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Standard TV - DVD - blu-ray - HD - 4K compared
& Home theater setup charts




Updated July 1, 2020
  1. Make your browser full screen.
  2. Click the gold, center double arrow circles and drag, left and right, to compare image quality.



Compare the old standard TV to HD-TV's

Left: Standard Definition TV — 640 x 360   |   Right: HD (blu-ray) — 1920 x 1080    

Kristen at the beach - James Shuster SD
Kristen at the beach - James Shuster HD



Compare DVD to blu-ray on an HD TV

Left: DVD — 720 x 540   |   Right: HD (blu-ray) — 1920 x 1080

Boy gets ball in Aix en Provence HD
Boy gets ball in Aix en Provence DVD



Compare HD to Ultra HD 4K

You won't see much difference on most computers because monitors are usually much less than 4096 pixels in width. Smaller monitors just compress the image test below. You need to either have a really big monitor, or be able to stretch the browser across multiple monitors to see any improvement with the 4K image on the right side.

Left: HD — 1920 x 1080   |   Right: 4K — 4096 x 2160

Rockport by James Shuster 4K
Rockport by James Shuster HD



Compare HD to Ultra HD 4K - close-up view

Here is a close-up view that more easily shows the difference between HD and 4K.

Left: HD — close-up   |   Right: 4K — close-up

Cropped image Rockport by James Shuster 4K
Cropped image Rockport by James Shuster HD



How sharp are your eyes when you step back from the screen? HD versus 4K.

Quick test - At what distance do you no longer see any difference?

  1. Set your monitor resolution to exactly 1600 pixels wide.
  2. Make your browser full screen
  3. Look at any of the three image pairs below.
  4. Walk back from the screen, until the details, in both images, look the same.
  5. Look at the name of the boat, the quality of the water, the details in the stones and in the man's shirt. When you can't tell the difference between HD and 4K photographs, that is your visual acuity limit for your computer monitor size. A larger monitor would allow you to walk further back.


With my reading glasses on, I stop seeing any difference at about 7 feet away from my computer monitor which is 20" diagonal (just under 16" in width). The images below are 1600 pixels wide and my monitor does 100 pixels an inch which would make the full 4K screen size (4096 pixels). So my computer monitor imitates to a 41 inch wide TV which has a diagonal of 47 inches.

The closest 4K TV, currently for sale, is 49 inches diagonal. So it seems that, for me, being further away than about 7 to 8 feet from a 49 inch 4K looks pretty much the same as just straight HD. (This is actually a little better than average. There is a more detailed test below the images that can show you exactly how you measure up with visual acuity.)

All new TV's around 47 inches size are automatically 4K now. But it's still interesting to note that in order to justify paying anything extra in cable download or more money to watch a movie in 4K on a 49 inch screen, I would need to sit closer than 8 feet to notice any difference.

Test it yourself. Set your screen resolution to 1600 width. Make the browser full screen. Place all or part of the image test pairs, below, on a computer screen and walk back, away from the screen to where you can't see the difference between the pictures anymore. How many feet away is your visual acuity point? If your computer monitor is 20" diagonal at 1600 pixel width, then you computer monitor is imitating a 47 inch diagonal monitor.

If you want to run this test on a different sized computer monitor, use the tables below these three comparison images, below.

1st image comparison - widescreen Top HD / Bottom 4K

H D
Rockport harbor by James Shuster crop HD
4 K
Rockport harbor by James Shuster crop 4K

2nd and 3rd image comparisons - Left HD / Right 4K

Your browser should be wide enough to see these images left and right of each other.

H D 4 K
Rockport harbor Boatman by James Shuster crop HD Rockport harbor Boatman by James Shuster crop 4K
H D 4 K
Rockport harbor boats by James Shuster crop HD Rockport harbor boats by James Shuster crop 4K

Visual acuity test using the above, three image comparisons for any monitor size

  1. Make your browser full screen.
  2. This also works on notebook computers, as long as the screen width has, at least, 1600 pixels.

  3. Check you are seeing all of each image of the three comparisons above. The 2nd and 3rd images comparisons need to show the images side by side. Make your browser wide enough, so this works.
  4. For the first, widescreen, image of Rockport Harbor above, make sure you see on the left, a single seagull on a blue and red raft and, on the right, the man with a pole which runs down to the bottom of the image, not off to the right side of the image.

