My wife told me this year I can finally purchase a new TV. It's been a few years since our last TV purchase (2005). We don't watch a lot of the darn thing. She likes watching that gosh awful British baking show. I keep it on H&I for the Star Trek marathon while I cook. The current TV is 32" LCD, when I bought it is was around 1200 bucks. They are so cheap these days, I told her let’s get the 84", I'm severely far sighted and would enjoy the size upgrade. When I started measuring the space on the wall for potential hanging locations, she was a bit shocked just how much space 84" takes up. So she said no get something smaller. She said I can put an 84" in my study, but not the Den. I don't want that thing in my study. How can I make her see the light and want the large TV in the Den.? I don't see the point of getting something smaller, we might as well maximize now, because I'll be dead before I can buy a new TV again. She is just 7 years older than me, I'm in my late 40's, we don’t have children. I need some options. The only option I can come up with is having this AV guy install a system that allows me to lower it from a hidden panel in the ceiling. Also, No, I do not want a projector. So give me options and convincing arguments so I can sway her into wanting a Giant TV.

Thanks

I think 84" is overkill, you need to be a certain distance back from something that big. I'd look at maybe a 65".

It IS amazing how prices have gone down on TV's; my first non-tube TV was a 32" in 2007 and that was $850! Upgraded to a 40" in 2014 for something like $400 and just ordered a new 50" last night for $278!

I'd second a 65" They are still plenty big! I'd stay away from any TV that has a camera or microphone built in.

Go big or go home. I say 70-86” is a good size. TV’s are so cheap now that quality trumps size. Sure you can get a 65” Tv for $500 but how long will it last. I would say spend $1300-1500 on a good quality 70-75” and you will have a nice size tv that can last you a long time. When it comes time to re-do my theater I am going to skip the projector and get a 100” TV. Right now you can get an 86” LG for about $2000, they are starting to really be more affordable. In a couple years I’m guessing 100” TV’s will be in that ballpark.

I had a buddy with an 80 inch TV in a 19x19 room with the couch about at the mid point maybe a bit further back and honestly it was a little distractingly big. Unless you really have some distance I second the 65ish size.

Chris.

Keep moving the furniture closer to the television you currently have until she concedes.

Tell her the clearer picture you get with a new and bigger TV is better for her eyes.

Grab a tape measure and use this scientific approach:

https://www.rtings.com/tv/revi...istance-relationship

(at 84", your optimized viewing distance is going to be nearly 12 feet!)

Let us know what this article suggests regarding your ideal screen size in the den. I'm curious to know whether you're overshooting or she just doesn't get it.

-Rob

How big is the room and from how far away do you sit from the TV?

84" is an awfully big TV, IMO.

Our family room is 13' x 22' (WxL). TV and stuff sits on one of the 13' walls and we sit about 12' from the screen. Until recently we found the 46" TV we've had for a few years adequate. Then we spent some time at a next-door-neighbour's home a few days ago. He had his 55" TV running (on mute). Said to my wife "Look at that picture! I think we need a bigger TV." Amazingly, she agreed!

But my wife, like yours, is also disinterested in having the TV dominate the room. So when we go looking the limiting factor is going to be that the new TV can't take up appreciably more space than the current one. Given that new TVs have much smaller bezels than ours, I figure 55" is about the most I'll get. Maybe a bit larger.

quote:

Originally posted by GisTexan:
... we might as well maximize now, because I'll be dead before I can buy a new TV again. She is just 7 years older than me, I'm in my late 40's,

You're merely in your late 40's and you're worried about being dead before you'll get another TV? Srsly?

quote:

Originally posted by GisTexan:
So give me options and convincing arguments so I can sway her into wanting a Giant TV.

Can't help you, there. TBH: I wouldn't want a TV as big as you think you want, either. Not unless I had a dedicated home theater room in which to place it.

quote:

Originally posted by 1967Goat:
I'd second a 65" They are still plenty big!

I agree.

quote:

Originally posted by 1967Goat:
I'd stay away from any TV that has a camera or microphone built in.

Good luck with that. I assume anything we'll get will have them both, but I won't connect the TV to the network except to occasionally check for firmware updates. The Fire TV and BD player will provide content.

Go for broke! That said, some of the other posters have a point. How far is it from your seat to the screen? On large TVs you run into the problem of not being able to hold the entire screen in your field of vision if you aren't a significant distance back.

The problem with a TV at 84" (not withstanding the fact you'll probably be sitting way too close to it), is that you need REALLY good content, like 4K only or else the picture will look grainy and not that great. on a 65" your normal cable tv feed will look very good, at 84" it will not.

65 to 75 are probably best for normal rooms, unless you can really move back from a 80 it's going to dominate the room, like sitting in the first few rows of a movie theater.

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:
The problem with a TV at 84" (not withstanding the fact you'll probably be sitting way too close to it), is that you need REALLY good content, like 4K only or else the picture will look grainy and not that great. on a 65" your normal cable tv feed will look very good, at 84" it will not.

Good point. I'd forgotten about that.

Older TV programming, especially from the 4:3 ("square") TV days, looks particularly bad on bigger-screen TVs.

I'm with the crew that thinks 84" is too big for most normal sized rooms.

If you are sitting 10 to 15 feet from the screen, 65" should be plenty, or 75" at the most.

And if your wife doesn't just understand that bigger is better, then . . .

Chiming in on the 65" size. It's kind of a sweet spot for size/price right now. You may be able to get a good deal on a 70" also.

Source - the picture is only going to be as good as what you feed it.

Sound - you'll definitely want to include a soundbar in your budget if you do not already have an alternate source for audio (receiver).

Lighting will also play a huge role in your experience. If you can control/limit the lighting the viewing experience is enhanced. Also the color of the wall makes a pretty big difference. Consider a dark brown or dark/matte anything will help reduce glare and provide better contrast to the screen.

Good luck

Cheers~

Sam's Club has several 65" 4k tvs for under $500. That's what I would do, and did, twice. Bought 2 Sam's Club loss leader 65" one Hitachi and one Hisense. 3 years and they are going strong.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
Video Viewing Distance Calculator

That thing says we should get a minimum 60" TV for 1080P viewing. (Which will be the majority of our content.) I might be able to convince my wife to go that high, but probably not.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
Video Viewing Distance Calculator

That thing says we should get a minimum 60" TV for 1080P viewing. (Which will be the majority of our content.) I might be able to convince my wife to go that high, but probably not.

It seems pretty accurate but it is only an estimate.
Now using an old 55" Plasma at 8 feet.
Says 37~60.

Seeing that you are severely farsighted, would your room even allow you to sit far enough away from the TV for it to be in focus?