[augieman]

So my biggest concern now is just how bad is SD viewing going to be on a large 60" RPTV. While I personally would go DLP, I think my safest bet is to go LCD for minimal risk of any family member or guest getting headaches and seeing rainbows. (Which I too think I felt when watching DLPs in the store). As a plus, from reading past posts, it seems LCDs tend to do a little better with SD material.


Assuming the main reason the problem exists is that a low resolution signal just doesn't look good when made so large, then could these be possible solutions? I really would like to be able to watch SD material at the same PQ level as my old 32" tv (or is this just not possible?).


1) Any good 60" PIP models that would still give me about a 32" sized PIP window that I can move around and 'pin' and then we just watch SD that way through the smalller window?

2) If I go the HTPC route, what if I just always leave the RPTV in PC mode and we watch SD through say an ATI board and we size our TV window to about 32"


I've read the burn in FAQ but still don't see a difinitive answer. DLPs I know are immune to burn in simply because of design, they're mirrors. However, are LCDs competely immune too? I know light passes through them and they have to go dark to show black so if I eccessively use PIP, or regular 4:3 SD, or have an MS windows desktop shown (with a black or dark gray background), am I going to get burn in?


I was orginally going to go with a front projector and new 36" TV to have the best of both worlds but then the projector would only be usable at night as the room has to many windows. Plus then I'd have to invest/make a drop down screen to come down in front of the TV.


thanks

pat

 

[Solarius]

You have to crank your contrast and brightness to get burn-in on ANY modern display. LCD probably has the least risk, but CRT and plasma aren't far behind, as long as you're not trying to do it on purpose.


If you'll be watching through a HTPC, there are significant improvements you can make to the PQ to get it to look pretty close to a SDTV. I have a large screen RPCRT SDTV and tube SDTV and the difference really isn't that noticable. I think it only really shows up when you switch between a HDTV and SDTV feed. YMMV. From what I've read the Sony LCD GWIV's seem to handle SD the best.

 

[dre]

I have a Sony GIV LCD and find the SDTV picture to be acceptable if watching at a reasonable viewing distance. I sit 12 feet froma 55 inch LCD and though it's not HDTV, it's not bad either (better than my 10 year old Sony analog RPTV).


As long as you are willing to accept the fact that SDTV is not going to as good as HDTV, then you will be happy. I think the people who complain the most are the ones who expect perfection on all channels after spending $3-$4 K and don't understand the limitations of analog SDTV. Afterall, all of these new TV's are DIGITAL TV's and SDTV is not digital.