HD-ready plasma and LCD televisions

I know of previous threads regarding plasma and LCD televisions but not HD friendly; today I went to buy a Sony 42" plasma tele marked HD ready with the sole intention of hooking it up to my good old English Sky box. The nice man told me that although it says HD ready it really means HD compatable and I would have to purchase further interfaces to connect it up.

My only hope here is my poor Germann and his patchy English resulted in the answer being "42" he did mention German TV and I did say I only watch Sky which is already digital and he kept pointing out that you need at least 1300x700 pixel to benefit from HD.

Confused I was as Yoda would say, I had a burning suspicion that that the sales guy was trying to sell me a tele which is twice the price ie 2700 Euro as opposed to 1400 Euro. In short if it says HD ready will it plug and play my Sky box when they start HD transmissions and do yo need a high pixel resolution to appreciate HD

Anybody throw some light on this bugger.

For a TV to be HD ready, as far as I am aware, it needs to have a native resolution of 1366 x 768, either a DVI, HDMI, or Coaxial inputs to handle digital HD signals, and have a 16:9 format. Those are at least the main points. I'm guessing if you bought a 42" Sony Plasma for 2700, you are more than fine! Check the back - you probably have an HDMI connection which is definitely the future for HD - it transfers both digital video and sound, as opposed to DVI connections which just transfer video. And I think all Sony plasma screens above 26" are 16:9, so all set there.

What you also need is a decoder that can handle the digital signals - sounds like your good old English Sky box may not be one that can handle the digital output. However, there may be a small chance that your plasma TV has a built in digital decoder (I know high end more pricey HDTV ready TV sets have this). You'll have to check your specs for both the plasma TV and your decoder.

Finally, you'll obviously need the right cables between your decoder and plasma set - if your decoder has HDMI out (which is still quite rare), you should def. use that. If it has DVI and no HDMI, then use that. And finally, which is the most common still, use the Coaxial connection (and get some good quality Coaxial cables). Something worth pointing out is also that with an HDTV, you'll be able to view your DVDs with absolutely jaw dropping quality - again, use the best of what you got - if your DVD player has HDMI out (again, still quite rare), use that. And so on and so forth.

I've heard that Sky will start broadcasting in HD quite soon (sounds like they have started already), and I searched and found so far one TV channel in Germany broadcasting in HD - ProSiebenSat.1 (have no idea what content this channel has). It could be many more years until it becomes any type of standard across all TV stations, though.

Finally, I definitely recommend you read through this site thuroughly - it should have all your answers.

CNet.com's HDTV World

Be sure you REALLY want a flat panel (plasma/LCD) before plunking down the cash for one. I just bought a Sony rear projection KDF-550A11E 50in/125cm which beats the pants off a flat panel coasting more than twice the price. It is still exceptionally thin - no deeper than the rceiver and DVD flat which go underneath it.

Check out threads on it here (the 12 in Britain is the same as the Euro mainland 11 model)

Quoted From Slashdot

Hardware: HD DVD to Screw Early HDTV Adopters
Posted by Zonk on Friday February 24, @09:42AM
from the they-wouldn't-have-it-any-other-way dept.

Apparently the folks who designed the Advanced Access Content System (AACS)for the new HD DVD formats have decided to stick it to the early HDTV adopters . If your set used the older component video, expect to watch your new HD DVD at a quarter of the resolutions. To thwart piracy of course." From the article: "AACS says the new players won't output a full-HD signal from their component-video connections, since those jacks are analog instead of digital and thus have no copy protection. The 'down-rezzed' signals will be limited to a resolution of 960 x 540 pixels -- exactly one-quarter the 1,920 x 1,080 pixels that you'll get through the copy-protected digital connectors on the players. The potentially huge problem with this strategy is that the only HD inputs on a lot of older HDTVs are component video."

So there goes your $$$ if you bought into HDTV Early

at work we just bought a philips 42PF9830/10, 1920x1080, LCD and the image is amazing.
i wish i could take it home...

But will it work with the final spec. DVD players... I'm guessing, Prob not..
So a waste of $$

we use the screen for restauration of films so we only need the links to our software and computers... sadly no possibility of watching the world cup.

Hiyas,

I’m thinking of buying an LCD or Plasma tele but I’m confused about these ‘HD ready’ labels. I seen a couple of them in Hertie showing the HD Discovery Channel, and to be honest the quality wasn’t any different from a normal TV. Is it just another gimmick to get us to part with a few more scheckels?

cheers

Topics merged by admin

Here: Plasma v. LCD television sets, Which sort of TV to buy

plus if you search there are a couple of more threads that should give some info...hope it helps...me no idea personally, i stare at the different TV models at karsdat too and wonder whether its all worth it!

yes. but it is certainly one of the better gimmicks. HD is not really widespread enough to be of great value to most consumers. Only early adopters like Johnny English have them on their "must have" lists. Don't forget, the HD picture will only be available on HD channels, the number of which is very limited at the moment.

