Yes, you guys are my Google. So learn me flat screens.
Say I have a 36" space on a wall to fill. What diagonal 'size' screen do I need to more-or-less fill that space.
I realize this can be worked out using aspect ratios (which I don't know), so show your work on this match problem and teach me something today, too.
Is this kind of like buying a sofa sized painting? 
I'm in the same boat. I've got a cabinet that has exactly 36" inside of it. It seems a 37" lcd is generally about 36" wide. Depending on the size of the case, give or take a half inch.
You kiddin' me? Get some clean white poly material, and buy a projector. Size it up to be the exact size you want/need. You're welcome!
In reply to alex:
Measure your space, and then look at the specs that manufacturers publish. The outside measurements, I mean, not the picture diagonal.
Either the width or the height will limit the choices.
Buy the one that fits the best.
Oh, and I didn't use math, I just checked on amazon or similar online stores and they generally list the overall dimensions in the description.
A true videophile would alter the space to accommodate the largest flat screen set currently available.
Can you mount more than one? Opposed to taking out a wall?
Do you have a tape measure and a Best Buy?
Best Buy's website tells you the outer dimensions.
You could probably fit a 40" but probably not a 42".
EDIT: Looking at actual numbers probably only a 36"
Double EDIT: The diagonal dimension (the one usually advertised) is ~1.15x the width. So a 36" diagonal gives you a (36/1.15)= 31.3" of screen width. The works for a true 16:9 ratio.
But you still have to add in some room for the border and speakers if they're mounted off the ends. So you get back to almost 36", anyways.
Wouldn't the thing to do be to measure the available space on the diagonal instead of the horizontal?
I have a 32" (diagonal) Sony that measures 31.5" wide, edge to edge.
I also have a 46" Sony that is 43.5", edge to edge.
That said, I'm sure the frame size varies from one manufacturer to another.
Ah, didn't know manufacturers listed exterior dimensions these days. Thought I'd be going off screen size.
Carry on about your day, chaps!
Side tracking my original question, but still falling under the same subject: a while back I came across a handy table for screen sizing which was based on the distance from the screen to the seating position of the viewer, ie: if you're 72" from the screen you need a screen of X", if you're 96" from the screen you need a screen of Y", that sort of thing. Ring any bells? Where'd I see that thing?
alex wrote:Side tracking my original question, but still falling under the same subject: a while back I came across a handy table for screen sizing which was based on the distance from the screen to the seating position of the viewer, ie: if you're 72" from the screen you need a screen of X", if you're 96" from the screen you need a screen of Y", that sort of thing. Ring any bells? Where'd I see that thing?
Worry about the outer dimensions first, then go to the store. Say your couch is X feet away from the wall, so stand X feet from the TV at the store. That will tell you more than any table.
I noticed that at the Best Buy on The Rock Road will have their lower priced TVs hooked up wrong to get worse quality. Play around with the input selections a bit.
Keep in mind that the contrast ratio of the TV will have a lot to do with the actual quality of the TV. The higher, the better.
I used this to help sell our 60" DLP to my wife based on our living room size, she was worried it was too big but now loves it.
http://myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html
There is this too -
http://carltonbale.com/1080p-does-matter
Excel calculator page
Psssss that's easy. 60" in front of the opening!
fastEddie wrote:I used this to help sell our 60" DLP to my wife based on our living room size, she was worried it was too big but now loves it.
http://myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html
Bingo. That's the one. Thanks.
