HDTV Setup viewing angle recommendations for home theater and TVs

How to setup HDTV

HDTV Setup

THX viewing angle recommendations for home theater screens and HDTVs.

How do you calculate the best seat-to-screen distance for a plasma, LCD TV or projection screen? Divide the size of your screen by 0.84 (screen size is measured diagonally). For example, a 65-inch TV divided by 0.84 equals a = 77-inch viewing distance (6.5 feet).

Seat-to-screen Viewing Distance Calculations

For your HDTV setup if your TV is going in a living room with limited space, THX recommends the following:

35 inch class TV = 3.5-5 feet away
40 inch class TV = 4-6 feet away
50 inch class TV = 5-7.5 feet away
60 inch class TV = 6-9 feet way
or use the formula, Diagonal TV size divided by 0.84 = Recommended viewing distance.

It might seem that THX is recommending a very large screen size for your room. But, it’s important to note two things:

1) THX screen size recommendations are based on recreating an immersive cinematic experience, and

2) the biggest complaint among TV buyers is that they wish they had bought a bigger set.

Vertical Placement

Make sure each seating position in your home theater has a clear site line to the screen. Try not to place the screen too high on the wall “ viewers should not have to look up more than 15°.

Vertical Placement

The THX viewing angle recommendations for home theater screens and HDTVs is written by THX.com, original article is found in their website

If you need help designing your audio visual systems, presentation rooms or home theater please feel free to contact us. OneTouch AV has been in the audio visual systems design since 2001.