Right Screen Placement In A Home Theater
The best possible television screen dimension is entirely related to the available viewing distance. Nevertheless, there are supplementary issues too that need to be taken into consideration.
Viewing Distance: Is it simply a matter of individual preference?
Be seated exceedingly near your big screen television and you will be able to note the image build-up structure – scanning lines or pixels structuring the picture, consequently off-putting your attention and trashing your home theater experience. But, be seated exceedingly distant, and the impact will be gone.
The truth is that there are no systematic rules here. This does not signify that there are no guidelines that you should go along with when preparing for a huge screen purchase or a prospective home theater room.
SMPTE Recommendations and the THX Certification standards:
The Society of Motion Pictures and Television Engineers (SMPTE) advises that the screen dimension for home theater utility must occupy a 30 degrees field of view – in the horizontal arrangement – for the spectators. Alternatively, the ideal TV viewing distance should be such that the screen width absorbs an angle of 30 degrees from the watching spot.
This SMPTE guideline is also in line with the THX certification guidelines in that these mention that the back row of seats must have a minimum of a 26 degrees watching angle and while mentioning a most advantageous watching angle of 36 degrees.
So How Does All This Translate In Practical Terms?
A common rule for the TV viewing distance based on the SMPTE and visual acuity guidelines, is that the closest television watching distance between you and your big screen television must be narrowed to around two times the screen width (more accurate 1.87 x screen width for a subtended angle of 30 degrees), while the farthest distance being not higher than five times the width of your screen.
Nonetheless, it is also significant to comprehend that these maximum and minimum viewing distances need to be appreciated in the light of the video signal definition.
An entirely resolved HD TV (1080i, 1920×1080) supports a closer watching distance than typical analog TV. While double the screen width would be the idyllic television viewing distance for a HDTV display, it will be a bit too near for regular TV; in the later case, a thrice the screen width will be a better alternative.
When it comes to the use of regular-size standard definition analog TVs in the home theater, i.e. around 36 / 40 diagonal, the best possible viewing distance range is between 8 feet and 12 feet. television sets tinier than 36-inches are not big enough to qualify for Home Theater use since their lesser screen size will not impart the preferred impact on the watcher.
Vertical Angle of View & Screen Height:
For optimum watching, the eyes of the viewer needs to be leveled with the midpoint of the screen.
Maximum vertical angle of view: In those home theater set-ups where this isn’t likely, the SMPTE principles propose that the maximum vertical angle measured at the seated eye height from the front row middle position to the highest part of the projected picture must not surpass 35 degrees.
This doesn’t correspond to the best possible viewing angle but rather the limit beyond which the watcher will be exposed to an increased neck strain.
Minimum angle of vision: While there do not seem to be any identifiable SMPTE or THX guidelines in this respect, investigations have proven that if the screen dimension occupies below 15 degrees of the watcher’s vertical field of view, then that image seems tiny.
Practical Points:
In a typical home theater set-up, you do not have to certainly fret concerning neither the maximum vertical angle of view, nor regarding the smallest vertical angle of vision for an effectual movie theater experience.
If you were to adhere to the advised television viewing distance of twofold the screen width (as additionally listed above according to the SMPTE principle of 30 degrees horizontal field of vision), you will necessarily be obeying the smallest possible angle of vision. The reason behind that is there’s a set relation between screen height and width in line with your home theater screen aspect ratio of either 16:9 or 4:3.
Keeping in mind that nearly all home theater rooms are about 10 feet (3m) high, the ensuing vertical watching angle is customary well within the maximum of 35 degrees detailed in the SMPTE principles, all you must do is solely linger within the double the screen width guideline for your viewing distance.
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