Standard Definition broadcasts on LCD HDTVs

max436 · 04-05-2006, 23:22

I am about to buy an HD TV ready for my Sky HD install on May 22nd, the more I read though the more I am concerned about the picture quality I can expect on all the non-HD broadcasts. I enjoy paramount, UK gold and Channel 4 amongst others and want to make sure that I continue to enjoy these alongside the new HD channels

Is there a particular model or maybe some feature (I read somewhere about a ‘blur’ setting to help smooth out the picture on the poorer quality SD channels) that I should look for? I was initially considering a Samsung LCD but following some of the comments I have read on this subject I was thinking of going for a Toshiba or possibly one of the cheaper Sony Bravias instead

Any advice/personal experiences gratefully received

Jarrak · 05-05-2006, 06:56

Modern LCD's have come a long way over the last 18 months, response times which were the main cause of smearing are in the single figures were as before 16-24ms was the norm.
As you may have seen compression on digital channels can vary and that effects the resulting picture. A CRT will hide a lot of these flaws but a LCD or any HD panel demands better source material, they will show up problems with SD channels more so than CRT.

AVForums is the best place to get real world opinions and reviews on LCD's and other displays

swhxd06 · 05-05-2006, 09:31

Personally I am very pleased with the performance of my new Toshiba 37wlt66. Admittedly, the quality of the picture improves with the quality of the source but then the same can be said for CRT.

Teresa · 05-05-2006, 09:45

I agree with Jarrk, SD generally looks very good on CRT, but some LCDs can be pretty bad with SD material. Make sure that you are able to demo broadcast SD material on any LCD that you are thinking of buying.

max436 · 05-05-2006, 14:04

Thanks for the replies, I will go and see some in action this weekend.

I was hoping that by spending a little more I may get a better looking SD picture, but I guess that the higher resolutions found on the newer LCDs will inevitably make the lesser quality channels look poor whether it is one of the cheaper models or something like a Panasonic/Sony

04-05-2006, 23:22	#1
max436 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 20	Standard Definition broadcasts on LCD HDTVs I am about to buy an HD TV ready for my Sky HD install on May 22nd, the more I read though the more I am concerned about the picture quality I can expect on all the non-HD broadcasts. I enjoy paramount, UK gold and Channel 4 amongst others and want to make sure that I continue to enjoy these alongside the new HD channels Is there a particular model or maybe some feature (I read somewhere about a ‘blur’ setting to help smooth out the picture on the poorer quality SD channels) that I should look for? I was initially considering a Samsung LCD but following some of the comments I have read on this subject I was thinking of going for a Toshiba or possibly one of the cheaper Sony Bravias instead Any advice/personal experiences gratefully received

05-05-2006, 06:56	#2
Jarrak Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ilkeston Posts: 18,075	Modern LCD's have come a long way over the last 18 months, response times which were the main cause of smearing are in the single figures were as before 16-24ms was the norm. As you may have seen compression on digital channels can vary and that effects the resulting picture. A CRT will hide a lot of these flaws but a LCD or any HD panel demands better source material, they will show up problems with SD channels more so than CRT. AVForums is the best place to get real world opinions and reviews on LCD's and other displays

05-05-2006, 09:31	#3
swhxd06 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: East Yorkshire Posts: 189	Personally I am very pleased with the performance of my new Toshiba 37wlt66. Admittedly, the quality of the picture improves with the quality of the source but then the same can be said for CRT.

05-05-2006, 09:45	#4
Teresa Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Walsall, West Midlands Posts: 293	I agree with Jarrk, SD generally looks very good on CRT, but some LCDs can be pretty bad with SD material. Make sure that you are able to demo broadcast SD material on any LCD that you are thinking of buying.

05-05-2006, 14:04	#5
max436 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 20	Thanks for the replies, I will go and see some in action this weekend. I was hoping that by spending a little more I may get a better looking SD picture, but I guess that the higher resolutions found on the newer LCDs will inevitably make the lesser quality channels look poor whether it is one of the cheaper models or something like a Panasonic/Sony

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Standard Definition broadcasts on LCD HDTVs