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Philips 42" Widescreen LCD HDTV w/ Built-in Digital Tuner & HDMI, 42PF7421D
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| HDTV - Does Viewing Distance Matter? |
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Does it matter how far you sit from you tv set to see all the details in HD picture? Some people would say "probably not" but a simple answer to this question is "Yes". We can start with technical explanation right away but let's step back and review our own actions when we are in a "viewing mode". As most people already know that the first seats to be sold in any theatre or stadium are the front ones. So we all understand that sitting closer to the actual scene is a better option but here we are talking hundreds of feet and preference for the front seats in understandable.
What about a typical TV room where most people sit any where between 4ft to 10 ft while watching TV? It might not matter if you are watching a cartoon show in on your old CRT television because picture doesn't have that many details. But it is a very different story when we start talking about high definition televisions(HDTVs). To understand the science behind the distance and viewing pleasure, you need to get a good feel of another optical term known as "Resolution".
Let's take a look a closer look at the image below. As you can tell, all three pictures show a pink flower but third picture has a resolution that is 5 times of the first picture. Higher resolution means more detail in the picture and thus better overall experience.
Now how much more details are contained in a High Definition picture compared to a standard television? Our regular NTSC TV picture is scanned using 525 lines, while HDTV uses 1125 lines to scan a image. In term of quality and details, just by doubling the number of lines in HDTV, it contains 5 times more details about the picture. Now going back to our original resolution data. If we have same screen size, a resolution of 1920 by 1080 lines will produce lot more pixels than 1280 by 720 lines.
If we do some simple math,
Number of pixels in 1080 resolution
1920 X 1080 = 2,073,600 – 2 Megapixels (approximate)
Number of pixels in 720 resolution = 1280 X 720 = 921,600
So in theory, 1080 resolution has 2.25 times more pixels than 720 and thus far better resolution. In current standards, 720p is considered a true HDTV resolution. So any set with 720p or higher resolution will be considered a true HDTV set. Further, HDTV transmission not only has more video details, it also includes 5.1 channels of Dolby Digital audio.
Let's think of this scenario: if you own a 42" TV with 720p resolution, and sit 7 feet away from the TV, you'll see a detailed yet smooth picture because the pixels are small enough where you can't perceive them, thus allowing you to focus on your movie instead of your TV. However, now imagine looking at a 65" TV with same resolution(720p) from 7 feet. Along with it being overwhelmingly large, you'll be able to pick out each and every pixel on screen. But, even at that same viewing distance, if you increased the resolution to 1080p, and thus made each pixel smaller, then the picture would look smoother and less blocky to your eyes.
In Optics, there is a technical term known as "visual acuity". This represent the maximum viewing distance for human eye beyond which some picture detail will be lost. It is a measure of eye spatial resolving power and indicates the smallest angular size of the detail that a person's visual system can resolve. |
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According to Charles Poynton, a well-respected expert in imaging systems, "it's widely agreed in the vision science community that the acuity of the human visual system for luminance (at 100% contrast " pure black to pure white) is about 1/60 degree, equivalent to 1 minute of arc." Now what does that mean? Well, in simple terms it tells you that a person with 20/20 or perfect vision, is capable of identifying an object with a height of 1.75mm at 20ft away.
Table shown below translates optics calculation into real-world terms when it comes to measuring TV sizes with varying resolutions. It does so by:
1. Calculating vertical pixel pitch
2. Equating pixel pitch to 1/60 degree
3. Deriving ideal viewing distance "D" (i.e. where all detail can be resolved without seeing individual pixels or "screen door" effect) as the radius of a circle
where: D = radius = 360 deg.* 60 * pixel pitch / 2 * Pi.
| Screen Size |
Resolution Line Counts |
Ideal Viewing Distance(ft) |
| 37" HD |
720p |
6.8 ft |
| 42" HD |
720p |
7.7 ft |
| 50" HD |
720p |
9.1 ft |
| 37" HD |
1080p |
4.8 ft |
| 42" HD |
1080p |
5.5 ft |
| 50" HD |
1080p |
6.5 ft |
| 65" HD |
1080p |
8.5 ft |
| 71" HD |
1080p |
9.5 ft |
Based on this research, you can clearly see that in case of a 42" 1080p display, the ideal viewing distance is only 5.5 feet--beyond that, you can't see the pixels and you can't really appreciate the full resolution of the display. In other words, it would be virtually impossible to distinguish between a 42" 720p display and 42" 1080p at distances of about six feet or more. Given that many people view their televisions from 8-10 feet away (if not even more), you would have to have a 65" or larger screen to really notice the difference between 720p and 1080p.
