Hdtv

[davejonesbkk]

I'm planning on getting a HDTV, I did a bit of research and read the previous posts in this forum but I'm still confused about what kind of quality I can expect.

Here is what I want to get from a HDTV:

1/ HD visuals on my Xbox 360 games

2/ A better picture on my standard DVD's (not HD or blu rays)

I tend to watch Vcds (rent them) and UBC (not my memebership, comes with apartment) and if they look the same (as my old tv, a 21 inch Sony triniton) then I can accept that but I read that UBC and vcds sometimes look worse. Does this depend on the size of the tv?

I am thinking about getting a 32 inch Samsung LCD, either this one

http://www.1staudiovisual.co.th/catalog/sa...nch-p-1060.html

or

http://www.1staudiovisual.co.th/catalog/sa...nch-p-1416.html

How will they look? I believe that they are 720p, I know that this is not 'true' HD (thats 1080p right?) but I've seen an Xbox 360 running on one of these tvs and it looked amazing...

Can anyone please advise?

Thanks,

David

Edited January 30, 2008 by davejonesbkk

[dekka007]

Personally I would pay the extra and go for a future proofing Full 1080p.

Get an upscaling Sony DVD player with HDMI out. In Paragon it is around 4900 baht just now. Note it will only upscale over HDMI not component.

UBC will look crap as usual on anything bigger that 21". I long for the day they provide DSTV with component/hdmi and broadcast at higher rate.

Take a look at Sony Bravia's before deciding on the samsung. I personally think they are miles ahead in picture quality.

[Cromarty]

HD is either HD ready at 720 or HD full at 1080i. Both are 'true' HD

It you watch bluray or HD DVD then you will really see a benefit when projecting large images. For 32in I personally think 1080 is a waste of time (and money). Your xbox will look nice though, remember to switch the component lead over to HD.

If you are just watching VCD's ( ) or UBC ( ) then I wouldn't bother. UBC is absolutely appalling quality, over compressed with lots of digital artifacts. No idea what the bitrate of a VCD is but it will be low. Put these two nasties on a set bigger than 21in and you will get an awful picture.

[davejonesbkk]

Ok, price is a factor for me (the Samsungs are about 20k which I think is quite reasonable) but also space, I think 32 inches is enough for my apartment.

No idea what an upscaling DVD player is...if I use a HDMI cable from my regular DVD player to the HD TV will that look better then normal?

My current TV is 21 inches, so UBC is going to look worse on a brand new HD 32 inch??!!!??

[Plus]

Not necessarily worse, just crap. It's passable if you sit back.

Assuming you have a nice Internet connection, you can download ALL you enterntainment and watch on your TV in a near DVD quality, wide screen format, some TV shows come in HD format already. Only live sports are a problem.

[davejonesbkk]

If UBC and vcds look the same on my new HD as they do on my current tv then that is fine, my main reason for buying is to have HD games on my 360 and a larger, widescreen tv if DVDs look a bit better than I will take that as a bonus. My gf will FREAK if I go and splash out on a new tv and then she cant watch her lacorn shows on channel 3 or whatever and star movies looks crap....

[quiksilva]

If you want your 360 to display in HD (defined as 720p, 1080i, 1080p) you will need to use component RGB or HDMI cables (for 1080p), plus your TV must be capable of displaying these resolutions.

But yes any Standard Def broadcast (UBC or a VCD) will look pretty poor, tThis is an inherent problem that very few TV's have been able to solve.

I have a 46" Samsung LCD 1080i capable and UBC is passable but its not great, whereas UBC on my 29" Philips Pixel Plus (also capable of 1080i) has a very clear picture.

Still the 46 LCD is well worth it for DVD movies, gaming and for watching HD programs downloaded to my PC and streamed via the 360. Now I'm waiting for the next gen format war to be finally declared before I take the leap and get a Blue Ray player.

As for brands I personally preferred the Samsung to the Song Bravia, and for resolution to be honest I can hardly tell the difference between 1080p and 1080i so I went for screen size over quality.

[Cromarty]

your xbox will look great. But the imperfections of VCD and UBC will be magnified on a bigger telly. It didn't stop me though!!

[beekaykay]

Take a look at Sony Bravia's before deciding on the samsung. I personally think they are miles ahead in picture quality.

Totally agree theres no argument over Sony being the best, better to pay a little extra for the best quality nobody else touches Sony.

[Theyreallrubbish]

Take a look at Sony Bravia's before deciding on the samsung. I personally think they are miles ahead in picture quality.

Totally agree theres no argument over Sony being the best, better to pay a little extra for the best quality nobody else touches Sony.

The Sharp Aquous 1080p TVs beat the Sony's in picture quality apart from the X series where its a debatable draw. The Sharp's are much much cheaper though.

Also, the quality of standard def on an HD TV depends partly on the quality of the upscaling hardware in the TV. The Sharp and Sony X series are again the two best in this regard.

There's no need to spend money on an upscaling DVD player if you have a decent TV as the hardware in the TV will do a better job than that in the DVD player unless you go for a really high end and very expensive DVD player, but for that money get one of the HD-DVD/Bluray combined players coming out soon.

[Plus]

DVDs will certainly look better, you'll learn to appreaciate wide screen format.

Regular Thai TV looks perfect, Starmovies suck.

