Distance/Screen SIze Formula?

I have seen several guidelines. The SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) suggests HT installations should have a 30-degree viewing angle, but that is based on horizontal width. THX recommends 36 degrees. At 12' viewing distance, 30 degrees suggests a screen size of 88" on the diagonal. At THX recommended levels, your only choice on flat panel displays would be the new Panasonic 103" (which requires "permission" from Panasonic - they send a team of people to your site to check whether you can order it; if they say yes, you can special order one (for $50k+)). I saw one about a week ago. It's beautiful, but I decided to pass :^).

Based on those suggestions, a 60" would not be "too big." This matches my experience. The viewing angle is probably "fine", and keep in mind that if you have normal (20/20) vision, newer full-HD screens will naturally mean that you can be "closer" to your screen than non-HD screens because of the fineness of the pixels.

Chadnliz, I wasn't suggesting that 107" is the "right" number, just a number that someone comes up with. OTOH, I don't think 60" at 12 feet is overkill. I have a 50" FPD at about the same distance and while it is larger than the previous 36" 4:3 TV, it is not acres bigger and I could easily live with a 60".

Best thing to do is go visit a shop with both and sit yourself 12ft away. Or put a poster or two on some cardboard and see what it looks like in your room.