HD and SD

Ok, I know this question has been asked in various ways about 50 million
times on this group, but I'd like to ask it in a way that makes sense to my
specific situation...
-I'm considering buying a 32" LCD TV for our living room.
-At the moment, I don't have any HD sources, just a DVD player and a Virgin
cable box (not V+)
-For future-proofing, I suppose I should be looking at an HD compatable tv
so...
-The choices seem to be 1080p or 720p, so this raises a some questions;
1) AIUI, 1080p is the best for HD, but does this compromise my SD viewing
until such time as I get an HD source (which could be quite a while, and I
imagine even then, 90% of what I watch would still be in SD).
2) How much of a compromise on HD quality is 720 over 1080p on a 32" screen?
3) Bottom line, in my situation, is there really any advantage in paying the
extra for a 1080 screen (assuming all other screen properties(contrast etc.)
are the same.

Thanks for any input.

--
Regards,
Chris.
(Remove Elvis's shoes to email me)

ChrisM wrote:
Ok, I know this question has been asked in various ways about 50 million
times on this group, but I'd like to ask it in a way that makes sense to my
specific situation...
-I'm considering buying a 32" LCD TV for our living room.
-At the moment, I don't have any HD sources, just a DVD player and a Virgin
cable box (not V+)
-For future-proofing, I suppose I should be looking at an HD compatable tv
so...
-The choices seem to be 1080p or 720p, so this raises a some questions;
1) AIUI, 1080p is the best for HD, but does this compromise my SD viewing
until such time as I get an HD source (which could be quite a while, and I
imagine even then, 90% of what I watch would still be in SD).
2) How much of a compromise on HD quality is 720 over 1080p on a 32" screen?
3) Bottom line, in my situation, is there really any advantage in paying the
extra for a 1080 screen (assuming all other screen properties(contrast etc.)
are the same.

Thanks for any input.

On a 32" screen differences between 720 and 1080 are minimal, and at
normal domestic viewing distances negligible.

The problem is finding a display that doesn't mangle SD TV too much. ;-)

First choice - buy a 32" CRT TV - there are some around.

Or buy a 32" 720 LCD that looks OK on SD TV.

It all depends how discerning / fussy you are about picture quality.

Guy

"ChrisM" wrote in

3) Bottom line, in my situation, is there really any advantage in paying
the extra for a 1080 screen (assuming all other screen properties(contrast
etc.) are the same.


Not sure on that.
Glancing at the TV sets in a large Tesco with a large range of TV sets I got
the impression 1080 is the norm, even with the Tesco brand cheapos.

--
Regards,
David

Please reply to News Group

On 10 Nov, 13:50, wrote:
On 10 Nov, *
* * *"David" wrote:

Not sure on that.
Glancing at the TV sets in a large Tesco with a large range of TV sets I
got the impression 1080 is the norm, even with the Tesco brand cheapos.

1080i or 1080p? *My Philips (about 18 months old) claims to be 1080i but not
1080p.

In all likeleyhood it will accept a 1080i input signal but will
downscale it to your TVs spec which is probably 1366x768, or 1280x720.
Full HD is 1920x1080 which is 1080P and if your TV can't accept this
input it definitely isn't full HD.
True HD Tvs will say 1080P on the front as part of the HD logo.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_ready

-I'm considering buying a 32" LCD TV for our living room.

Why so small? Just a curiosity...

-At the moment, I don't have any HD sources, just a DVD player and a Virgin
cable box (not V+)
-For future-proofing, I suppose I should be looking at an HD compatable tv
so...

Yes, but unless your existing set is 'on the blink', why not hold back
and wait until you are about to get HD source(s). Unless you have no
choice, it seems pointless to spend money on a HD compatible set if
you are then not going to exploit it to the full!

Even if you waited only six months, with the way the economy is going
in general, I suspect that you would be able to get the set you are
after for less, or a bigger one for the money you are prepared to
spend now.

-The choices seem to be 1080p or 720p,

Is 1080i not a possibility too?

so this raises a some questions;
1) AIUI, 1080p is the best for HD, but does this compromise my SD viewing

Surely it would make no difference as the set is capable of displaying
more than SD, so you would hardly be pushing the set.


until such time as I get an HD source (which could be quite a while, and I
imagine even then, 90% of what I watch would still be in SD).

In which case, I urge you to reconsider buying a TV unless you have no
choice.

2) How much of a compromise on HD quality is 720 over 1080p on a 32" screen?

Get the best that you can afford, when you need to, and not before.

3) Bottom line, in my situation, is there really any advantage in paying the
extra for a 1080 screen (assuming all other screen properties(contrast etc.)
are the same.

If you are certain that you will get one/some/all of blu-ray DVD
player, HD cable or other HD sources then you might not want to have
to buy another TV if you bought a 720 first.


Thanks for any input.

--
Regards,
Chris.
(Remove Elvis's shoes to email me)

Blue suede ones no doubt!

John

Mike wrote:

In all likeleyhood it will accept a 1080i input signal but will
downscale it to your TVs spec which is probably 1366x768, or 1280x720.


Mike,

what small sets are 720 as opposed to 768?

Andy

"Bigguy" wrote in message
...
ChrisM wrote:
Ok, I know this question has been asked in various ways about 50 million
times on this group, but I'd like to ask it in a way that makes sense to
my specific situation...
-I'm considering buying a 32" LCD TV for our living room.
-At the moment, I don't have any HD sources, just a DVD player and a
Virgin cable box (not V+)


The BBC are due to launch a Freeview HD service next year. Whilst this may
not be available where you live it is quite likely that you will be able to
buy TVs with built in Freeview HD support which would allow you to avoid
using a separate STB if Freeview HD does become available where you live..


--
Michael Chare

"Michael Chare" wrote in message
...
"Bigguy" wrote in message
...
ChrisM wrote:
Ok, I know this question has been asked in various ways about 50
million
times on this group, but I'd like to ask it in a way that makes sense
to
my specific situation...
-I'm considering buying a 32" LCD TV for our living room.
-At the moment, I don't have any HD sources, just a DVD player and a
Virgin cable box (not V+)


The BBC are due to launch a Freeview HD service next year. Whilst this may
not be available where you live it is quite likely that you will be able
to
buy TVs with built in Freeview HD support which would allow you to avoid
using a separate STB if Freeview HD does become available where you live..


--
Michael Chare


Dont expect DVB-T2 integrated tuners until probably q1 2010.

wrote in message ...
On 10 Nov,
"David" wrote:

Not sure on that.
Glancing at the TV sets in a large Tesco with a large range of TV sets I
got the impression 1080 is the norm, even with the Tesco brand cheapos.

1080i or 1080p? My Philips (about 18 months old) claims to be 1080i but
not
1080p.

--
BD
Change lycos to yahoo to reply

I have an LG that claims it too, but the panel is not a 1080 panel!..
1080 ready can simply mean that it will accept and downscale, be wary of
the sales tactics!

On 10 Nov, 20:47, Andy Champ wrote:
Mike wrote:

In all likeleyhood it will accept a 1080i input signal but will
downscale it to your TVs spec which is probably 1366x768, or 1280x720.

Mike,

what small sets are 720 as opposed to 768?

Andy

Most of the 19" LCDs are based on LCD PC monitors and have a native
resolution of 1440 x 900, but 1280x720 is the standard for 720p High
Def. So it will still get upscaled to fit.
My 19" Samsung has a native res of 1440 x 900 !?!?!? Fairly
inconsequential on a small screen, as SD and even analogue looks
pretty damned good on it.