Question concerning Lcd/Plasma TV's

[Keily]

Can anyone help me please. Considering buying a flat screen LCD or Plasma TV and was wondering for example for a 42 " screen what is the significance of the different resolution and ratio figures for the same size screen.
One TV may have Resoluion: 1024x1024 , Ratio: 16:9

Another may have Resolution 853x480 ,Ratio 16:9
what does this mean?

Thank you for any replies.

 

[jcPanny]

HDTV resolutions

On a new HDTV, I would definately consider HD resolution a requirment. The minimum HD resolution being 720p (1028x720 pixels). You will also find new models that support 1080i and 1080p resolutions (1920x1080 pixels). Current HD source material from cable or satelite is either 720p or 1080i resolution while the new players and formats including HD-DVD and BlueRay should support 1080p. Also look for a set that includes at least one HDMI or DVI connection.

 

[Mort Corey]

853X480 would be an EDTV....it will display an incoming 1080i/720p source but down res it to it's native display rate of 480p.

At present, in a 42" size, a plasma display will cost less than an LCD (not RP LCD but LCD)...but the prices are drawing closer all the time. Plasma displays have a little better off axis viewing ability and (to my eyes anway) render a little more film like picture. YMMV

Mort

 

[BMXTRIX]

At 42" there is a lot of stuff on the market that is as much garbage as there is quality. Resolution is just that - resolution. The number of dots horizontally and vertically that fill the space of your screen.

853x480 means 853 little dots wide, by 480 little dots tall.

The little dots are called picture elements - or pixels.

ALL 42" plasmas, regardless of the resolution listed, accept HDTV on the input side. That is, you can feed it regular TV, HDTV, EDTV, etc., and it will display it using the pixels available on screen.

I STRONGLY suggest you go into a store that has a 853x480 plasma sitting near a 1024x768 or 1024x1024 plasma, step back 10 feet or whatever your normal viewing distance is, and compare them. Most people, at 10-12 feet can't visually see any difference between the higher resolution display and the lower resolution display.

But, the price difference between the two is significant. Sometimes $500.00 - more often, $1,000 or more. For no noticable difference to your eyes.

A set is defined as HDTV as long as it has at least 720 pixels of resolution up and down and is 16:9 in size. So, when you have 1024x768 pixels (4:3 ratio) and it fills up a 16:9 screen, then the pixels are a bit rectangular to fit correctly. 1024x1024? They are skinnier, but even more rectangular.

I believe, that for most people, a 42" plasma, viewed from 10+ feet, 853x480 resolution (EDTV) is the way to go and any higher resolution is more wasted cash than an actually noticable improvement.

Do NOT take my word for it - and don't take the word of others. I ask that you go into Best Buy or Circuit City and have a look at these displays side by side and ask. They will likely be listed on the displays themselves though what the resolution is. If it says 'EDTV' then it is 853x480 - if it says HDTV then it is either 1024x768 (typical) or 1024x1024. I have never seen a 42" plasma that is 1365x768 or 1280x720 which are more common resolutions for 50" HD plasmas.

 

[jhonny]

hi BMXTRIX i would like u to help me, i have a Zenith 42" ED plasma, and i would like to know what DVD would be perfect for my TV so i can get a nice image on it, please i really need help!!!!!


what do you think about these DVDs for my TV

http://www.hideflifestyle.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6_42&products_id=221

what about this one

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vModelDetail?displayTab=O&storeId=15001&catalogId=13401&itemId=89310&catGroupId=24988&modelNo=DVD-S77S&surfModel=DVD-S77S&cacheProgram=11002&cachePartner=7000000000000005702

please if u know another one please tell me

some people told me that the panasonic s77s would be better

thanx in davance!!!!

 

[BMXTRIX]

The Panny is definitely better than the Samsung. Are you the same person asking on Projector Central? 500 DVD players, I found a solution that works nicely with good quality at a decent price in the S77, so that's the one I recommend. If there are better for the same price - I don't know. The Oppo is more versatile... but I don't know if it is better.

 

[jhonny]

no, actually this was my first post!

so u recommend me the panasonic s77, and are u sure with this DVD i will get a decent picture??? keep in mind that my TV is a zenith ED 42" plasma

thats all i want, i know my TV isnt a HD tv so i just want to buy a nice DVD that is compatible with my TV and watch a nice picture

 

[BMXTRIX]

Weird that the same question comes up to me on the same day - almost phrased the same and the comparison model is the Samsung.

One of the biggest keys I keep hearing is that a good DVD player will have good internal deinterlacing and it is a very difficult thing to get right. Panasonic, especially with their S77 does this well. The deinterlacing process is what takes the raw DVD information in 480i/p format and outputs it as a continuous 480p signal.

The Samsung is noted for not doing this well - average, yes, but above average? No.

My big 'can't help you' comes along the lines of if there is something completely different that can do as good, or better, of a job of deinterlacing for less money. My personal feeling, is that for the 100 or 200 bucks that a DVD player costs - without getting something crazy expensive in DVD land, I would, and will stick with the S77 for the next year or so as my recommendation and what I use on projects.

Yet, I would love to hear of other sub $250ish DVD players that are excellent as well. I do believe that head-to-head shootouts of this level of product is tough to find.

But - this may be worth spending an hour or four reading:
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/masterindex_video_players.html

After some reading, the S77 still seems to stand out at its price point.

 

[~JC~]

I can wholeheartedly recommend the Panny TH-42PX50U. I have the 42" and the 37", and they are both excellent. Native 720p, also with HDMI inputs, if that's important to you.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Native 720p, also with HDMI inputs, if that's important to you.

Actually, neither of those units are 720p. They are XGA (1024x768) units with rectangular pixels.

Still, Panasonic has a good reputation and those are excellent displays. A bit more expensive than the 853x480 models but, if you are sitting close enough, you may need the extra resolution. Many people sit 15 feet away from their 42" displays and the extra resolution is wasted and the extra cost is not necessary.

 

[jhonny]

Weird that the same question comes up to me on the same day - almost phrased the same and the comparison model is the Samsung.

One of the biggest keys I keep hearing is that a good DVD player will have good internal deinterlacing and it is a very difficult thing to get right. Panasonic, especially with their S77 does this well. The deinterlacing process is what takes the raw DVD information in 480i/p format and outputs it as a continuous 480p signal.

The Samsung is noted for not doing this well - average, yes, but above average? No.

My big 'can't help you' comes along the lines of if there is something completely different that can do as good, or better, of a job of deinterlacing for less money. My personal feeling, is that for the 100 or 200 bucks that a DVD player costs - without getting something crazy expensive in DVD land, I would, and will stick with the S77 for the next year or so as my recommendation and what I use on projects.

Yet, I would love to hear of other sub $250ish DVD players that are excellent as well. I do believe that head-to-head shootouts of this level of product is tough to find.

But - this may be worth spending an hour or four reading:
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/masterindex_video_players.html

After some reading, the S77 still seems to stand out at its price point.

i really thank you for ur time, it seems that this is my best choice, u know i dont wanna spend a lot of money on this so this should be perfect for my pocket, thanx a lot for the link i really enjoy reading it