LCD vs HD-LCD

[Steve1977]

Whilst HD-LCD's have blown me away when playing HD footage, iv found the SD quality distinctly average. Whether its my perceptions changing over time I dont know, but playing a normal DVD on a HD capable DVD (with upscaler) is a bit grainy to say the least.

If memory serves me correctly, people have posted screenshots here of normal DVD's on normal LCD's and the quality has been superb.

Is this a known problem with HD TV's in that they struggle with SD transmissions?

Due to people getting on the HD bandwagon, are there are good value LCD bargains?

[DarthVader]

Personally I don't think there has been a better time to buy an LCD TV and to be honest any DVD I have watched on mine (through a Panasonic DMREX75 or whatever it's called) have always looked great from a normal viewing distance. Grain isn't really noticeable assuming you do not sit up close to the TV.

[KRW]

I can only speak for myself but I was amazed how great SD DVD and Broadcast TV looks on my LCD. I was expecting terrible things, after seeing them badly set up in shops, and reading things on here, but its crystal clear, detailed and bright. I'm in no rush to go full HD, as SD DVD suits me fine right now. I've only owned an upscaling DVD player for a day but it didnt strike me as looking that much better so far - a little sharper here and there and movement is smoother, perhaps. If i've time over the weekend, i'll be doing geekery like trying DVD's back to back on different players as my old SD player is still plugged in. :dork: We sit around 10 foot away, so perhaps closer and we'd notice more differences.

[SheepDip]

What KRW said.

I felt exactly the same, and let's face it, display models in any of the usual suspect high street stores aren't exactly going to be set up to the quality any of us would set it up to. What made me really think was chatting to a guy in Currys (http://www.thedvdforums.com/affiliatelink.php?localaffiliateid=5) of all places, and he said how their inputs were crap, but once you got it home, it was a different kettle of kippers.

I was pleasantly surprised just how crisp it all is. Granted Sky is a little bit lacking - a lot due to the compression on many of their channels, SD CRT is a bit more forgiving of that as it doesn't show it up in as much detail, but even Sky looks pretty okish - and definately comparable to a cheaper 100hz CRT.

The built in digital tuner all new TV's have tends I've noticed on mine and friends TV's to look better than Sky - maybe the panel upscales it better as it's built in, I dunno.

As for DVD's, well at the moment I've just got an elderly Toshiba 2109 connected by RGB scart, and it looks amazing. If we're going to really nitpick, through my old 28" CRT, the picture looked very "perfect", not a trace of grain, and almost digital. Through my new Toshiba 37" LCD, it looks really really like a cinema picture - a trace of grain, but not even as much as you get on the "big screen".

As has been said before on here, it's all going to depend on what CRT you used to have, what your picture expectation is going to be, and what new TV you get. Just (obviously) don't sit too close - they really aren't designed to be sat with your nose right up to the screen :lol:

[KRW]

Yeah, what Sheepdip said. I notice grain sometimes, but that always makes it look cinematic to me, and the LCD does look a lot more like a cinema screen. Mind, bear in mind I've watched NTSC VHS tapes blown up and projected in my time, and managed with those, even though they looked terrible. :lol: but we made do.

I'm undecided about whether or not to keep the upscaling player. It has too many *issues* (cant remember the model, I think its a panasonic) and my old SD player looks just as fab on it and will do nicely until the inevitable PS3 arrives.