Size matters -- at least, it matters when purchasing an HDTV. High-definition televisions are a different animal than standard televisions. If you get too close to your HDTV, you’ll be able to see the pixels -- but if you’re too far away, your picture may look distorted.

These factors force would-be HDTV owners to consider the size of the intended TV room before buying. Forget about beating your neighbor’s 144” television -- bigger is not always better in the world of HDTVs.

Bigger May Not Be Better

If your TV is too big for your viewing space, you’ll have to scan across the picture (the way you’d read a line of text) instead of viewing it as a whole. A too-big TV is overwhelming because it’s simply too large for your eyes to take in everything. Besides, from a design standpoint, a TV will look ridiculous if it takes up your entire wall.

On the other hand, a too-small TV will vastly limit the so-called ”immersive experience.” It’s impossible to get lost in a movie played on a tiny screen.

Not All HDTV Technology Is Alike

There are three main types of HDTVs (though two are related): Plasma, LCD, and LED. Here’s a brief look at all three technologies.

Plasma

On a plasma television, each and every pixel of your television image is ”lit” instead of scanned across your screen like a standard television. Plasma televisions are extremely thin in comparison to standard televisions. There’s generally no change in viewing experience as you move around the room (much like a standard TV).

Plasma televisions may be mounted, hung on the wall, or suspended from the ceiling. All plasma televisions are widescreen and you’ll find a huge range of screen sizes available. While LCD televisions have taken heavy criticism for their poor contrast performance, plasma televisions show both bright whites and deep blacks. However, plasmas have a much higher danger of overheating than LCDs. They also use far more electricity than LCDs.

LCD

LCD stands for ”liquid crystal display,” which means the screen contains liquid crystal molecules that can either let light in or block light (depending on what the image requires). Color is applied via filters within the screen.

LCD televisions don’t have the standard glass screen found on most television sets. There’s never a glare or reflection on the screen, even in bright light. However, LCD televisions are far more susceptible to screen damage.

LCD technology is perceived as more ”modern” than plasma. LCD TVs are also more lightweight than other televisions. Since an LCD image has no ”flicker,” it greatly reduces viewing eyestrain. The main complaint about LCDs is their contrast: deep blacks don’t show up very well on LCD screens.

LED

LED-lit televisions are the most recent development in television technology. An LED TV is just an LCD television that’s lit by an LED light instead of a fluorescent one. However, LEDs allow for a huge range of color -- including deeper blacks and brighter whites than their LCD predecessors. Additionally, LEDs use even less power than a fluorescent-lit LCD.

Decide Where Your TV is Going

Did you decide which technology is right for you? Next, it’s time to decide where your television is going. Will it hang on the wall? From the ceiling? Do you plan on mounting it on a stand or entertainment center?

Where is your seating? Is it moveable?

Now that you’ve picked a spot, it’s time to calculate your TV size.

A Simple Formula

There are several strategies you can utilize to figure out which TV size is right for your room. The first is the most precise: it’s a mathematic equation for the maximum or minimum TV size you can get for your chosen room.

Finding Your Maximum HDTV Size

Measure the distance in inches from your seating area to your intended TV placement. Divide it by 1.5. This is the maximum size HDTV you can purchase.

For example, if your couch is six feet away from your TV stand, that’s 72 inches. When we divide 72 by 1.5, we get 48 inches. Since the nearest common TV size is 46,” that’s the largest TV you should buy.

Finding Your Minimum HDTV Size

Similarly, take the distance from your seating area to your intended TV placement and divide it by four. Using the same 72-inch example from before, we get 18. The smallest size television you can get away with is 18” -- or, more commonly, a 19” television.

The No-Math Version

Are you looking for a more general ballpark figure?

• A bedroom TV set generally doesn’t need to be any larger than 30”.
• Sets larger than 30” are ideal for your family or living room.
• Considering a projector instead of a TV? You’ll need a large viewing room or a highly flexible seating arrangement to fully take in the picture.

Do Your Research Now

We’ll say it again: size and room placement do matter. After spending so much money on an HDTV, the last thing you want is to find out is that it’s the wrong size. Do the research now and you won’t regret your purchase later.