TV Size specs getting smaller?

[makryger]

I was just at my local costco, and it seemed like the flat screen tv diagonal sizes have been getting smaller. For example, a screen advertised at 46" a few years ago seems to be advertised as a 55" screen size now. I used to look at a 55" screen and think "wow, thats huge, I don't need something that big." Now I look at the 70" screen and think "hmm, that seems like a normal size". Am I going crazy? Maybe it's an optical illusion, what with the huge costco warehouse, and the smaller and smaller bezels... (I have a 46" screen, fwiw)

[lithium630]

I was just at my local costco, and it seemed like the flat screen tv diagonal sizes have been getting smaller. For example, a screen advertised at 46" a few years ago seems to be advertised as a 55" screen size now. I used to look at a 55" screen and think "wow, thats huge, I don't need something that big." Now I look at the 70" screen and think "hmm, that seems like a normal size". Am I going crazy? Maybe it's an optical illusion, what with the huge costco warehouse, and the smaller and smaller bezels... (I have a 46" screen, fwiw)

Funny, I was thinking something similar at Sams. The 60" tv seems about the same size as my 52" LCD. Probably a combination of things. Bezels are getting smaller so you have more screen at a smaller size than before. Plus we are looking at the TV's in a very large open warehouse instead of a much smaller livingroom.

[richard1980]

The viewing environment is very different in the store compared to what you have at home. The store has a bigger space, a different viewing distance, and different lighting than what you have at home. All of those things make the TV in store appear smaller than what it does in your home. Additionally, the store may have a 70" TV next to a 50" TV, which will make the 50" TV look very small.

So yes, it is an illusion.

[foxwood]

I replaced a 37" with a 45" in my living room, and within a week or two, the new one had shrunk to the size of the old one.

[TeddyR]

I replaced a 37" with a 45" in my living room, and within a week or two, the new one had shrunk to the size of the old one.

Thats why whenever someone I know asks me "what tv size should I get"... my answer is: Find the largest one that you can afford and think would fit in the space alloted (or the WAF would tolerate) then go with the next size larger. Within two weeks even that one will seem "almost big enough" even for the WAF.....

[DanH]

I 100% agree with this. That's what I tell everyone as well.

Thats why whenever someone I know asks me "what tv size should I get"... my answer is: Find the largest one that you can afford and think would fit in the space alloted (or the WAF would tolerate) then go with the next size larger. Within two weeks even that one will seem "almost big enough" even for the WAF.....

[STC]

So, in essence, buy the one you can't afford?!