Using a big TV instead of projector

TopBanana

TopBanana

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,472
Name
Tim
Edit My Images
Yes
My boss at work has asked me to look at buying a big TV to go in a meeting room as there isn't the money or space for a proper projector installation (as we have to go to certain contractors to get stuff like that installed it can cost mega bucks).
I was thinking of a 50" 4K screen, with the hope that the size and resolution would allow it to be used as a computer monitor from a decent distance away in the room. Has anyone tried this? Am I on to a hiding to nothing?
This one looks good: http://www.richersounds.com/product/tv---all/panasonic/viera-tx50cx680b/pana-tx50cx680b
 
srichards said:
You can sit a projector on a book shelf. No installation required ;)
Click to expand...
True, but the company will want cables chased in to the walls and faceplates installed for connecting HDMI/VGA etc which will end up costing a fair bit. There's an old 43" TV there at the moment, so replacing that with a 50" with a much better resolution should be a decent improvement (I hope!!)
 
I think a 50 might not be big enough over the 43. I'd be leaning toward a 55" minimum if the installation costs are much lower. How far away are the people furthest away from the screen going to be?
 
TopBanana said:
True, but the company will want cables chased in to the walls and faceplates installed for connecting HDMI/VGA etc which will end up costing a fair bit. There's an old 43" TV there at the moment, so replacing that with a 50" with a much better resolution should be a decent improvement (I hope!!)
Click to expand...

It depends on viewing distance. 50" isn't big for 4k, you may not be able to see any difference to HD. http://www.definitionmagazine.com/j...ts-a-spanner-in-to-4k-broadcasting-plans.html
 
We've done exactly this a few months ago. 50" isn't big enough to read text at 1080p resolution from more than about 10 feet away. We went for the cheapest LG 60" TV (no need for 4k, 3d, smart features etc). We picked one up from Ebay for a few hundred pounds, as the owner had upgraded to a 4k set.

Currently we've just got a long HDMI cable from the set to the centre of the table in the room, with a VGA to HDMI adapter. Longer term we will get it wall mounted, and embed the cables into the wall and under the floor etc.

The biggest advantage over the projector we used previously was the heat from the projector, fan noise, and it saves 5 minutes setting up time every time you need to use it.
 
What are you going to be using the screen for? If people are going to be using it for Powerpoint-type presentations, then you'll probably need a bigger screen than you think.

There's a very useful table of screen sizes, font sizes, and viewing distances here:
http://thinkoutsidetheslide.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/ViewingDistanceTable16x9.pdf

Now if you were designing a presentation, you could use this table to work out how big your text needs to be. Identify the row corresponding to the screen size, read along it until you get the room size, and the number at the top of the column tells you how big the text needs to be.

Trouble is, most people who design presentations aren't very good at it and use fonts which are too small, and you don't have any control over that. It's quite common for people to use 16-point or 14-point text. Some people will quite happily use 12-point or 10-point because it looks fine when they print it at A4 size, and because they've never thought through, or never been taught, the practicalities of reading from a distance on a big screen.

If I were you I'd aim to cater for 12-point text if possible. So identify the 24-point column, and read down that until the number is twice the measurement of your meeting room. Then the number on the left will give you the screen size you need. For example, if the meeting room is 10 feet long then you'll need a 42" screen. If it's 20 feet long you'll need an 80" screen. In fact this gives a quick rule-of-thumb which is 4" of screen size for every foot of viewing distance.
 
Last edited:
I agree with the points above. Not sure I agree that a projector will have to cost more as I think you should significantly increase the screen size anyway.


Besides other than a power cable you don't need wires to a projector. It's 2015, my Epson Wireless projector is short throw, about 5 years old and is silent. I bet a modern version is even better.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top