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Viewing-Guide:
How to see the best you can see!
It's simple!TD> |
Our viewing-guide will help you get it right! As mentioned elsewhere on cinemas-de-recherche.org, your chosen display technology will make some room lighting compromises necessary. This is to get the best contrast ratio or blacks. In a bright room, the screen will wash out, and you’ll lose detail in dark scenes. Since some display (and especially projection) devices are challenged in this area to begin with, you are compromising performance if your room is too bright. There’s a reason movie theaters are dark! However, as you read in this viewing-guide later, all dark isn't best! Surprise!
Viewing-Guide Rules of thumb/eyes:The viewing angle-to-screen ‘safe’ maximum should be 30 degrees. You can cheat this a little if viewing a Plasma or direct view screen.
The optimum viewing distance should be from 3 to 5 times the screen diagonal. If you sit too close, you’ll see the trees but miss the forest, to turn a phrase. Imperfections will be more obvious when you sit too close.
You'll also be much more likely to see the screen door effect which is actually the spaces between the pixels that make up the picture in certain technologies.
Avoid REFLECTIONS!If you buy a display device with an attached reflective screen, (and don’t say we didn’t warn you - Don’t!) lights or windows placed in the rear of the room will cause annoying reflections from the screen. This can distract and greatly reduce viewing pleasure.
If you into a store, take a flashlight and shine it at the screen to gauge reflectivity. Ask if the screen has a protective covering which can be removed (assuming your kids are grown and kitty has a kind nature.) Some are removeable on purpose. Some don't come off. Ask before you buy!
Certain new sets have AMBI-LIGHT which is a light system that changes colors behind the set, washing the wall behind your TV with colors to match what color predominates on the screen. They can be switched to screen match, all red, or blue, or white, or off.
You DO want some light in the room. A completely dark room strains the eyes. That brings up dimmers. If you have a high-end system and hear a buzz in the speakers, it might be coming from the dimmers. You want the EXPENSIVE KIND that don't do that© 2005, 2006
www.cinemas-de-recherche.org | Home Theater Made Easy | Home Theater guides and reviews
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