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Original poster

AIBU about getting a massive TV?

94 replies

MerryMarigold · 27/12/2022 12:51

Dh just celebrated his 50th. He got lots of money and wants to spend it on a TV. Ours is old (about 15 years) but functional (it is a flat screen!). I said it was a good idea to get a new one...but he's been looking at 65". I said it sounded big and he says we'll our current one is 40". I got the measuring tape out and 65" is massive. I also measured ours and it's 32". A huge one won't fit in the space we currently use so we'll have to move stuff around considerably as it's currently in a nook. Aside from that I feel a bit embarrassed. Our 2 closest friends with families don't even have a TV (through choice) but I just feel a massive TV which the house revolves around is not the impression I want to give of my family (it's in the main room of the house - open plan- you need to walk past it to get anywhere else in the house). Is that really snobby? At the same time, he is the one who watches TV not me and it's his birthday money.

At the moment I'm saying nothing other than I think he should stick to his birthday money budget (the TV he wanted, a Samsung 65" was almost double the budget) so he can either get a cheaper brand or a smaller TV. Should I shut up and just let him get a massive one?

OP posts:
Thelnebriati · 27/12/2022 12:55

I think its fair to ask him to stick to his birthday money budget. It sounds like a nightmare and I think you'll hate it; you don't need to resent the money he spent on it as well.

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 27/12/2022 12:55

Have you considered an ambilight TV? We have a 32 inch ambilight and the light makes it more immersive, without it being enormous and dominating the room when switched off. Before someone accuses me of advertising (they're a Philips thing) you can also get gadgets that have the same effect on other branded smart TVs.

LubaLuca · 27/12/2022 12:59

I gave in and let my husband get the massive TV he wanted. I thought it was completely unnecessary as I could see our old, much smaller TV perfectly well. I'm glad I did give in, I love it.

AwfulTed · 27/12/2022 13:02

We bought a massive tv in lockdown- just being honest as we all enjoy watching and box sets/ films are things that get the teens in the same room as us for a while. Sport etc is (apparently) much better on it . I know it’s a bit chavvy but love it! Helps that we’re lucky enough to have other rooms with smaller/no tv too

Pickledghosts · 27/12/2022 13:03

Why do the opinions of people who don't actually live in your house matter more than the person who you live with?

We have a massive telly. It is the focal point of the living area. But it also has an off switch and doesn't stop us from doing more wholesome activities. If I wanted to waste electricity I could put a fancy picture on it as a screen saver.

CinderellaFant · 27/12/2022 13:05

We have a 65' tv in the living room. I was quite happy with our old one which was half the size however DH wanted it so I just let him work away. He frequently comments how much better it is, however to me a tv is a tv 🤷‍♀️

2reefsin30knots · 27/12/2022 13:06

I think it's a bit ridculous to be embarrassed by having a TV. You obviously do watch TV, why do you feel the need to pretend you don't to other people? It doesn't matter one jot that you know some people who don't watch TV. It's not snobby to want to pretend, it's just a bit sad- you don't have to live like that!

However, I think it's reasonable to ask DH to stick to budget if the extra money is not easily available.

user1471538283 · 27/12/2022 13:08

I always thought big TVs were vulgar and mental. My DS and my bf have big TVs. I then bought one and I love it!

imnotthatkindofmum · 27/12/2022 13:10

Mine is 65". I thought it was a waste of money but I'm glad we did it. Ours is curved and I hate watching flat screens now!

gamerchick · 27/12/2022 13:13

Point him towards an OLED. You'll get a 50 or 55 inch compromise probably.

Tbh my next telly is going to be a 65. I'd give teeth for an OLED though

Lennybenny · 27/12/2022 13:16

I upgraded to a Sony 65" 4k. The difference in quality is amazing. We watch a lot of films and TV. It's worth it. You will notice the difference.
It's a TV. He could've just bought golf clubs and never used them. The TV is for everyone

LastTrainBeforeChristmas · 27/12/2022 13:17

You are measuring diagonally aren’t you? TV measurements are the diagonal not the edges. I wouldn’t base your decision on what other people might think, but not blowing the budget if you can’t afford it is another thing.