    You need to see the full image widths, left to right, for this test to work. You don't need to see the full height of images.

  5. Scroll up, so you can see all, or part, any of the three image comparisons above.
  6. Step back slowly, until you can no longer see any difference between the images.
  7. Measure the distance from your eyes to the monitor.
  8. Measure your 1st widescreen image comparison width, in inches, and find it in the left column of the table below.
  9. If your browser is full screen and your monitor resolution is 1600, then just measure the monitor width (not diagonal) in inches. We cannot use your official monitor size, because that's the diagonal inches.

  10. The middle column on that table row, shows the TV screen size your monitor is imitating. The distance you measured in step #5 above, is your visual acuity distance for this TV size.
  11. The right column on that table row, shows how you compare to the average person with 20/20 vision.


The width of images on your monitor

We cannot use your official monitor size, because that is the diagonal.
TV screen size

(diagonal) that your computer monitor is imitating with the above images.
Distance from the monitor that the average person with 20/20 vision can no longer see any difference between the images on this TV size.

If the distance where you can no longer see any difference in the images is further away, you have better vision. If it's closer, you may need better glasses.
15" 44" 5' 10"
15 1/4" 45" 5' 11"
15 1/2" 45" 5' 11"
15 3/4" 46" 6'
16" 47" 6' 1"
16 1/4" 48" 6' 4"
16 1/2" 48" 6' 5"
16 3/4" 49" 6' 6"
17" 50" 6' 6"
17 1/4" 51" 6' 9"
17 1/2" 51" 6' 9"
17 3/4" 52" 6' 10"
18" 53" 6' 11"
18 1/4" 53" 6' 11"
18 1/2" 54" 7' 1"
18 3/4" 55" 7' 2"
19" 56" 7' 3"
19 1/4" 56" 7' 3"
19 1/2" 57" 7' 6"
19 3/4" 58" 7' 7"
20" 59" 7' 8"
20 1/4" 59" 7' 8"
20 1/2" 60" 7' 9"
20 3/4" 61" 8'



Home theater - Which TV to buy?

       A person with 20/20 vision can only see the difference between HD, 4K or 8K when they get close to a TV. A large 85" TV can easily look better with 4K or even 8K, compared to the same size TV in HD. But, if you sit 20 feet away from a smaller TV you may not be able to see the difference between HD, 4K or 8K.

       For example: In a sports bar, HD TV is good enough for smaller TV screens, when the closest person is at the bar, 8 feet away.

    What's the best TV and resolution to buy?

    1. Measure the closest and furthest seat distances from your TV screen.
    2. Look up these distances in the left column, below.
    3. Find the recommended TV sizes and resolutions on the rows for the close and far seat distances.
    4. Pick a TV choice that appears in the row that matches your closest seat distance. If you have a larger budget pick a TV size and resolution that appears in the furthest seat distance row.


       Another example: Your closest seat is 7' 6" distance and you want to buy a 4K 60" TV. The person in that seat will be able to see the difference a 4K picture can offer. The table below shows a 60" diagonal TV allows the person to see a sharp 4K image, all the way out to 7' 10". But, anyone in next row back, at about 10' 6", won't easily see that 4K is better. The person in the second row would need an 80" TV to notice the difference.

    Is resolution alone, all that matters?

    There is discussion that less loss of image quality in an 8K TV, even if it is on the edge of our average visual acuity, is still easier for our brains to process and the image can look more natural, with more depth. eftm
Distance from a seat to your TV screen Buy HD?

In today's market, there are fewer, HD only TV's left and 4K is coming down in price. Be aware, if your screen size choice fits this column, then you are not going to easily notice any difference by buying a 4K TV and viewing 4K content from each seat distance. HD content will look almost identical. If you want to take advantage of 4K, buy a larger TV.
Buy 4K?

