standard def vs high def broadcast

[3db]

For thos of you with LCD tv, do you notice that standard defnition broadcasts appear soft opposed to high def broadcasts? I don't think its my TV because my staandar DVDs played thru an upconverting Samsing DVD player look crisp and clean. Maybe I'm just more sensitive to it now that I own a hi def display. My previous TV which is relegated to the family room is a 32" 4:3 CRT Toshiba than can't even except progressive scan inputs. I notice on that TV that the broadcasts are not sharp either. Just wondering is all.

 

[FNG212]

I've noticed the same thing buy I have a plasma. Standard def looks terrible once you've watched the same show in HD.

 

[Pyrrho]

For thos of you with LCD tv, do you notice that standard defnition broadcasts appear soft opposed to high def broadcasts? I don't think its my TV because my staandar DVDs played thru an upconverting Samsing DVD player look crisp and clean. Maybe I'm just more sensitive to it now that I own a hi def display. My previous TV which is relegated to the family room is a 32" 4:3 CRT Toshiba than can't even except progressive scan inputs. I notice on that TV that the broadcasts are not sharp either. Just wondering is all.

TV broadcasts are compressed to fit within the allotted bandwidth. If you are not using an old fashioned antenna, and are getting things via cable or satellite, the cable or satellite company may compress things even more, as they have limited total bandwidth. This tends to be worse than the compression on discs. So, generally speaking, DVDs will look better than SD broadcasts, and BD (Blu-ray) will look better than HD broadcasts. And local broadcasts, picked up via old fashioned antenna, will generally look better than cable or satellite. Keep in mind, of course, that what is generally the case need not be always the case.

Of course, the source used in the broadcast may limit the resolution, as TV shows that were videotaped in standard definition will never be able to look as good as something that was filmed and properly stored. This, by the way, explains why the old Star Trek series can look so good; it was filmed, not videotaped. It is suitable for true HD, even though it was made in the 1960's for TV. But the point is, if they are broadcasting a bad source, it will look bad no matter what.

 

[jostenmeat]

For thos of you with LCD tv, do you notice that standard defnition broadcasts appear soft opposed to high def broadcasts? I don't think its my TV because my staandar DVDs played thru an upconverting Samsing DVD player look crisp and clean. Maybe I'm just more sensitive to it now that I own a hi def display. My previous TV which is relegated to the family room is a 32" 4:3 CRT Toshiba than can't even except progressive scan inputs. I notice on that TV that the broadcasts are not sharp either. Just wondering is all.

I said this in February:

I have seen nothing more disgusting, visually, in AV, than an LCD playing back standard def. At least a plasma can make standard def look close to as good as overcompressed HD lite. SD on a LCD looks like barf. Terrible. Terrible. Terrible.

I took the liberty to spell "make" correctly above. I didn't link the post, which is quite a bit longer, because it is rather harsh to some folks. It's an LCD rant though.

If SD is important to you, plasma becomes even all the more compelling (if that's even possible). How many days left till you can return?

 

[3db]

I said this in February:

I have seen nothing more disgusting, visually, in AV, than an LCD playing back standard def. At least a plasma can make standard def look close to as good as overcompressed HD lite. SD on a LCD looks like barf. Terrible. Terrible. Terrible.

I took the liberty to spell "make" correctly above. I didn't link the post, which is quite a bit longer, because it is rather harsh to some folks. It's an LCD rant though.

If SD is important to you, plasma becomes even all the more compelling (if that's even possible). How many days left till you can return?

I have a couple of montehs left. Still keeping an eye out on the flyers just in case there is something that comes my way.