TV size question

[Anonymous]

We bought a new 55" TV today. I think it's too large for the room and want to exchange it for a 50". Most of the Internet says there's no such thing as a TV that's too big and that we'll get used to it. I don't want to get used to it! (It was my idea to buy a new tv and I agree we needed a big upgrade from our 32".) but even though we have the requisite 8' in viewing distance to justify the 55", the room as a whole is small and it just looks ridiculous. Will I get used to it? Does anyone out there regret getting a TV that was too big? Did anyone downsize and were you happy about it? I don't want the one time hassle to stop us. Last factor: the "restocking fee" will cost the same as the difference in price so we won't save any money, but that's not determinative. We have to live with this thing for years.

[Anonymous]

Is it a typical HDTV or a 4K UHD TV?

[Anonymous]

It's a 4k UHD.

[Anonymous]

We have a 78 inch that replaced a 55 inch. It's bigger, louder, takes up the length of the mantle and no regrets. It's what makes Dad happy so Dad keeps his happy.

I like it, you get used to it, plus it was a bitch to hang and I am NOT taking it down.

[Anonymous]

I'd keep it.

[Anonymous]

Well, if the 50" is UHD also I suppose it is OK to exchange. As you may know, you want to be closer to a UHD screen than an HDTV screen to benefit from the higher resolution. Or, have a larger UHD screen from the same viewing distance as a smaller screen HDTV. If you get 10 feet or more you are not getting much benefit from the 50" UHD resolution because you can't tell the difference from a same-size HDTV. Closer you can. 8 feet is OK.

This is just a rough assessment. There are so many factors. 5 inches are not going to make that much difference in the viewing experience. If it makes a major difference in room appearance to you, I'd exchange it. I don't know if you get used to the larger screen.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, PP. I'm still leaning towards returning it but curious what others have done. Obviously, once I downsize, I'm not going back anytime soon. I'm kicking myself for not just getting the 50" to begin with.

[Anonymous]

Just a suggestion not knowing many details -- Think about what you are going to use the room for. If you have a lot of big-screen time in your family, keep it. If it is only a few hours a week reclaim your room by getting the smaller screen. In our large living room we have a 32" HDTV screen. Suboptimal for viewing, but we just use it 2-4 hours a week. (Personal screens dominate in our family.) Next time we'll get a bit larger big-screen but now we like how it is kind of out of the way.

[Anonymous]

The 8 foot rule was invented by the TV companies to sell the smaller ones. See how you feel in a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a 4k UHD.

Once you get used to 4K it's hard to go back.

[Anonymous]

There is such a thing as a TV that is too big for the room. 40" was as high as we could go in our not-large family room.

I'm not sure there's a significant difference between 50 and 55, but that said, what you might be reacting to is how much bigger it is than your previous TV, or how you have it displayed that makes it look/seem larger.

[Anonymous]

Take a look @ http://www.rtings.com/tv/learn/size-to-distance-relationship. This should give you an objective answer to your question.

[Anonymous]

PP here, period screwed up the link... http://www.rtings.com/tv/learn/size-to-distance-relationship.

[Anonymous]

http://www.rtings.com/tv/learn/size-to-distance-relationship

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks, PPs for your feedback.

That website was one of the sites that got me into this predicament to begin with. It says for 8', 55" is recommended. For 4k, we could do much larger!

Do you think mounting it would make it seem smaller? It would move it back six more inches from where it sits on a TV table, and putting it flush with the wall might make it seem less conspicuous? (And the fact that it's larger than the table it's on). But mounting also means we are really stuck with it.... Any thoughts about how mounting could help/change the dynamic in the room?