How big is too big?

For a rear projection tv the ideal seating distance would be 5x the viewable screen height. For example if you own a 50in RPTV and the viewable screen height is 30in, than your ideal seating distance would be 5x30 or 150in or 12ft - 6in. After this advice read Sean's post.

The other key issue is how big a wall you need for everything that has to be up front. In addition to a screen, you have to accomodate speakers, including possibly a sub. To have a 55" screen with adequate placement of speakers, etc. you probably need on the order of a 12' uninterrupted wall, which isn't always easy to accomodate.

As many have pointed out it's the viewing distance that matters, but it also has to be coupled with projected resolution. When I watch a movie I don't want to see scan lines. If you project too large and you are too close you will see those lines. Other than that--the bigger the better in my opinion. Does anyone think IMAX screens are too big for the theater? SGTH did an article on this (distance vs resolution) quite a long time ago, it might be possible to find it in the archives. Just as a point of reference I'm using a 100 inch screen, seated 15 feet away, native resolution is 800x600 (CRT driven with Faroudja DVP220). Hope this helps.

Thanks for all of the help I just got a 100in front projection screen, and I think I might have been able to fit a 120in. Very overwhelming just what I wanted heh heh heh.

NTSC stated that screen size V. viewing distance should be calculated by diagonal size times 7 feet to eliminate the scan lines. I often hear people complain that their TV looks grainy, they are simply sitting too close. Don't let ego or oneupmanship play a role in your TV. Leave that to your true audio dealings, you'll be happier!