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Size or Sound? A Home Theater Gaming Matter

post #1 of 163
Thread Starter 
Simple question. I have a budget. $2200. I got a deal for $1698 on a 61" 1080p HDTV DLP, but if you add a 2 year warranty and I need a stand which can cost me 250 or more I don't have much left for a home theater system. So if I move down to a 56" I could prolly get a deal for like 1398 (Brandsmart rocks!) or something like that I could afford a HTIB. So my question like I said is simple...

61" 1080P HDTV to go with my PS3/blu-ray player and 360?


56" 1080p HDTV along with Onkyo HTS790 HTIB to go along with my PS3/360?

It will be in my 12x12 bedroom.
post #2 of 163
You definitely need a HT system. It will add much more to your gaming experience than the extra 5" on the size of the TV. Enjoy!
post #3 of 163
/\\ /\\ /\\ /\\ What he said
post #4 of 163
I would go for the 56" w/ sound system, especially if your other option was just intending to use the tv speakers.
post #5 of 163
Is buying the big TV and getting your sound system at a later date an option or do you have to have it all right now? I'd get the bigger TV if your room supports a screen that size, then either get your HTiB later or piece together a sound system as the money is available. You'll be happier all around once it's done.
post #6 of 163
in a 12 x 12 bedroom you could, dare I say, go even a little smaller with the TV and have a lot more for the HT. I have a 37" which does all right in a similar-sized room.
post #7 of 163
are we to assume you'd be using the tv's speakers for sound on the 61? If so then definitely sacrifice 5 inches of screen for a surround setup. Even a modest htib will outperform the tv's sound. 56 will be fine in that size of a room, and possibly even a little too big depending on how everything is setup.
post #8 of 163
Originally Posted by abuharabi View Post



you NEED at least 50" to game properly....I talk god and he agreed....so that settles it.
post #9 of 163
You could always go with a projector. You can get a good 720p for <$1000. You can make the throw as large or small as you like and get a your ps3, 360, and receiver.
post #10 of 163
bigger is better imo, get the big un. I was dissapointed when I got mine because I could have gotten a 67 in at costco but the wife wasnt happy that they didnt offer an extended warranty
post #11 of 163
Originally Posted by Paradox-SJ View Post




This is actually an excellent question and I'm glad to see it being asked here. I'd say that in a 12x12 room, the proposed 56" screen size would be quite adequate -- and that the surround sound is absolutely mandatory. The immersive audio is gonna add a lot more to the experience than the extra 5" diagonal.

Let us know what ya do, Joey.
post #12 of 163
add another vote for the 56 and getting better sound.

seems like a no brainer to me. the difference between 56 and 60 isn't that monumental. sure bigger is better, but it isn't like you are trying to decide between a 27 inch and a 60.
post #13 of 163
Take $350 to $400 and go to ShopOnkyo and get a refurbished HTIB in 5.1 to 7.1, that will be more than adequate for your 12x12 room and a high quality sound to boot.

Then take the rest and get your display.

Assuming you sit about 10 feet away a 56" display is plenty big.

When you shut off the lights your eyes wont be able to tell the difference between the 56" and the 65" screen anyhow....
post #14 of 163
I agree that a 5.1 surround sound system should not be overlooked when it comes to gaming. The excellent sound that 360 games provide really help immerse you in the gaming environment. Just take a look at a game like Bioshock which has some of the best sound-design I've ever seen in a game. I can't imagine playing that without a 5.1 sound system!
post #15 of 163
Thread Starter 
From my recent(last week) visit to BrandsMart I recall looking at the 56" and the 61" and saying "Im 17 years old and have been fortunate enough to have a father buy the 2 story home of my choosing...an alienware desktop(despite the overpriceness) The 2nd biggest bedroom (12x13 actually not including walk in closet)And now buying me a big screen 1080p tv to put IN THERE!...I need to be more grateful!" .

Its you people that make me so ungrateful!! nah im J/k! I will also be hooking my tv up to my alienware...61" might be alot different surfing the net compared to my NEC superbright Diamondtron 22" CRT.

I also recall when looking at the 56" compared to the 61" myself thinking "Ya know 56" really is just fine...I think" and I believe the only reason I am so unsure between bigger size and sound quality is because of AVSforum..Everyone here wants EVERYTHING it seems...SIZE and SOUND...3 grand tv...and a even more expensive home theater system.

