What size TV should I get?

[G-String]

In the room there's 2 couches and both get used. One couch is 12 feet away from the TV and the other is 6 feet away from the TV. I mostly watch sports, but sometimes also watch movies and tv shows on Netflix.

Based on this, what sized 4K TV should I get? I'm leaning towards a 65 inch which fits well with my budget. But I'd like to hear what others have to say. Is 65 inch too big...or too small?

What do you say based on your experience?

[ChpBstrd]

I have the same living room dimensions and a 50" feels like a big screen immersive experience to me. It does, however, seem to visually dominate the room even when it's off. So if we're sitting around having a drink with guests everyone's eyes wander toward the looming TV even though it's off.

I actually wish our lives revolved less around the TV, so I've considered whether we should downsize it. I definitely think a 65" would be hard on the eyes if you were watching from only 6' away.

[Philociraptor]

https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/by-size/size-to-distance-relationship

Personal experience: we got a 75" that sits about 12" from our normal seat, and 6'-10' from additional seating. It's too much to watch a movie at 6', but looks GREAT at 12'. Sounds like 65" might be a happy medium if you're sitting 6'-12' away.

[GilesMM]

Is this an immersive theater room dedicated to the boob tube or a multipurpose room, like a living room?  A big screen works better in the former and a small or no screen in the latter.

[G-String]

Is this an immersive theater room dedicated to the boob tube or a multipurpose room, like a living room?  A big screen works better in the former and a small or no screen in the latter.

It's a regular living room with 2 sofas and a large window. 

[GilesMM]

Is this an immersive theater room dedicated to the boob tube or a multipurpose room, like a living room?  A big screen works better in the former and a small or no screen in the latter.

It's a regular living room with 2 sofas and a large window.

You will have a tradeoff between immersion (big screen) and aesthetics (huge black box dominating the room when off).  Try whatever size you like and return it if the size seems wrong.  A lot of people seem to fall for the trap of too large a television.

[GuitarStv]

Honestly, if you're using this as an occasional tv/movie viewing area and not some special dedicated theater the size doesn't matter.  Just get whatever fits comfortably into the room and doesn't break your budget.

Source:  I grew up watching and enjoying movies and TV on a 22" colour TV from 10 - 15 ft away.  :P

[SunnyDays]

Make it proportional to size of the room and adjust the seating as needed.  Couches don’t have to be right against the wall.

I have a 39” (tiny by today’s standards) and sit about 8 feet away and it’s fine.  At this size, the TV isn’t the only/first thing you notice in the room.

[ChpBstrd]

I'd also suggest investing more in audio than in your TV. 4k is a nice view, but for even the fanciest TVs the speakers are still two screechy and bass-less 2-3 inch paper cones pointed at the ground. TVs are dirt cheap, but it still costs decent money to buy audio that immerses you in a movie or game. Also, decent audio will reignite your love for music by revealing detail you've never heard before.

A couple of high-end bookshelf speakers, a center channel, and sub would do a lot more for you than ten inches of additional screen, or the move from 1080 to 4k resolution. I'd much rather watch a movie on my old 50" 1080p TV with top-notch 5:1 audio than watch a 65" 4k TV with the built in speakers.

[bryan995]

Such a brave question for this forum.

MMM answer. 
Take a crisp $20 from your junk-drawer and head over goodwill and find yourself a 24" CRT.

non-MMM answer. 
Spend equivalent $ for both audio and video.  I tend to favor audio > video, 60/40 or even 70/30.
65" is small.  77" is good.  OLED prices are coming down. :)

[ChpBstrd]

Such a brave question for this forum.

MMM answer. 
Take a crisp $20 from your junk-drawer and head over goodwill and find yourself a 24" CRT.

non-MMM answer. 
Spend equivalent $ for both audio and video.  I tend to favor audio > video, 60/40 or even 70/30.
65" is small.  77" is good.  OLED prices are coming down. :)

I almost suggested a ratio of investment in audio vs video, but was already probably being snobby. I purchased my TV used for $100 about 5 years ago. I purchased my audio system used maybe 12 years ago for ~$1,000. So 10:1.

An uncle told me I could just have his massive Yamaha receiver and subwoofer, and then I bought 4 used Bowers & Wilkins 303 and 306 (do not buy the 302s) bookshelf speakers for about $300/pair from Ebay, and a used Wharfedale center channel. This setup is crystal clear at any volume, transmits the sound of whispers and crunching leaves with creepy accuracy, and lets you feel it in your chest when the football player gets tackled. Best of all you can actually hear every word of dialogue no matter what else is going on. Is it overkill for a small living room? Maybe. But for audio clarity it's exactly what I like.