This is the current popular resolution to buy. HD resolution may save some money. At certain sizes and seat distance, you may not notice much of a difference. To appreciate 4K, you will need to find 4K content and buy into, at least the screen sizes listed in this column for each seat distance. TV's will upscale from HD, but that quality is a mashup. True 4K is preferred to find; either on blu-ray, online streaming or some, upcoming limited cable channels.
Buy 8K???

Yes, it would be an improvement for viewing, up close.

This table limits choosing an 8K to viewing angles of about 40 degrees or less, for each seat distance. This matches most people's preference for maximum, comfortable viewing angle.

Wait until 2021 to find better 8K pricing.
5' 3" Under 40" TV looks pretty much the same as a 4K TV of the same size for anyone sitting 5' 3" or further away. 40" to 80" TV are a good match for this 5' 3" viewing distance.

If you sit closer, you will notice that 4K TV is better than HD.
55" - Viewers, at 5' 3" seating distance, would just start seeing a difference with a 65" 8K screen which would make an extremely wide, 48 degree, viewing angle.

If you sit closer, you will notice the 8K is better than 4K.
6' Under 46" 46" to 60" 55" to 70" - Viewers, at 6', start to see a difference with a 70" 8K screen - a 45 degree viewing angle.
6' 6" Under 50" 50" to 65" 55" to 72" - Viewers, at 6' 6", start to see a difference with a 72" 8K screen - a 44 degree viewing angle.
7' 3" Under 55" 55" to 70" 60" to 77" - Viewers, at 7' 3", start to see a difference with a 77" 8K screen - a 42 degree viewing angle.
7' 10" Under 60" 60" to 75" 65" to 75" - Viewers, at 7' 10", start to see a difference with a 80" 8K screen - a 40 degree viewing angle.
8' 6" Under 65" 65" to 80" 70" to 80" - Viewers, at 8' 6", start to see a difference with a 84" 8K screen - a 39 degree viewing angle.
9' 3" Under 70" 70" to 85" 75" to 90" - Viewers, at 9' 3", start to see a difference with a 88" 8K screen - a 38 degree viewing angle.
9' 10" Under 75" 75" to 90" 80" to 95" - Viewers, at 9' 10", start to see a difference with the 98" 8K screen - a 40 degree viewing angle.
10' 6" Under 80" 80" to 100" 85 to 100" - Viewers, at 10' 6", start to see a difference with the 98" 8K screen - a 37.6 degree viewing angle.
11' 2" Under 85" 85 to 110" 90" to 100" - Viewers, at 10' 6", start to see a difference with the 98" 8K screen - a 36 degree viewing angle.
11' 10" Under 90" 90" to 95" 98" - Viewers, at 11' 10", would see a difference with the 98" 8K screen - a 34 degree viewing angle.
12' 5" Under 95" 98" No longer useful. Viewer cannot see the difference between 8K and 4K.
12' 10" Under 98" 110"
(Not available on July 1st 2020).

Use instead, a 4K projector.
No longer useful. Viewer cannot see the difference between 8K and 4K for existing available 8K TV sizes.
13' 2" 100" No longer useful. Viewer cannot see the difference between 4K and HD for existing available 4K TV sizes.

Use instead, a 4K projector.
No longer useful. Viewer cannot see the difference between 8K and 4K for existing available 8K TV sizes.
14' 5" 110" No longer useful. Viewer cannot see the difference between 4K and HD for existing available 4K TV sizes.

Use instead, a 4K projector.
No longer useful. Viewer cannot see the difference between 8K and 4K for existing available 8K TV sizes.


4khdr v blu-ray
pbut

4K HDR Blu Ray - Is it worth it? by Linus Tech Tips


Projectors

4K projectors are available. A 2600 lumens or greater, projector can make a reasonable 100 inch diagonal screen in a darkened room. The chart below shows viewers sitting closer than the distance in the left column will appreciate a 4K projector, but viewers sitting further back will hardly be able to see a difference from a similar, HD projector.

If you are setting up an home theater with a projector, the closest seat distance is usually set to about 8 feet. Rows separation in movie theaters are 3 to 3 1/2 feet. We will use 3' 6" in our row comparisons below.

For example: Using the below chart - Your screen diagonal is 10 foot, then distance in feet show: 4K details are easily seen for the first row at 8', the second row at 11' 6" and the third row at 15' will be right on the edge of seeing more detail in 4K compared to just watching the same program with an HD projector.

