Distance/Screen SIze Formula?


My husband and I are debating between a 50" and a 60" flat panel television for our living room. Although the room is very long , it is not very wide and we would be veiwing the televsion from aprox.12 feet from the screen. Does 60" seem like too large a screen for that distance or can we go for it?We hate the feeling of sitting in the first few rows of a movie theatre.........hence our concern. Can anyone help?
lel
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.
I'd look at something in the 110" diagonal size. It'll be about the same size screen you get sitting in the last row of a decent THX certified commercial theater.

Also note that on anything smaller than about 90", you'll be unable to visutlally resolve 1920x1080 HD.

Personally I've used 100" @ 11' and 50" at about 5' with good results on DVD sources.
Chadnliz (I assume there are two of you, Chad & Liz),

If not for movies and good HDTV programming, why would someone post a query about video on AudiogoN? A query about casual viewing would be like me asking you which tube amp I should buy for listening to the news on my AM tuner. 60" at 12' is inadequate for movies or great HDTV like CSI:Miami -- I watch the program for its HD video and 5.1 audio, definitely not its content.

db
gee Don I dunno, maybe it has a thing to do with the fact it is a non-member housewife who admits confusion and probably googled a question that found its way to Agon.