HD to be in 16:9?

MacLeod

I was just curious, I know all the tv stations will have to switch to HD eventually, will they also have to switch to widescreen or can they stay 4:3?

danger boy

i think it's up to the tv station. some of the independent stations here are providing a HDTV signal.. but it's as the lowest possible resolution. 480p. the networks here provide either a 720 or 1080i signal. which are both widescreen formats. Not all programs are shot in 16:9 format yet. I would think that as long as a tv program is shot in widescreen then the stations should pass that signal along. otherwise It might be up to each station.

Most stations want you to see the best possible signal.. so i would think they would want you to see the program in it's native format in all it's HDTV glory.

unc2701

HD is by definition 16:9. So, if the picture is 4:3, those sidebars are actually using bandwidth to be blank. My guess is that just about everything is going to be 16:9 in the near future. Kubrick is the only director I can think of who wasn't a fan.

MacLeod

Well Ive been looking at TV's lately to replace my awesome Sony 27" and 32" sets right now can be had for a song. Toshiba, Phillips and Sharp all have sets barely over $300 and Sayo has one at $240! Hell you can get HD 32" sets for $500. I was just wondering, since 85% of the stuff I watch is 4:3, why get a much more expensive 16:9 set?

Gaara

Everything has to go digital first, then they will start talking about HD. Last I checked the tentative date was January 1st 2007 for all analog broadcasts to cease. Of course this does not necessarily mean it will be HD, just digital.

Jared

gregure

Don't buy a **** $200 HDTV just to have a widescreen. You should upgrade when you are ready to drop some good coin on a TV that will last and give you a great picture. For tube, there simply is no better than the Sony Trinitrons. The best HD tube is the KD34XBR960. It's usually about $1800, and is 34". There is also the 30" version of the widescreen Trinitron, which is also very good, just a bit smaller, and is usually around $1200.
When looking at LCD, don't even think about Sanyo or LG or anything like that. They are simply put, sub-par, and will not give you a quality picture or a reliable unit. Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, Mitsubishi, and Sharp are all making great LCD sets, but they will cost you between 2-3k for a 26-32" screen.
For DLP, I really have to say the Samsung's have been the best I've seen. Mitsubishi is ok, but I've seen a lot of problems with those units, and a lot less from Samsung. The new 1080p sets are pretty cool. There is a noticably sharper image for HD programming, but the 1080p is only available in sets 50" or above. There is little difference with other sources such as DVD's between the new 1080p and the old 720p sets.
Again, don't get crappy set just to have HD. The benefit of a widescreen set is a better and larger picture for DVD's (progressive scan can only be used with an HD set), and HD programming. 4:3 viewing is not so great on HD sets, but if you primarily watch prime-time network shows and DVD's, there is no reason to wait on upgrading.

Toxis

danger boy wrote:

i think it's up to the tv station. some of the independent stations here are providing a HDTV signal.. but it's as the lowest possible resolution. 480p. the networks here provide either a 720 or 1080i signal. which are both widescreen formats. Not all programs are shot in 16:9 format yet. I would think that as long as a tv program is shot in widescreen then the stations should pass that signal along. otherwise It might be up to each station.

Most stations want you to see the best possible signal.. so i would think they would want you to see the program in it's native format in all it's HDTV glory.

480p is not an HDTV format. That's strictly for DVD players. Technically speaking, digital cable/sat and dvd's are only 480i where you have to get into 720p before getting HD, but the best HD signals come in at 1080i currently. Most TV shows are not 16x9 yet only because they're still shooting for the 4:3 crowd (the majority).

Mac... get a Sony 34 wide tube. MMMMM I love mine, which the new model is the 34HS420. If you can swing it, get the 34xs955. Much nicer set. No need to swing for the XBR960 seeing the 955 is basically the same thing (the xbr has a very little difference in processing, but the super fine pitch tube is in both models). The xs955 can be had for around $1600-1700. Phenominal TV for the money. That's my suggestion, but I also care about my PQ.

MacLeod

Im not talking about getting a Broksonic tv down at the local grocery store, Im talking about a 32" Sharp or Toshiba 4:3 CRT tv for $300 or less. These arent crappy tv's by any means and will have just as good a picture as the $900 34" widescreen CRT sets.

My whole thing is if 80% of what I watch is 4:3, why buy a $900 widescreen tv when I can get a $300 4:3 tv? Or like I said, get a $500 35" tv and have as big a picture as a 34" on widescreen movies but more screen on standard full screen stuff and $400 leftover in my wallet.

danger boy

last year i bought a 32" Zenith HDTV with built in tuner for $900. i would imagine the same set is even less now. great looking picture. and yes it's 4:3 format. it does 16:9 very well too. built in tuner saved me a couple hundred bucks. i think a lot of people buying CRT"s are still going with 4:3 format. people buying plasma, DLP. RPTV and others are going with widescreens. since they are capable of larger screens over CRT's.

