what is the viewing distance ?

jamjar · 29 Aug 2012 at 12:05

Hi All I,ve searched on here but can,t find anything about this ...What is the best viewing distance of a 40 inch T.V ? Minimum & Max :confused:

I,ve read on the internet different distances , some say 5 feet others say 8 feet any views ?

Kei · 29 Aug 2012 at 12:28

I'm looking at a 32-37" tv for a viewing distance of 7-8ft. Have run a 55" projected screen a few times with a 6.5ft viewing distance but that was for fun.

I'd say 8ft min for a 40" tv, unless you want to ruin your eye sight.

Nightglow · 29 Aug 2012 at 12:39

I have used always used the figures x1.5 minimum viewing distance & x3 maximum viewing distance times the screen size . ie: 40"x3=120"

It was a rather basic method use by a tv engineer friend I knew, but it works.

Glaucus · 29 Aug 2012 at 13:05

Kei said:
I'm looking at a 32-37" tv for a viewing distance of 7-8ft. Have run a 55" projected screen a few times with a 6.5ft viewing distance but that was for fun.

I'd say 8ft min for a 40" tv, unless you want to ruin your eye sight.

You won't be able to see HD properly at that distance, and why would it wreck your eyes.

Handy calculator

http://myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html

But for 40" 5.2ft max for full benefit.

Or toshiba reserch chart for ease.
http://us.toshiba.com/tv/research-center/shopping-guides/recommended-tv-viewing-distance/

Code:

Screen Size	Min. Viewing Distance	Max. Viewing Distance
40”	4’	6.3’
42”	4.2’	6.7’
46”	4.6’	7.3’
47”	4.7’	7.4’
50”	5’	7.9’
55”	5.5’	8.7’
65”	6.5’	10.3’

jamjar · 29 Aug 2012 at 13:26

Glaucus said:
You won't be able to see HD properly at that distance, and why would it wreck your eyes.

Handy calculator

http://myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html

But for 40" 5.2ft max for full benefit.

Or toshiba reserch chart for ease.
http://us.toshiba.com/tv/research-center/shopping-guides/recommended-tv-viewing-distance/

Code:

Screen Size Min. Viewing Distance Max. Viewing Distance 40” 4’ 6.3’ 42” 4.2’ 6.7’ 46” 4.6’ 7.3’ 47” 4.7’ 7.4’ 50” 5’ 7.9’ 55” 5.5’ 8.7’ 65” 6.5’ 10.3’

Thanks good info

so i,m 8 feet from the farthest chair and 7 feet from the nearest , should be okay with a 40 inch screen you think ? :confused:

Glaucus · 29 Aug 2012 at 13:36

Depends what you mean by ok.
It'll be fine, it's just that your eyes won't be able to resolve the full hd detail.

Mark H · 29 Aug 2012 at 14:13

Glaucus said:
You won't be able to see HD properly at that distance, and why would it wreck your eyes.

Handy calculator

http://myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html

But for 40" 5.2ft max for full benefit.

Or toshiba reserch chart for ease.
http://us.toshiba.com/tv/research-center/shopping-guides/recommended-tv-viewing-distance/

Code:

Screen Size Min. Viewing Distance Max. Viewing Distance 40” 4’ 6.3’ 42” 4.2’ 6.7’ 46” 4.6’ 7.3’ 47” 4.7’ 7.4’ 50” 5’ 7.9’ 55” 5.5’ 8.7’ 65” 6.5’ 10.3’

I've been wondering this too so great info thanks for that!

