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When the A1 outputs 720p, is it to 1,366x768?

#1
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8/30/06 at 2:05pm
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My dream TV is the XBR3 (Sony 46" direct-view 1080p LCD in black), unfortunately this TV would set me back almost 5K with taxes.

As a result, I'm seriously looking at 50" plasmas which are now going for around $2,800.

The drop to ~720p hurts...but at nearly half the price it doesn't feel that bad.

Since the A1 now does 720p well, I also wouldn't have to wait for second gen (like some picky 1080p folks).

I don't typically enjoy RP PQ due to rampant screen-gain (glitter) and would be somewhat worried about poor blacks on most lesser LCDs.

So, my remaining concern about 50" plasmas is the 1,366x768 resolution.

If the A1 can scale to that exact res, it still should look great.
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#2
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8/30/06 at 3:30pm
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Re: When the A1 outputs 720p, is it to 1,366x768?

Almost all LCD's (and many plasma's) have a native resolution of 1366 x 768p (Wide XGA). The HD-A1 will output 1280 x 720p, which will then be scaled to the native resolution of the set you're buying. I can assure you this will still look great on any brand-name plasma (Fujitsu, Hitachi, Panasonic or Pioneer), as they all have excellent scalers.
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#3
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8/30/06 at 3:44pm
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Re: When the A1 outputs 720p, is it to 1,366x768?

Wouldn't setting the player at 1080 be better? You know, going from 1080 > 768 using the scaler in the tv versus 1080 > 720 in the player and then from 720 > 768 in the tv's scaler?

Better: 1080 > 768
Worse: 1080 > 720 > 768

If it wasn't for my horse, I wouldn't have spent that year in college.

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#4
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8/30/06 at 4:01pm
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Re: When the A1 outputs 720p, is it to 1,366x768?

Hi Jeremy - If the movie is mastered at 1080p then you're looking at:

1) 1080p > 1080i (HD-A1 Scaler) , then 1080i -> 768p (TV Scaler)
2) 1080p -> 720p (HD-A1 Scaler), then 720p -> 768p (TV Scaler)

In both scenario's the picture quality will ultimately be determined by both the scaler in the HD-A1 and the scaler in the TV. Who's to say that outputing 1080i will produce a better picture quality on this individual set? I would try both.
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#5
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8/30/06 at 7:36pm
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Re: When the A1 outputs 720p, is it to 1,366x768?

Greetings

Generally easier to toss out information than to try to make it up out of nothing.

Regards

Michael @ The Laser Video Experience
THX Video Systems Instructor
ISF Calibration Instructor
Lion A/V Consultants Network
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#6
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8/30/06 at 9:07pm
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Re: When the A1 outputs 720p, is it to 1,366x768?

I would think 1080 output would be better as it has more pixels than 720, so the TV will scale down as opposed to up.

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#7
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8/31/06 at 4:57am
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Re: When the A1 outputs 720p, is it to 1,366x768?

Quote:
1) 1080p > 1080i (HD-A1 Scaler)
This is not scaling. This is deinterlacing. So this is by far the preferrred option because it limits the signal processing to a single scaling operation, rather than 2 scaling operations.

Ted
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#8
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8/31/06 at 7:32am
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Re: When the A1 outputs 720p, is it to 1,366x768?

Thanks for the info guys, looks like my concerns about scaling are well founded.

With 1,366x768 becoming so prevalent, it's a shame the A1 doesn't have an option for Wide XGA.


EDIT: After Googling for bit, I can see this is going to turn into a chicken soup of resolutions.

Here's a link to a Samsung player, which references 768p (but not the one I need).

http://reviews.cnet.com/Samsung_DVD_...2.html?tag=nav
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