When it comes to televisions, bigger isn’t always better. Yes, if you have a huge room, then a huge TV is great . . . especially with the Big Game coming up. With the cost of TV’s dropping over 50% in the last several years, you can blanket your wall in TVs with a relative very low investment. But should you? If your living room is on the smaller side, then you can end up in a situation where you’re technically sitting way too close to that massive screen, even when you’re sitting on the other side of the room.
So, what size is right for you? First, you need to decide where you want to sit. Then you measure the distance between your throne and where you plan on placing the TV. After that, it’s just math!
According to Samsung, the right TV size is the viewing distance (in inches) divided by three.
For example, if you plan on sitting 8 feet from your television, then you’re 96 inches away. When you divide 96 by 3, you get 32. That means that the right TV size for your room is 32 inches.
Ok, so you have your distance. Now for viewing angles.
Here’s what Samsung has to say about that:
“Ideally, the TV should be placed parallel to your eyes, with no more than a 15-degree angle up or down and no more than a 40-degree angle to the left or right. If you are seated at a sharp angle to the TV, you may see negative images on the screen. Most major manufacturers will tell you the maximum viewing angles at which you can watch the TV without seeing negative images. For example, a 170/170 angle measurement means you can still see a good image 170 degrees up or down from the center of the screen.”
If you plan on purchasing a TV for the Big Game or for Oscar Season, make sure you use science to perfect your viewing experience. Also, skip the smart tv, and get a set-top box like a Roku, Amazon Fire TV, or an Apple TV. These set-top boxes allow your service provider to update the software. Some smart TVs are obsolete quickly after you open your box.
Stay rational.
-B&T