We have an ambilight TV as another poster mentioned. I bloody love it. It really does make watching things more immersive.

Retrievemysanity · 27/12/2022 13:17

We have a 65 inch OLED. Like with anything, you just get used to it so after a bit, you don’t really see that it’s massive, it just becomes part of the furniture. You can put your own photos on it for when you’re not using it which is nice and detracts from it being a big telly when visitors come if you’re worried about being judged! Let him get the telly!

IntentionalError · 27/12/2022 13:17

I was a bit sceptical about getting a massive TV, which DP wanted but I can now see that he was right. It’s not just about size (😉). TV technology has moved on massively even in the last 5 years and the picture on a new one will be incomparably better than your old one. That may not matter if you’re watching Eastenders, but for movies, big-budget drama (eg GOT) nature documentaries & sport it’s a complete game changer.

Dotcheck · 27/12/2022 13:19

Look on Pinterest for ways you can hide a tv when not in use

amusedbush · 27/12/2022 13:20

DH pushed for a 65" TV when we upgraded a couple of years ago and I was resistant to it but it's great. You get used to it very quickly and it doesn't feel too big for the room.

It's especially great for gaming and watching sport, both of which we do a lot.

ErrolTheDragon · 27/12/2022 13:25

A huge one won't fit in the space we currently use so we'll have to move stuff around considerably as it's currently in a nook.

If it doesn't fit the room without making unwanted changes then I'd veto it.

We looked at larger TVs a while ago and decided they were just too big.

3ormorecharacters · 27/12/2022 13:25

We have a 65" tv and we love it. We originally got a 70" one but thought it was a bit ridiculous so swapped it. Now we've got so used to the 65" one that we think we probably could have gone the extra 5"! That said, we both enjoy TV a lot and it's our 'thing' to do together in the evenings. Also our living room is quite big and set up so that the TV isn't the first thing you see when you come in.

Another thing to note is that you need to be a particular distance from the TV to get the most out of it. There are some calculators online which tell you how far you should be. www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/by-size/size-to-distance-relationship My DH is very particular about this! I care slightly less but you could argue that there's no point spending all that money on a TV if you won't be viewing it optimally.

rwalker · 27/12/2022 13:26

Wouldn’t thank you for big tv
but that said it depends on the size of the room
massive room massive tv
small room small tv
work for the utilities in and out of peoples houses a lot
seen the lot 10ft room with 85 ins tv u have to squeeze past and they were sat that close to it you could literally touch it off the sofa

Bernadinetta · 27/12/2022 13:29

People have really weird inverted snobbery towards TVs.
Already noticed the use of the word “chavvy” on here, plus lots of converts who were snobs but came around! The size of your TV is morally neutral and has no bearing on whether you’re a good person or not. Would it make everyone feel better if you only watch documentaries, news and period dramas on it, no sport, soaps or reality TV 😁
The only consideration really is whether it fits into the space.

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 27/12/2022 13:30

but that said it depends on the size of the room

This is the key point. If the TV has to be moved all the time because it's in the way, it's too big for the room.

Lovetotravel123 · 27/12/2022 13:32

I agree with you. We have a small TV in the corner and would feel embarrassed by a huge TV.

Patanat · 27/12/2022 13:36

What neighbours / friends / family would think shouldn’t come into it, but if you don’t like how dominant it would be or if moving things around to accommodate it would be detrimental (my absolute redline would be the TV sitting in front of the window blocking the light) then there has to be compromise. There are many TVs between 32” and 65”.

JaninaDuszejko · 27/12/2022 13:38

You could get a Samsung Frame to make it less intrusive but they are very expensive.

If it's in a big room that's not so bad. We've got a 32" in our sittingroom which is probably too small for the size of the room (~4m x 5m), I struggle to read text on the screen. We have a 43" in the playroom (also ~4m x 5m) where the text is perfectly readable and it doesn't feel too intrusive in the room. Why don't you put some paper cutout to the different sizes of TV and try it in the space to see which seems best?

HelloBunny · 27/12/2022 13:39

Ours is huge. I fucking hate it. Didn’t want it. But, it was a compromise for getting rid of some other giant pointless tech that was populating our lounge. If he ever leaves, it’s going with him!