Choosing a television size that's right for you
• The optimal size of your television depends on the distance between you and the screen. With older, standard-definition televisions, the industry-accepted formula was to sit back about three times the diagonal measurement of the screen -- therefore a viewer should be about six feet away from a 27-inch TV for comfortable viewing. This was because of visible scan lines on older TVs.
But with today's HD television shows and other high-definition content (such as Blu-ray discs), you can sit closer -- you won't notice any imperfections. Some experts suggest sitting back 1.5 to 2.5 times the diagonal measurement of an HDTV screen; therefore, you'll want to sit between six and 10 feet away from a 50-inch TV.
What you need to know about LCD and LED TVs
• LCD and plasma TVs each have their own pros and cons. LCD TVs are available in a greater range of sizes, and they're thinner and lighter than plasma, more energy efficient and ideal for rooms with a lot of ambient light -- they tend to absorb light rather than reflect it. Glare is sometimes an issue with plasma TVs, but plasma TVs offer smoother motion (ideal for watching fast-moving sports and games), more accurate colour reproduction and better contrast ratios (darker blacks).
• LED televisions are essentially LCD TVs with better lighting technology. Rather than fluorescent tubes behind the liquid crystals, these TVs are powered by light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which offer much better contrast and a brighter display with more vibrant colours. They also consume less energy and have thinner frames. They'll likely cost more than regular LCD TVs, though.
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