19'' or 20'' viewing distance

[rose14]

I noticed that alot of members have this size of set. Is 7' back too far for this size of tv? Thanks for any input.

[Eric H]

I guess it really depends on how good your eyes are.
For me 7' would be too far away for that screen size.

[old_tv_nut]

Rule of thumb - to see everything that's there:
6 or 7 times picture height for standard definition; 3 times picture height for high definition.

[bgadow]

7' seems just about right to me.

[ChrisW6ATV]

In the home-theater world, the ideal viewing distance is around 1.2 or 1.3 times the picture width for a really enjoyable experience with a nice 1080P HD display. Standard definition, I would sit about three times the picture width away, maybe a bit more, for the best compromise between picture size and visible scan lines/phosphor patterns.

[dieseljeep]

We've had a TV in our family for almost 63 years. I'm used to watching a TV at a normal level. It seems that people are mounting Flat screens above the fireplace, which to me is an unnatural viewing angle.

[Eric H]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

We've had a TV in our family for almost 63 years. I'm used to watching a TV at a normal level. It seems that people are mounting Flat screens above the fireplace, which to me is an unnatural viewing angle.

I built a wall around my Fireplace (who needs it in So Cal?) and mounted my set just above eye level when seated.

Above the FP is a bad idea for several reasons, heat and soot just to name two.

Here's mine, forgive the mess, it wasn't finished at the time.

[Jeffhs]

I sit perhaps ten feet from my 19" flat screen. I don't have high-definition cable or HD DVDs and don't want either (though I do have a Blu-ray player), so I'm not missing much if anything, IMHO. Can't move anything in my apartment to get the chair further away from (or closer to) the screen, as my place is too small -- the furniture has to stay exactly where it's been since the day I moved here. The apartment building I live in is actually converted store fronts, so the units are rather small of necessity; I would imagine everyone else in the building has the same problem I do in regard to where to put a flat TV (those who have flat screens -- I'm sure there are people here who still have analog TVs on cable or with DTV converter boxes and antennas) for best viewing distance.