If you can put off buying your TV for a year or so, it may be well worth the wait.

One for LCD HD ready and one for PLasma HD ready

I've got a HD LCD tv and get a normal picture on tv and dvds.

However I downloaded a HD film the other day and the quality was amazing - every detail was there to see. can't wait for tv channels to start broadcasting in hd format.

they do already. You just have to pay for them

yeah, all right, you know what i mean!

Don't Pro7 and Sat1 broadcast some selected series and movies in HD for free (but only on satellite)? OK, it's german, but should look great...

Edit: If you own a Xbox360 or are planning on getting a PS3, a True HD tellie is a must (...if I just could afford one... )! Not one of these HDReady ones who actually are just another gimmick...

Watch out for the different HDTV standards. There are several different resolutions all called HD. See this explaination. Such as 720p and 1080i.

The quality of HD is a huge amount better than regular resolution broadcasts provided the store sets it up properly. Unfortunately a lot of the big stores don't really know how to set up systems properly so you may not see much of a difference if it is not set up correctly with good quality connectors and a good HD source.

I first had HD a few years ago in Canada and it was great. I thought switching to HD was similar from going from Black and White to Colour. With HD-DVD/Bluray and the new games consoles coming out you'll have a lot of HD sources in the not to distant future.

I'd also recommend going with a good quality LCD rather than a plasma if you can afford it to avoid the risk of burn-in.

I'd wait before buying. On many sets, SD (Standard Definition) channels look worse on the newer screens than on your old CRT TV. Let other people bear the pain and unnecessary cost of watching 99% of TV programs with, at best the same and more often worse, quality than you have today. When a clear majority of transmissions are in HD, then buy.
And I wouldn't say that the difference between HD and SD images is worth the € difference in purchase price... yet. Set prices will continue to go down until it makes sense... Cost is little different to CRT and most programs are in HD.

Actually I don't get THAT excited about HD over regular TV. It is better but does not have me wetting my knickers. That said if you are gonna buy an LCD or Plasma then would seem a bit daft NOT to buy with HD.

I bought a cheapo 32" Daewoo LCD with HD on Ebay for €535 and it is excellent. Masterplan is that this becomes my XBOX Games TV once I have saved the sheckles for the 46" Sony that I really want.

But I personally reckon that LCD is significantly better than Plasma when comparing side by side. Depends very much of course on personal choice like all these things.

Funnily enough my father-in-law JUST bought a regular CRT at the weekend and was telling me that LCD was a waste of money 'cos the man in the shop said they would be down to €500 in a few years time. At which point I mentioned mine cost €535 and that kinda killed the conversation (he paid €650 for the CRT).

Personally, I would not currently touch domestic HD with a bargepole. Displays are overpriced and simply not the quality they should (or could) be and there's hardly any material out there to watch. Prices are dropping (already over 30% in the last year) and quality is improving. In comparison to standard TV viewing current HD is simply stunning, but it can and will be both better and cheaper, especially when there is something out there to watch and the market gets moving.

As always with such technology, early adopters will suffer in the short term and be saddled with expensive toys, and those with patience will win on the deal. Expect improved contrast, true-black, larger displays and less pixellation on fast moving images. All of which make for a truly viewable HD picture. I've seen professional HD displays (€10,000 upwards) which leave current domestic systems standing, most of which will slowly filter into the domestic market at more realistic prices.

With only a few exceptions, most of the shop displays of HD screens are not actually showing HD material. If you are window shoppping ask first what the display is connected to (HD-DVD is best), HOW it is connected (HDMI/DVI preferred) and be sure you are not watching a manufacturers demo disk, which is produced to intentionally avoid the most obvious HD/Plasma/LCD problems and show their displays using the best images for that type of display.

If you need to buy a new TV (e.g. your old one died) and have an HD source to view in the first place, (e.g. German or English satellite) then maybe make the leap. Otherwise wait about a year or so and be pleasantly surprised with how much more you get for less money.

YL6

But I must just quickly add on this subject:

For improved QUALITY of life you really want to get SKY+ - the one with a built in PVR (hard drive) before HD.

My wife is always dropping stuipid tasks on me, or having visitors around just when I wanna watch the MotoGP or Rugby etc. Now this is a zero cause of stress.

I flick through the TV guide at the start of the week, and just record whatever is of interest. Consequently I actually watch less TV 'cos I don't watch crap waiting for something good, and if something turns out to be crap, I just delete and don't bother to suffer it. I also skip all the adverts of course. In fact for this reason I never watch anything live.

If the phone rings I hit pause. If the cat wants feeding I hit pause. If I miss something I hit rewind.

I also have the same thing for German TV now. Mine is called I think a SKYMASTER or something and cost €150. Built in hard drive as well. If the kids are watching something and I want them to go to bed - we hit record - end of argument. German TV with the adverts is unwatchable - with a PVR it's no problemo.