For those planning to use a 4K projector of 2600 lumens or higher, here are the distance limits where a viewer can appreciate the 4K. Viewers sitting further away will hardly notice a difference with an HD projector.

Another example: If you use a 12 foot diagonal screen, a 4K projector and 6 rows. Look up 12' in the right column and the Distance and Row shows 18' 10" (4th row). Rows 1 to 4 will easily see the 4K details, and rows 5 and 6 would see about the same details if the projector was HD instead. In this case, all 6 rows would have a good experience. But, if you wanted the last row to be able to appreciate 4K details, your screen would need to be 16' diagonal and have a bright enough projector to provide good lumens brightness. (Lumens math is not covered here. See Projector Central Guide for projector brightness in Lumens.)

Distance and Row number or closer, where the viewer can appreciate 4K
(equivalent row in mid-size movie theater).
   Projection screen diagonal size: For a person with 20/20 vision, projection screens larger than this size can take advantage of 4K content for the Distance and Row number.
15' 9" (3rd row) 10' Projection Screen diagonal size
17' 4" (4th row) 11'
18' 10" (4th row) 12'
20' 5" (4th row) 13'
22' (5th row) 14'
23' 6" (5th row) 15'
25' 2" (6th row) 16'
26' 9" (6th row) 17'
28' 3" (7th row) 18'
29' 10" (7th row) 19'
31' 5" (7th row) 20'
32' 11" (8th row) 21'
34' 6" (8th row) 22'
36' 2" (9th row) 23'
37' 9" (9th row) 24'
39' 3" (10th row) 25'



True movie theaters viewing angles

The chart below shows that actual horizontal (width) viewing angles in a movie theater are quite large and it would be very expensive to match real movie theaters for the first 15 rows.

For example: If you want to match the experience of a large theater, 15 rows back and your chair, at home, is 8 feet from the screen, you need a screen width angle coverage of 46 to 50 degrees. Look at 8 on the X axis, at the bottom of the chart and follow that vertical line up to View angle values 46 to 50 on the Y axis. The TV screen sizes that from about 42 to 45 degrees are 82, 85, 86, 88 and 90. You have to go to 100 inch to get about 49 degrees. Check the rows back info text in the chart to find that this experience; a seat 8 feet away from a large TV screen 82 to 90" duplicates the movie going experience of 10 rows in a medium theater or 15 rows back in a large theater.

Another example: Say you want to have the movie going experience of 15 rows back in a Medium theater. This is 36 degrees. Your home viewing distance is 12 feet. Take the bottom line 12, follow up to around 36 and only the 100 inch TV will fit this setup and match the experience of sitting 15 rows back.

Screen viewing angles

Angle of view

Measure the width of your TV screen (not the diagonal measurement) and the distance from your eyes, from where you sit, to the screen. Enter these measurements in the two boxes below, to get your angle of view. Click on each box to see up and down arrows. The view angle to be THX certified must be between 26° to 40°. Most home theater custom designers recommend 30°.

We are using the width of the monitor instead of the screen size, because there are many TV's formats and even more computer monitor formats. The screen width is what defines the angle of view. The result, in the rose colored box below, includes the Widescreen diagonal TV sizes, as they are sold, for each entered screen width.

What is your favorite angle of view?

This angle is good to know. You can use it to decide what TV to buy, based on how far your favorite chair is from the screen.

When you run this test, try to be true to your real preference of what you find comfortable. I noticed I get a larger preferred angle of view, early in the day and a smaller preference in a darkened room in the evening. You may wish to run the test a few times on different times of day. Once you buy the TV, it's a big expense to change it.

  1. Sit in a darkened room. Open a youtube movie preview

    Jurassic World trailer
    and click the full screen vid full screen player icon.

        I picked an extreme wide, action movie trailer, which does not have the same height as a normal widescreen TV program, because people usually like sitting a little closer when the movie has less height. Testing with this trailer should make sure you get the screen size you want for big action movies, with this extreme wide view.

        If you want to also test with a 16:9 normal widescreen, use this other action video example.

