Is there a minimum screen size for a HD tv?

[megatron]

As title? If I bought something like a 19 inch widescreen that's not HD Ready, would it matter on something that size?

[powder]

Any screen for HD needs to at least have 720 lines of detail. So a widescreen lcd that is 1280x720 would be able to display HD. I know some HD Ready plasmas are actually 1024x768 but since its the horizontal lines that matter more than the vertical lines i think they're ok.

I've got an older 26" LCD tv here that is NOT HD ready, but it's 1280x720 and has component inputs so Xbox360 in 720p looks fantastic - and Sky HD should also be the same.

I think that so long as you buy a screen with enough lines, plus a suitable input to use HD material then you will be fine.

[megatron]

So it's not true that you wouldn't notice the HD content on a relatively small screen?

[powder]

Well that would depend on your eyes. I've watched numerous HD trailers at 480p and 720p on a 15" widescreen laptop screen and i would argue that i could see a difference between them, certainly between regular TV/DVD resolution and 720p.

How small are you talking? If it's 19" as mentioned in your first post you'd probably find that a majority of sub 26" screens look worse because they don't have the same native resolution as a proper HD ready TV. (a quick scan of the Currys site shows a 19" widescreen Goodmans LCD and a Samsung model both for £350 - both are 1440x900 resolution so you should certainly see a benefit from HD content on those)

26" and above, which is common for an LCD TV you will notice the difference; my family notices the difference between dvds watched through an RGB Scart connection as opposed to the progressive scan component connection that we now use.

When people talk about needing a 43" plus sized screen to get the benefit of HD i think that they are pointing out that with regular SD pictures on a big screen you can often see the flaws, so it's only when you use a big screen that you really see the benefit of HD.

So yes, it's not true that you wouldn't notice the HD content on a smaller screen. My recommendation would be to go somewhere and get a proper demo, could be Xbox360, could be SkyHD, but go see it with your own eyes and decide then :thumbs:

[megatron]

Ok, cheers for the info. :)

[wassa]

Sorry i left my 5yr old daughter on my laptop i must be :nuts:

[powder]

Well since she's 5 she's old enough to choose which hand should be lopped off for such an infraction of the rules - a punishment is still a punishment even if you are fair about it.

Infidel! ;)