- Joined: October 2001
- Location: Rensselaer, NY
- Post Count: 17,543
I hope this isn't too dumb of a question...but I don't know the answer.
I currently have a 26" Samsung CRT HD display (
TXN2668WHF). This display can output 1080i. FWIW, I've had this display for nearly five years and am quite pleased with it's picture quality.
My current room/decor situation forces me to have a smaller display right now. But on the outside chance I ever get to upgrade (if something disastrous every happens to the current set) I know I could move up to a 32" display.
The reason I ask this question is that it seems every 32" display I look at only goes to a 720p image. Am I wrong? Why does that seem to be a limitation?
On the other hand, most 32" displays I've seen have VERY nice images--even for store displays.
Thanks!
There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!
- Joined: June 1999
- Post Count: 32,950
Re: Why are 32" displays mostly 720p?
Probably not all that cost-effective to pack 2 megapixels into that screen size from a manufacturing standpoint, and 720p is probably good enough for 32" (and smaller) 16x9 screen sizes in terms of viewing quality (where 1080p resolution doesn't produce significantly better picture quality over 720p).
Win cool stuff: Oppo BD Player, Panasonic Plasma, $200 in movies or gear:
Click www.hometheaterforum.com/contest for details!
"Jee-sus, it's like Iwo Jima out there" - Roger Sterling on "Mad Men"
Patcave | 2006 Films | 2007 Films | Dragon*Con 2009 | Heroes Con 2009
- Joined: May 2003
- Location: Eastern NC
- Post Count: 1,734
Re: Why are 32" displays mostly 720p?
I've read that you won't notice the difference between 720p and 1080p, until you get to a screen size of 60" or larger.
Samsung HL61A750 (LED DLP) Onkyo TX-SR805
Denon DVD-2200 Polk Audio LSi9
Polk Audio LSiC Sony SS-MB100H
JBL PSW1200 (Sub)
- Joined: October 2001
- Location: Rensselaer, NY
- Post Count: 17,543
Re: Why are 32" displays mostly 720p?
Thanks, everyone. I've heard that, too, about the resolution difference not being noticeable on such small screens.
I just thought ti was odd that my little 26" screen was capable of 1080i while the 32" LCDs were all at 720p.
But I guess 720p is just as good as 1080i (better, maybe?) in sets that small, eh?
There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!
- Joined: September 2005
- Post Count: 1,320
Re: Why are 32" displays mostly 720p?
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon
I just thought ti was odd that my little 26" screen was capable of 1080i while the 32" LCDs were all at 720p.
But I guess 720p is just as good as 1080i (better, maybe?) in sets that small, eh?
|
That's just a difference in technology. It doesn't cost anything to increase the resolution of a CRT set. With LCD the same can't be said. It was only 3-4 years ago that 1080p LCD's and plasmas even came out on the market.
Even your average 10 year old CRT computer monitors are capable of greater resolutions than most of the LCD screens sold today.
"Because he's the hero that Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now... and so we'll hunt him... because he can take it... because he's not a hero... he's a silent guardian, a watchful protector... a DARK KNIGHT."
- Joined: April 2004
- Post Count: 788
Re: Why are 32" displays mostly 720p?
The thing is - you'll never sit close enough to a 26" or 32" TV to see the higher resolution. It has nothing to do with the size of the screen ,but rather the usual distance people sit to watch TV.
You sit two feet or closer to your PC screen, but nobody would sit that close to a TV.
So, they don't bother with the expense of making the smaller sets Full HD. The 720p sets look just fine on HD TV, though.
--ignore the man behind the curtain
- Joined: October 2001
- Location: Rensselaer, NY
- Post Count: 17,543
Re: Why are 32" displays mostly 720p?
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by DaveF
This TV can display a 1080i signal, but that doesn't mean it actually has 1920x1080 display resolution. I did some searching out of curiosity and I couldn't find its resolution specified anywhere. Neither Samsung's users manual nor the info sheet you linked to actually stated what its screen resolution is.
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Jeff Gatie
I guarantee a 26" CRT isn't capable of resolving the full resolution of 1080i. You'd be surprised at how much of the 1080i is thrown away by the limits of a direct-view CRT. It's probably closer to 800i.
|
Very very interesting.
The info sheet says there is a "Maximum 800 lines horizontal resolution." Does that provide a clue or answer the question?
There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!
- Joined: December 1969
- Post Count: 7,211
Re: Why are 32" displays mostly 720p?
All digital TVs sold in the U.S. can
accept a 1080i signal. They are required to by law. But that doesn't mean they can
display a 1080i
image.
This is one of those meaningless specs that manufacturers like to list to make their sets sound more capable. All it really means is that you don't need an external convertor box to rescale that 1080i signal to something the TV's screen can actually display.
Even EDTVs with a maximum resolution of 480p will
accept a broadcast or other signal of 1080i - which it will then immediately convert into 480p.
Regards,
Joe
- Joined: October 2001
- Location: Rensselaer, NY
- Post Count: 17,543
Re: Why are 32" displays mostly 720p?
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Joseph DeMartino
All digital TVs sold in the U.S. can accept a 1080i signal. They are required to by law. But that doesn't mean they can display a 1080i image.
This is one of those meaningless specs that manufacturers like to list to make their sets sound more capable. All it really means is that you don't need an external convertor box to rescale that 1080i signal to something the TV's screen can actually display.
Even EDTVs with a maximum resolution of 480p will accept a broadcast or other signal of 1080i - which it will then immediately convert into 480p.
|
Man, am I learning a lot here! Maybe I spend too much time in the Software & Bargains forums!
So, based on the manual and info sheet, I have NO IDEA what resolution my Samsung is giving me?!?!
That's crazy! I know it looks pretty darn good. I remember reading about five years (when I was shopping for the set) that some people thought the CRT would give a good hi-definition picture (problem-free, as it were and a clean image). That is my experience. It looks great (given it's size) but now I'm wondering exactly what I'm looking at!
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by DaveF
1080i is 1920 (h) x 1080 (v) (interlaced); 720p is 1280(h) x 720(v) (progressive). If I read correctly, your TV can display . I think that means your TV can physically produce about 40% of the maximum 1080 horizontal resolution, or about 62% of the 720p resolution.
This is not uncommon. For years there have been rear-projection LCD sets sold that could "display" a 1080i signal, but with LCD resolutions of about 1366x768, a shade above 720p. And I think my 2002 WEGA only goes to 800x600 physically, though it will "display" a 1080i signal as your set does.
By any measure, a 720p LCD should be a substantial improvement to you. |
Well...that's great info...for whenever I eventually get to upgrade the display! Something to look forward to!
Thanks, Joe & Dave (and everyone else, too!).
There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!