    GoPro Hero 3 trailer
  2. Lean back to where it's comfortable to view.
  3. Measure the width of your monitor and the distance from your eyes to the monitor.
  4. Enter these numbers below to get your favorite angle of view in the rose colored box.

        For Example: My computer screen is 20 inches wide (left to right) and when I played back the movie trailer, full screen. I found I liked watching, where my eyes were 32 inches away. Entering those values, 20 and 32 into the blue and yellow boxes below, you get 34.7° 'angle of view' in the rose colored box.
  5. Say the distance from your movie chair to where you are going to put the TV is 120 inches (10 feet). Put 120 into the yellow box, replacing the 32. That changes the angle of view to a very small 9.5°. That's OK. This just shows what the computer monitor would look like if it was 120 inches away.
  6. Now, you need to find what value in the blue box will bring you back to your preferred angle of view. So, increase the 'Width of TV screen', upwards, until you get close to 34.7° angle of view.
  7. In this example it takes 75" 'Width of TV screen' to bring back the 34.7° angle of view and when you do that it shows it takes an 85.9" Widescreen TV to match that angle from 120 inches.
  8. Checking the 'TV Screen size (diagonal' chart below, you can see that an 85" 'Screen size' has a 74.5" 'Screen width'. So, to get the closest, preferred look from a chair 120 inches (10 feet back), you would need to buy an 85" (diagonal) TV screen.
← Change these numbers to find a new angle of view.
  inches

  inches

° angle of view from this seat   [ Widescreen TV (diagonal) ]

The Excel formula to find this is:     =DEGREES(ATAN((A2*0.5)/B2))*2
    A2 = Width of TV in inches
    B2 = Distance from eyes to screen in inches

TV Screen size (diagonal) for a 16:9 Widescreen TV = Screen width of the monitor (left to right)

Screen size
(diagonal)
Screen width Screen size
(diagonal)
Screen width Screen size
(diagonal)
Screen width Screen size
(diagonal)
Screen width
27"23.6" 50"43.7" 75"65.7" 85"74.5"
32"28.2" 55"48" 77"67.55" 88"76.8"
43"37.5" 60"52.4" 78"68.2" 90"78.5"
45"39.3" 65"56.9" 80"69.8" 100"87.2"
49"42.7" 70"61.2" 82"71.5" 110"96"

