[Zeeman]

I have a 42" 720p/1080i plasma and a blu ray player, and considering whether I should upgrade to a 1080p set. I am wondering if there is a big difference between the two when viewing blu-ray (using hdmi)? Does anyone have any experience upgrading? (I have to say that the blu ray on my current plasma in pretty unbelievable)

I have been told by someone that upgrading to 1080p won't make much difference on a 42" screen - that you only start to see a difference on 50" + sets? I know that HDTV is only 720p, so it shouldn't make any difference for HDTV, but wondering more about blu-ray and other 1080p capable sources.

[hl0m4n]

canada broadcast only in 720p? here in the states the highest is 1080i...

[BMWE90]

Originally Posted by hl0m4n

canada broadcast only in 720p? here in the states the highest is 1080i...

720p > 1080i.

Honestly, I dont think it will make that much of a difference. It's definitely not worth spend the money IMO.

[spacedogg]

I'm in the same boat. Thinking of buying a 40"-ish LCD for the office boardroom (to connect computers for presentations). Was thinking of just getting 720p...but since I'm hooking up the computer, I think I will like the more desktop space of a 1080p LCD

For general TV and movie watching...I think the rule really depends on how close you plan on sitting to the TV. Of course the difference will be noticeable if you plan on hooking up to a computer (1920x1080 versus 1366 x 768).

There's a chart on AVSforums. Let me find it...

Oh here it is:



http://s3.carltonbale.com/resolution_chart.html

[Zeeman]

Thanks guys. Great chart

What you've posted seems to back up what I was told. I think I'm going stick to my current 720p/1080i plasma.

[karliejai]

stick with it. TV prices drop all the time. not worth it if your tv is already good enough.

[Kiemyster]

thanks for the chart! now its all starting to make sense.... lol

[benny90]

Originally Posted by Laszlo

But if you really care about picture then do not go for an LCD 1080i or 1080p. They are crap. Nothing is better than plasma.

I would say that they are crap.... Thats a pretty generic comment and there are plenty of great LCD's out there that are right there with plasmas

Nice chart BTW

[TurboFan]

That chart is incorrect. I realize you found it on the internet, so it must be true....but it's not.

How anyone can reply to this thread without having spent much time in front of a 1080p (as in own one - a friends house or the store doesn't count) is beyond me.

There's a noticeable difference. Notice the OP specifically referenced BluRay and other 1080p sources.

I have a 42" 1080i plasma, and a 58" 1080p plasma. They are both Panny displays with excellent callibrated output. The BluRay, displaying at 1080p is significantly better at 1080p than it was at 1080i. Even forcing my 58" down to 1080i, there's a noticeable difference, so much so that my wife even remarked at the differences. And she happens to be blind as a bat when it comes to the home theater. Compared to my 720p DLP that I just sold, both kill the DLP. It's not even close.

If you're sitting 20 feet away from the display, sure, 1080p is probably overkill at 42". What you need is a larger display!

[ZBMW]

That chart shows much larger distances from the set before resolution becomes unimportant. British research showed 5ft. from a 108" screen and pixels became indistinguishable for 1080 vrs 720. That has also been my experience looking at dealer displays.
Playing a blue ray movie on a 720p gives you a far better picture than std. DVD, which is 520p. S&V and HT Magazine experts say the advantage of 1080p disappears at normal viewing distance.
That being said, the other half of the equation is sound, which is pretty mediocre on DVD's. The improvements available (but not yet fully realized) from BD in surround sound will really improve the big screen experience.
Since you, like me, have a good investment in current tech why not wait a while and see what will be available down the road. You'll know when you want to make the plunge.

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by BMWE90

720p > 1080i.

Honestly, I dont think it will make that much of a difference. It's definitely not worth spend the money IMO.

Actually they are pretty much the same. 720i < 720p = 1080i < 1080p

I cannot tell a difference myself. I would save a couple grand and go with a 720p.

[Zeeman]

Originally Posted by TurboFan

That chart is incorrect. I realize you found it on the internet, so it must be true....but it's not.

How anyone can reply to this thread without having spent much time in front of a 1080p (as in own one - a friends house or the store doesn't count) is beyond me.

There's a noticeable difference. Notice the OP specifically referenced BluRay and other 1080p sources.

I have a 42" 1080i plasma, and a 58" 1080p plasma. They are both Panny displays with excellent callibrated output. The BluRay, displaying at 1080p is significantly better at 1080p than it was at 1080i. Even forcing my 58" down to 1080i, there's a noticeable difference, so much so that my wife even remarked at the differences. And she happens to be blind as a bat when it comes to the home theater. Compared to my 720p DLP that I just sold, both kill the DLP. It's not even close.

If you're sitting 20 feet away from the display, sure, 1080p is probably overkill at 42". What you need is a larger display!

Thanks for the input - it's good to hear from some who has actual home viewing experience of 1080i v 1080p. I have the feeling that the 58" display is probably accounting for most of the difference in your case, but agree that 1080p will probably also make a bit of a difference on a 42" at a reasonable viewing distance. I think I am going to stick with my 1080i set for now....and yeah...maybe look into a 50+ 1080p set a couple years from now.

[aznshrek88]

Yea you won't see the difference for 1080P unless you upgrade to 50+, but then are you trying to see every pixel on the screen? 1080i is already plenty clear