Gaara

There are some 4:3 tvs that do 16:9 stuff very well, sony is a good example. I believe it is called vertical compression, where the set takes advantage of the full resolution of the 16:9 signal. Insted of displaying the black bars as black and taking up resolution, it squeezes the picture and just doesn't display anything in the black areas. If I recall correctly this increases the resolution by 33%. Just make sure your dvd player is set to widescreen, or else it could add the bars anyway, and you would still be loosing the resolution.

As for screen size, a 35in 4:3 would look like a 32in widescreen. I have not seen a 35in tv in quite some time, none that I know of from the name brands like Sony, Toshiba, Panasonic, or Samsung. I have had people buy 36in HD tvs with good success, because it displays 33in with widescreen stuff on it, and with vertical compression it looks about the same as a 34 widescreen that costs more. Also when watching 4:3 it is of course 36in, instead of 28 like it would be on a 34in widescreen. Same goes for a 32in 4:3, equates to a 29in widescreen.

Jared

brettw22

A friend of mine bought a Sony 36" tv and that thing makes the most annoying turn on surge sound I've ever heard. Past that, there are times where I hear the high pitch squeeling sound that I can't stand.....

I've heard good things about Sony, but ever since I had a Sony laptop, I've sworn off all that is Sony......crazy I know, but I'm good like that.

Gaara

Theres always a few bad ones out there. I had a samsung 27in HD for a little while that would make a very loud turn on sound, and then would pop. In the first half an hour or so it would make a popping sound, and also about half an hour after I turned it off it would make the same popping sound. The guy at sears said it was because the top of the case was to low, and was heating up, causing it to expand slightly causing the popping sound. When it cooled down it would make the same popping sound as it contracted. Don't think I ever bought that, but I can't think of any other reason for the thing to pop.

On that topic, does anyone know what causes that high pitched sound? I never really knew what caused it, I have plenty of guesses, but would like a definitive answer if anyone has one.

Jared

MacLeod

The turn on "thump" is the set degaussing.

Ive owned millions of Sony products. DVD, VCR, TV, computer, camcorder, digital camera, printer CD player and on and on and they have all worked flawlessly. I just bought a Pioneer 5.1 receiver but only because the features were much better for the money than the Sony.

Cwaters

Gaara wrote:

Everything has to go digital first, then they will start talking about HD. Last I checked the tentative date was January 1st 2007 for all analog broadcasts to cease. Of course this does not necessarily mean it will be HD, just digital.
Jared

While it's true that ALL stations won't be digital until some date way off in the future, here in Atlanta, all the locals including TBS, WB, PAX, and a gaggle of church channels are broadcasting digital signals today. The networks are all broadcasting HD signals I'm receiving off-air for FREE (well, I spent about a hundred dollars getting the antenna and putting it up). MOST of the new network dramas and lts of other shows are being shot and shown in HD right now. There's no reason to wait, HD is here, now. And damn does it look nice.

Atlanta is a big market, your digital landscape may be somewhat different.

CW
just bought the DirecTv HD Tivo.

Toxis

MacLeod wrote:

Im talking about a 32" Sharp or Toshiba 4:3 CRT tv for $300 or less. These arent crappy tv's by any means and will have just as good a picture as the $900 34" widescreen CRT sets.

really? Brother, you really disappoint me with this comment. You might as well say you sold your brand new Polk Components for a set of Memphis components... because they'll have just as good of sound quality. To say that a Sharp (sorry bro, but they're "budget priced" items) will have just as good of a picture as my 34" Sony HD is rather comical. If you believe that, I'll pick up a 32" Sharp and you're more than welcome to come on over. We'll see how good HD looks on both... oh wait, one's not HD. Than we'll see how well a low end Denon progressive scan dvd player looks... dammit, got me again! Ok, we'll hook up an antenna and see which looks better. Well, that doesn't matter because it's a crap signal, not crap TV's. Man, I'm saddened by your comment here. *tool*

MacLeod

Whos talking HD? Im talking about getting a standard old tv set.

I dont have HD and dont plan on getting it for a looooong time. I dont watch near enough tv to justify it. Eventually I will get HD and was curious as to the format its going to be in but in but its not going to be anytime soon.

Also Im limited to budget. My credit is fried and I have to pay for everything in cash so I cant just hop on down to the local Tweeter and pick up a $4000 tv!

So we canl take this $300 Sharp or Toshiba 32" and run some DVD's thru it compared to your $1500 Sony and then well see if the picture is 5 times better. I kinda doubt it will be.

And Sharp aint no budget tv. Cheaper yes, but far above the likes of RCA, Zenith, Magnavox and the true budget brands , Sylvania, Sansui and Broksonik.