Distance from your eyes to screen - Conversion feet and inches to inches only

Feet & InchesInches total Feet & InchesInches total Feet & InchesInches total Feet & InchesInches total Feet & InchesInches total
2'24" 6'72" 10'120" 14'168" 18'216"
2' 1"25" 6' 1"73" 10' 1"121" 14' 1"169" 18' 1"217"
2' 2"26" 6' 2"74" 10' 2"122" 14' 2"170" 18' 2"218"
2' 3"27" 6' 3"75" 10' 3"123" 14' 3"171" 18' 3"219"
2' 4"28" 6' 4"76" 10' 4"124" 14' 4"172" 18' 4"220"
2' 5"29" 6' 5"77" 10' 5"125" 14' 5"173" 18' 5"221"
2' 6"30" 6' 6"78" 10' 6"126" 14' 6"174" 18' 6"222"
2' 7"31" 6' 7"79" 10' 7"127" 14' 7"175" 18' 7"223"
2' 8"32" 6' 8"80" 10' 8"128" 14' 8"176" 18' 8"224"
2' 9"33" 6' 9"81" 10' 9"129" 14' 9"177" 18' 9"225"
2' 10"34" 6' 10"82" 10' 10"130" 14' 10"178" 18' 10"226"
2' 11"35" 6' 11"83" 10' 11"131" 14' 11"179" 18' 11"227"
3'36" 7'84" 11'132" 15'180" 19'228"
3' 1"37" 7' 1"85" 11' 1"133" 15' 1"181" 19' 1"229"
3' 2"38" 7' 2"86" 11' 2"134" 15' 2"182" 19' 2"230"
3' 3"39" 7' 3"87" 11' 3"135" 15' 3"183" 19' 3"231"
3' 4"40" 7' 4"88" 11' 4"136" 15' 4"184" 19' 4"232"
3' 5"41" 7' 5"89" 11' 5"137" 15' 5"185" 19' 5"233"
3' 6"42" 7' 6"90" 11' 6"138" 15' 6"186" 19' 6"234"
3' 7"43" 7' 7"91" 11' 7"139" 15' 7"187" 19' 7"235"
3' 8"44" 7' 8"92" 11' 8"140" 15' 8"188" 19' 8"236"
3' 9"45" 7' 9"93" 11' 9"141" 15' 9"189" 19' 9"237"
3' 10"46" 7' 10"94" 11' 10"142" 15' 10"190" 19' 10"238"
3' 11"47" 7' 11"95" 11' 11"143" 15' 11"191" 19' 11"239"
4'48" 8'96" 12'144" 16'192" 20'240"
4' 1"49" 8' 1"97" 12' 1"145" 16' 1"193" 20' 1"241"
4' 2"50" 8' 2"98" 12' 2"146" 16' 2"194" 20' 2"242"
4' 3"51" 8' 3"99" 12' 3"147" 16' 3"195" 20' 3"243"
4' 4"52" 8' 4"100" 12' 4"148" 16' 4"196" 20' 4"244"
4' 5"53" 8' 5"101" 12' 5"149" 16' 5"197" 20' 5"245"
4' 6"54" 8' 6"102" 12' 6"150" 16' 6"198" 20' 6"246"
4' 7"55" 8' 7"103" 12' 7"151" 16' 7"199" 20' 7"247"
4' 8"56" 8' 8"104" 12' 8"152" 16' 8"200" 20' 8"248"
4' 9"57" 8' 9"105" 12' 9"153" 16' 9"201" 20' 9"249"
4' 10"58" 8' 10"106" 12' 10"154" 16' 10"202" 20' 10"250"
4' 11"59" 8' 11"107" 12' 11"155" 16' 11"203" 20' 11"251"
5'60" 9'108" 13'156" 17'204" 21''252"
5' 1"61" 9' 1"109" 13' 1"157" 17' 1"205" 21' 1"253"
5' 2"62" 9' 2"110" 13' 2"158" 17' 2"206" 21' 2"254"
5' 3"63" 9' 3"111" 13' 3"159" 17' 3"207" 21' 3"255"
5' 4"64" 9' 4"112" 13' 4"160" 17' 4"208" 21' 4"256"
5' 5"65" 9' 5"113" 13' 5"161" 17' 5"209" 21' 5"257"
5' 6"66" 9' 6"114" 13' 6"162" 17' 6"210" 21' 6"258"
5' 7"67" 9' 7"115" 13' 7"163" 17' 7"211" 21' 7"259"
5' 8"68" 9' 8"116" 13' 8"164" 17' 8"212" 21' 8"260"
5' 9"69" 9' 9"117" 13' 9"165" 17' 9"213" 21' 9"261"
5' 10"70" 9' 10"118" 13' 10"166" 17' 10"214" 21' 10"262"
5' 11"71" 9' 11"119" 13' 11"167" 17' 11"215" 21' 11"263"


THX Viewing angle recommendation

The general accepted Home theater viewing angles are set to about 20 rows back in a medium movie theater. An important factor in choosing a TV is, how big should you go for your viewing space. THX suggests viewing angles from 26 to 40 degrees. SMPTE standard ST 195:2000 recommends a minimum viewing angle of 30 degrees for movie theaters.

Home theater viewing angles: Find the distance from the closest seat to the screen in your viewing room and then use the chart below.

In the photography world, a portrait lens that covers 22 width by 15 degrees height, is the standard that photographers consider as the most comfortable angle of view, when they take a portrait photograph. This is 8 degrees less than the suggested home theater experience from the retail market. By this photography standard, a smaller view angle of 22 degrees is also comfortable viewing.

distance to view angle

The chart below shows the same info with the X Axis showing TV Screen sizes and the Y Axis still showing View Angle. High up in the chart is the larger view angle. The distance is charted with lines.

For example: The middle orange line (11 foot distance) shows that you come into the recommended THX viewing angle of 26 degrees when you view a 70" screen. An 80" screen is the recommended SMPTE 30 degree view angel and even a 100" screen still is within the maximum view angle for THX at 36 degrees.

