Is 1080p all that?

[boozie]

I'm not a big HD fanatic but I'm looking to buy an HDTV for Christmas. I don't plan on buying a blu-ray player anytime soon, nor am I looking to use this thing for video games. Keeping those things in mind, should I still be looking to spend the extra cash for 1080p vs 780p? I hardly know anything about HDTV's but I do think that most stuff isn't currently even broadcast in 1080p.

Any advice is welcome.

Thanks!

 

[CalvinHobbes]

Depending on the size and the source material, 1080P could make a difference over 720P. If you find a TV that you like, don't worry about the number of pixels.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Well, 1080p is getting pretty affordable now, so its much easier to recommend. If you plan on keeping the TV for quite a while, then I'd recommend going for it.

Size and viewing distance does matter, but most higher quality TVs at this point are 1080p, so going for extra quality will net you that as well.

 

[Tiamat]

Your viewing distance vs. the size of the display will play an enormous role in determining whether you can tell the difference between 1080P and 720P with all else quality being the same.

 

[JackBurton]

Yes.

 

[ManBearPig]

and more.

 

[nismotigerwvu]

If you ever plan to connect a PC to the screen you'll want a 1080P

 

[lifeobry]

Originally posted by: nismotigerwvu
If you ever plan to connect a PC to the screen you'll want a 1080P

this. also blu-ray, if you ever choose to get it, looks amazing.

 

[thegimp03]

You're right. Nothing is broadcast in 1080p currently because of the amount of bandwidth it requires.

If you have a blu-ray player though, it's probably worth it because most blu-ray dvds are in 1080p resolution.

 

[BassBomb]

Originally posted by: thegimp03
You're right. Nothing is broadcast in 1080p currently because of the amount of bandwidth it requires.

If you have a blu-ray player though, it's probably worth it because most blu-ray dvds are in 1080p resolution.

1080i is a pretty good compromise with the right TV and broadcast
its unfortunate bell in Canada rebroadcasts the 1080i signals from the states as 720p :S

 

[MagickMan]

Originally posted by: thegimp03
You're right. Nothing is broadcast in 1080p currently because of the amount of bandwidth it requires.

If you have a blu-ray player though, it's probably worth it because most blu-ray dvds are in 1080p resolution.

That is correct, for OTA HD. However, Dish Network has 1080p VOD and premium content, and it's pretty damned good. Also, just about all other cable and sat providers will be offering similar products very soon.

 

[spidey07]

If you will be using standard definition sources then absolutely you will have much to gain with a 1080p display. You don't have to have 1080p content to enjoy the advantages.

There are no disadvantages to a 1080p display, only pros.

 

[kalrith]

Originally posted by: spidey07
There are no disadvantages to a 1080p display, only pros.

Price is the disadvantage to a 1080p display. For some this won't matter. However, for many it will. I spent $1900 on a Pioneer 5080 (768p) that would completely trounce the PQ of any 50" 1080p TV at that price at the time. The 5080 has an excellent scaler, so 1080i and 1080p sources look incredible. I sit 9 feet from the screen and see no pixelation, SDE, etc.

Resolution isn't everything. ISF (Imaging Science Foundation) claims that contrast ratio, color saturation, and color accuracy are all more important to PQ than resolution, which is fourth on their list.

The two reasons for needing 1080p are computer usage and close viewing distance. I had neither of these issues, so I decided to get a 768p with better PQ than a 1080p with a worse PQ at the same price. Of course, I could've spent $3500 for the Pioneer 5010 and had the best of both worlds, but I would've likely seen little to no difference, definitely not $1600 worth of difference.

Using this viewing-distance chart as a guide, the benefits of 1080p over 720p become noticeable at distances closer than 10' to a 50" screen. YMMV because some people notice the difference closer and some farther. I can sit at my side seating 6-7 feet from my TV and just barely start to notice the limitations of 768p. Some (very few) can notice the limitations at farther than 10 feet away.

If money is no object, then by all means buy the absolute best 1080p TV out there. However, there is likely a limit to what you want to spend on a TV. That limit, the size of TV you want, your viewing distance, and whether a computer will be connected to it will help us to guide you to the best decision (in our individual opinions).

I will put as a disclaimer that I haven't at all kept up with the TV market since I bought mine last December (that makes it easier to be totally pleased with my TV and not want the newest, latest, greatest thing). Even at that time the market was making a big shift to 1080p, so you might not be able to find many quality 768p sets these days.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: nismotigerwvu
If you ever plan to connect a PC to the screen you'll want a 1080P

the only reason i got 1080p.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: spidey07
If you will be using standard definition sources then absolutely you will have much to gain with a 1080p display. You don't have to have 1080p content to enjoy the advantages.