Glaucus · 29 Aug 2012 at 14:18

It's something few people pay attention to and almost certain why (me included) can see little benefit in HD. Our TVs aren't big enough for the viewing distant.
My smaller tv in my bedroom actuall shows of hd much better, due to a small viewing distance. Despite being 10" smaller than the one in the lounge.
Next tv which won't be anytime soon, will have to be 60 or 65" smart tv with 3d.

jamjar · 29 Aug 2012 at 16:08

Glaucus said:
Depends what you mean by ok.
It'll be fine, it's just that your eyes won't be able to resolve the full hd detail.

okay very interesting stuff ! so would a 37 inch be better at 8 feet distance ? this is my dilema whether to go for a 37 inch or 40 inch ? :confused:

jamjar · 29 Aug 2012 at 16:10

Glaucus said:
Depends what you mean by ok.
It'll be fine, it's just that your eyes won't be able to resolve the full hd detail.

okay thanks good info

so would a 37 inch T.V be better for viewing than a 40 inch at 8 feet ? :confused:

Glaucus · 29 Aug 2012 at 16:33

jamjar said:
okay thanks good info so would a 37 inch T.V be better for viewing than a 40 inch at 8 feet ?

No that would be worse. You need bigger and bigger the further you sit, at 8ft you really need 60-65" to make the most of it, but that isn't practical for most, so just buy the biggest best tv you can afford.

37" ideal vewing distance 4.8ft
40" 5.2ft
50" 6.5ft
60" 7.8ft
65" 8.5ft

jamjar · 29 Aug 2012 at 16:36

Glaucus said:
No that would be worse. You need bigger and bigger the further you sit, at 8ft you really need 60-65" to make the most of it, but that isn't practical for most, so just buy the biggest best tv you can afford.

thanks 40 inch it is then ha!

and you say the minimum distance for a 40 inch would be 5 to 6 feet ? :confused:

Glaucus · 29 Aug 2012 at 16:38

jamjar said:
thanks 40 inch it is then ha! and you say the minimum distance for a 40 inch would be 5 to 6 feet ?

40"
Minimum viewing 4ft
Ideal viewing 5.2ft
Maximum viewing distance 6.3ft

Obviously you can view from farther, it's just your eyes won't pick up all the detail.

jamjar · 29 Aug 2012 at 16:41

Glaucus said:
40"
Minimum viewing 4ft
Ideal viewing 5.2ft
Maximum viewing distance 6.3ft

Obviously you can view from farther, it's just your eyes won't pick up all the detail.

thanks for that i,ve learnt a lot this afternoon ha! i always thought people with massive screens in there room were nuts !

but now i understand why they go big ,as you mentioned bigger is better for viewing

=XDC=FluphyBunny · 30 Aug 2012 at 11:07

The viewing distance for HD was probably the biggest surprise to me when I was looking at TV's. I ended up with a 50" TV which dominates my small living room but once you sit down to watch a film it works a treat.

Nick1881 · 30 Aug 2012 at 20:01

I'm about 6 ft 6" from a 42" and it's good, I want a 50" though. I mostly watch films at 1080p though, standard definition would look rubbish on a 50" at my viewing distance.

Destination · 30 Aug 2012 at 21:37

Glaucus said:
No that would be worse. You need bigger and bigger the further you sit, at 8ft you really need 60-65" to make the most of it, but that isn't practical for most, so just buy the biggest best tv you can afford.

37" ideal vewing distance 4.8ft
40" 5.2ft
50" 6.5ft
60" 7.8ft
65" 8.5ft

These do seem really close up, eight foot from a sixty inch tv, wow.
Lie on your back with your feet close to the tv, given its up on a cabinet or the wall and suddenly it is eight foot tomthe screen, and thats the recommended distance.
Amazing, especially give the focal range of eyes, i'd doubt you would focus on more than a few inches across at most, and the rest of the screen in peripheral vision won't be close to HD.

Very surprised at how close these figues are.

shr3k_uk · 1 Sep 2012 at 14:26

have 9 feet from screen to sofa. 92" . Projection will never spoil eye sight. Used 32" fullHD tv as monitor. Distance was 3 feet and i am absolutely fine. What i can say -for every person it is individual.

Begbie · 1 Sep 2012 at 16:28

I have about 6ft, if I'm lucky, between my 42" and it looks fantastic. Couldn't go bigger, would hate it to be smaller!

Chris1712 · 1 Sep 2012 at 17:11

About 9ft from 108" 2.35:1, just about right! Though a bit small for 1.85:1 content, absolutely gutted Avengers BluRay (and Avatar for that matter!) is completely gimped in this format.