What size TV. 55 or...
 

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[Closed] What size TV. 55 or 65?

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Interested in a Samsung Q80T (that's QLED, 4K HDR).

I reckon I'm sitting about 9ft away from the screen. 55" or 65"?


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 7:35 am
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65


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 7:41 am
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Cheers 🙂


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 7:45 am
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defo 65.

cant have a tv too big!


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 7:59 am
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OP I am looking at new TVs too - that Samsung looks good but  cannot see any discounts from £1499 - have you found any deals?

Also the viewing distance/size guide at the link below may be useful.

https://tvsguides.com/tv-viewing-distance/


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 8:00 am
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Defo 65, but only if you can’t fit a 70 or 75” there. They shrink very quickly and you will regret getting the smaller screen.

There will be some smart Alec coming along soon saying there is a formula or picture somewhere to tell you how big the telly needs to be given how far away you are for it but that is bs and only there to give you guidance on equivalency between SD and HD. We’re way beyond that now and resolution is not an issue. You can sit as close as you like. Sit back and enjoy!


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 8:12 am
 db
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Depends how much you want it to dominate the room. For me the TV is secondary to the views out the windows, the fire place etc. So current TV is 48" and I wouldn't want to go bigger.

Been in a few houses where the TV is just too big and takes over the space.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 8:37 am
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the TV is secondary to the views out the windows

It is important to be able to keep an eye out for Amazon, Dominos, etc deliveries but I wouldn’t make it a priority over the TV


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 9:16 am
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Christ. We have a 32" TV and it just about doesn't dominate the rest on.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 9:20 am
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We still have a 12" black & White with manual tuner. Anything more than that, and you're scum.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 9:26 am
 Drac
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They shrink very quickly and you will regret getting the smaller screen.

No, can’t say I ever have.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 9:26 am
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65" is great. I would be sad to go back to something smaller.

I can sit at a sensible distance, next to my darling wife, and still have space for dogs, children and daughter-in-law.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 9:31 am
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If it fits then 65 no question. Although our house is fairly large it has a lot of rooms so each room is actually quite small, hence we’re limited to 50” which I find constantly frustrating.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 9:32 am
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I don't have a TV.

It would look crass next to the polished walnut of the radiogram.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 9:34 am
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Although our house is fairly large it has a lot of rooms so each room is actually quite small, hence we’re limited to 50” which I find constantly frustrating.

Thoughts and prayers for Timbog160


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 9:39 am
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I don't have a TV or radio. The look of them would be incongruous next to the harpsichord.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 9:43 am
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I can sit at a sensible distance, next to my darling wife, and still have space for dogs, children and daughter-in-law.

You're not meant to sit *on* the thing...


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 9:46 am
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We recently upgraded from a 32" to a 43" TV as that's now the smallest "standard" size TV. Reading the reviews it was sold as a secondary TV for a kitchen or bedroom. How big are everyone's houses! We live in a typical 3 bedroom Victorian semi. Nice high ceilings etc etc. Anything bigger than the 43" wouldn't physically fit in the front room. Well not unless it went above the fireplace but that's just chav central.

Ooh reminds me. Need to add that to the thread of things that annoy you, massive TV's in small rooms above the fireplace.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 9:53 am
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I moved from a projector at 96" to a 65" OLED and I would say it's the smallest size that still feels like something more than a telly. 55" is just a big telly.

Really, the next size up (75"+) is the best size I reckon, but the price currently jumps steeply up, whereas 65 is still largely in proportion with other sizes.

Cheapest time to buy is around Amazon Prime day in Summer when Richer Sounds, Costco, etc sell off the last stocks of the previous year's tech.
Second-cheapest is around black friday. Same stores are the ones to look for. Costco for some reason have some deals instore that are never mentioned on their website. That's where I bought my Panasonic 65" OLED for £1275 after a tip-off from HUKD.

Samsung's OLED screens failed which is why they reverted to what is a pretty ordinary tech QLED, so make sure you are truly happy with the picture quality before purchasing. LG are the only company making OLED TV panels - they also make them for Sony/Philips/Panasonic/HiSense. All the panels are identical, just the software is different.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 9:53 am
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9ft for a 65" is actually meant to be too far to get any 4k benefit 😄 https://www.avu.ca/video/perfecting-proximity-finding-optimal-tv-viewing-distance/

If it fits, go bigger. If you're going from an early flat screen TV with chunky bezels you may find it's not much bigger overall.

I'm considering moving around our living room, currently have a 42" TV in a corner on one side of the chimney breast. We only go in there in the evening to watch something, so using the flat wall instead for a bigger TV makes a bit more sense to me. There isn't a view out of the window (well, just a driveway and a road), the woodburner will be going, and there's no harpsichords to disturb the look of.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 9:58 am
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To test the solid angle of a viewing experience, an outstretched arm with raised thumb and lowered pinkie should be about the height of the screen for reasonable cinematic experience. 65 is huge for a TV, but small for a projector screen. I have a 108" screen which gives a great F1 experience. And a 32" for normal TV in the lounge.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 10:03 am
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Well not unless it went above the fireplace but that’s just chav central.

ooops.....hangs head in shame....

