HDTV as monitor

[JES]

Hi All,

The short version: if I hook up my dual 2.5g5 DVI to a 42" HDTV via an HDMI to DVI cable, will the resolution be good enough to sit on the couch and run DP? Should I get one of those sexy Samsung Plasmas or go with LCD? I currently run DP on a 20" monitor.

Long version:

My wife and I are moving into a new space, and we were thinking about collapsing my home studio and the home theater. We always watch TV and movies together, so there's no problem about competing (and anyway the old TV will go in the bedroom), and then we can have one acoustically treated space in the whole place. The two sets of speakers will look weird, but the rack should look cool next to the home stereo.

Thanks.

--JES

[sdemott]

As long as you keep the resolution set to the native resolution of the HDTV you'll be fine. The question becomes, what is the native resolution of the HDTV and is that adequate for your needs? But that's a question you need answer yourself.

I tried a similar thing, and found my HDTV is great for slideshows and all, but not quite what I'm comfortable with for everyday use with DP (or Final Cut, Photoshop, et al). Though I do recommend the iTunes visualizer in fullscreen mode for parties

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Sitting on the couch running DP... hmmm. I cannot think of that as being particularly productive (at least how I work) but to each his own.

Big screens are great, but they loose efficiency at some point. With so much space to look at, you may find yourself hunting for onscreen items as they are fairly far apart. If you are too close,then you will be swinging your head around a bit. Not good foir the neck. Too far back, and you might have trouble seeing details.

FWIW, my view (no pun intended) is to limit screen size to 32" for awork enviornment. Of course, that also depends on what you are doing in DP. Lots of fine editing could be tiresome with the setup you described. But just recording and basic stuff would probably be fine.

There is also a bit of a "detachment effect" that I experience when (for example) I am playing electrc piano live and my speakers are somewhat distant from me. Almost an out of body experience, like I am hearing someone else play. Similarly, when I hook my laptop to a video projector there is a feeling of detachment when working the mouse.

In time, I suspect you would adjust to these issues and you'd be fine with a 42" monitor sitting several feet away. But I don't think it is going to be as tactile an experience as sitting, say 2-3 feet from a 19 or 20" screen.

Good luck. Nice that you are in a position to have that decision to make!

[JES]

Thanks for the replies so far, and if anyone has additional suggestions (esp on the LCD vs Plasma thing), I'd be grateful.

The native resolution on my 20" Dell monitor is 1600x1200. It looks like the native resolution a 1080p TV is 1900x1080, so will things look big and clunky as that size?

My other option would be to collapse it with my office, but it would be in front of a wall-sized window. Cool for looking, bad for acoustics.

And yes, I feel incredibly privileged to even consider this.

--JES

[kgdrum]

Plasma's will generally have better black levels,less motion artifacts,LCD's also have a problem if you watch off axis (at an angle or it is mounted too high,the colors change)
I work in HiFi we will sell Plasmas for better systems,LCD's for office's,smaller bedrooms and secondary spaces etc.......for Theatre watching 95% of the time we will sell a Plasma(if you go 42" or larger LCD' get more expensive while Plasma's are more reasonably priced ........in larger sizes
the limitations of LCD's are not as noticeable in near field use, thats why they work so well in computer systems
KG

[bralston]

I would not get a plasma if you are planning on displaying any computer stuff on it. Unless it is a plasma that has technology to avoid burn-in. Any still image on those things for extended periods of time (like that of a computer desktop, or a DP window)...will burn in on the plasma over time and then your TV will be ruined.

[stephen1212b]

Some new LCDs now come with a 5 year warrantee. Plasma screens age from the moment of manufacture even if you don't use them.

It is really a resolution question. Since 1920*1200 will fit in a 23 or 24 inch screen going bigger involves pixel multiplication line doubling and the like. The same information in a larger space. These are designed for moving images not the accurate pointing of a mouse from across the room. It is easy enough to try in the store but you may prefer a true 24 inch monitor and if you want bigger movies get a projector. Going to a 30 inch monitor will not give you larger movies due to the 1 to 1 mapping but it will give you even more DP screen estate.