Can a 27" screen be too big?

[TheManuel]

To those of you with 27" TV's or aracade monitors in your cabinets, do you find a screen this size on an upright cabinet agreeable to the eyes or can this size be actually too big.

I suppose I can reduce screen size with the size potentiometers and increase the bezel size but there will be a limit to that and seems wasteful.

Also, are there anti-glare screens this big?  CRT monitors look great behind anti-glare screens in my experience.

Thank you

[itobandito]

I have a 27 inch Betson Multisync and I don't find it too big at all.  Since owning it though for some reason I have learned to appreciate 19" ones more which shouldn't be the case.  I really think it depends on the game, Some games on a 27 inch is not needed while games like Mortal Kombat feel natural at that size because they were originally on bigger monitors.  Vertical games are actually pretty cool on 27 inch because by mounting a 19inch horizontally your loosing the vertical length and a 27inch helps you gain some of that vertical height back.

[TheManuel]

For those games you feel the monitor is too big, have you considered running them at ahigher resolution (if the original vertical res wasn't too high) so as to get black borders?

[qrz]

all a matter of opinion ...  once had a service call on a 60" projection tv in a house trailer ....

cust had the tv six feet from their sitting position       waaaaay too close for most viewers !!

but, they were happy with the setup, and that is what was important...

qrz

[TOK]

I have a 27" and love it, but it's mounted vertically. I love how "in your face" it is for shooters. Make sure you can get the distance you need because if you have to look around too much during play, it gets tiring. I know that sounds silly, but your neck and shoulders will start to fatigue as well as your eyes. For me, looking back and forth is more bothersome than up and down, so its important to get the distance right with a large horizontal monitor.

I actually think 25" is the perfect size, but not much of an option anymore.

[DeLuSioNal29]

I have a 27" Betson as well and I was also concerned about the "in your face problem".  However, after mounting it, I realized it wasn't so bad.  The reason being is that I have a 4 player control panel and after measuring 21" back I stood there and it looks perfect.  However, if you have a 2 player control panel it will be closer, but you can also reduce the "in your face problem" by mounting the top of the monitor further back so that it's at more of an angle.

I've attached a picture of mine, which only has a slight angle (cabinet was meant for a 25").  I also modified the back to remove the brackets and built a shelf for the monitor's board and power supply to allow the back cover of the arcade to close properly.

[TheManuel]

Thanks for taking the time to show that photograph, DeLuSioNal29.
It sounds like the angle is key plus I have a frankenpanel anyway so I won't be that close to the tube, I guess.
I don't have a problem with frankenpanels.  I want the most functinality out of my machine and with my layout I can play a huge variety of games with as close as their original control layout as possible.  That "frankenpanel" mentality is something that has developed in recent years.  Back when I first was really into this hobby 4-5 years ago, most people tried to accommodate as many controls as possible in their panels.  Now if you have anything more than 2 sticks and 4 buttons they label it a franken panel.  I think we're seeing a little sumg culture developing here in the arcade community.  The "elitists" of arcade control building     

[DeLuSioNal29]

Yeah, I guess I have a Frankenpanel too... but I'm doing it with style with a very well thought out layout.     Don't worry, they are not a bad thing.

You can check out the thread here and the pics of the "virtual mockup" that I made.

~ DeLuSioNaL

[TheManuel]

Yeah, I guess I have a Frankenpanel too... but I'm doing it with style with a very well thought out layout.     Don't worry, they are not a bad thing.

You can check out the thread here and the pics of the "virtual mockup" that I made.

~ DeLuSioNaL

I saw your pane.  That is a nice layout and you managed to cram in even more stuff than I did.  I am proud of you. 

I will start the Frankenpanelist Arcade Recreation Team, also known as FART.
Open to all Frankenpanelists out there who think abundant control options are fun and minimalistic panel sare for hippies. 

[joeH]

Include me in the FART club. Of course this is just a CO2 panel from you-know-who (purchased a long time ago). I have the 27" Betson and absolutely love it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v645/lcdude2000/DSC00351.jpg

[Wade]

27" is a great size because it's good for later games (mostly horizontal and often 25-27" in their original cabinets) and vertical classics are still very close to the correct size of a 19" vertical monitor.

The only exception I'd make is if using a monitor in a classic cabinet or one with a more vertical mounting position.  Then it might be too close.  So only use a monitor this large if the screen is back a bit or angled like in a Simpsons/Konami or Midway later style cabinet.  Something like a 27" in a Defender or Centipede cabinet would be horrible.

Wade

[TheManuel]

I'm sold on the big screen.
I'll just have to select the tilt angle carefully.
I'm scrounging for tubes as I type to go with the 8liner chassis path.

JoeH: You are showing one of my all time favorite games in your cabinet picture.

Thanks everyone.

[joeH]

One of my absolute favorite games as well.