Alright Mark! Welcome to the wonderful world of TVs that cost as much as my 1971 MGB convertible.
Congratulations! I, too, have a 56" (Samsung HL-S5687W). Here is a
viewing distance chart that will show you that the optimum viewing distance from a 56" 1080p HDTV is 87.84 inches, or 7.32 feet.
That does not mean you can't sit farther away and totally enjoy your HDTV. It just means that, if you do, your TV can produce more detail than your eyes can actually make out and you won't be realizing the full potential of your HDTV. Many people, however, sit farther back and enjoy their sets tremendously.
Sitting closer than 7.32 feet means you eyes are capable of seeing more detail than your set can produce, and the picture might look a little soft.
