Which Size Flat Screen TV is Right for My Room?

With standard-definition TVs, the rule used to be that viewers would feel comfortable watching a set from a distance of 3 to 6 times the screen size in inches. With HDTV, the resolution is so much better that you can sit closer to a larger TV without noticing the pixels. So with HDTVs, the rule tends to be you can sit anywhere from 1.5 to 3 times the screen size (in inches) for the best experience.

These rules have been designed to tell you where to sit in relation to your new TV. Look at it another way: You know the size of the room you have already, where you want to sit, and where your new HDTV should go once you get it. So, which size TV should you get?

Doing the math backwards, you get this formula:

Minimum size= Viewing distance/3, Maximum size=Viewing distance/1.5, Doing that math straight up can give some unusual size numbers.

If the TV you need for your room is 40 inches or less, a flat-panel LCD TV is your best bet. Between 42 and 60 inches, you can choose between plasma or LCD. Plasma HDTVs tend to be the most popular choice in this size range, as they offer good picture quality and flat-panel allure. Flat-panel LCDs are now competitive in price with plasma in the 40- to 46-inch sizes, but generally not available over 52-inches--and at that size they can be pretty expensive.

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