[AWilde]

After changing my mind at the last minute about a Plasma display, I've re-read a lot of my research material and decided an LCD is better for my uses. However, what I can't seem to find any information or the rare comment on is SD quality.


I know, HDTV's bring out flaws, but currently I don't have the means or desire to upgrade my DirecTV setup to HD, although I will sometime in the future.


I'm looking Small, 37" prefered, 42 could be squeezed in, just no room for a CRT of equivilant size. One of the stores near here had an out-of-box deal on a Mits LT-3780 but I hadn't read anythign about it so I didn't jump.


Are there any LCD displays that do SD better than others i should be keeping an eye out for? as none of the stores seem to have a way to display SD for those of us interested. The other uses of the TV will be for gaming, DVD watching, and as a PC monitor, but those seem to be easier to find acceptable screens for, so the SD is my biggest concern. and the 8-10month or whatever time period it takes before upgrading the Sat. is important to me.


Thanks in advance.

 

[DBLASS]

If you are going to feed your set with lower resolution video, buy a lower resolution set. 720P is a good compromise. Not having anything to do with video compression, a large sized, low resolution display will not look so good because you might see the pixel pitch (lovingly called the "screen door" effect.


Low res sources, use a low res set but stay around 32" or you may see other things.

 

[JeffChap]

I posted a thread, including SD pics, for the Sammy LN-S4051D here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=749161

 

[miniz]



Quote:
Originally Posted by AWilde /forum/post/0


.....currently I don't have the means or desire to upgrade my DirecTV setup to HD, although I will sometime in the future.

Then an HDTV is NOT for you.

 

[krupps58]



Quote:
Originally Posted by miniz /forum/post/0


Then an HDTV is NOT for you.

I would have to agree with this. After getting my TV SD quality viewing is only acceptable because of the HD content. However if I had no HD content then the TV wouldn't be worth it.

 

[jeda_zelda]



Quote:
Originally Posted by krupps58 /forum/post/0


I would have to agree with this. After getting my TV SD quality viewing is only acceptable because of the HD content. However if I had no HD content then the TV wouldn't be worth it.

...wait...isn't the Sat a digital signal? At least you'r SD images are coming to you digitally and will match up to the built-in ATSC tuner. What would be a real show stopper would be an analog CATV SD signal through a NTSC on an LCD. THose just look terrible.


The free digitals I get through my QAM, are significantly better than looking at the same NTSC tuner.

 

[miniz]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jeda_zelda /forum/post/0


...wait...isn't the Sat a digital signal? At least you'r SD images are coming to you digitally and will match up to the built-in ATSC tuner. What would be a real show stopper would be an analog CATV SD signal through a NTSC on an LCD. THose just look terrible.


The free digitals I get through my QAM, are significantly better than looking at the same NTSC tuner.

Sure, SAT is digital, but is overcompressed digital. It looks worse then analog cable!

 

[dr0s]

Well, whether or not one agrees (I don't) with the premise that SD looks worse on HD sets than on SD sets, the original poster wants to watch DVDs, and a widescreen set is the natural display on to watch such a DVD, even a SD DVD. - DR

 

[adamanteus]

SD will look OK with directv on the screen as long as you view it in the native 4:3. if you stretch it to fit it looks pretty BAD. SOME channels look OK stretched but the majority look pretty ugly.


i will throw in that if you do go HD you will never go back though. not sure what dirctv charges to upgrade but, i thought when i looked online it was a free upgrade. there may be a an "install fee" but, i DO know if you throw a fit they'll do it for free. they did when i threatend to cancel our contract because they are charging a $200 install fee to upgrade from the HR20 non dvr HD receiver to the new hd dvr. so if you call them and say something like- "i'm thinking of canceling and switching to dish network because they will set me up with HD for free" or something to that effect then as long as you pay your bill timely- i would almost guarantee they would upgrade it for no cost.

 

[maximuslcd]

I have to say that if your not going HD anytime soon, you will be dissapointed with how your tv looks, I have the 52" aquos and watching a dvd with 1080i upconversation is great, playing the xbox 360 in 1080p is amazing...but watching standard satellite, although they say they broadcast it in digital format it comes in really badly, as someone else said"the screen door effect" some things look good but others dont. I have direct TV and have been trying for over 3 weeks to get an upgrade and they keep telling me they cant schedule an appt because they dont have the equip???? how could they let this happen. My only option was to hook up my sat with the standard yellow/red/white cables which I'm pretty sure they can only carry an analog signal? so even if its broadcast in digital I/you cant get it to the tv digital. I do have a set of HD rabbit ears that work great for my local HD channels...but I really need for HD receiver.


NOTE: I have threatend Direct TV every way I know how for the last 3 weeks about getting my HD equip out to me and nothing has helped, I told them I was switching and all I got was an I'm sorry we dont want to lose you. The story I got was everyone in America is wanting to upgrade from the standard HD receiver to the new one with DVR and they just simply dont have any receivers and dont know when they will have them...it sucks. I have heard bad things about dish network and dont want to switch, once you do they have you under contract for a year. And direct TV did tell me they would upgrade me to HD with the DVR for free. ....but when???????