HDTV in the $500 to $600 range?

[pontifex]

i thought the 120hz was supposed to be a good thing?

 

[kalrith]

Originally posted by: pontifex
i thought the 120hz was supposed to be a good thing?

120Hz in and of itself is a good thing. The point of it is to basically reproduce 24fps without having to do 3:2 pulldown like a 60Hz TV would have to do. It can do this because 120 is perfectly divisible by 24, whereas 60 is not. The problem is that companies couple motion interpolation along with 120Hz TVs. Some people really like the motion interpolation and say that it provides a much smoother picture. Others don't like it at all and say that the picture looks artificial, and that it introduces artifacts. I've never seen a 120Hz TV, so I can't comment on it except that I like a pure unprocessed picture, which motion interpolation does not produce.

Edit: So, hopefully there's a way to turn off motion interpolation while still retaining the benefits of 120Hz.

 

[pontifex]

didn't find a way to turn off 120 hz, but i think i found the culprit. there is a Real Cinema Mode setting. If I turn that off, everything is fine. The manual describes it as a feature to improve image quality. guess it doesn't quite work as intended.
It has 2 settings, smooth and precision. With either one on, it causes the effect i mentioned.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: pontifex
didn't find a way to turn off 120 hz, but i think i found the culprit. there is a Real Cinema Mode setting. If I turn that off, everything is fine. The manual describes it as a feature to improve image quality. guess it doesn't quite work as intended.
It has 2 settings, smooth and precision. With either one on, it causes the effect i mentioned.

That's the setting, they just renamed it. Every manufacturer calls it something different. When you make the move to Blu-ray, give it another shot.

 

[rh71]

Looking for something in the same ~$600 range for my parents... it looks like the OP went with a $1k set? I'm wondering if a 720p (1080i) Vizio unit would be just fine and the only reason to go 1080p would be for Blu-Ray discs. They'd be watching typical HDTV (from cable). 720p is pretty future-proof still?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog....do?product_id=8477432 vs. http://www.walmart.com/Vizio-3...-HDTV-VW37L/ip/5684931 worth the extra $90?

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: rh71
Looking for something in the same ~$600 range for my parents... it looks like the OP went with a $1k set? I'm wondering if a 720p (1080i) Vizio unit would be just fine and the only reason to go 1080p would be for Blu-Ray discs. They'd be watching typical HDTV (from cable). 720p is pretty future-proof still?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog....do?product_id=8477432 vs. http://www.walmart.com/Vizio-3...-HDTV-VW37L/ip/5684931 worth the extra $90?

yeah, i decided to spend a little more and go bigger and get some of the better features to sort of "future proof" me a little bit. glad i did. the tv is amazing!

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: rh71
Looking for something in the same ~$600 range for my parents... it looks like the OP went with a $1k set? I'm wondering if a 720p (1080i) Vizio unit would be just fine and the only reason to go 1080p would be for Blu-Ray discs. They'd be watching typical HDTV (from cable). 720p is pretty future-proof still?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog....do?product_id=8477432 vs. http://www.walmart.com/Vizio-3...-HDTV-VW37L/ip/5684931 worth the extra $90?

I'm not quite sure what you mean by your question is 720p future-proof. Will your 720p set work in the future? Sure it will! Heck, my very first tv still works, and it will soon be 30yo. My mom still uses it in one of her bedrooms. I was watching it just a few weeks ago, and can't believe how good it still looks. If it can survive that long, the same fate awaits the 720p set you plan to buy.

FOX & ABC both broadcast in 720p, but everyone else broadcasts in 1080i. Will your parents notice on their new 720p set? As long as they stay out of the stores, and away from 1080p sets, probably not.

As for the 2 sets you chose, the plasma would be my pick. It's bigger, and will have better black levels. However, it uses 140 more watts than the 37", and depending on what tv it's replacing, could increase your parents electric bill.