HDTV Forum

We have been experimenting with how high off the floor to set our DLP display. I did not get the optional stand that would fit it because our decor has more of a wood look and the stand gave use too much metal.

I assumed that the best height for the display would be where your eyes would be at the center of the screen when in a normal sitting position. A brick ledge next to our firplace was perfect if I built out a small supporting shelf near it. So until I got that done, the TV sat on the floor for awhile; and we loved watching it that way.

Once the TV was up on the shelf, we didn't like it that high (centered) nearly as well. The brightness seemed to hit you too hard, a straight angle right in your face. Now I know what your thinking, and it hasn't been calibrated yet, but the brightness setting is not too high-or that high-about 35%

I have now built another shelf along a different wall. It is quite a bit lower so now your eyes are well above center screen. The picture seems perfect to us this way, almost like a painting. Less direct light and more of an angle, and it is more natural to let your eyes fall a little.

Anyway, this is how it looks the best to us, so I thought I would pass it along to give others something to try or think about. All personal preference, I know. It also might matter what type of display you have.

Also, for my type of display(720p, DLP, fixed pixel), I have found my sweet spot veiwing DISTANCE to be 4.5 X screen height. Certainly not at 3.5. But that is probably a discussion for another place on this forum.

Good viewing-

Dave3putt,

True a lot of what we do is based on strict values and tolerances, but in the end, it comes down to pure viewer satisfaction. If having your TV lower is how you like it, by all means do so. I personally found the standard hight to be best for me, but I've always had RPTV's and I'm very used to it. Looking downward would probably feel awkward.

I subscribe to the notion that a happy viewer is a viewer that will purchase more HDTV's.

By the way, I think I always 3 putt...

My trivial two cents,

I’ve always preferred my screen high, kind of like an old movie theater angle, not the newer stadium seating. The relaxed head back, tilted up a bit fashion. My line of sight, sitting on my couch, is lined up with the bottom quarter of the screen. This works for me. If I’m walking around the room it’s easier to see the picture. If I walk right up to the screen, I don’t have to stoop way low to view something.

But the main reason I prefer this height is because it’s generally less obstructed. I hate it when I go to someone’s house and they have a big screen with the game on, or something, and I can’t see a thing-- the dog is waltzing around-- planted kids are playing in front of it-- and most of all--- directly in my line of site are the rear ends of folks that I prefer not to be glaring at. I usually leave these homes with neck cramps from all of the head bobbing and gyrations just trying to watch the game.

With the screen up high, it’s less of a problem.

I assumed that the best height for the display would be where your eyes would be at the center of the screen when in a normal sitting position.

That is correct, especially with an RPTV display regardless of technology due to the screen design.

The brightness seemed to hit you too hard, a straight angle right in your face.

That means that the light output is too high for the ambient light in your viewing environment. I would suggest confirming the contrast is set correctly with a calibration DVD to confirm you are not crushing your whites which will also make the image seem too bright.

Moving your viewing position to above or below the screen will reduce light output and possibly cause other artifacts. If you are trying to use this display in a dark room a better solution is to have it modified with a neutral density filter to reduce the light output. With a digital display you do not really have brightness and contrast controls like you do with CRT. To get the right response from the video processor you are setting these for peak dynamic range.

A bias light is typically recommended for a display such as yours for all the above reasons plus it will help with your color perception at your viewing distance.

Glad to hear you are happy with your setup!