Sony Bravia KDL V32XBR1 or V40XBR1

Jrunnner · 01-25-2006, 01:51 PM

I am in the market to purchase a 32 inch or 40 inch LCD HDTV.

The room where I'll be viewing is narrow and when I am seated, from my eyes to screen is approimately 8.5-9 ft.

From the experience of others; can someone give me advice on the size that would be the most appropreiate to view from this distance

With 40 inch would picture distortion be more noticble?

Thanks for the advice.

Setg · 01-25-2006, 02:20 PM

I went w/ the 40 and sit about the same distince away and it looks just fine. sometime it looks so good i went to sit closer

BuTal63 · 01-25-2006, 02:44 PM

A lot depends on individual viewer preferences and eyesight characteristics. You really need to view both sets in a decent store setting, at the distance you have available at home.

As a general guide, Sony recommends a minimum viewing distance 3 to 7 times the screen height, for flat panel lcd sets. This translates into approximately 4-9 feet for the 32" and 5-11.5 feet for the 40."
So you see, even Sony suggests there's a lot of "wiggle room" when it comes to minimum viewing distance. Again as a general rule, most folks never go wrong by going bigger and many who go smaller often regret it later.

Yes, any flaws or anomalies in the picture will be more noticeable in a larger screen tv than a smaller one, at the same viewing distance.

I do not yet own either set, so perhaps actual owners can give you more difinitive info. Again though, it's best for your own eyes to make the decision.

FWIW, I've viewed the 32" several times in different stores and was very impressed, even close-up. Haven't seen the 40" yet.

c22822 · 01-25-2006, 02:47 PM

I have a 32" that is viewed from approx. 9'. I regret that I did not get the 40" because the picture is too small from that distance.

RSawdey · 01-25-2006, 04:21 PM

I have a 50" 720p set I view from 6 - 8' away. One commonly used rule of thumb is a viewing distance of twice the diagonal... or a diagonal of half the viewing distance... so even a 50 - 55" set wouldn't be too big.

Remember, for the same image height a widescreen is 1/3 wider... another way to consider it is to compare the size of the inset 4:3 image of the widescreen with your old 4:3 set... multiply the diagonal of a widescreen by 0.82 to get the diagonal of the inset 4:3... so a 50" widescreen shows a 4:3 image the same size as a 41" narrowscreen would be. And a 40" widescreen has a 4:3 inset of 33".

Setg · 01-25-2006, 04:50 PM

Jrunner go with the 40 you will love it, I do. Its worth the extra $800 or $900

S0LE_SURVIV0R · 01-25-2006, 05:11 PM

Everyone is different, I think 40-42 is the perfect size, but that's just me.
I had a 53, & 50 & I sold them to by a 42 that I have in the bedroom and my flat 40 in the main room.
To me, 32 is a bit too small to have a big screen experience. With 40-42, it's a big screen experience without having to go 50-60 route and not small like 19-32. The entire image appears more compact & the entire screen visible without the shifting of your eyes as you would on a bigger screen. In my opinion, it seems as if I view more pixels with a 40 than a 50, because my eyes aren't having to work so much to see beyond the center. But then again my rooms are not so big so that could be why I like this size. You seem to get a big screen experience with the 40-42's and they are great even in a bed room where a 50 may not be.
Everyone is different though, go with what you like!

Justin · 01-25-2006, 07:30 PM

I agonized over which to get, the 32 or 40 inch Sony. I finally went with the 40 inch and do not regret it, although at times from my 6 to 7 foot viewing distance sometimes I can see imperfections. But when I am watching an HD broadcast it is just stunning and absolutely worth it!

I say go for the 40 incher...I think your distance will be just about perfect.

01-25-2006, 01:51 PM	#1
Jrunnner High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 30	Sony Bravia KDL V32XBR1 or V40XBR1 I am in the market to purchase a 32 inch or 40 inch LCD HDTV. The room where I'll be viewing is narrow and when I am seated, from my eyes to screen is approimately 8.5-9 ft. From the experience of others; can someone give me advice on the size that would be the most appropreiate to view from this distance With 40 inch would picture distortion be more noticble? Thanks for the advice.