Although its the optimal place in the centre of the room for watching films and playing games. Even made the wall where the fireplace is wider to accommodate a 65" and sunk it in.
Oh well.. 😉


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 10:26 am
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Got a Samsung 65" a couple of months ago and it is spot on for the room. We sit anywhere between 8' and 12' away.

Curry's were doing a deal on Sound Bars when we got ours.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 10:52 am
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Well not unless it went above the fireplace but that’s just chav central.

Hang on, why do some of you lot have fireplaces in your media rooms?


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 11:27 am
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Well not unless it went above the fireplace but that’s just chav central.

Listen to this man. The answer to "what size TV?" is whatever size will fit while still being able to keep it at eye level.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 11:36 am
 bruk
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Recently moved and bought new TV, previous biggest in the house was 32" but placed on a unit in the corner.

New house meant 2 TVs and went with a 65" in one room and 55" in the other. Wall mounted with cables routed via duct in the wall for minimal clutter and both look great.

Mainly decided on size by cutting out bits of cardboard and holding up against wall to see what would still look ok.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 12:15 pm
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Def 65" if you have the room, it seems crazy big initially if you're used to 50" or smaller but it's soon 'normal'. My dad has the same TV as me but the 55" model and it looks much much smaller (even worse as his living room is twice the size of mine so you sit about 20' from it.

I'd go 75" next TV but as someone else mentioned the price jump is huge 🙁


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 1:21 pm
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The jump to 75" isn't so bad this year, lots of options under £1000.

Same Philips range (on Richer Sounds prices) goes:

55 - £499
65 - £649
75 - £899

Cheapest 82" I can find now (a Samsung) is £1600. I suspect UK room sizes will be the limit here.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 2:16 pm
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The world dun changed didn't it?

How long ago was 50" considered a massive TV and the stuff of dreams in your local Council Estate.

Now it seems 50" is just too small to be a 'proper TV'.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 2:33 pm
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When I last looked in Currys a few weeks ago, for top of the range OLED TVs by SONY and LG, you're paying around £1000 more for the 65" over 55". That's a lot of difference.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 3:11 pm
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The jump to 75″ isn’t so bad this year, lots of options under £1000

True - should have said on OLEDs. The LG CX 65" is £2299, the 75" is £4499 🙁


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 3:13 pm
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£4499? Jesus wept, you could almost buy a bike for that!


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 3:25 pm
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I've just tried the thumb and pinkie thing. Seems I have very short arms. Our 55" TV is about half as tall as it should be.

We chose 55" because it was the smallest screen that met the spec we wanted. As others have said, we didn't want it to dominate the room.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 3:25 pm
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*glances over at 32in TV, wanders out feeling inadequate*


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 3:35 pm
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Whilst I'm certain our living room could accommodate a 65" TV, I don't look at our current 55" TV (9 years old) and think, "I wish it were a bit bigger", so I'd probably stick with a 55"

Our room is 4.5m*8.5m and we're sat between 3.5 and 4m from the TV dependent upon where you're sitting.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 3:37 pm
 Drac
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I’ve just tried the thumb and pinkie thing.

Yeah I’m filing that under bullshit.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 5:41 pm
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Trying it for width and my 55" is still woefully inadequate.

Not sure how it can be though. It's only about a year since the 32" CRT went.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 5:45 pm
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Top tip: when getting final purchase authorisation from your other half, present him/her/etc with two options, the one you really want (65") and the size bigger (75"). Earnestly ask for their opinion, and graciously concede that they know best and the smaller one is best choice. Walk away and allow yourself a little victory smirk!


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 6:07 pm
 Drac
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Or just buy the TV you want as after all you’re not a child anymore.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 6:12 pm
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Measure the distance from your nose to where you are going to site the TV then go to somewhere with a viewing room and demo different sizes - Richer sounds saved me a grand after changing my mind from 65" to 55"


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 6:28 pm
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We watch Netflix on a 27" iMac...


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 6:34 pm
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I have a 65" telly, we sit about 4m away. I wish it were bigger, I put a chair in the middle of the room to play console games late at night 🙂


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 6:35 pm
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I'm delighted with this thread. Its got it all. Comedy. Romance. Tragedy. And even some facts.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 7:56 pm
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OP I am looking at new TVs too – that Samsung looks good but cannot see any discounts from £1499 – have you found any deals?

@Cletus No I havent. Best price is as you say £1499. From Curry's there's sounbar discount options though.

Apparently (info sourced from AV Forums), if you (or a family member) have a blue light card (NHS, Police, Fire etc) you can get the 65" Q80T for £1190 from the Samsung Shop. There's no extended warranty, but 300 smackers cheaper.

..or black Friday is next month.


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 8:04 pm
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Reading through everyone’s comments got me curious. What is the biggest tv you can buy from curry’s.
88” for £35000!!!

When the time comes to replace our 10 year old 37”, we’ll just get whatever size is available for somewhere less than £500. Maybe by then the price to size ratio will have gone down a lot more!


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 8:17 pm
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10% clearance


 
Posted : 07/10/2020 8:51 pm

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