Watch out for LCD tv as each manufacturer has a "pixel outage standard" (a former customer of mine told me this and works in the world of Hi Fi and tv).

His friend purchased an LCD tv and he had around 150 pixels that did not work, which would not normally be noticeable, however, they were all in a cluster in the middle of the screen so he had a tiny "black hole" that was fairly visible. Bloke came round to look at it and told him the manufacturers standard was around 200 pixels and as a result they would not replace the set and there was nothing he could do to fix it:blink:

This was about 3 years ago so I do not know if this is still valid but I would definately ask the question before I purchase an LCD screen of any sort.

Forget LCD and Plasma TV's all together... Most of the big TV makers will be bringing out Laser (Yes Laser TV's) by Xmas 2007...
Now if they can only find a way to strap them to the sharks...

So. you going to buy one or just moan about the price of them too!

I'm not sure I like the idea of a laser being pointed at me, I've seen Goldfinger!

@G

I can do both can't I? Just need to find a big enough tank...

Had a quick google. The laser telly is a rear projection jobbie, but still thin. Sounds quite interesting. I might be bored of TV again by xmas 2007 of course. I blow hot and cold on these things.

I'm curious to know where you've seen "thin". I've recently seen laser based optotechnology in Berlin (where some development is taking place) which is essentially a new (and impressive!) light source for DLP projection, so works well with projectors or projection TV. Picture quality is stunning and provides far better colour resolution than Plasma or LCD, but it is not (currently) flat-screen technology.

Looks like a thin setup to me...

Aftertek Story

Laser Powered Flat Screen TV - GadgetSpy

Or just look at the pix at Google Images

Or a detailed breakdown of the TV screen here


Half the thickness of LCD and Plasma... Doesn't sound like a big 3ft thick TV to me...

I've seen a proto of the Mitsubishi, although no mention was made of it using Novalux technology (which many people are somewhat dubious about). It was a large wedge shape, approx 5cm at the top and maybe 30cm at the bottom. None of the web pictures I've seen show the rear, or the profile...

YL6

True, trying to find a profile pic on the net is a PITA, but from the one's that you can find and reading the stories and looking at the tech. the entire "half the weight and thickness", mentioned in the story above seems like it could be true. I'll also hold final judgement until I see more pix of these TV's..

@YL6
Your the Know it all, find info. on anything person, I would have figured you have a source for more detailed pix/info...

I wasn't allowed to take photos, otherwise you would have been the first (well, the second maybe) to see one

...thanks for the informative answer. Helped...

cheers

We saw the Toshiba 37WL67Z in Saturn and the contrast, picture quality and resolution seem perfect for the price. Even the SONY-employed representative recommended it as the best in this price range (EUR 1499). Anyone got one of these? I guess Toshiba are a good manufacturer of LCD HDTVs...?

Another thing, I am a tad confused as in Saturn they quote the contrast as being 1200:1 but some websites say 600:1, some 800:1, some 1000:1... that's a BIG difference and don't know what to believe...

Is it possible that the same model could have been customised for different stores with different screens? The Sony rep said that often the TVs in Saturn are customised specifically for them...

I bet you still beleie in the tooth fairy too... dont ya.?

Take your own Device with HDMI output and try it in shop.

I think Jeagermeister my pal thinks Ramazotti is better..

But how come the ratios differ between websites and offers for same model number? Are they actually different panels? Are the ones with lower contrast ratios older models/versions?

It says oxo on many many busses...

Who do you want to believe?

Your eyes or the rep?

Well, as I said, we were impressed with the contrast visually in Saturn and they quoted 1200:1 on the info card. But when I see the same model sold elsewhere online with 600:1, I expect it will not be the same quality as I saw in Saturn... or have they mistyped it? Or are Saturn lying? Toshiba website quotes 800:1...

The rep is full of shit... Just trying to get a sale. Just cause he's got a
"Sony Rep" badge on doesn't mean he can't be a rep for To-SHIT-BA"
too. He prob. gets a cut for selling that stuff.

Do what Grinner says, judge with your own eyes, not the Reps words..

And BEFORE you buy spend a week or so researching the various models before you buy..
There are many Technophile sites on the net.. Use them..

How can any one comment on what you find impressive...

I find a fab pair of Tits to be impressive you may choose to differ.

Ask BTC.

I am not asking others to judge what I think is impressive... It would not make sense to buy a TV online if I have never seen it in real life first. I saw it in Saturn with 1200:1 and was impressed and then started looking online for a better price but they all quote differing ratios... How then can I know if the one I buy online looks the same as that in Saturn...?

Does anyone know if they use different quality components in TVs with same model numbers?

Does your living room have the same ambient light as Saturn? Only then will it look the same...

OK so my widescreen TV has died and I am looking to replace it. I probably have a maximum of 1000 Euros to spend. I don't have satellite, only cable, and I don't have an HD DVD player, so what sort of TV should I be looking at?

Any TV under €1000, as you don't have a quality video source to justify any decent unit...