope to make a decision soon!

[delphi96]

[QUOTE=FrankVP]I am looking at a Panasonic TH-42PX60U. I will be sitting around 11.5 to 12 feet from the tv and watching mostly standard cable and movies. I have gotten conflicting answers as to what size screen I should get. Crutchfield said at a minimum a 48 inch and as large as 55 inch. HH Gregg and many of the screen size calculators I have seen show a 42 or 43 inch screen would be fine

Anyone have any experience with a 42 inch screen at these types of distances??[/QUOTE]

Strict recommended distances and screen sizes are generally stupid as everyone watches TV at whatever distance they feel comfortable with. They also don't take into account the difference of resolutions that displays of similar size may have.

The best advice you can get is to look at the TVs in a store and see what floats your boat at whatever distance you may typically watch it at.

[delphi96]

Addressed already.