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Minimum LCD TV size |
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#1 |
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Join Date: Aug 2007
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Minimum LCD TV size
What would you say is the minimum size an LCD TV should be for comfortable family / multi-person viewing? I don't need an overly huge picture, just a decent sized one. I don't want it to show off, I just want to have a TV that is HD ready and that provides me with a decent picture when watching SD content, preferrably better than that of a CRT television an.
Would 22 inches be adequate? Or should I fork out for a 26 inch one? Or do I need to go larger again? |
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#2 |
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It depends mostly on how far you sit away from it and also on what you use it for, HD will require a larger TV than SD though you do say only SD.
You need to give your viewing distance to get a sensible answer but a 22" widescreen is quite small for a reasonable sized living room. It is unlikely to give a better picture than a CRT for SD viewing, geometry will be better but other aspects will likely be worse. However if your current TV is not widescreen that will be a big advantage. |
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#3 |
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Quote:
It depends mostly on how far you sit away from it and also on what you use it for, HD will require a larger TV than SD though you do say only SD.
You need to give your viewing distance to get a sensible answer but a 22" widescreen is quite small for a reasonable sized living room. It is unlikely to give a better picture than a CRT for SD viewing, geometry will be better but other aspects will likely be worse. However if your current TV is not widescreen that will be a big advantage. |
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#4 |
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what size is your current CRT TV?
IMO, a CRT gives a better picture on SD than a LCD. and most people say you need a larger screen for HD to be worthwile. |
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#5 |
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Quote:
what size is your current CRT TV?
IMO, a CRT gives a better picture on SD than a LCD. and most people say you need a larger screen for HD to be worthwile. |
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#6 |
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26 inches isn't a TV it's a monitor.
![]() I doubt multi-person viewing something that size would be a pleasant experience. Get a 42inch, that's probably the most popular size for the average living room. |
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#7 |
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What size TV
Our room is 15' x 12' and the LCD Tv is 32". What we did was to open up the disused chimney and fit shelves and placed the Tv inside with all the other equipment and we find that it's just right.
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#8 |
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Quote:
No idea, I *think* it's 28 inches but I don't have the instructions manual or a tape measure to hand. It's not widescreen though so it looks bigger.
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#9 |
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Quote:
26 inches isn't a TV it's a monitor.
![]() I doubt multi-person viewing something that size would be a pleasant experience. Get a 42inch, that's probably the most popular size for the average living room. |
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#10 |
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A 22 inch is a portable, a 26 inch is pretty well a portable as well - a 32 inch is probably the right size, and is quite rightly by far the most populat size set these days.
If your set is 4:3, it won't be 28 inch, it's probably 25 inch?, and a 32 inch 16:9 is the same size as a 25 inch 4:3 - measure the height of the picture to see. |
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#11 |
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Quote:
42" would be huge for a viewing distance of 2m (6') - equivalent to a 63" at 3m (9'), considering that only SD would be used that seems far too big.
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#12 |
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Quote:
To get the same size picture height on widescreen as 28" 4:3 requires a 34" TV, however the CRTs include a non visible section so a 32" will probably be the same.
If not then maybe they will need a 37" which is equal to approx 30" 4:3 TV. Nigel, they did do a 28" in 4:3, we had one about 10 years ago. Just found out that my new 42" is approx equal to a 34" 4:3 ![]() http://www.cavecreations.com/tv2.cgi |
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#13 |
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When using projectors for conferences we had a rule of thumb that is viewing distance is 6 x screen width @ 4/3 format. With widescreen a 37" is approx 18" high which will be 24" equivalent 4/3 width. So with a 37" widescreen your maximum viewing distance is 12 ft. I have an 18' x 12' lounge and normal viewing distance is 12ft and a 37" is about right. I was going to have a 28" but looked at several in a TV shop and decided on 37" and glad I did.
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#14 |
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well 32" is out of my price range at the moment as I've got a DVR/PVR plus a crap load of xmas presents to buy yet. So I'll probably stick to an SD tv, shame really as I was quite looking forward to seeing some things in HD.
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#15 |
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well 32" is out of my price range at the moment as I've got a DVR/PVR plus a crap load of xmas presents to buy yet. So I'll probably stick to an SD tv, shame really as I was quite looking forward to seeing some things in HD.
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#16 |
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Quote:
well 32" is out of my price range at the moment as I've got a DVR/PVR plus a crap load of xmas presents to buy yet. So I'll probably stick to an SD tv, shame really as I was quite looking forward to seeing some things in HD.
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#17 |
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I'd just point out that unless you get something like Sky HD or BluRay you won't be watching any HD even with an HD ready TV. If you could get a decent 28" or 32" widescreen CRT second hand that might be your best bet and may well give a better picture.
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#18 |
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I'm planning to get SKY HD at some point, hence why I wanted to go LCD. But my max budget for the moment is £270 with lots of other purchases to cover, so 32" is out of the question without going for a bad brand.
Morrisons are doing a Techwood 32" LCD HD ready TV with built in freeview for £269. Just set one up for my neighbour and picture quality is excellent. |
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#19 |
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Quote:
Morrisons are doing a Techwood 32" LCD HD ready TV with built in freeview for £269.
Just set one up for my neighbour and picture quality is excellent. |
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#20 |
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is this for the PC as well ? as in your other post?
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#21 |
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Quote:
is this for the PC as well ? as in your other post?
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#22 |
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Quote:
well 32" is out of my price range at the moment as I've got a DVR/PVR plus a crap load of xmas presents to buy yet. So I'll probably stick to an SD tv, shame really as I was quite looking forward to seeing some things in HD.
Having said that it was bought 3 years ago for £700. If I was buying now I would go for a 32" as a minimum, or more likely a 37"
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#23 |
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Is that a temporary deal? As I won't be buying for two or three months yet.
Don't know but if you shop around in January i'm sure there will be some cheap deals around. |
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#24 |
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get a 32 "for not much more
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#25 |
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if you choose a big screen such as 42inch, just be aware that especially when viewing SD content, you will need to sit about 1/2 a mile away from the screen to avoid seeing all the limiations of SD pictures on a massive 42inch HD screen.
As others pointed out, moving from a sqaure 4:3 tv to a Widescreen can be misleading on size. You can go bigger in size as in general, the Widescreens are a bit smaller. Plus, you are going from CRT to LCD, so you will gain back a lot of lost space. Having said, when in the shops, the "normal" size tv's like 26/28/32inch all look quite small. This is due to them being in a massive superstore, and being placed next to giant 42 and 50inch screens. My advice would be to check what size you have to spare at home with the tape measure and then take the tape measure along to the shops and double check....you will be suprised how big some of those "small" LCD's are when you check them. Dave |
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