HDTV signal on a EDTV

[thedoc46]

Hi,

I'm just about to buy an LG EDTV plasma.

Let me get this clear, Is it still worth my while subscribing to HDTV services at $9.99 per month ?

I know EDTV is only 480p, but will the HDTV signal give a better picture than standard def using a digital satellite service ?

Also this brings me to my second question..

I'm new to the USA and I'm living now living in Naples Fl.

Which is the better of the satellite companies ? Dish Network, DirectTV or Voom ?

Pricing wise dish looks the best, but if the HDTV is the best pic you can have even though you've only got an EDTV then I may juts go with the Voom....

Please advise..

Cheers

[wittangamo]

Yes, HDTV will look better the SD, even on an ED. (But why buy an ED plasma when you can buy an HD DLP, DILA or LCD for about the same price?)

Best satellite is constantly argued around here. Voom does have the most HD and has a good offer going, but lacks a DVR.

[JayDog_2]

Yes, even at only 480p, HD content looks much better than SD... and is worth it. and just knowing that it could even look better if you have a true HDTV may make you want to splurge on your next TV purchase.. :)

Your other question is debatable, and you need to answer that for yourself. Just look at what each service offers, and compare it to what you want as far as channels and equipment go (HD-DVR or not). Then make your decision and enjoy!

[John Mason]

HDTV on EDTV Displays (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=4711773#post4711773). -- John

[dmwierz]

Originally posted by wittangamo
(But why buy an ED plasma when you can buy an HD DLP, DILA or LCD for about the same price?)
\


Huh? About the same price? Apples to oranges, I think. For the same screen size, EDTV Plasmas are far and away the best buy available right now and arguably give you the best bang for your buck. A 42" EDTV Plasma will set you back just over $2K, but the same screen size from the same MFR will add well over $1K to this, and LCD, etc. are in the same ballpark.

What did I miss from this post?

[Ken H]

Originally posted by dmwierz
Huh? About the same price? Apples to oranges, I think. For the same screen size, EDTV Plasmas are far and away the best buy available right now... That's a matter of opinion.

There is a significant difference between watching HDTV on an EDTV set and an HDTV set. If the goal is to spend as little as possible, and get into Digital TV, than EDTV will do. Otherwise, EDTV is a waste of money.

I would never spend $2k for a 42" plasma, when a 50+" RP HDTV set will look better in every way, and cost less.

[dmwierz]

Originally posted by Ken H
That's a matter of opinion.

There is a significant difference between watching HDTV on an EDTV set and an HDTV set. If the goal is to spend as little as possible, and get into Digital TV, than EDTV will do. Otherwise, EDTV is a waste of money.

I would never spend $2k for a 42" plasma, when a 50+" RP HDTV set will look better in every way, and cost less.

Ken,

I agree with you, however not all of us have the space for a RPTV or even a relatively-chubby DLP in our living room/family room/great room/study/home theater.

[Harleyman1340]

I'm feeding a Panasonic ED plasma with a HD signal and couldn't be happier. I did a lot of research and at this point in the HD evolution I think I made a wise decision. Maybe two years from now I'll regret my original decision, if I do I'll just buy a HD plasma unit for less than I paid for the unit I have now. HD and Plasma Technology is getting better and cheaper by the day. I found the information in this article to be very helpful.

http://www.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/plasmatv/plasmatv-highdefinition.html

Good luck

[Paul Bigelow]

Obtaining HD services for display on a 16:9 ED set will give one the benefit of the cleaner digital signal and widescreen content.

The next step is true HD. Having had progressive/ED beginning in 1990, the step to HD has been extremely satisfying and worth the extra expense.

IMHO

Paul

[wittangamo]

You can get a 44-46" DLP for about $2500 from Samsung or LG. Full no-compromises HD and a slim desktop profile. Different strokes for different folks, but screen door, the potential for burn-in and lower resolution make ED plasma a non-starter for me. I picked up a Sammy HLP5063 from the AVS power buy for $2900 shipped, and PQ is glorious with HD, DVD and SD, OTA and digital cable. It was the perfect set for me, but I understand others might choose differently.

[walford]

If you want a thin set than a Plasma or LCD makes sense but if you also use some some other units such as an STB, a DVD player and a sound system with the TV than putting the unit on a stand that will hold the other units makes a lot of sens.
And since you can get Rear Projection HDTV Sets(other than CRT RP sets) whose depth is less than that of the other units then in my opinion there is no reason to pay the extra price for a thin panel units.

[mangopony]

The same old endless debate here..with no real answer..only opinion. Here is mine. At home I have a direct view Sony 34" HD (a very good display you will admit) and I also have a new Panny 42" plasma. We view at 12 feet plus. At that distance and slightly beyond, DVDs look as good, probably little better on ED set; SD look as good, probably somewhat better on EDTV display; and HD content looks about the same on the ED and HD display. I am talking resolution here. Less than 12 feet an HD set will begin to look 'better' the closer you move toward the display. However, even at 8 feet a EDTV looks very good displaying HD content. Other things such as contrast, brightness, etc. will vary depending on settings on the Panny and Sony. Bottom line, Panny EDTV is possibly the best value in plasmas. And it took me months to decide this. A great way to go for $5,000 (if you have the room-and you do not need a dedicated home theatre room) is buy the ED plasma and get a very good screen and a HD front projection unit. Total price around $5,000. And you will have best of both words..small screen and large screen. At least, this a valid option. In deciding what to purchase, consider all comments on these pages as opinions and nothing more. Go out, take your time, narrow your choices and have fun with your final decision. This Forum is a good beginning point but that is all it is.

[sonywaist]

Initially, I set the output from the STB for all channels to 480p and this worked fine. Now we have our first HD channel in town; in 480p mode the STB squeezes it to 4:3, and then through DVI-D, the plasma EDTV expands the squeezed picture horizontally to full 16:9 aspect ratio. Unfortunately, that horizontal squeezing and expanding results in a picture with a vertical ribbed effect. So the 1080i signal looks best when the STB instead outputs 1080i and the EDTV scales that down to 480p; no vertical ribbed effect. However, this presents a problem if channel surfing in native mode; there's signal shock as the EDTV takes a few seconds to adjust and sync to the different resolution. There are light flashes, odd colorful shapes, and general chaos for each resync. I don't want to fry the circuits of the DVI blade or EDTV, so the new 1080i HD channel isn't in the surf list or channel list at all; to select and view it I have to punch in the channel number. I explained above why I don't want to output from the STB all channels including the HD one, to 480p. How do you deal with this, if you have an EDTV, a STB, and a mixture of SD and HD channels? Do you surf through them in native mode, or not?

[wmcbrine]

EDTV is not 480p. An EDTV has 480 lines, and 480p has 480 lines; but they're not the same. If you doubt it, get an EDTV and feed it 480p and 720p (and/or 1080i, depending on the set). If you can't see the difference, you're blind.

Sonywaist, you're not going to fry your TV. But if you want to eliminate the effect, why not upconvert instead of downconverting? Choose the high-def output (720p or 1080i) that works/looks best with your set, and leave it on that, instead of 480p.