Technology keeps changing, so I need to keep revisiting old questions! The last time I addressed screen size recommendations was in 2007. Do you think the answer has changed?

Well, actually, I think the basic sizing recommendations still hold. But there are a few things that have changed, given the changes in technology and the way people use their TVs these days.
Before we get to the specific recommendations, there are some things we try to take into consideration when consulting with our clients.

The first thing to consider is your budget. Larger screens cost more, which seems only normal. But of course, larger screens are much less expensive today than a couple of years ago. For example, in 2006 a 58” 720p plasma display ran about $4,800. Today, you can get a top-of-the-line 65” 1080p plasma from Panasonic for about the same price. Or, you could get an ultra-slim 55” LCD Samsung display, again at 1080p, with a 240 Hz refresh rate, Internet connectivity, LED backlighting, and a host of other features for even a bit less. Smaller screens have come down even more.

So if your budget allows for the larger screen, you may want to opt for that. But you may also decide that some of the other features are more important, and you can live with a slightly smaller screen.

You also need to balance the screen with the rest of the furnishings, and it needs to physically fit in the space - if you're mounting a flat-panel over the fireplace, you may have limitations because of the ceiling, mantle, fireplace opening, and other built-in elements of the room.
On the other hand, you may want to be totally immersed in the video. In that case, a larger screen size will fill in your peripheral vision with more movie, sports, or video game action, making you part of the action. Of course, if you feel overwhelmed by watching larger-than-life TV, a smaller screen will let you feel "outside looking in."

A couple of years ago, I would have recommended a rear-projection TV if you want a big screen on a limited budget. Today, the prices of flat panels, the limitations of rear-projection TVs, combined with their very limited availability make those units a much poorer choice.

Then there are the many budget-minded flat panel TVs that cost less money than the name brands. I'd caution, though, against getting caught up in the "cheap panel TV" sales hype that you'll see this holiday season. You really do get what you pay for, and you don't want to be stuck with a picture that's even worse than your old TV!

One more factor to consider is power consumption. Larger screens simply use more power, and plasmas usually consume more power than LCDs (especially those with LED backlighting). While calibration can help, you still probably want to take that into consideration.

So what are my recommendations for screen sizes? Usually you want your seating distance to be 1 ½ to 2 times the diagonal size of the screen for a front projection system, and 2 to 2 ½ times the diagonal screen size for a panel TV. Opt for a larger screen size for a more immersive experience, or a smaller screen size if you want more features at the same price point or you don’t want to be overwhelmed by the TV.

As always, if you're still confused about all of the options out there, give us a call, and we'll be glad to give you a free consultation!

Thanks -
Rob