And if you learn to download stuff off the Internet, you'll nver think of switching back to normal screen again.

[beekaykay]

And if you learn to download stuff off the Internet, you'll nver think of switching back to normal screen again.

lol cant even watch a utube video with the internet service in Thailand and I have true SME! anyhow thats another story

[davejonesbkk]

Well I tested a few today at the mall Ramkamhaeng. Tried a VCD on a 32 inch LCD Panasonic and it looked fine to me, when I got up close I could see where the pixels were a bit bigger on the screen but the overall improved colours, contrast, wide -screen etc more than made up for it. Grabbed a few brochures and right now Im deciding between a Samsung 32 inch and a Jvc both are reasonably priced in the 20-25k range...

[nikster]

http://www.1staudiovisual.co.th/catalog/sa...nch-p-1416.html

How will they look? I believe that they are 720p, I know that this is not 'true' HD (thats 1080p right?) but I've seen an Xbox 360 running on one of these tvs and it looked amazing...

I have this one. It has *awesome* picture quality. It was 30k when I bought it. It's 720p.

DVD: Awesome

DivX: Awesome

UBC: As good as it can be, e.g. looks the same as on my old analogue TV, maybe slightly better. No upscaling artifacts.

Don't have an XBox 360.

I got good quality cables to hook up the DVD player, cost about 1,500 baht. I am not sure if it's true but I'd like to think it makes a difference. I now have an upscaling DVD player as well, but haven't used it yet for lack of HDMI cable.

When I bought this, I compared all models in the mall. It looked better than anything else, except one new LG model, and high end Sonys which were 60K+ at the time. The cheaper Sonys looked *much* worse. Of course, this might have changed in the meantime, price drop vs quality improvement seems to happen even faster for LCD TVs than it does for computers.

I would consider a 1080p panel if I had a source that could actually output it, e.g. a XBOX 360. But at the time I was looking (6 months ago?) 1080p was still a bit expensive, and I am not planning on getting a game console. My main use will be DVD, UBC, and now DivX, so 1080p would be a waste.

Edited February 4, 2008 by nikster

[Plus]

And if you learn to download stuff off the Internet, you'll nver think of switching back to normal screen again.

lol cant even watch a utube video with the internet service in Thailand and I have true SME! anyhow thats another story

I didn't mean live streaming internet TV, just downloading your favourite programs and watching them in free time.

New episodes of "Lost" and "Prison Break" are available in HD format (720p) and take a couple of hours to download, and it's not illegal, afaik.

[LivinLOS]

http://www.1staudiovisual.co.th/catalog/sa...nch-p-1416.html

How will they look? I believe that they are 720p, I know that this is not 'true' HD (thats 1080p right?) but I've seen an Xbox 360 running on one of these tvs and it looked amazing...

I have this one. It has *awesome* picture quality. It was 30k when I bought it. It's 720p.

Erm nope..

native panel rez is 1366x768.. not 1280x720

[LivinLOS]

And if you learn to download stuff off the Internet, you'll nver think of switching back to normal screen again.

lol cant even watch a utube video with the internet service in Thailand and I have true SME! anyhow thats another story

I didn't mean live streaming internet TV, just downloading your favourite programs and watching them in free time.

New episodes of "Lost" and "Prison Break" are available in HD format (720p) and take a couple of hours to download, and it's not illegal, afaik.

Downloading copyrighted material is not legal.. Even if it was origonally broadcast FTA.

I do it too tho .. Just got the UFC 81 PPV down about 12 hours after it was broadcast. Superb.

[Plus]

Downloading copyrighted material is not legal.. Even if it was origonally broadcast FTA.

Studios offer these downloads on their websites, not for those in Thailand, though.

And I haven't seen any copyright marks or warnings not to record and ditstribute free to air programs.

I'm ready to change my opinion, btw. This is just what I know at the moment, which is not much.

[dekka007]

Now I'm waiting for the next gen format war to be finally declared before I take the leap and get a Blue Ray player

Its Over. Blu-Ray won.

Regarding Upscaling DVD player. The Sony is probably the best and below 5000 Baht now. I tried just using the TV to do the upscaling on a non upscaling DVD player - it looked ok. But the Sony upscaling onto a Sony Bravia just looks much better.

Wish I could get the connection to the net I need in BKK to download all that stuff and not need to wait 1 or 2 days for it too finish. Luckily I go to Korea / Japan a lot and 12mb connection does the trick

UBC: As good as it can be, e.g. looks the same as on my old analogue TV, maybe slightly better.

Don't know how you find that to be honest. You have connected UBC to the TV by what means? I am presuming best case svideo from UBC's crap boxes?

Edited February 4, 2008 by dekka007

[nikster]

Downloading copyrighted material is not legal.. Even if it was origonally broadcast FTA.

Yes it is - if you buy it. Amazon Unboxed for example. Or iTunes (though that's not HD yet, or wasn't until recently).

@LininLos: Indeed, panel size is 1366x768 not sure why, but all panels that were not 1080p were that size.

All in all, with the tech constantly changing, and manufacturers bringing new models to market seemingly every other month, I think it's best to just go to a store / the mall, and compare picture quality. When I was buying, Sony was pretty crap except for their high end models which looked brilliant but cost 2x as much...