01-25-2006, 02:47 PM	#4
c22822 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 31	Choices I have a 32" that is viewed from approx. 9'. I regret that I did not get the 40" because the picture is too small from that distance.

01-25-2006, 04:21 PM	#5
RSawdey Mr. Wizard Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ferndale, Michigan Age: 61 Posts: 5,981	I have a 50" 720p set I view from 6 - 8' away. One commonly used rule of thumb is a viewing distance of twice the diagonal... or a diagonal of half the viewing distance... so even a 50 - 55" set wouldn't be too big. Remember, for the same image height a widescreen is 1/3 wider... another way to consider it is to compare the size of the inset 4:3 image of the widescreen with your old 4:3 set... multiply the diagonal of a widescreen by 0.82 to get the diagonal of the inset 4:3... so a 50" widescreen shows a 4:3 image the same size as a 41" narrowscreen would be. And a 40" widescreen has a 4:3 inset of 33". Last edited by RSawdey; 01-25-2006 at 04:26 PM.

01-25-2006, 05:11 PM	#7
S0LE_SURVIV0R Watch this in HD! Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Boston Age: 45 Posts: 287	Everyone is different, I think 40-42 is the perfect size, but that's just me. I had a 53, & 50 & I sold them to by a 42 that I have in the bedroom and my flat 40 in the main room. To me, 32 is a bit too small to have a big screen experience. With 40-42, it's a big screen experience without having to go 50-60 route and not small like 19-32. The entire image appears more compact & the entire screen visible without the shifting of your eyes as you would on a bigger screen. In my opinion, it seems as if I view more pixels with a 40 than a 50, because my eyes aren't having to work so much to see beyond the center. But then again my rooms are not so big so that could be why I like this size. You seem to get a big screen experience with the 40-42's and they are great even in a bed room where a 50 may not be. Everyone is different though, go with what you like! __________________ Sony 40 LCD flat panel XBR & Panasonic 37 768p Plasma HD TIVO The human eye can barely perceive a 1366x768 resolution 10 feet away from a 50 inch see http://proav.pubdyn.com/2005_January...rallaxview.htm 720p Fastest & Best Temporal Resolution Sony "The world's greatest high definition television"

01-25-2006, 07:30 PM	#8
Justin High-Def Newbie Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Keller, TX 76248 Age: 68 Posts: 209	I agonized over which to get, the 32 or 40 inch Sony. I finally went with the 40 inch and do not regret it, although at times from my 6 to 7 foot viewing distance sometimes I can see imperfections. But when I am watching an HD broadcast it is just stunning and absolutely worth it! I say go for the 40 incher...I think your distance will be just about perfect. __________________ Justin Verizon FiOS TV and Internet Motorola QIP6416 DVR Sony KDL-V40XBR1 LCD Sony SLV-D360P DVD/VCR

01-25-2006, 02:20 PM	#2
Setg I know what HD is!!! Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Schenectady, NY Age: 32 Posts: 28	I went w/ the 40 and sit about the same distince away and it looks just fine. sometime it looks so good i went to sit closer

01-25-2006, 02:44 PM	#3
BuTal63 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Suboiban Philly, PA Posts: 503	A lot depends on individual viewer preferences and eyesight characteristics. You really need to view both sets in a decent store setting, at the distance you have available at home. As a general guide, Sony recommends a minimum viewing distance 3 to 7 times the screen height, for flat panel lcd sets. This translates into approximately 4-9 feet for the 32" and 5-11.5 feet for the 40." So you see, even Sony suggests there's a lot of "wiggle room" when it comes to minimum viewing distance. Again as a general rule, most folks never go wrong by going bigger and many who go smaller often regret it later. Yes, any flaws or anomalies in the picture will be more noticeable in a larger screen tv than a smaller one, at the same viewing distance. I do not yet own either set, so perhaps actual owners can give you more difinitive info. Again though, it's best for your own eyes to make the decision. FWIW, I've viewed the 32" several times in different stores and was very impressed, even close-up. Haven't seen the 40" yet.

01-25-2006, 04:50 PM	#6
Setg I know what HD is!!! Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Schenectady, NY Age: 32 Posts: 28	Jrunner go with the 40 you will love it, I do. Its worth the extra $800 or $900