Regardless which you chose, 46" is kinda small. To watch 1080p you shouldn't be more than 2 1/2 times the screen size away. That means no more than 9' 8"--that's a pretty small room.
100" 16:9 screen is 49" tall and 87.2" wide. Per my calculator 3.2X49=156.8 and 2.5X87.2=218... I think you are confusing 2.5... the viewing distance is considered between 3.2 and 2.5 screen heights depending on whose camp you are referring to.
From experience it is difficult to get 720P to survive 2.5 but it handles 3.2 easy where 1080P can definitely go to 2.5.
It is usually very difficult to determine actual screen height from manufacturer's published specs. On the other hand, diagonal size is everywhere. What multiple of the 16:9 diagonal screen size do you recommend to determine optimal viewing distance for 720P and 1080P screens?
I sell TV's by phone to commercial customers, and am looking for a simple multiplier that I can use to recommend the proper size for my customers' application. Has anybody come up with a number based on the diagonal screen size?
Your customers aren't going to like the truth--that's why almost no retailers tell it to them. To fully resolve HD, distance should be no more than 1.6 times the diagonal screen size. However, IMHO up to 2.5 gives an acceptable HD experience. This means that 90% of those who have bought flat screen "HDs" aren't really seeing HD.
Hi all,
I have a 46" Bravia, and it is the finest TV I've ever owned, and definitely not too small. The picture is simply awesome. I don't really get what you are saying when you point out that 90% of us with HDTVs aren't truly getting HDTV -- can you explain that? It sure looks like 1080 HD to me (except for when they don't really broadcast in 1080). A lot of stations say they are in HD, but they really aren't and there is nothing we can do about that, right? That said, when something IS broadcast in 1080, the difference is night and day.
I don't really get what you are saying when you point out that 90% of us with HDTVs aren't truly getting HDTV -- can you explain that?
Viewing distance is everything if you want to be able to actually see all that resolution. Most people are sitting too far away. Beyond five screen heights you will have difficulty making out a 1920 line pattern and that means you are not really seeing 1920.
That also means there will be little difference between a 720P and a 1080P display at that viewing distance.
Regardless of viewing distance you will always get the HDTV advantage of a 16:9 aspect ratio or screen shape, better color and far less video artifacts/errors.
Gotcha! Then I'm doing just fine as I'm sitting no more then 10 feet away. The picture ROCKS, especially on sports. Seeing individual people all the way across a stadium is pretty amazing. I have had the TV for about 3 months, and am still in the shock and awe stage sometimes! Thank you for your reply.
Gotcha! Then I'm doing just fine as I'm sitting no more then 10 feet away.
Actually you are on the edge of perception. 6 feet is far better for fully resolving 1080I/P. This is an example where you may not see a compelling difference between a 720P and 1080P display.
You're ok up to10'. But the majority of people who buy a 46" sit 12' or more away. At that distance you can't see the difference between HD and ED(490p).
Vicki: the problem is that your Bravia is probably too good. If you sit more than 6' away, you can't see all the detail it can produce. At more than 11' you can't even see HD resolution. Compare an HD picture with a over-the-air non HD digital picture(NOT a cable non HD--they're compressed to below NTSC standards) and you won't be able to see the difference at more than 11".
