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The official I hate HDTVs thread! |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: England ~ UK (Ex NTL Area)
Posts: 7,682
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The official I hate HDTVs thread!
OK they have a great HD picture but a pretty poor SD picture! Even the more expensive one's I have seen have crap SD quality and as for the sound quality they offer
![]() Are there any decent sets about? |
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#2 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: London
Posts: 3,638
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You don't buy an HD TV set for the sound quality - if you're interested in HD pictures, you'll already know to pipe the sound through your HiFi - TV speakers are never any good.
I personally would rather see HDTV sets with NO speakers at all! |
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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Huddersfield, west yorkshire
Posts: 168
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I think HDTV's blow all CRT's in to the water ( when it comes to gaming ) the higher resolutions offered by HDTV sets are ideal for the xbox 360, PS3.
all depends on what your in too |
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#4 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: SE3
Posts: 7,895
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In a small space at short viewing distances you're better off with a CRT. If you want to go HD get a smaller one for a better picture.
A plasma display does a better job of representing an SD source than an LCD. Only go with LCD if you're only watching HD sources. I'll agree with the sound quality but I think the manufacturers know that anyone spending this sort of cash on a TV probably already has a surround sound system. I'm very happy with my Panasonic plasma using a DigiFusion SD PVR, LG upscaling DVD and PS3 for games and Blu-Ray HD DVD. |
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#5 |
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Banned User
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 2,447
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Quote:
You don't buy an HD TV set for the sound quality - if you're interested in HD pictures, you'll already know to pipe the sound through your HiFi - TV speakers are never any good.
I personally would rather see HDTV sets with NO speakers at all! And if you are buying a £1000+ set you should have a budget for 2.1 or 5.1 speakers and cables. |
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#6 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: London
Posts: 3,638
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I have a rather nice Sharp LX37XD1E, true HD screen, and the audio is going through my HiFi with 7.1 Dolby Digital ES and DTS-EX decoding.
(I also borrowed a calibrated LCD colour analyzer from work to calibrate the screen correctly, and the pictures are stunning!) |
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#7 |
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Banned User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 261
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Quote:
I think HDTV's blow all CRT's in to the water ( when it comes to gaming ) the higher resolutions offered by HDTV sets are ideal for the xbox 360, PS3.
all depends on what your in too Unfortunately for standard definition they are not as good as CRT's but as games consist of animation you wont really see or be bothered about the lack of closeup detail. |
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#8 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Church Crookham, Hampshire
Posts: 137
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It is a very sweeping statement to say all HDTVs have poor quality SD pictures and poor sound quality.
I have a Pioneer PDP-427XD Plasma and I find the SD picture quality to be excellent, even considering I had a very expensive Toshiba 36" CRT previously. So you can get a good SD picture with the right HDTV. Also, I have to say the built-in speakers offer perfectly acceptable sound quality for everyday listening. I do of course have a Yamaha AV Amp and Mission 6.1 speaker setup for real sound quality (and to make the house shake!). |
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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 4,469
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fdg in broadcast post production
work in internet broadcasting parents recently got a 42 lcd phillips tv from tesco crt still looks better - lcd you get blurring, smudgey look, ntsc like, orange fleshtones, - looks almost like vhs!!! stick with crts - that is, if you can find one for 20 quid somewhere! No blurring, less pixels noticeable, sharper, more life like images - basically hd is trying to make lcds look like crt images. i think lcds are great for gaming though, I think by the time hd is avail everywhere (when freeview is full hd-all dvbt2) then things may have improved. |
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#10 |
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Moon Base Alpha
Posts: 386
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Quote:
OK they have a great HD picture but a pretty poor SD picture! Even the more expensive one's I have seen have crap SD quality and as for the sound quality they offer
![]() Are there any decent sets about? Invest your money now in an amp and speakers. The upgrade in your viewing experience for both Sky and your PS2 will be huge. Then by the time your SDTV dies you won't be worrying about the quality of the speakers in the HDTV you buy as a replacement.... and there might even be a clutch of PSBs broadcasting in HD by then. |
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#11 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,145
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Quote:
I think by the time hd is avail everywhere (when freeview is full hd-all dvbt2) then things may have improved.
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#12 |
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,356
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Yes, I have turned a corner on the LCD TV's as well.
