Do I need a HD tv?

DeelyBopper · 01-08-2011, 17:57

I'm (still) contemplating upgrading my TV. Our signal from Emley Moor will be switching over shortly.

However looking at new tvs. Almost all are HD or HD ready. The majority of our viewing will be Freeview. As I understand it apart from Freeview HD, most programs are still broadcast in Standard Definition.

The new tellys upscale the content or something right. I am used to computer resolutions and almost anytime I view a lower than native res video on my full HD monitor means the picture is bad quality.

Do I need a HD tv? Wouldn't standard def broadcasts be better served on a non HD tv (if they exist?). I have seen some plasmas with lower than full HD res.

I have watched some standard Freeview on my brother's LG and it doesn't look better than my old CRT.

Peter the Great · 01-08-2011, 18:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeelyBopper

I'm (still) contemplating upgrading my TV. Our signal from Emley Moor will be switching over shortly.

However looking at new tvs. Almost all are HD or HD ready. The majority of our viewing will be Freeview. As I understand it apart from Freeview HD, most programs are still broadcast in Standard Definition.

The new tellys upscale the content or something right. I am used to computer resolutions and almost anytime I view a lower than native res video on my full HD monitor means the picture is bad quality.

Do I need a HD tv? Wouldn't standard def broadcasts be better served on a non HD tv (if they exist?). I have seen some plasmas with lower than full HD res.

I have watched some standard Freeview on my brother's LG and it doesn't look better than my old CRT.

Decent HD TV's have no problem with good SD content. Problem is what you are getting on Freeview is low bitrate pixilated crap and a CRT TV will often hide this because it has a smoother picture. Newer TV's often have a much sharper picture so will show crap SD content up more. Viewing decent SD quality content like DVD's should still look good on an HD TV but if most of your viewing is on freeview i would stick with the CRT.

Nigel Goodwin · 02-08-2011, 08:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeelyBopper

I'm (still) contemplating upgrading my TV. Our signal from Emley Moor will be switching over shortly.

However looking at new tvs. Almost all are HD or HD ready. The majority of our viewing will be Freeview. As I understand it apart from Freeview HD, most programs are still broadcast in Standard Definition.

The new tellys upscale the content or something right. I am used to computer resolutions and almost anytime I view a lower than native res video on my full HD monitor means the picture is bad quality.

Do I need a HD tv? Wouldn't standard def broadcasts be better served on a non HD tv (if they exist?). I have seen some plasmas with lower than full HD res.

You can't buy non-HD TV's, so you don't have any choice - some of the older LCD/Plasma sets were SD only, in fact some of the older Plasma sets weren't even high enough resolution for PAL SD.

DeelyBopper · 02-08-2011, 09:49

That simplifies the situation abit, thanks.

Would I be better off with a tv that doesn't upscale as much say to 720p res, rather than a full 1920 x 1080 screen.

Or is the quality mostly to do with the quality of the upscaler in the TV.

EBD3000 · 02-08-2011, 10:44

Emley already has Freeview HD so if you do buy a TV make sure you buy one with Freeview HD tuner in it.

If on the other hand your happy with your existing TV just buy a set top box.

call100 · 02-08-2011, 10:48

As long as you have a decent TV and a half decent signal a modern TV will give you a good picture on both SD and HD. For sure it won't satisfy the purists on here, but, I guess nothing would.

Obviously there are a few weak channels with rubbish bit rates that disappoint, but then they tend to have the rubbish programmes on so are no great loss.
You'll need a decent TV to watch DVD's and Blurays....So as you say......The decision is really made..

Nigel Goodwin · 02-08-2011, 11:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeelyBopper

That simplifies the situation abit, thanks.

Would I be better off with a tv that doesn't upscale as much say to 720p res, rather than a full 1920 x 1080 screen.

Hardly any TV's have ever been 720 - the VAST majority of HD Ready ones are 768 pixel.

Quote:

Or is the quality mostly to do with the quality of the upscaler in the TV.

It depends on the quality of the scaler, a good Full HD one will normally be better than an HD Ready one. However, a cheap Full HD set won't be as good as a decent HD Ready set.

