TV or Monitor, which provides better picture quality?

ithehappy

Senior member
Oct 13, 2013
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I was wanting to buy a new television, but suddenly thought about asking this. Which gives better picture quality, a Full HD T.V.or a Full HD monitor? The source will be 720/1080P MKV rips.
Currently I have a Dell 22" 1680x1050 Monitor, SP2208WFPt, and a Sony Bravia 26" WXGA res, KLV-26S200A, now I was eyeing a 32" W650A Bravia, but need to know before making final decision. You know, long way ago, back in 07/08, I once connected my PC (probably via PC connection, not HDMI) to T.V. and watched Holiday (Mr.Bean), and it was a DVD rip, and I remember that it was so amazing, I mean the PQ, way way better than my that time's Samsung 17" monitor. Since then I have a belief that T.V processes a picture way better than a computer monitor, am I wrong or right? Please enlighten me.
 

Revolution 11

Senior member
Jun 2, 2011
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Eh, the monitor will probably have higher PQ than the TV, as long as you are not getting a really old monitor. It is quite simple, monitors are designed for a view distance of 2-3 feet. A TV is meant to be seen from 6 or more feet away. Ever try watching a TV from just 12 inches from your face? See how long it takes before your eyes start hurting.

If you are going to be using the PC from a long distance away, for example with a wireless keyboard/mice, then go for the TV.
 

ithehappy

Senior member
Oct 13, 2013
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No, if I get a monitor it'd be a decent one, IPS panel maybe, maybe better, don't know which one is actually better. And it'd be watched from a distance of 3 ft max. Are you absolutely certain about the PQ?
 

Revolution 11

Senior member
Jun 2, 2011
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No, if I get a monitor it'd be a decent one, IPS panel maybe, maybe better, don't know which one is actually better. And it'd be watched from a distance of 3 ft max. Are you absolutely certain about the PQ?

The only way to be certain is to check out the screens with your own eyes. But yes, I have never seen a TV that looked better up close compared to an nice monitor*. Once you move away from 3 feet, the trade-offs of the TV rapidly change.

*I should mention that a TV's blurry visuals can mask small artifacts or aliasing in games. That often is why games "look better" than on a monitor. If you actually prefer this blurring effect, the TV will look better. A TV could be a better purchase if the view distance is right or if the blur effect is desired. On a table with a chair, it is often the latter.
 
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ithehappy

Senior member
Oct 13, 2013
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Hmm, okay I'll check it myself, I'll the play the same file both on T.V. and monitor and see the difference.
For games, yeah, I'd like to have that blurry effect, I guess, but not for anything else.
What monitor should I eye btw? I'd love to stick with Dell.
 

T9D

Diamond Member
Dec 1, 2001
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Just make sure you turn off all the extra crap on TV's. They always have settings that screw with the picture to make broadcasts look better from far away. But it looks cleaner and better if you turn that stuff off if you use it as a monitor.

TV's still just don't look totally right though. A bigger picture is awesome. As long as you sit far enough away. Otherwise it is nowhere close to as good as a monitor if you sit close to it. I have a 42" hooked up behind my 24" monitor. The TV is nowhere near as good as the monitor. But for watching sitting at couch distance or gaming it's flipping awesome to have. 2 feet away the pixel density is to big and the resolution to small. And the colors are not totally accurate. And stuff on the screen is to big from the internet. If it was 4k though I'd probably love it and keep just a big 4k TV as my monitor.
 

T9D

Diamond Member
Dec 1, 2001
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What extra crap are you talking about?

Stuff like dynamic contrast. Man I hate that setting.

Black enhancer or something or other.

Some digital or pixel filter things.

Some type of anti aliasing that just blurs more than help

Some smooth picture

Enhanced color or vibrant mode

I don't know there is always all kinds of buzz word junk they always add on. I end up turning it all off and it looks sharper and better.
 

ithehappy

Senior member
Oct 13, 2013
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Okay, so the extra settings. Yes, they don't justify their names. Dynamic Contrast is indeed the worst of them all. I forgot actually, I set the settings to my liking when I first bought the TV, since then it's like that. Now if I buy a new one I have to do it all over again, damn, no idea why nothing is simple nowadays!