How much of a diff between 50" and 57" 16x9? (1 Viewer)

[Matt Stone]

I'm currently in the process of saving for a TV to replace my teeny tiney 27" Wega. I figure I won't have the money till the fall, but hey...no problem with planning ahead
Anyway...I went to Best Buy today and took a look at the 50" and 57" Tosh models. I must say I was taken back by how big the 57" set was...and I really was impressed visually. My viewing distance is 9 feet...would I notice that much of a difference between the sizes?
My real question is if you could buy a 50" set, or wait a couple more months and buy a 57" set...which would you do?

 

[Justin Gates]

Well, my max seating distance is about the same as yours (approx. 9 feet). Just today I took delivery of a 51" Sony 51HW40. I felt that at that seating distance, 51" would be the max size of a screen I'd want to get.
I tried looking at 55" and 57" displays at 9 feet and they seemed to be a bit grainy and show excessive artifacts at that distance. I felt they needed 10+ feet for a display that size.
Thats my opinion on the matter and I'm currently enjoying my 51" set

 

[Steve_Tk]

Ok the horizontal and vertical dimensions for the 57" is 50x28

for the 50" it's 43x24.

all figures were rounded to the nearest inch. So your talking about ~7" difference on the bottom and a 4" difference on the sides. So you can tell from there how big the rectangular screen will be.

 

[Matt Stone]

I know what the measurements, I was looking for more of a subjective analysis of the quality at 9 feet. I really like the look of the 57" set...but it's hard to imagine what it would look like atually in my living room.

 

[Sean Moon]

Rule of thumb...dont trust how big a set looks in a showroom. I have been looking at the 47in Panny for about a year, and no matter where I went it just never looked that big to me. Well, I finally bought one a few weeks ago, and the second that thing rolled into my living room I was shocked. The thing is a beast!
I sit about 8 ft from a 47in screen and it is just perfect distance to me. Either the 50 or 57in would be good for you. If you want the larger imposing screen, go for the 57. If you want a great sized screen for the distance, get the 50 and the extra cash saved from not going bigger you could get another piece of equipment, or upgrade something in your system!
Another thing to look at is how DEEP the sets are. Screen dimensions are nothing to worry about until you figure out how close you will be to the front of the screen when the set is there. The 57in model might come 5 or more inches closer to you, closing the viewing gap.

 

[Vlad D]

Matt,
I have the Tosh 57HX81, and sit about 9 feet from the TV and the picture is fine. DVD's and HD looks great. Cable isn't as good, but still looks nice. Get the 57 inch, you won't regret it.

 

[Matt Stone]

That's what I was thinking. It just seems to me that I would benefit greatly from saving for a couple more months and getting a bigger TV.

Along the same vein...how much should I be paying for a 57H81. I plan on waiting long enough that I get the newer (57H82) model...but I figure prices will be comparable.

 

[DaveF]

As was said, in stores, TVs look smaller than they are (because they are in huge rooms, typically, surrounded by other equally large TVs).

You could make a mock-up of the TV using poster board anbd place it the appropriate distance from the TV. That might help you see how the TVs would fit (or not) in your room.

 

[Matt Stone]

I've already measured the stuff out, and the 57" actually fits perfetly.

That's a good idea about a cardboard mock-up though...I'll do that when I get home.

 

[Sean Dayton]

I say get the biggest one you can afford and make it fit. You do not plan to stay in that apartment forever do you.

 

[Matt Stone]

No...I'll only be in the apartment for two more years...so I agree.

 

[MichaelG]

As Sean said, get the biggest that you can afford. You may get spoiled by the large screen, but in the long run you won't be wanting to upgrade as soon. I have had a 56" widescreen for almost 5 years now, if I had bought a 50" back then (don't think any were available) then I am certain taht I wold have upgraded to a larger screen by now.

Go Big.

 

[Matt Stone]

That's exactly what I was thinking. So it looks like I'll be going with the 57H82 when it comes out. I need to come up with money first though
Anybody need their lawn mowed?

 

[Peter Hunt]

Hi Matt,
I don't know if this link will be of any use to you. You can put in two different sized TVs (4:3 or 16:9) and it will compare the size of the picture in squared inches from different sources. ie: 4:3, 1:85, 2:35, etc
Link Removed
hope it's of some use

 

[Peter Hunt]

I just reread your question and I don't think that link is useful... But hey it could be fun! Okay maybe it won't be, oh well.

 

[Matt Stone]

 

[Matt Wallace]

Dude, get the 57"!! You get accustomed to the size of your set quickly. My wife wanted only a 27" but we got a 32" and within 6 months she was wanting something bigger. Fast forward to 4 years later and now she begs me on a monthly basis for a bigger tv. Funds just aren't there quite yet, but it's freakin' cool to know that when I pick the size of the set, she's kosher with it!


Good Luck!

Matt