If that seems like a lot to spend on audio, keep in mind that your audio system will last a lifetime and will never be obsolete, but your TV might last 5-10 years if you're lucky and don't get a defective one that lasts 2 years. TVs are disposable, and are built extremely cheaply.

[GuitarStv]

Such a brave question for this forum.

MMM answer. 
Take a crisp $20 from your junk-drawer and head over goodwill and find yourself a 24" CRT.

non-MMM answer. 
Spend equivalent $ for both audio and video.  I tend to favor audio > video, 60/40 or even 70/30.
65" is small.  77" is good.  OLED prices are coming down. :)

I almost suggested a ratio of investment in audio vs video, but was already probably being snobby. I purchased my TV used for $100 about 5 years ago. I purchased my audio system used maybe 12 years ago for ~$1,000. So 10:1.

An uncle told me I could just have his massive Yamaha receiver and subwoofer, and then I bought 4 used Bowers & Wilkins 303 and 306 (do not buy the 302s) bookshelf speakers for about $300/pair from Ebay, and a used Wharfedale center channel. This setup is crystal clear at any volume, transmits the sound of whispers and crunching leaves with creepy accuracy, and lets you feel it in your chest when the football player gets tackled. Best of all you can actually hear every word of dialogue no matter what else is going on. Is it overkill for a small living room? Maybe. But for audio clarity it's exactly what I like.

If that seems like a lot to spend on audio, keep in mind that your audio system will last a lifetime and will never be obsolete, but your TV might last 5-10 years if you're lucky and don't get a defective one that lasts 2 years. TVs are disposable, and are built extremely cheaply.

Goodwill won't accept CRTs (and haven't for more than a decade around here).  You'll have to settle for a 40 - 60 inch non-smart TV.


I think 10:1 is a reasonable amount to spend on audio vs video.  I think I'm closer to 15:1 actually.  :P

[Gronnie]

If you go smaller than 65" you will regret it.

[techwiz]

MMM answer. 
Take a crisp $20 from your junk-drawer and head over goodwill and find yourself a 24" CRT.
Don't watch TV go out and ride your bike!

[Philociraptor]

A couple of high-end bookshelf speakers, a center channel, and sub would do a lot more for you than ten inches of additional screen, or the move from 1080 to 4k resolution. I'd much rather watch a movie on my old 50" 1080p TV with top-notch 5:1 audio than watch a 65" 4k TV with the built in speakers.

Sounds like you know what's up. I'm working off a clearance soundbar that we got years ago (just 1 optical cable connection), any advice on how to upgrade audio for both watching movies and potential karaoke nights at home? The internets are chock-full of conflicting information and I'm definitely intimidated by the potential costs involved.

[ChpBstrd]

MMM answer. 
Take a crisp $20 from your junk-drawer and head over goodwill and find yourself a 24" CRT.
Don't watch TV go out and ride your bike!

Yea the best reason not to upgrade isn't money or aesthetics, it's that you'll spend more of your life watching TV instead of living.

[achvfi]

If the TV is 12 feet away 65-77 inch tv. Anything smaller is blasphemy. Wink

[bacchi]

Goodwill won't accept CRTs (and haven't for more than a decade around here).  You'll have to settle for a 40 - 60 inch non-smart TV.

Truth. We bought a 37" non-smart TV for $20 and put a free-to-us Chromecast on it.

[Freedomin5]

Buy a TV projector that hooks up to your laptop and projects onto the wall. Then there is no ugly big box on the wall and you can have the screen as large or as small as you want depending on how far you place the projector from the wall. That’s what several of our friends have done.

Personally, we’re in the “no TV” camp. We watch things on our laptop or just don’t watch at all.

[JAYSLOL]

MMM answer. 
Take a crisp $20 from your junk-drawer and head over goodwill and find yourself a 24" CRT.
Don't watch TV go out and ride your bike!

This.  Or my personal compromise, whatever size tv $100-$150 on Facebook Marketplace gets you, for me 8 years ago, that was a 42” Plasma that we still use and it works great, a couple years ago I found a very nice 55” LED Toshiba for the same money and got it for my parents because their old tv died.

[Taran Wanderer]

We sat down to watch a movie on our 9 year old 46” TV tonight, and DW said we need a larger TV. DD and I did a little measuring and trigonometry recently, and we determined that a 65” TV will work in the space. I’ve been wanting a larger TV for a while, so we might go for it finally. Or not. By yeah, a 65” TV would be a lot better for our 6’-12’ viewing distance.