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How close do you sit to your video display?

15K views 79 replies 62 participants last post by  rgordonpf 
#1 · (Edited)
Interested in what the average distance people view their video displays from.

To keep the information uniform please list in the following manner:

Display Type: example Projector / TV
Display Size: example 60"
Viewing Distance: example 10'


I personally have the following
Display Type: projector
Display Size: 100"
Viewing Distance: 10'







So far the survey has resulted in the following. Ironically no one has posted the same size display. Hoping to get enough input to create a generally recommended viewing distance based on display size based off of actual user data.

Projectors

Size Distance
92 12 / 9
100 10 / 12
106 10 / 12
120 12 / 14 / 11
134 14


TVs

Size Distance
40 9
42 12 / 12
50 15 / 8 / 9 / 7 / 10 / 10
52 9
54 10
55 11 / 11
58 7 / 6.5
60 7 / 12 / 12 / 12
61 8
64 8
65 9 / 13 / 10 / 8.5
67 13
70 10
73 8 / 11
75 12.5
82 12
 
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#59 · (Edited)
Interested in what the average distance people view their video displays from.

To keep the information uniform please list in the following manner:
Display Type: Flat Screen/TV
Display Size: 60"
Viewing Distance: 10'

View from MLP. Being a wide angle image, the perspective is seriously distorted into making you think it's a 20" screen. :p The equipment credenza is five feet across......no, seriously. :p



My understanding, the ideal viewing distance is 1.5 x screen diagonal. That means we need an eighty inch screen.

(but honey, the rule of thumb says we need a larger screen)

...:innocent:
 
#62 ·
To add a question to the question; how do you guys feel about your sitting distance in relationship to what's unfolding on the screen in front of you?

Like most, we have a 60" screen at 10' viewing distance. But I feel the screen is not wide enough. OTOH, the 60" screen is perfect for regular programming such as news, or a reality show when the house lights are on.

My point, considering the prices one finds at Costco, by stepping up to an 80" screen, for regular programming viewing, the 80" will be too large yet I want a larger screen for movie viewing.

(due to aesthetics and WAF, a projector and screen are not even a consideration)

What say you guys?
 
#63 ·
I have a 75 inch LED TV and to be honest, anything bigger would be too much. I sit 12.5 feet to the screen. Anything smaller would be too small for me. (I had a 55 inch TV prior and I always felt it was too small).

To me 75 inch LED was perfect. :)
 
#64 · (Edited)
Too big, too small, just right. :confused: In my opinion, for home theater junkies, this is an important concept.

So far, based on the last few posts, most of us are working with a 2:1 ratio; viewing distance/diagonal length. The ideal is reported to be 1.5:1 and in the case of an 80" screen, that would be a viewing distance of 120" or 10' or 300cm. Some are happy with 2:1 and others want larger. Hmmmmmmm!

What say you guys; regular programming screen size vs movie viewing screen size? What would be the acceptable middle ground between these two viewing concepts?
 
#65 ·
I currently have a 65" plasma and I sit 9.5' away from it. Content doesn't matter to me personally, movies, TV shows. Whatever I watch looks great at that distance with this size TV. I would consider a 75-80" screen if there were any at that size with the picture quality of my plasma and also in the realm of affordability. I'd still sit around 10' with either a 75" or 80". But that's me.
 
#68 ·
I had a 48" Sony rear projection for years and set up the home theater for that, sitting 8' back with the speakers even with the display. Last year I switched to a 65" LCD mounted on the wall changing the viewing distance to @ 10' and placing the display about 2' further back than the speakers. The result is still acceptible.
 
#75 ·
34" crt tv :help:
4' to 8' seating

When I bought my Sony back in 2006 I wasn't sold on flat screens but in 8yrs they have come a long way and prices are a lot better. Hope to upgrade to about 70" to maybe 75" in a year or two but :dontknow:
 
#77 ·
In my theater which has a 106" screen and a 1080P projector 1st row is 10ft and second row tiered is 16ft. I could go with a larger screen now with 1080P but I'd be covering my R/L speakers. Thinking of pref screen but not sure yet.

In my family room with a 65" Sony 4k I am 8-10ft away depends were on the sofa you are at.
 
#78 ·
So far the survey has resulted in the following. Hoping to get enough input to create a generally preffered viewing distance based on display size based off of actual user data.

Projectors

Size (inches) Distance (feet)
92 12 / 9 / 17
100 10 / 12 / 11 / 14
106 10 / 12 / 10
110 10 / 11
115 12
120 12 / 14 / 11 / 14
133 9
134 14 / 12
142 13


TVs

Size Distance
34 6
40 9 / 11
42 12 / 12 / 11
46 10
50 15 / 8 / 9 / 7 / 10 / 10 / 12 / 10
52 9 / 11 / 10
54 10
55 11 / 11
58 7 / 6.5
60 7 / 12 / 12 / 12 / 10 / 9 /10 / 12
61 8
64 8
65 9 / 13 / 10 / 8.5 / 9.5 / 10
67 13
70 10 / 10
73 8 / 11
75 12.5 / 12.5
82 12
 
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