Screen size to view angle

Movie theater rows converted to home viewing distance in feet

Another nice chart to have is to convert the distance in your viewing room to approximate row in a mid-size movie theater. If you know you like to sit in the 10th row, then these charts are for you. Let's see an example first, then the same chart without the example arrows.

Example conversion viewing distance to movie seat row

Convert your favorite row to home viewing distance by TV size


Online calculators that can help solve home theater design choices:

TV Size view distance inchcalculator
    TV size viewing distance - Inch Calculator.com
View distance calc myhomtheater
    Viewing distance - Homestead.com
TV size to distance and angle from rtings
    TV Size to Distance - Rtings.com



Screen tests

Blu-ray

For Close-up, a blu-ray will always look better than a DVD. A viewer sitting closer than 28 feet watching a DVD on an 80 inch screen can see individual pixels. They cannot do that with blu-ray unless they are within 10 1/2 feet.

For normal viewing distances, blu-ray always looks better until the viewer gets so far away that they can no longer see the difference and DVD resolution begins to appear similar to blu-ray. For a 75" (diagonal) screen, this only starts to happen when the viewer is beyond 26 feet away. Some people with better than average vision, will probably still see a pronounced blu-ray improvement up to about 50 feet for an 80" (diagonal) screen.

If you have the smaller 40" screen and show a blu-ray, you are not taking as full of advantage of the better resolution. At close viewing distances, blu-ray always looks better, but after 13 feet for average eye-sight, the difference is less noticeable and after 26 feet for better than average eyesight, the sharpness begins to look the same as a blu-ray on a 40" TV.

This does not take into consideration the other improvements of the codec compression for color, clarity, contrast, motion artifacts etc.. that blu-ray technology has over DVD. This test is only for visual sharpness.

Plan your home theater space?

Okay, you can stop puzzling over the charts, here are the numbers based on a home theater space. Unfortunately with DVD, you can never approach 30 degree viewing, let alone 45 degree which some people claim as ideal. For all blu-ray sets, 30 degree viewing angle is fine. There will be no degradation of image for getting this close. For standard DVD's to seem to match that sharpness, the viewer needs to be much further away where the monitor appears to be 14 degrees left to right. In other words blu-ray will always make a difference unless you watch TV from very far away.



4K?

Most all Large TV's are already 4K now and these TV's up-convert from HD to 4K. There are still limits what people can see. Whenever HD visual acuity is reached or closer, then a 4K TV is preferred. A person, with 20/20 vision, sitting these distances or closer will not be bothered seeing individual pixels with a 4K TV. The distances are a little surprising. Also, consider that with these distances, or further back, a person with 20/20 vision will not really see any difference between HD and 4K.

TV Size (diagonal) HD visual acuity
40" 4' 11"
46" 5' 8"
50" 6' 2"
55" 6' 9"
60" 7' 5"
65" 8'
70" 8' 8"
75" 9' 3"
80" 9' 10"
85" 10' 6"
90" 11' 11"


This test only applies to a still image resolution. Once the media is moving, other resolution and encoding factors can allow people to still see an improvement of 4K, sitting further back. But this is realistic test for our ability to resolve pixel details.

I, personally can no longer see pixel resolution difference, sitting further than 6 feet on a 47" TV. That equals past 9 feet on a 65" TV. If your seating is closer than this on any of the above TV size / distance combinations above, then playback in 4K should be easily noticable. If you sit further back, then you are not seeing the pixel difference, but may still notice nicer graduation of shades and smoother fast movements. 4K is still best with HD blu-ray, rather than streaming.





DVD resolution on Widescreen TV's with full 720 x 480 playback



Viewing angle, left to right, at the distance of maximum sharpness for DVD playback is 14 degrees for all screen sizes. If you view a standard DVD at this distance / angle you will be at the limit of an average person's eyesight so it would be difficult to tell if the playback is a standard DVD or a better, blu-ray DVD. Moving closer, you should begin to see individual pixels. If you are closer than this distance it should be easy to see that blu-ray resolution is better.



