[pjsise]

I'm researching LCD/LCD projection/ and DLP sets and they seem to be what I want, except I'm concerned about them all being native 720p displays. Most of the HD content, both what I watch and what is available to me, is 1080i. I have a native 1080i set (CRT) already and love the picture on channels like DiscoveryHD, NBC, and CBS, but I'm looking for a much slimmer set to go in a small room.

Does anyone out there see a problem with getting a 720p set when almost everything I watch in HD will be 1080i? Am I wasting my money?

BTW, I intend on using the new DirecTv HD Tivo stb with my new HD set.

 

[AcuraCL]

720p sets are very popular. They have beautiful pictures.


There is a long-running debate about whether 720p is actually better ....


Not taking sides, just mentioning it.


I have a 720p set, and I am very happy with it.


Have you actually viewed any of these sets?

 

[pjsise]

I've heard both sides of the 720p vs 1080i quality debate, but that's not what I'm wondering about...

Since the programs I mostly watch originate in 1080i would I be missing anything by viewing it on a set that needs to convert it to 720p?

I've only seen these sets in a Circuit City environment where the sales people just looked at me funny when I asked if the source was 720p or 1080i.

Would the DiscoveryHD (or any of the 1080i broadcasters') program on a 720p set look just as good as it does on my 1080i?

 

[AcuraCL]

I gotcha.


Well, AFAIK only ABC and ESPN broadcast in 720p. That means that most of what MOST of us watch is 1080i.


I believe that yes, 720p sets display 1080i pictures as cleanly, vividly, beautifully as 1080i sets. The real question is whether 1080i sets can up-convert from 720p as cleanly (going from higher resolution to lower is always easier graphically).


Maybe if you went during a non-busy time, they'd put a 1080i and 720p set side-by-side and you could compare yourself.


DiscoveryHD, HDNet, HDNet Movies, NBC, CBS, PBS all look fantastic, really stunning on my 720p set. I don't think anyone could be disappointed in a well-adjusted 720p set. JMHO.

 

[pjsise]

Can I ask what kind of set you have?

 

[AcuraCL]

Quote:

Originally posted by pjsise Can I ask what kind of set you have?

I have a RP-LCD, Panasonic PT-50LC13.

 

[Ein]

Quote:

Originally posted by pjsise I've heard both sides of the 720p vs 1080i quality debate, but that's not what I'm wondering about... Since the programs I mostly watch originate in 1080i would I be missing anything by viewing it on a set that needs to convert it to 720p? I've only seen these sets in a Circuit City environment where the sales people just looked at me funny when I asked if the source was 720p or 1080i. Would the DiscoveryHD (or any of the 1080i broadcasters') program on a 720p set look just as good as it does on my 1080i?

You are losing sleep over a none issue. If it bothers you so much waite for the 1080p, which should be out within a year.

 

[lowspeed]

Isn't the pictur quality of 1080i same as 540p ?


and 720p better them 1080i ?


At any given time the 720p has more details then 1080i



Please advice !

 

[Will]

I remember a few years ago, when RPTVs were mostly 480 and 1080i (or 540p). At the time, one brand, I think it was Toshiba, decided they'd save money and offered sets in 1080i-only -- they upconverted 480 material to 540. People saw artifacts but it was subtle, while watching 480 material on those RPTVs. Of course that was a few years ago and upconversions should have fewer artifacts today.

 

[quarque]

I agree with Ein - it is a non-issue these days. The conversions have improved dramatically over just a few years ago. When I was looking at 720p vs 1080i sets side by side I was hard-pressed to find any advantage visually with one over the other. You might see differences but they are extremely subtle in my opinion. I ended up going 1080i only because of a great deal on a particular set. I would have been just as happy with any of the 720p sets. I would consider that parameter a lower priority than other features of each set.

 

[DaveFi]

Quote:

Since the programs I mostly watch originate in 1080i would I be missing anything by viewing it on a set that needs to convert it to 720p?

Short answer: No.


I have a CRT HDTV that can display both 1080i and 720p natively and perfer 720p.

 

[jfischer]

1080i broadcasts look stunning on my 720P DLP set. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you

 

[jjesusfreak01]

If youve ever really looked up close to a dlp set (ive seen 56 inch ones), even the largest ones have incredibly small pixels which should seem unnoticable from any distance. I have a crt rp and I can tell you the native resolution is 1080i but the clarity of the dlps and similar technologies is immensely greater.

 

[John Mason]

Quote:

Originally posted by pjsise Does anyone out there see a problem with getting a 720p set when almost everything I watch in HD will be 1080i? Am I wasting my money?

Numerous posts on these forums point out that 1080i delivers more detailed images than 720p (even with typically filtered 1080i). Even with scaling, a set with 1280X720 fixed pixels obviously can't display 1080i's actual or potential higher resolvable horizontal resolution (up to a theoretical 1920 pixels). Depending on what your CRT-based set could actually resolve, IMO you would undoubtedly be missing details often present in high-quality 1080i programs. On the other hand, buying one of the upcoming 1080p displays (true 1920X1080) would show you all the detail possible as HD quality continues to improve, although they'll no doubt be tradeoffs, such as black levels, with these displays, too. Rare 1080p sets are currently high-end only. BTW, here's a table showing measured differences (test patterns only) between the two main HD formats. Here's a related post today. -- John