Display (cont’d)

Myth #2: You can’t see 1080p quality anyways

Fact: It depends on how far you sit away from the TV.

One of the most commonly referenced facts is that most people sit too far back to get the full benefit of 1080p anyways. Assuming you had 20/20 vision, the limit of human vision for 1920x1080 pixels is as follows:

TV Size	Maximum viewing distance where the full benefit of 1080p is seen
32"	4.2 feet
40"	5.2 feet
46"	6.0 feet
60"	7.8 feet
70"	9.1 feet
100"	13 feet

With the exception of large screens, most people tend to sit further away from the TV than what is needed for “maximum” benefit of 1080p. However, what you rarely see quoted is the same set of numbers given for 720p displays.

TV Size	Maximum viewing distance where the full benefit of 720p is seen
32"	6.2 feet
40"	7.8 feet
46"	9.0 feet
60"	11.7 feet
70"	13.7 feet
100"	19.0 feet

That is to say, if you are sitting closer than the numbers in this second chart, you will be in the range where you will begin to see the differences of going beyond 720p. Sometimes, the viewing distance with will be a limitation of what’s physically and aesthetically reasonable in your living room/family room/bedroom, but can you get a TV that’s too big?