I wanted one since the big push around the time of the world cup but no more. Since then, I have seen many in friends homes that just don't display SD well enough. I have yet to encounter one that I would consider watchable on any SD content. I'm sticking with my 24" wide Trinitron CRT. So many times I have had to hold my tongue when viewing peoples newly bought LCD TV's not to offend them. Reason being, I can see so many picture issues with them that I know now that mostly they are piss poor with anything other than the best HD picture. Of course I'm speaking from my own experience and what I have seen but can anyone point out a model that does SD as well as a CRT?. I'm genuinely interested and would seek out said TV to see if it does indeed display it well. The ony way I can picture myself getting a HD TV soon is if I try and import a proper CRT HDTV from the US. |
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#13 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,007
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Quote:
Yes, I have turned a corner on the LCD TV's as well.
I wanted one since the big push around the time of the world cup but no more. Since then, I have seen many in friends homes that just don't display SD well enough. I have yet to encounter one that I would consider watchable on any SD content. I'm sticking with my 24" wide Trinitron CRT. So many times I have had to hold my tongue when viewing peoples newly bought LCD TV's not to offend them. Reason being, I can see so many picture issues with them that I know now that mostly they are piss poor with anything other than the best HD picture. Of course I'm speaking from my own experience and what I have seen but can anyone point out a model that does SD as well as a CRT?. I'm genuinely interested and would seek out said TV to see if it does indeed display it well. The ony way I can picture myself getting a HD TV soon is if I try and import a proper CRT HDTV from the US. Well, I do find myself fully agreeing with you there. I have a 3 year old Sony 32" CRT widescreen at the moment and the picture quality for say freeview (and DVD's) is, to my eyes, perfect - brill picture. BUT - I really, really want a bigger screen - around 40". So, I am desparately trying to find a LCD/Plasma that can re-produce good SD freeview images. I have looked at many, many different LCD/Plasma sets during the past three to four months - and have been mostly very disappointed with the SD quality. Yes - ok - fed a decent HD signal, these sets really do look the business - they can be stunning. But for those of us who won't be investing in any HD stuff right now, (well not until it becomes more 'mainstream') good SD picture quality is an absolute must. So, I desperately want to like LCD/Plasma technology to get the bigger screen - money is not really an object either. I really want to buy one. But - with what I have seen so far, it really makes me want to stick with my CRT for as long as possible. I did see a Panny PZ70 the other day (42" plasma) which was displaying freeview *reasonably* well - but even then, if you sit too close, on video material (say EastEnders or the like) it still isn't a patch on CRT. Well - just my view anyway. I fully appreciate people really like them and are more than happy with SD picture quality, so I respect others points of view on this. As I say, just my opinion, Can anyone recommend a good LCD/Plasma for SD? I have been "nudged" into the Plasma area for SD as apparentl this does a better job for SD??? Cheers |
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#14 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: North Derbyshire
Posts: 41,782
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Quote:
Can anyone recommend a good LCD/Plasma for SD? I have been "nudged" into the Plasma area for SD as apparentl this does a better job for SD???
The reason you get a poorer picture on LCD/Plasma than CRT is because of the upscaling - this creates 'artifacts' and also exaggerates existing defects in the SD picture. A CRT doesn't have to upscale, so doesn't suffer these problems - and the picture is more blurred, which hides any defect further - a CRT is a purely analogue device, and doesn't have a bitmapped picture. So why should Plasma have a better reputation for SD than LCD? - and I'm not denying it it does - and with some truth behind it as well. Do the LCD manufacturers fit poorer quality upscalers? - no, the better LCD's probably have better upscalers than the cheaper Plasma sets - and a top manufacturer like Panasonic (who does both) presumably fits the exact same upscalers in similar value sets of either type. As far as I'm concerned the 'reason' is simple - although the Plasma fans hate to hear it - it's simply that Plasma doesn't have as sharp a picture as LCD, this means the defects are better hidden, but not as well as the much more blurred CRT sets. Before the Plasma lovers get over excited, this doesn't mean LCD is 'better' or any such rubbish, the slight lack of sharpness is an advantage for viewing SD. However, well designed (expensive) LCD's have pretty stunning SD performance, out performing many CRT sets, and certainly the lower priced CRT sets. As always, check them in the shops, and make your own decision. As for HD CRT - waste of time and money, the pictures on them apparently aren't very good - and an American one wouldn't work over here!. |
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#15 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Church Crookham, Hampshire
Posts: 137
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Quote:
As always, check them in the shops, and make your own decision.
If you are happy with that picture, then buy it, whether that be plasma or LCD, and that statement is coming from a plasma lover and owner! I have colleagues that are very happy with their mega-expensive Sony LCDs, but I am also equally happy with my mid-priced Pioneer plasma. I believe my plasma does have a better picture than my old large screened Toshiba CRT, but that was getting on a bit, so might not have been a fair comparison. It had slightly greenish blacks and the plasma has ultra black blacks. What seems most amazing to me is that I paid less for my 42" plasma this year than I did for my 32" CRT 9 years ago! |
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