26" or 32" carnt decide....

BEN_UK · 25 Apr 2006 at 19:30

Hello,

Looking for some advice on what size LCD TV to buy.

For the past few weeks i have been set on getting the Toshiba 32WL66 for £769. From what i have read looks like a great TV and for a great price.

I have been thinking that a 32" set maybe to big.

The TV will be in my bedroom and will only be used for playing Xbox 360 and watching DVD's on my cheap DVD player. No NTL box in my bedroom so no TV.

I have been looking at the Samsung LE26R41B 26" for £480, seems like a great TV also. Its also £300 cheap that the 32" Toshiba which is a lot of money to me.

Anyone else been in the same boat as me ? 26" or 32"

I am willing to spend the extra £300 for the 32" if its worth it....

Thanks Ben

JAMAL · 25 Apr 2006 at 21:10

From what i've read on the net a good rule of thumb is to buy a screen size that you will be sitting 3x the size from....

EG 26" you must be roughly 78" away from it to look good.

Some people may disagree but i have found it true when looking at a few of my friends HDTV's they look blocky close-up which is where their seating is.

lmfy2k · 26 Apr 2006 at 18:25

this may help: http://www.dtvcity.com/lcdtv/lcdscreensize.html

evapor8 · 26 Apr 2006 at 22:31

Just got my Samsung Le26R41BDX mate.

A significant improvement on my old 14" portable tv!

It's connected as a 2nd monitor, and also to my PS2 and dvd player.

My room's tiny (10" x 7" at a guess) and so I'm very happy with it!

Chris

JimmyEatWorms · 27 Apr 2006 at 08:01

lmfy2k said:
this may help: http://www.dtvcity.com/lcdtv/lcdscreensize.html

That calculator is somewhat flawed given that if you put in a viewing distance of anything lower that 10 feet it gives an optimum screen size of 37"...even if you're only 2 or 3 feet away.

Pezza · 27 Apr 2006 at 12:52

Where screens are concerned, all else being equal, bigger is definitely better - there's countless posts on these, and other, forums from people who have either regretted buying a smaller screen, or who in hindsight are thanking their lucky stars they bought a bigger screen after initially contemplating a smaller one.

Plus it's a well-known phenomenon that screens shrink - a 32" will seem big to begin with, but it'll definitely start to look smaller pretty quickly.

Of course I'm assuming here that your room isn't phonebox-sized...!

Gun9 · 28 Apr 2006 at 12:44

ive got a 36 ins and wish i got a 42 now,always get the biggest you will not be upgrading all the time then.

gt_junkie · 28 Apr 2006 at 12:55

Don't know if you've seen them in person but it may be worth while going to a store to see them in the flesh.

Do you have a tv in the room already? If so you'll be able to better guage the size you need and want! If, for example, you have a 28 widescreen crt tv already then the 26" lcd will be pretty much the same screen size. From there you can then consider the size the 32" will be if you got it.

I think you'd be better off with a 32" if you're watching accross the room - even if it is just a bedroom. My old 28" wide sony crt used to be just erring on the slightly small when i had it in my bedroom!

Ultimately it's your choice though! If i were you i'd get the tape measure out and start visualising that screen! :cool:

chaparral · 28 Apr 2006 at 12:59

I had a 32" widescreen CRT in my bedroom now for about 5 to 6 years and Am looking to replace it now with a 37" to 43" plasma..(the pioneer 43" 436xde is what i got my eye on.).

I find a 26" is way to small for me at a sitting distance of 8ft to 9,1/2 feet..