TV Size

Distance in feet of max sharpness

Comments

40"
12 feet
  • Most people's living room viewing distance is between 10 and 12 feet.
42"
12.8 feet
  • Most people's living room viewing distance is between 10 and 12 feet.
44"
13.1 feet
  • You now begin to need to sit further away than average to not notice that DVD is lower sharpness than blu-ray.
46"
13.8 feet
 
48"
14.4 feet
 
50"
15 feet
  • This is the max distance, most people will allow for sit down, full attention TV viewing.
52"
15.1 feet
  • Definite advantage now goes to blu-ray for sharpness. People normally do not sit more than 15 feet from a TV.
54"
16.4 feet
 
56"
16.7 feet
 
58"
17.4 feet
 
60"
18 feet
 
62"
18.7 feet
 
64"
19.3 feet
 
66"
19.7 feet
  • Even if someone were to sit this far away, there would be other chairs closer to the screen. Again, Blu-ray has a large advantage for living rooms this large.
68"
20.3 feet
 
70"
21 feet
 
72"
21.6 feet
  • A viewer closer than 21.6 feet can start to see that DVD resolution is noticeably less than Blu-ray. Anyone sitting further away will not be able to see much difference.



Blu-ray resolution on Widescreen TV's with full 1920 x 1080 playback (square pixels)

Viewing angle, left to right, at the distance of maximum sharpness for blu-ray playback is 30 degrees for all screen sizes. If you view a blu-ray DVD at this distance / angle you will be at the limit of an average person's eyesight, so moving further away should result in the resolution remaining similar. Moving closer, you should begin to see individual pixels. The blu-ray maximum sharpness distance is always closer than the Standard DVD maximum sharpness distance. So, at watching blu-ray will always look much better, out to the Standard DVD maximum resolution distances listed above.

TV Size

Distance in feet of max sharpness

Comments

40"
5.3 feet
  • This is very close to view. The pixel size is at the limit of 20/20 eyesight at this distance. Closer, we would notice resolution go down. Further away, we will not be able to see much difference in resolution. A larger screen is useful.
42"
5.6 feet
  • Still very close. A larger screen is useful.
44"
5.9 feet
 
46"
6.2 feet
 
48"
6.6 feet
 
50"
6.7 feet
  • Still too close. A larger screen is useful.
52"
6.9 feet
  • Almost 7 feet viewing distance is about right for a small living room. The perceived resolution will lower if you sit closer. This is an optimal size for a small living room.
54"
7.2 feet
 
56"
7.6 feet
 
58"
7.9 feet
  • Middle size living room with an 8 foot viewing distance
60"
8 feet
 
62"
8.2 feet
 
64"
8.5 feet
 
66"
8.8 feet
 
68"
9.1 feet
 
70"
9.4 feet
 
72"
9.5 feet
  • The main seats should be at least 9 1/2 feet away from the monitor. People sitting closer will begin to see some pixilation.



4K resolution



TV Size

Distance in feet of max sharpness

Comments

43"
17 feet
  • Limit of 20/20 vision to see pixels on the screen.
45"
18 feet
  • If you are sitting closer than 18 feet, to this TV, larger screens will show some pixels. You only need a larger TV, if you like larger screens.
48"
19 feet
  • Limit of 20/20 vision to see pixels on the screen. The screen looks 100% sharp for distances of 19 feet and greater.
50"
20 feet
  • This is the average top limit of distance that most people will ever sit away from a TV. Using a 50" TV means that anyone sitting at 20 feet or further will not be able to see individual pixels. So, the only reason to go larger is that you prefer a wider view when watching a movie or for some extra features on the TV.
55"
22 feet
  • At 22 feet you are beyond the range that most people will sit to watch. If you normally sit closer, consider getting a smaller TV, because the image will actually appear sharper.
60"
24 feet
  • This distance of view is beyond most living rooms. The image will look excellent but at 24 feet away and further it will not appear to get any sharper. Buy this size to get the viewing angle, not a sharper image.
65"
26 feet
  • Same as above
70"
28 feet
  • Same as above
80"
31 feet
  • Same as above
82"
33 feet
  • Same as above
85"
34 feet
  • Same as above
86"
34 feet
  • Same as above
88"
35 feet
  • Same as above
90"
36 feet
  • Same as above
100"
40 feet
  • Same as above


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