Let’s face it, most of us love a large television screen, and if we had the money and the space, we would likely have the largest screen we can possibly get. But, most of us also don’t have the space or the money, so we have to be more practical, and make sure that our televisions fit the space and budgets we do have.
A lot of people don’t realize that they shouldn’t just go out and buy a television without knowing how to get the right one for the space they have to work with.
Before you go out and spend a lot of money on a new television, we have a few tips that will help you get exactly what you need. Let’s get started.
Measuring the TV Size
The first thing you need to know about is screen size. This is actually the most important measurement, because new HDTV’s are listed by screen size. In order to get this size, you will need to measure the screen diagonally.
Hold the end of a measuring tape at one corner of the screen, and then extend it so it measures the screen diagonally. The tape measurer should be on the inside of the screen frame. That way, you are only measuring the part of the screen that is visible. This measurement will be the screen size.
To Mount or Not to Mount
The next thing you will want to consider is whether you want to have the television on a stand or mounted on a wall. This is something you need to know before you go out and buy a new HDTV. Many people prefer to use a wall mount for a variety of reasons.
First, there is usually more space to work with. Second, it can make the viewing distance shorter, and there could be some issues when it comes to the viewing angle. Third, the size of the cabinet will dictate the size of the screen, and if you have a small cabinet, you aren’t going to be getting a big screen television.
Even if your cabinet does have space for a larger television, it could look pretty strange, because a larger TV generally looks best mounted on a wall or sitting on top of a shelf, such as a fake fireplace mantle. Also, if the TV is really heavy, you might not be able to put it inside the cabinet. On the other hand, if you have a large cabinet, anything but a larger screen may look really small.
Another option is to use a stand mount with a cabinet. If you are thinking about doing this, make sure that you measure the length and width of the cabinet so you know for sure that it is going to accommodate. Also keep the combined weight of the mount and the television to be sure that the cabinet will be able to support that much weight.
As a rule, a flat screen television weighs about 45 pounds, but this can go up or down depending on the display style and the size of the screen.
Consider Viewing Distance
Another thing to consider when it comes to deciding what size television you should get is how far you tend to sit from the screen. In fact, this is one of the most important factors to think about. If you want to sit closer to the screen, you may not want to get a huge television because you won’t get as good of a viewing experience as you might think.
In many cases, the larger the screen, the lower the resolution and the poorer the picture quality. Most modern televisions have a resolution of 1080p, or around two million pixels. No matter how big the screen is, the number of pixels is not likely to change.
Getting back to the viewing distance, this is something you are going to need to calculate. The basic formula for this is based on the distance you sit from the screen divided by 1.5. So, if you are sitting eight feet from the screen, the best size screen to have is a 60-inch for an ideal viewing experience.
One Last Thing
There is one more thing to think about when choosing the size of your television, and that is the viewing angle. This angle is basically from your nose to the right and left side edges of the display. In an ideal situation, your peripheral vision should be filled by the image on the screen.
In a movie theater, the angle is 30 to 36 degrees. The angle should push the limits of your peripheral vision. It is recommended that the display fill 30 to 40 degrees.
So, make sure when you are shopping for a new television that you consider this angle, along with the cabinet or wall mount, and how far away from the screen you plan to be sitting.