100MHz - a good thing, or a bad thing?

[Aardvark]

I've heard conflicting views. Is the picture worse, or better?

(I mainly watch DVDs, but I want off-air broadcasts to look good too!)

[Alanok]

Just got my Panasonic 32PL10 100hz and I am amazed at the steadiness of the pic. Either DVD or Analogue/Digital TV signal it looks amazing. Although sometimes it does look abit over processed (unatural) if you have all the Noise Reduction, AI etc switched on.

[GAmbrose]

I don't see any cons in 100 Hz TV's really, other than the fact that you can't play Light gun games like House of the Dead 2 or whatever.

I never use Noise Reduction or Ai, it blurs the picture too much, and Sky Digital and DVD's give great pictures anyway.

Gary A

[Sheepking]

yes, i like my 100hz much better, so much so i couldnt go back

[SIB]

I just bought a 100hz telly (toshiba) and the difference in picture quality is just amazing

[Aardvark]

Thanks guys.

(I said MHz. Meant Hz of course. What a wally...)

[Grizzo]

I've got the Hitachi WF32810N which has 100Hz & Prog Scan, but no 50Hz option. Sometimes I get a bit of 'blurring' (difficult to explain) on movement on the screen. This can be off putting sometimes.

I never noticed anything like this on my previous TV, a Panasonic 28" PK3 which was 50Hz. I sometimes wish i'd stuck with the Panasonic or got a TV with the 50 Hz option so i could use it if needed.

I'm going to try and turn off all the AI features on the TV to see if that makes a difference. :)

[Aardvark]

Thanks, Grizzo.

Hmmm. More conflicting views!:confused:

This sounds like a try-before-you-buy situation. A 50/100Hz switchable set could be a promising option...

[MikeToone]

I've had a 100Hz Philips for about a year now and would not go back.

There is an occasional blurring with faster moving Sports or Images, but apart from that it's excellent, and DVD's look superb on it.

[SOUNDSTYLE]

I have the Sony 36FS70 which has DRC-MF modes: 50 or 100.

I use the DRC100 mode and it's brilliant. There is no blurring effects which effect Philips tv's and the picture is rock stable.

That's what put me off getting a Philips: the blurring effect which their 100Hz processing produces.

Get a Sony.

[GAmbrose]

I've got a Toshiba 36ZP18P and theres no Blurring on that either.

Not seen the Phillips TV's with 100 Hz. Sony's have great picture quality, but Toshiba are better value for money IMO.

Gary A

[Grizzo]

I think i've read somewhere that Hitachi use the Phillips tube in some of their TV. So that could be the link between these 'blurring' TV sets at 100Hz. :)

[brattle]

The 50hz versus 100hz debate is an old one for which the only answer is to view with your own eyes.

50hz will always produce a more natural picture as the picture does not have to be digitised and then converted back to an analogue signal as with a 100hz picture. 50hz TVs are often much cheaper too as there is less digital Gubbins in the TV. The blurring which sometimes occurs is usually by the digital processing on 100hz TVs, but sometimes by the source itself (NTL Digital can be bad for this).

However, 50hz TVs suffer from flicker that becomes more apparent to some people as the screen gets larger. I say some people, because not all are affected and can view a large 50hz picture without seeing any annoying flicker. To them, 50hz sets will always seem better because they are seeing the purer picture without the flicker problems normally associated with large 50hz sets.

Personally, I can see the flicker. On a 28” set it is merely annoying, but on a 32” set it actually hurts my eyes to watch a whole film on a 50hz set.

At the end of the day it depends on how sensitive your eyes are. If you can view a 50hz set and like the picture, then there is no reason to buy a 100hz set (unless you desperately want features like picture freeze). If like me you can see the flicker, 100hz is the only option. A few years ago 100hz sets were full of problems caused by the digital processing, but now most of the major problems have been dealt with.

Note that the only TVs AFAIK that include a 50hz/100hz option are the high end Sony’s. However the 50hz mode is still a digitised picture, and therefore not a true natural 50hz picture.

[Aardvark]

Thanks everyone.

Looks like I'll have to get myself to a showroom clutching a handful of my favourite DVDs.

And then buy on-line...;)

[John_bones]

Before getting my Toshiba 2 years ago I would have said that 100Hz was a bit of a gimmick and what do you mean "flicker". Now I could not go back to a 50Hz set as I can see the flicker I would also say that text is improved aswell as I see no dot crawl.

[gta15]

Did any of you ever use a RGB connection to your TV?

I've got a 28inch wideScreen and my ondigital, Dreamcast, PS2 and DVD player all use RGB, now all this about dot crawling is evident on 50Hz, but only if your using compsite! I mean if you goto a showroom mate I can garantee the TV's will not be set up correctly.... Dot crawling and flicking is no more evident in video games than video, and theres loads of still, high res pics that are sent to my tv (in RGB) from the DC and PS2 that dont flicker.....

Maybe its just my eyes, but having worked in Comet in my student years (last xmas) I could not justify myself to pay more for a 100Hz TV and I've played with them all. Sony do seem to be better than most though. I get that computer look too much when i see a 100Hz TV... its kinda fake looking, sometimes even oil-painting like... yuck. But its all personal opinion!!! :cool:

Ta!
John

[Aardvark]

See what I mean about conflicting views! :)

Well, judging from all the above posts Toshiba and Sony seem to be the front-runners. However, some people simply don't like the way 100Hz looks, and I might be one of them. However, if I go to a showroom to find out the damn things probably won't be set up properly so I couldn't tell anyway!

Arrgh! :brickwall

[brattle]

I'd say that the Loewe Aconda/Vitros beats any 100hz Toshiba or Sony for image quality.

I always check TVs using RGB or component, never composite. The flickering is still there in my eyes, regardless of the connection.

Aardvark, I'd recommend you ask the stores to set up a DVD player using RGB to check the TVs you are interested in. Use the same player and disc for each TV and compare.

[Alanok]

Aardvark I noticed you are in Middlesbrough. Isn't there a Sony Centre in the Cleveland Centre or close by. I would have thought they would be able to set up a 100hz TV and a DVD player through RGB no problem. And if you can't get a demo then try a HI FI/AV centre in Darlington. The name escapes me but they are specialists and should be able to cater your needs. I will find out what they are called and where they are if you want.

[Aardvark]

Thanks brattle and Alanok.

Yes, now that you mention it there is a Sony Centre in Middlesbrough. If anyone can set up a Sony TV properly it ought to be them! I think I'll give them a try. (Plus our 'old' 4:3 telly is also a Sony so with a bit of luck they might do a trade-in...)

[Raziel]

My girlfriend's family have just bought a brand new Philips 32" 100Hz TV, and it suffers badly from the weird blurring thing on some movements on-screen (although its more of a 'lined distortion' than a blur). Although they say they can't see it! :rolleyes: And it cost them well over a grand!!! I'd be a bit miffed if it was mine.

[SOUNDSTYLE]

Originally posted by Raziel
My girlfriend's family have just bought a brand new Philips 32" 100Hz TV, and it suffers badly from the weird blurring thing on some movements on-screen (although its more of a 'lined distortion' than a blur). Although they say they can't see it! :rolleyes: And it cost them well over a grand!!! I'd be a bit miffed if it was mine.
That's why I got the Sony:)