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Originally posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?
I know we've had this discussion before, but I've done some research and discovered that EDTV displays non-HD programs clearer than HDTV, yet not much is lost when displaying HD programs? True? Isn't an EDTV monitor a much better deal (at least for the next four years)? Especially since DVD's are shown in the same resolution as EDTV?
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I wasn't qualified to answer this post before, but now I am.
EDTV is 480p. That's DVD quality, which sounds really good, but it's really just the same resolution as any set, progressively scanned (= more stable, filmlike picture). It sounds really good until you see an HD picture, that is. Much is lost watching HD on an EDTV set --- I'm not even sure this is possible to do. In any event, I recommend plunking down for a real HD set --- just get a smaller one. 60" is overkill unless you live at Wembley. Mark my words: all SD content looks like absolute crap blown up to 60", no matter which set or receiver you have. And SD is 90% or more of what you're gonna be watching. People are buying these big-ass TVs and complaining about the quality of the SD content. Ever try blowing up a newspaper photo on a photocopier? Wouldn't you feel dumb to complain that it looked "grainy"?
I've had an HD set for a while but waited to pick up an HD receiver. People warned me that once you have HD you tune in to nature shows about insects and shit just because you're mesmerized by the picture, and it's true. Hell, I was watching reruns of the SLC 2002 Winter Games just to see the pretty pictures. I watched my college get its ass kicked on ESPN HD, and I
liked it.
If you buy an ED set, consider it disposable. But the same trouble of getting a large set home and set up, you could be watching many network primetime shows in HD.
FWIW, many HD receivers convert and display SD quite well. The all-digital path channels on DirecTV (for example, Comedy Central and Cartoon Network) are surprisingly good on a (relatively small --- 32") HD set, even though their content is pure SD. I'm using an HD Tivo, which I recommend with reservations. PM me if you want details.
