How to View Distance & Height for a Plasma TV

For the most viewing enjoyment, place your plasma TV at the optimal distance and height.

When installing a plasma TV for your living room or home theater, it's important to consider its placement for optimal viewing conditions. Height and viewing distance are the two most important factors that should be considered. If the TV is too high, neck strain will be a problem. If you're too close, it will cause eye fatigue and the screen will seem overwhelming. After choosing the right size screen for your room, adjusting these two factors will determine where you place your plasma TV and seating area.

Instructions

Adjust viewing distance

1. Sitting too close to your plasma television can be uncomfortable after awhile, especially when watching bright content like sporting events. As a general rule, multiply your screen size by 7 or 8. This will give you the minimum seating distance (in inches) at which the average person would be comfortable.

2. Take note whether your plasma TV's resolution is 1080p or 720p. If you are comfortable, experiment with sitting a few feet closer with a 1080p set to see more detail in the picture. 720p sets have a lower resolution, so sit farther back for the best picture.

3. Move your TV or seating area to accommodate the distance calculations from the first step. If you still feel too close or too far, make minor adjustments accordingly.

Adjust viewing height

1. Before installing a plasma TV on a wall, make sure not to place it too high or too low. Doing so will cause neck problems and make the TV generally uncomfortable to watch.

2. Place your furniture so that the viewers don't need to raise their heads to see the picture. Looking up a little bit is fine, but definitely don't make them look down to see the screen.

3. Adjust your TV and/or furniture position accordingly to accommodate your new seating positions.

Tips & Warnings

• Seating distances and angles are not an exact science. When calculating the minimum distance, it's perfectly fine to adjust a few feet if your eyes or room decor call for it.

• If you're not sure whether your plasma TV is 720p or 1080p, keep in mind that most screen sizes 42" and under are 720p, while most 58" and larger screens are 1080p.

• Plasma screens do not have issues with off-angle viewing, so the picture will look the same no matter how far to the side you choose to sit.

• If your plasma is mounted on a stand or in a TV cabinet, there is not much you can do for viewing height adjustments other than buying new furniture. When shopping for a TV stand, choose one that is high enough to fit your needs.

• An articulating wall mount can be helpful to move the TV to different positions and angles for large rooms.

• Always have a helping hand when moving a large TV. Don't attempt to move it yourself.

References

• Crutchfield: HDTV FAQ