When purchasing a new television, there are always a few things to keep in mind: what size TV you need, the type of screen you want, brands you enjoy, and of course, what you can afford. Choosing the right size TV can make or break your setup. Choose a TV too small, you may have a hard time seeing details or words on the screen. Choose a TV too large, you can strain your eyes, or give yourself a headache or neck pain. Yes, unfortunately, your parents were correct about sitting too close to the TV being harmful.
Some key words
Let’s start with field of view. This is everything you can see, peripheral included, without moving your eyes. Your full field of view is between 200° and 220°. However, what you can focus on is much smaller. This number ranges between 30° to 60° (depending on your vision, but also who you ask, so I included the full range of opinions).
Next, we have two uses to consider before picking the size. Is this TV for mixed use (TV shows, sports, sometimes movies) or cinematic use (mainly movies)? This matters because we’re going to use THX’s and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) preferred viewing. THX suggests a screen take up 40° of your field of view for a more immersive experience. SMPTE suggests 30°.
What's the math?
What about screen resolutions?
Most TVs anymore are 4K. There are still some that are 1080p but they are getting harder to find, just like smaller TV sizes, and 8K TVs are making their way.
One could get pretty specific about choosing the best resolution. The Theater People suggest a 4K, just in general. Sometimes newer TVs and technologies are tied to the 8K resolution, so if what you’re looking for in a television comes with the higher resolution, you wouldn’t be remiss to purchase it!
Important Reminders
Choosing the correct screen size is sometimes nuanced. For example is when you’re choosing a TV size to go over your fireplace. Sometimes we have to pick a TV that isn’t quite in the size you want for your usage. When you mount a TV over the fireplace, we like to line it up with the mantel or width of the full fireplace. While larger screens may fit, it won’t always look great.
Another example is TV seemingly looking “out of place,” especially if you have bare walls. We sometimes suggest going with the bigger TV (40° field of view). You can add speakers or a soundbar, as well as other decorations on the wall, to fill the space.
Use your best judgment with the information presented. If you need help, please reach out to us!
Any questions?
We always want to make sure you’re getting the best viewing experience. If you have any questions, please reach out to us. You can email us at info@thetheaterpeople.com, call us at 614-604-6327, or submit a form on our website.
Don’t forget we sell TVs! As well as all other AV equipment your home or business may need.