Enhanced SD TVs
My nearly wife and I have decided not to get any TV service, but to subscribe to NetFlix instead. Since there's not HD content in our immediately forseeable future, I'd like to look into enhanced standard definition TV's. I can't seem to locate where I first read about them, but basically I'm asking where a good place to shop for a TV that displays 480 progressive content in a 16x9 aspect ratio would be. We're wanting something pretty cheap so a true HDTV is probably out of scope for us.
Comments
So do I have the terminology right? Do I want to be searching for "Enhanced Definition" TVs?
Originally posted by Guartho
So do I have the terminology right? Do I want to be searching for "Enhanced Definition" TVs?
Um, I think you have the terminology right but that it refers to the TV signal rather than the TV. I'm under the impression that (in the US) there are only two kinds of TV sets; NTSC and HDTV. Only a HDTV set would be able to take advantage of an ED signal. Am I wrong?
As an example of what I'm thinking, the digital channels that come across my cable service look slightly better on my HDTV than the standard analog channels. (Digital channels are ED while the analog channels are NTSC.) DVDs look far better than both, but not as good as true HDTV channels.
Curious to hear other input on this. I don't claim to be an expert.
Originally posted by theapplegenius
EDTV is trash.
Totally!
I mean, you only get max quality from DVDs and HD broadcasts look gorgeous. You are so right. Why do people waste (less of) their money on those stupid EDTVs?
Everyone wants a 300lbs TV that's 2-feet deep!
Just throwing an option out there. 42" is basically the smallest "big screen" size. EDTV will suffer a bit if you go 50"+, but your projection (HDTV) and plasma (EDTV) options at that size should be comparable both for cost, and mounting flexibility.
If you have a HUGE room, a cheaper CRT based projection set can be a good option, but these are really big, they often don't look so bulky in a show room, where the warehouse environment and surrounding displays throw the scale WAY OFF, but they are much deeper than comparable DLP/LCD projection sets.
Get the dimensions of the set, and measure out from the wall/corner where you want to place the set. Really, really, really think about whether or not a big blac/grey block of plastic is something you want in that area.
A decent quality 42" 720P DLP projection set is actually quite low profile and, relatively speaking, can be tucked away incospicously.
Also, at 42" 720 will look pin sharp from your couch, no need for 1080i at that size. Many models are even small enough to migrate to the bedroom if/when the upgrade bug strikes...
Originally posted by Matsu
You defined the use, that's good. Now take a reasonable apraisal of the room and your typical viewing distance. How big do you want this set to be, and how far back/forward do you expect to sit, but also, and this is key, how much of your living space do you really want to give up?
This will be in our teeny tiny living room. The farthest we'd be able to get away from the set is probably less than 14 feet. It'll be going into the "TV Hole" of her existing entertainment center. I'm two hours away at the moment and won't be able to measure it for some time. Off-hand I'd guess that nothing bigger than a 27" TV would fit anyway.
Also, at 42" 720 will look pin sharp from your couch, no need for 1080i at that size. Many models are even small enough to migrate to the bedroom if/when the upgrade bug strikes... [/B]
That's good to hear. In my internship I saw some standard def video on adecent sized high quality monitor and mistook it for HD. (I thought it was probably 720 in my defense) So I lost that "Must get 1080p" voice in my head that day.
My main conern is that I don't want 480p content like DVD's to be anti-aliased. Are there any types of sets besides LCD TVs that I'd have to worry about this with?