There are no disadvantages to a 1080p display, only pros.

power consumption.

 

[sportage]

I'd wait for 1080p+

 

[DrunkenSano]

I'd go 1080p if you plan on getting a TV that is 50" or higher and something like blueray. Otherwise it isn't worth it or noticible unless you're sitting at an unhealthy distance watching TV, plus nothing is broadcasted in 1080p right now.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: DrunkenSano
I'd go 1080p if you plan on getting a TV that is 50" or higher and something like blueray. Otherwise it isn't worth it or noticible unless you're sitting at an unhealthy distance watching TV, plus nothing is broadcasted in 1080p right now.

That's not true. 1080p displays are much better at standard definition as well and most broadcast content is 1080i. You don't have to have 1080p content to enjoy all the advantages and you don't have to have a big TV. You just have to not sit too far away and that is true for all HD. MOST people sit too far from their tvs to really experience HD.

 

[Rio Rebel]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: DrunkenSano
I'd go 1080p if you plan on getting a TV that is 50" or higher and something like blueray. Otherwise it isn't worth it or noticible unless you're sitting at an unhealthy distance watching TV, plus nothing is broadcasted in 1080p right now.

That's not true. 1080p displays are much better at standard definition as well and most broadcast content is 1080i. You don't have to have 1080p content to enjoy all the advantages and you don't have to have a big TV. You just have to not sit too far away and that is true for all HD. MOST people sit too far from their tvs to really experience HD.

I have seen your opinion on viewing distance, and while I disagree, I respect your opinion.

However, the statement that 1080p displays are much better at standard definition is pretty ridiculous. The quality of the de-interlacer/scaler in the tv has much, much, MUCH more to do with the quality of SD than the resolution. I am surprised that you would make a statement like that.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Rio Rebel
However, the statement that 1080p displays are much better at standard definition is pretty ridiculous. The quality of the de-interlacer/scaler in the tv has much, much, MUCH more to do with the quality of SD than the resolution. I am surprised that you would make a statement like that.

I'm talking about from a technology of 720p vs. 1080p, 1080p wins with SD content. Of course the scaler and de-interlacer has a huge impact.

To make my point more clear - given adequate scaling/de-interlacing 1080p is much better at SD content.

 

[kalrith]

After looking around at new TVs, the 720p vs. 1080p debate is practically moot for 50" or above. I didn't see many quality sets above that price. You should hold out for 1440p though .

 

[Rio Rebel]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Rio Rebel
However, the statement that 1080p displays are much better at standard definition is pretty ridiculous. The quality of the de-interlacer/scaler in the tv has much, much, MUCH more to do with the quality of SD than the resolution. I am surprised that you would make a statement like that.

I'm talking about from a technology of 720p vs. 1080p, 1080p wins with SD content. Of course the scaler and de-interlacer has a huge impact.

To make my point more clear - given adequate scaling/de-interlacing 1080p is much better at SD content.

Thanks for the clarification.

I would still disagree with your last statement, but it is a question of how you define "much", I guess.

Upscaling from SD to 720p vs. upscaling to 1080p would be a very minimal difference, IMO. I can't imagine anyone seeing a difference unless their equipment did a FANTASTIC job of upscaling, AND they were using a huge screen like a projector.

 

[rdp6]

The resolution vs viewing distance chart should weigh heavily on your decision. I have a 52" 1080p panel with 8-9' viewing distance hooked up to a laptop among other things. For me, (with normal vision), default fonts/pitches are perfectly readable with no aliasing (if not a bit small) from my seating position. Moving closer, I can start to see individual pixels, while further away, it is too hard to read. This tells me that I have reached the balance between resolution and viewing distance optimal for my eyes' capability to resolve detail.

I'd advise against holding out for >1080p panels since there isn't any source material (other than self-generated or computer-based) available. Blu-ray is the best commonly available source / equipment with a native resolution of 1080p, so that is where it's at for now.

BTW, I'm pretty certain that displays that only accept 1080i are still able to render 1080p/24 with inverse telecine, although you may notice judder. FWIW, 1080p/120 hz panels have fallen in price a great deal in the last year, if they aren't yet cheap enough for you, why not wait a bit longer? Then you'll have 1080p with ability to display 24 hz material with no judder, i.e. 5:5 pulldown. Provided, of course, that your tv's manufacturer implements a true 5:5 pulldown, which is the case for Samsung, Sony, and possibly others.

On the plasma side, you'd look for 72 hz panels with 3:3 pulldown to properly display 1080p/24 source material (e.g. most Hollywood films on Blu-ray or HD DVD). Not certain if that is what they call it, as I am an LCD guy (fits my need much better than plasma).

Edit: Disclaimer: I have a Samsung LNT5271F LCD, and am very happy with it.