01-08-2011, 17:57	#1
DeelyBopper Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,292	Do I need a HD tv? I'm (still) contemplating upgrading my TV. Our signal from Emley Moor will be switching over shortly. However looking at new tvs. Almost all are HD or HD ready. The majority of our viewing will be Freeview. As I understand it apart from Freeview HD, most programs are still broadcast in Standard Definition. The new tellys upscale the content or something right. I am used to computer resolutions and almost anytime I view a lower than native res video on my full HD monitor means the picture is bad quality. Do I need a HD tv? Wouldn't standard def broadcasts be better served on a non HD tv (if they exist?). I have seen some plasmas with lower than full HD res. I have watched some standard Freeview on my brother's LG and it doesn't look better than my old CRT.

01-08-2011, 18:10	#2
Peter the Great Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 9,078	Quote: Originally Posted by DeelyBopper I'm (still) contemplating upgrading my TV. Our signal from Emley Moor will be switching over shortly. However looking at new tvs. Almost all are HD or HD ready. The majority of our viewing will be Freeview. As I understand it apart from Freeview HD, most programs are still broadcast in Standard Definition. The new tellys upscale the content or something right. I am used to computer resolutions and almost anytime I view a lower than native res video on my full HD monitor means the picture is bad quality. Do I need a HD tv? Wouldn't standard def broadcasts be better served on a non HD tv (if they exist?). I have seen some plasmas with lower than full HD res. I have watched some standard Freeview on my brother's LG and it doesn't look better than my old CRT. Decent HD TV's have no problem with good SD content. Problem is what you are getting on Freeview is low bitrate pixilated crap and a CRT TV will often hide this because it has a smoother picture. Newer TV's often have a much sharper picture so will show crap SD content up more. Viewing decent SD quality content like DVD's should still look good on an HD TV but if most of your viewing is on freeview i would stick with the CRT.

02-08-2011, 08:47	#3
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by DeelyBopper I'm (still) contemplating upgrading my TV. Our signal from Emley Moor will be switching over shortly. However looking at new tvs. Almost all are HD or HD ready. The majority of our viewing will be Freeview. As I understand it apart from Freeview HD, most programs are still broadcast in Standard Definition. The new tellys upscale the content or something right. I am used to computer resolutions and almost anytime I view a lower than native res video on my full HD monitor means the picture is bad quality. Do I need a HD tv? Wouldn't standard def broadcasts be better served on a non HD tv (if they exist?). I have seen some plasmas with lower than full HD res. You can't buy non-HD TV's, so you don't have any choice - some of the older LCD/Plasma sets were SD only, in fact some of the older Plasma sets weren't even high enough resolution for PAL SD.

02-08-2011, 09:49	#4
DeelyBopper Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,292	That simplifies the situation abit, thanks. Would I be better off with a tv that doesn't upscale as much say to 720p res, rather than a full 1920 x 1080 screen. Or is the quality mostly to do with the quality of the upscaler in the TV.

02-08-2011, 10:44	#5
EBD3000 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bradford Posts: 611	Emley already has Freeview HD so if you do buy a TV make sure you buy one with Freeview HD tuner in it. If on the other hand your happy with your existing TV just buy a set top box.

02-08-2011, 10:48	#6
call100 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 6,572	As long as you have a decent TV and a half decent signal a modern TV will give you a good picture on both SD and HD. For sure it won't satisfy the purists on here, but, I guess nothing would. Obviously there are a few weak channels with rubbish bit rates that disappoint, but then they tend to have the rubbish programmes on so are no great loss. You'll need a decent TV to watch DVD's and Blurays....So as you say......The decision is really made..

02-08-2011, 11:25	#7
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by DeelyBopper That simplifies the situation abit, thanks. Would I be better off with a tv that doesn't upscale as much say to 720p res, rather than a full 1920 x 1080 screen. Hardly any TV's have ever been 720 - the VAST majority of HD Ready ones are 768 pixel. Quote: Or is the quality mostly to do with the quality of the upscaler in the TV. It depends on the quality of the scaler, a good Full HD one will normally be better than an HD Ready one. However, a cheap Full HD set won't be as good as a decent HD Ready set.

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Do I need a HD tv?