Anyways I think I will go with the majority in this thread and go for a 56" with the Onkyo HTIB....I have never had surround sound...best I ever had was a 2.1 and 200 watt subwoofer that came with the alienware (which I blew out) so yeah...Thanks alot for all replies I really do appreciate it.

Any extra comments or thoughts please do tell.

NOTE: The reason why everything is being done in one pop is because my pops has this $2200 dollar budget and once he spends it hes done...and I can't get anymore out of him...so I am trying to respect his wishes and stay in that budget, but still be satisfied.

EDIT: dang he just bought me this new cell phone called a muziq! Oh wait...no he says im paying for it...oh well..why not.
post #16 of 163
Hell, I didn't see the room size listed. 12 x 12...really? I'd scale back even further on the size personally. 46 or 50" would be more than adequate giving you plenty of $$ for a more custom sound system than the basic HTiB.
post #17 of 163
Get the bigger tv. If its 1080p then you're set for the Blu-Ray/HD-DVD era. You can't really upgrade your set without replacing it whereas speakers and receivers offer a pretty easy upgrade path as your needs and means allow.
post #18 of 163
I previously owned a 60" HDTV which I replaced for 72". I watch it from 11-12 feet and I REALLY appreciate the extra 12" for games and movies, visual immersion is awesome! The TV sound is ok but the receiver is a lot better. So I would say go as big as you can, save some more money and buy that sound system as soon as you can.
post #19 of 163
56" and good stereo for me.
post #20 of 163
I'd go with the bigger TV and add the sound system later if that is an option.

You can put together a pretty good sound system for relatively cheap nowadays and you may regret not having purchased the bigger TV down the road (at least that's how I am - I ended up upgrading my 65" mitsu with a projector and will soon be replacing my 32" LCD with something that is >40").

Like others have said, speakers and receivers are much easier to upgrade than a TV, so keep that in mind
post #21 of 163
56 is plenty of TV for that room!! I have the 61 in my fam room and its 16x19, fits the room very well. Go 56 with the Onkyo!!!
post #22 of 163
Bigger isn't always better...it depends on how far you sit from the screen! If you sit closer the screen will look bigger. My 50" is way too big for my room because I sit too close to it.
post #23 of 163
Sound is fully 50% of the experience. Never undercut your sound.
post #24 of 163
56" or smaller for that room size, unless HD only.... if HD only then BIGGER!
post #25 of 163
OPTOMA HD70 $949 for an insane huge screen. Plenty of money left over for sound system.
post #26 of 163
I'll add a vote for the 56 plus the sound system. I bought a 46" for my office at the house (room is about 14X12) and have been very happy with it. I'm still using my 7 yr old AV reciever on occasion but I think that for some games especially (i.e. Bioshock) you really do get a more immersive experience when you add some nice sound
post #27 of 163
Thread Starter 
Wow you guys are really making this decision hard....

61" though only 5 more inches surprisingly did seem to make a big difference and was more immersive than the 56"(56' seemed so modest).....SEE I TOLD U ITS U AVS PEOPLE! haha.

You guys telling me how upgrading a tv is alot harder than upgrading a sound system is really getting to me!! making me wanna get the 61" and spend extra cash later! ON a home theater!!

DANGIT! This is going to be tough.
post #28 of 163
Some of the newer TVs have decent speakers. And you can always get a HTIB later on. But I would be worried about sitting too close to a 61" TV when playing games. Are you going to be sitting on the bed or across the room? A DLP is going to be at least 2 feet from the wall, leaving you only 10 feet for the rest of the room. I'm sitting 9" from my 61" DLP and think it is perfect, so if you are around that distance away you should be fine. Much closer and I would consider a smaller TV, IMHO.
post #29 of 163
I know some gamers who don't like playing on bigger sets. I play on a 46" at 9 feet and that is plenty for me. Some prefer even smaller.

If the set is exclusively for gaming, go with the smaller set and add a decent HTIB.

However, if this set may become something more, like your primary TV for watching sports/movies, etc., I would buy bigger now. You will regret it in a few years.
post #30 of 163
Daddy is plunking $2000 down on a TV for your bedroom? My God, where has this country gone......

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