HDTV and HD Ready confusion.

Cygnus · #1 09-06-2005, 08:34 PM

We are deciding on a bunch of HD displays for the new house as we will be moving in fairly shortly.

There is some confusion between displays that are HDTV and ones that are HDTV Ready.

My dad thinks that HDTV sets are the way to go because thy are High Def. right out of the box. He thinks that HD Ready means you have to have and HD signal coming through.

Well, my understanding is that HD Ready is just marketing, because it's the same as HDTV. Am I right?

Also, am I right that any display that had component connections is HDTV? Or am I wrong?

Thanks in advance for your help,
Trav

warhummer · #2 09-06-2005, 09:18 PM

Not all HDTV sets come with an integrated tuner that can receive HD signals over the air. These are usually refered to as "HD-Ready". If you buy an HD-ready TV, you'll still need to connect to a cable or satellite box to receive HD programming.

To further muddy the waters, even if you get an HDTV w/ integrated tuner, you will either need the cable box or a cablecard from your cable provider to receive the "premium" channels (HBO, Skinamax, etc.) Satellite, obviously will need a box, but you can go ahead and hook up an HDTV external antenna and pick up any over-the-air HD programming available in your area sans dinero.

As far as the component video goes, not all TVs with component inputs are HDTV's. I still have a 32" Sony Wega that has component inputs, yet it is not capable of HD screen resolutions. My new Samsung widescreen is a real beauty, though!

Hope this helps!

warhummer · #3 09-06-2005, 09:32 PM

A little more on the component video...

Component video is capable of displaying traditional interlace (480i), progressive interlace (480p), and wideband component (1080i, 720p HDTV). I'm not sure of the 1080p resolution though.

On the "goodness" scale, a HDMI or DVI offer a digital transfer of data (no need to convert to analog, or vice versa) and offer the best picture quality. Component is roughly next in line. My opinion is that you most likley will not notice a difference.

MDS · #4 09-06-2005, 11:48 PM

Warhummer pretty much covered it.

One thing to watch out for though - sometimes EDTV are labeled 'HD Ready' too. EDTVs are 480p (or slightly higher - like 852 x 480). They are HD ready in the sense that they can accept a HD signal and downscale it to the tv's native resolution, but you won't be viewing a true HD resolution. They can still look good, depending on your viewing distance, but if you want HD, don't bother with EDTV.

BMXTRIX · #5 09-07-2005, 01:15 AM

If you are in a situation where you have multiple rooms you are looking to install plasmas into, then I would make a few additional points, beyond what has already been covered.

If going with cable, if you get a set that is Digital Cable Ready (DCR) then it will accept a Cable Card into the set. This will allow you to receive the digital channels, as well as the HD channels from your cable company without any need for an external box. The onboard speakers of the plasma will be good enough for casual viewing, and typically there is an audio 'out' if the room is set up for surround. I consider this a VERY useful feature for those who just want cable and just want to turn on the set and have all 200+ channels available to them without any additional work.

Something like this: http://www.bestbuyplasma.com/Plasma/..._Sku_Y_HPR4272
is the HDTV version

...while this:
http://www.bestbuyplasma.com/Plasma/..._Sku_Y_SPR4232
is the EDTV version

There are lots of options available to you now, so it makes sense to be aware of the different nuances. I am not aware of an EDTV ever being called 'HD ready' but I can imagine that it would pop up here and there from foolish advertisers. In my opinion, if you are 10+ feet from a 42" display, getting the EDTV model is more than acceptable and will give you a phenomenal HD image for a much lower price tag.

In 50"....
http://www.bestbuyplasma.com/Plasma/..._Sku_Y_HPR5052

Shop around, come armed with knowledge.

CaliHwyPatrol · #6 09-07-2005, 01:55 AM

Like they said HD Ready/HD monitor means no tuner. The only thing you need the tuner for is to get HD signals from an antenna. I wouldn't make a tuner a deal clencher because if the tv doesn't have one and you decide you want to get a tuner, you can pick one up pretty cheap.

~Chuck

PS. I have a Sony 20" that has component inputs and the tv isn't even capable of 480p... It is just a selling feature...

Cygnus · #7 09-07-2005, 06:40 PM

Thanks for all of the information. We will be staying away from EDTV though.

Also, is plasma the way to go?

Me and my brother, dad, and mom (sister was at a freinds house) went to the mall not long ago, and stopped by the Sony Store *shudders* (its better then BOSE!!

) and we were checking out some TV's. They do make really nice TV's though!

Then we went to Sears to look at TV's. It seems like dad and mom think that LCD's are better then Plasma's because they supposedly last longer. However, the Sears salesman said that Plasmas have around a 60'000 hour (something like that) lifetime, where as LCD's have a much less rate.

Is this true or not?

Anyways, the Sears salesperson was very chatty (wanting to make a sale....at 8 at night? Ok, thats odd...)

rgriffin25 · #8 09-07-2005, 10:39 PM

As far as I know LG plasmas are the only ones to offer a 60,000 hr panel. So far they have been pretty reliable for us. We sell quite a few of them where I work.

Pyrrho · #9 09-07-2005, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cygnus

Thanks for all of the information. We will be staying away from EDTV though.

Also, is plasma the way to go?

Me and my brother, dad, and mom (sister was at a freinds house) went to the mall not long ago, and stopped by the Sony Store *shudders* (its better then BOSE!!

) and we were checking out some TV's. They do make really nice TV's though!

Then we went to Sears to look at TV's. It seems like dad and mom think that LCD's are better then Plasma's because they supposedly last longer. However, the Sears salesman said that Plasmas have around a 60'000 hour (something like that) lifetime, where as LCD's have a much less rate.

Is this true or not?

Anyways, the Sears salesperson was very chatty (wanting to make a sale....at 8 at night? Ok, thats odd...)

LCDs can last a very long time. Granted, they have not been in use for TV for too many years, but there are many other devices with LCD displays, and they can last decades.

BMXTRIX · #10 09-08-2005, 02:27 AM

Both technologies have similar lifespans, but typically plasma gets rated with a better overall image quality time after time after time. It is six of one, half a dozen of the other any more, but LCD price is notably higher than plasma for a similar sized display.

Sony store? WAY more killer than a Bose store!