Are you getting all the HDTV resolution you paid for?
By Richard Lawler 
posted October 16th 2006 12:57PM
posted October 16th 2006 12:57PM
Not necessarily, given the results of Home Theater Mag's recent tests of 61 HDTVs. Using test patterns from a Silicon Optix HQV HD DVD, they tested deinterlacing, 3:2 detection and for the 1080p sets, bandwidth. Unfortunately, just over 54% of the HDTVs failed the deinterlacing test, 80% failed the 3:2 test, but the 1080p sets passed the bandwidth test, despite all but one (Pioneer Elite PRO-FHD1) losing some detail. If a HDTV doesn't pass these tests, then you're losing at least some visual information from a 1080i signal. Some televisions throw away half the horizontal lines, which results in a fail on the deinterlacing test, or don't perform inverse telecine on moving images appropriately, failing the 3:2 test. Of course, contrast ratio, refresh rate and black levels still contribute to overall picture quality, but you should take a look at their results to make sure you're getting every pixel you expected from your new HDTV.[Thanks, Ryan]
Whew, i was worried for a sec about the bandwidth test on my KDL46XBR2... the test is for 1080i input; not 1080p. The only 1080i i have now is from upscaled DVDs; so, no biggie.
Most of the 1080p native displays wont process the 1080p input.
Are you getting the resolution you paid for?
No AND NO!
(I am a commercial TV producer and broadcast engineer. We produce a lot of HD content, and this plus my experience serves the basis for my opinion.)
In my opinion, playing the numbers game with hardware is really just nit picking. Every HD screen of decent manufacture which has been properly set up (brightness/contrast/color adjusted for the viewing environment) will deliver the end user a great viewing experience. That is what the manufacturers are counting on.
(Granted there are always some manufacturers that will sell subpar equipment and try to play off equipment as HD when it really isn't.)
WHAT SHOULD REALLY CONCERN CONSUMERS IS THIS:
If you are paying for HD service (cable/satellite), these providers are the guys who are truly robbing you of resolution. (NOT the manufacturers.)
"Huh?" You may ask.
Quick tech explanation: The signals are so compressed (often 87:1) that they are but a mere shaodow of their HD glory.
Quick Non-tech explanation: When we edit HD content it has a lot of data which requires a HUGE pipeline. Visualize a TRAIN TUNNEL.
When the cable and satellite providers send you this data, for purely financial reasons (its expensive to send large amounts of data!), they shove that same signal through a garden hose. Or in some cases...even a cocktail straw.
The difference between what leaves the provider, and what you receive at home is AMAZING. The original pictures are STUNNING. By comparison, what you receive at home is utter junk.
If you don't believe me, just wait until HD-DVD and BLU-RAY discs receive wide distribution over the next year. Once you start watching movies in these formats...you will understand what I am saying. You will see how BAD the current HD broadcast signals are.
Again, don't take my word for it. See for yourself.
HD Broadcasts are the current limitation. True HD TV sets are not the limitation. To those of you who spend your days counting pixels on your new HD tv set...you need a new hobby.
Chris,
What do you think of Verizon FIOS? It's there fiber optics service. I've heard great things about the picture quality. Any Comments?
Thanks,
Vincent
Yeah, my TV can't do 3:2 to save itself. I plan on getting a DVDO scaler in the future and let it do all the work. The TV will shutup and get feed it's native resolution.
Gary Merson kicks ass.
Frankly, I'm pretty surprised to see that the Sony 46XBR2 (which is overpriced to begin with) fails the 3:2 inverse telecine test, given that its lesser siblings in the S2000 series (e.g. the 46S2000) managed to pass. I have a Sharp 46D62U on order, so I hope Sharp got the 3:2 problem corrected in the new-generation panels. Perhaps one of the HD freaks at AVSForum who have bought Sharp 62U's will be able to perform the same test.
Chris: Couldn't agree more regarding HD down-rezzing by distributors. DirecTV is particularly bad in this regard. Hell, the things they do to SD are nearly criminal -- at times it's painful to watch 'The Daily Show'. I'm looking forward to better HD content at full >19Mbps bitrates, but I'm not budging on an HD-capable DVD player until the BluRay/HDDVD war is a little farther along, even if HD-DVD looks like the victor at the moment.
Chris, you are correct with the service provider abuses. DirecTV's version of HD is less than a shadow of real HD. And now they've sold their customers that they can deliver a better PQ on their local HD than OTA. Sorry, the notion that 1280 by 1080 is full HD is a joke. Yet, most consumers are too ignorant and the government too uncaring to take action.
Chris, well said! While the FCC has ATSC "truth in advertising"-type HD standards applied to broadcast content, cable and satellite subscribers could never just "go along" with the same standards...witness QPSK and QAM and multiple flavors at that. No wonder consumers don't understand HD- even the engineers struggle to find a common language. Wait 'till IP video-on-demand matures for telcos- what will we really be watching?
What made DVD successful? At least in part, consistency and widescreen support, not to mention sound! Quality, you say? Then why did consumers in the 1970's choose VHS "EP" as the ultimate format instead of Betamax?
Great work, Gary M. We need purists like you to deliver the truth.
Chris, great analogy (train tunnel vs coctail straw)!
Yeah...after reading that article I too was disappointed, being that I just bought a Sony KDL46BXR2 as well...but then I saw all the notes at the bottom explaining that it only fails when the settings are still at their factory default...and no HD freak would ever leave their TV at the default settings (and this particual TV is a tweakers dream...)
So, since I'm a youngin to the HD game... and I doubt my TV is anywhere close to quality (Advent HT2751A CRT) But is there an easy way to figure out how to confgure the set right. The THX stuff on the star wars DVDs are way too dark for normal viewing, and I've been sticking to the presets, which I'm sure aren't right.
So how do I set it up, or am I supposed to know that already?