DTVuser2009

I think a lot of it has to do with the common part of culture philosophy:

'Mine is bigger than yours!'

if your next door neighbor or best friend has a huge TV, one always has to one-up it with an even bigger set. it's been that way for years. even during the Muscle Car era it was sorta similar, but with speed. 'mine is faster than yours!'

It's not expected to stop. but i must be one of very few humans who has evolved to the point that it makes absolutely no logical sense. to me screen size means nothing if the set cannot live long enough to really enjoy it. i prefer this philosophy the most:

Quality, NOT quantity.

jerseygirl

DTVuser2009, you wrote what I was thinking about it too.

If you have 50" TV, how big is your living room?
Sounds to me it is a hall and not a room any longer.

You remember the distance between TV and viewer has to be three times the screen size at least.

Orrymain

I have a 52" inch but it's old and on the decline. I still love it though and can't ever imagine regularly watching a smaller screen again. I'm too used to the joys of the big screen. My sister thinks I'm spoiled!

DTVuser2009

If i wanted to watch a 50+" screen i'd go to the movie theatre.

1inxs

I'd go to the movie theater too, if there was any with a quality picture and sound nearby. The nearest is 50+ miles away from me. And then try sitting in a theater with cramped seating for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. At 6' 4" you get real tired of sitting in those little seats

DTVuser2009

Well i'm only a paltry 5'3" so that doesn't apply.

The theatres here have tons better sound (the bass too) than any HDTV i've seen or experienced. the HDTVs have great treble and SRS reproduction but the bass is terrible and distorts badly. you'd have to invest in a separate HD surround sound system in addition to the TV (which means more wasted $$$) just to get close to stadium sound found in most theatres.

Plus i think the theatres do quite well seeing as they have only film and reels to playback with.

1inxs

I think theater seat spacing is based on average the size person. So you'd be fine with the seating. In the theaters you get 720P video resolution unless they've already converted over to digital then you get 1080P. Theaters are switching over to digital due to quality enhancements now available. Also the sound quality isn't perfect for every viewer in a theater because of the general seating.

DTVuser2009

Oh yea sound quality sucks when a baby's there cryin' its eyes out! but that happens usually once out of 5 times.

GrantDraper

52" - that's awesome. I current have a 32" in my room and then i have a 42" in my lounge. As long as the sound and quality is of a good standard, it doesn't bother me to much

DTVuser2009

meh, 25" is fine by me. plus my console has the screen right at my eye level so i have a perfect viewing area. right in front.

Plus my set is made in USA and has already outlived any new HD set. try having any HDTV last over 20 years. to me i buy something i expect it to last, i don't throw things out. if they break i fix them. heck i just fixed a 19" GE TV made in 1984.