And last but not the least, is your viewing environment. When most people purchase a High Definition set, they just put the new set in place of their old standard TV and leave everything else as it used to be. Moving up from a standard TV to a HD set itself is a big improvement in viewing pleasure, but are you getting the most out of the new HDTV set?
In my opinion it is good idea that you experiment with the viewing distance and setup. Most of the calculations related to viewing distance are done in "ideal world" environment and your living room or home theater is far from it.
So experiment with the ambient light setup in the room, sound system (if you have one) and finally the viewing distance between your TV set and your seat. Critical viewing distance data as shown above could be great help in deciding the starting point for your experiment and allowing you to experience the best viewing pleasure from your investment.
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LG 47" 1080p Flat-Panel LCD HDTV
$1,499.99
Experience your favorite movies or the big game in stunning, high-definition glory with this 47" flat-panel TV that delivers vibrant images with true-to-life color.
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Pioneer Elite 50" Flat-Panel Plasma HDTV
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Learn moreabout Magnolia PremiumInstallation With cutting-edge video processing technologies and breathtaking color reproduction, this plasma HDTV brings a cinema-quality experience to your living room.
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Samsung 40" 1080p 120Hz Flat-Panel LCD HDTV
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With a Wide Color Enhancer and SRS TruSurround XT, this 40" HDTV delivers a cinema-style viewing experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
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Sony BRAVIA 1080p 46" Flat-Panel LCD HDTV
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The BRAVIA Engine packs this TV with the power needed to provide you with lush, sharp images, whether you're watching your favorite movies or the big game. Connect your computer through the PC input and enjoy your digital photos and movies on the big screen. Learn more about HDTV.Discover Sony Bravia LCD HDTVs
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Sony BRAVIA 40" 720p Flat-Panel LCD HDTV
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Sony BRAVIA XBR 52" 1080p Flat-Panel LCD HDTV
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Panasonic Viera 58" 1080p Plasma W/ ATSC Tuner TH-58PZ700U
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SAMSUNG 50" 1080P Plasma HDTV with ATSC Tuner FP-T5084
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PHILIPS 42" LCD HDTV Model 42PFL5332D
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PHILIPS 42" 16:9 8ms 720p LCD HDTV 42PFL5332D
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SHARP AQUOS 52" 1080p LCD HDTV - LC-52D64U
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SHARP AQUOS 52" 16:9 4ms 1080p LCD HDTV LC-52D64U
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Alpine 45W x 4 Apple iPod /Satellite Radio/HD Radio-Ready Deck
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JVC 50W x 4 MOSFET Apple iPod /Satellite Radio/HD Radio-Ready CD Deck
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This in-dash deck is satellite radio-ready, HD radio-ready and iPod-ready, so you can listen to your favorite tunes from a variety of sources. It's also Bluetooth-compatible for easy connections to Bluetooth-enabled devices.
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Insignia 21W x 4 In-Dash CD Deck with HD Radio Tuner and Detachable Faceplate - Black/Gray/Blue
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Lowepro SlingShot 100 Bag for SLR Cameras - Black
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SAMSUNG 23" 720p LCD HDTV LNT2354H
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Canon PowerShot 8.0-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black
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Sonos Wireless Multi-Room Music System
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SAMSUNG 23" 720p LCD HDTV LNT2342H
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Sharp AQUOS 32" 1080p Flat-Panel LCD HDTV
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Canon PowerShot 7.1-Megapixel Digital ELPH Camera - Silver
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Nikon Coolpix 10.0-Megapixel Digital Camera - Purple
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Canon EOS 10.1-Megapixel Digital SLR Camera - Black
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SHARP AQUOS 65" 1080p LCD HDTV - LC-65D64U
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SHARP AQUOS 65" 16:9 4ms 1080p LCD HDTV w/ATSC Tuner LC-65D64U
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Sharp AQUOS 46" 1080p Flat-Panel LCD HDTV
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