1080p resolution LCD TV's: Opinions please

[kevins1966]

I was on the verge of buying the samsung le26r74bd when a colleague told me I would regret it as 720 resolutions as a 1080p version would probably be out soon.

Anyone got any views on wheteher I should wait or if there is a 1080p TV I should go for now?

thanks.

 

[mark800]

The TV size you are looking at is not big enough for 1080p to make a difference. Also, 1080p TVs are in a different price point to the TV you are looking at (and will remain so for quite some time).

 

[Rian1988]

What 1080p lcd's are available after checking all I can see is the Sony x series, are there any others?

 

[Nielo TM]

Theres also a Philips, Sharp and Toshiba models but remember, you need HDMI v1.3 to fully support 1080p50/60

 

[mark800]

What does "fully support" mean? You don't need HDMI1.3 to see the difference between 768 and 1080p, or watch 1080p content.

 

[Nielo TM]

Current HDMI version has enough bandwidth to transmit audio with max video resolution of 1080i/1080p30 and Some TVs do support 1080p24, 25 and 30 but you need HDMI v1.3 to transmit 1080p50/60.

 

[neilmcl]

Current HDMI version has enough bandwidth to transmit audio with max video resolution of 1080i/1080p30 and Some TVs do support 1080p24, 25 and 30 but you need HDMI v1.3 to transmit 1080p50/60.

Not true. HDMI has been able to support full 1080p upto 1080p/60 since vers. 1.0.

 

[Nielo TM]

yes it can, but without audio. I don't know any sets that can accept 1080p50/60 with full audio.

 

[DaveC]

Actually you're not quite right about HDMI 1.3. The current spec HDMI (v1.2) supports upto 1080p @ 50/60 Hz with standard sound (can't remember if this goes upto dolby 5.1 or if it's just stereo).

This is what the curent Sony X series supports. Actually the current X series TVs were launched before the HDMI 1.3 standard was completed....so no chance of support anyway.

What HDMI 1.3 brings to the table is "high colour" and HD sound support.

High colour means that it wil support 10 or 12 bits of colour per pixel ....this is something that curent LCDs and plasmas don't support at a chip or panel level anyway and probably won't for a good while yet (read 12-18 months).

The HD sound is what you will get on the new HD DVD and BluRay discs .... I believe it's uncompressed high bit rate multi channel sound which your stereo tv will not be able to take advantage of anyway.....you would really need a decent AV amp to get any benifit from HD sound.

So as far as HDMI 1.3 goes, you don't need it for your TV as it won't make any difference. However if you're thinking of getting a HDDVD/BluRay player and an AV amp, you should make sure that these two bits of kit DO support HDMI 1.3 and it's probably worth holding off buying them until later this year when HDMI 1.3 should be more common.

Edit: ....typing too slow, sorry for echoing Neilo TM and neilmcl. HDMI is a bit of a specialist subject for me

 

[Nielo TM]

Really? All thins time I was under the impression that only HDMI v1.3 can support 1080p50/60 + Audio because of that pod cast by major nelson lol

 

[Rian1988]

So is there any other TV that is Full Hd 1080p I don't really care about sound as I will have a separate amp?

 

[PeteD64]

So is there any other TV that is Full Hd 1080p I don't really care about sound as I will have a separate amp?

There's a Pioneer 50" plasma panel & the Sharp 65" LCD. Amoi 37" LCD might be able to do it.

Problem is there are still no 1080p sources apart from PCs available here so you can't be exactly sure what you'll need to support in terms of refresh rates at 1080p in the future.

Even the first gen HD DVD players are only 1080i but for a 24fps feature film this probably isn't an issue because it can be encoded in an interlaced signal at 48Hz (or higher) .

I would wait longer if you can then there will be more choice.

 

[JOLLYGREENGIANT]

So is there any other TV that is Full Hd 1080p I don't really care about sound as I will have a separate amp?

The only UK models I know of are:

Sony X Series 46" (40" and 52" comming Sept.ish)
Sharp LC45GD1E & LC65GD1E (Old and IMO very expensive)
Sharp LC37GE1E (Maybe..September 06)
Amoi LC37AF1E (if you can find a UK importer with one in stock)(Added-thanks peahead - see below)

Anyone want to add or revise this list?

 

[peahead]

Theres also the amoi lcd tvs both the 37" and 42" both accept 1080p.

http://www.its-a-breeze.com/lcdtv/37inch_lcdtv_specs.htm

http://www.its-a-breeze.com/lcdtv/42inch_lcdtv_features.htm

 

[JOLLYGREENGIANT]

Theres also the amoi lcd tvs both the 37" and 42" both accept 1080p.

http://www.its-a-breeze.com/lcdtv/37inch_lcdtv_specs.htm

http://www.its-a-breeze.com/lcdtv/42inch_lcdtv_features.htm

Consider the 37" added. The 42" is not available yet is it?

 

[Rian1988]

Theres also the amoi lcd tvs both the 37" and 42" both accept 1080p.

http://www.its-a-breeze.com/lcdtv/37inch_lcdtv_specs.htm

http://www.its-a-breeze.com/lcdtv/42inch_lcdtv_features.htm

Wow, for that price 1080p what's the catch?

 

[peahead]

No catch they are the biggest brand in china i think
there is a 26 page thread on the 37" in the forums

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=294603

 

[hutch]

I cant understand why everyone is getting hung up with 1080p to be honest, another marketing ploy to confuse people all the more

The fact it accepts 1080p means nothing if it cant display 1080p and correct me if im wrong but unless your looking at a big panel (60" and above) then most people arent going to see any difference between what is on the market already.

People need to concentrate on processing because that is what is important, not how many pixels your screen has

 

[neilmcl]

No catch they are the biggest brand in china i think
there is a 26 page thread on the 37" in the forums

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=294603

And they also make nice ready-made chinese meals

I bet that's not been said before

 

[podavies]

You are wrong, I use a Sammy 32" more for my PC than i do for my 360 and Sky vewing Its great to play games on and watch DVD's from the PC.

But I could do with a higher res Screen for my Surfing and general PC usage so I'm interested in getting a 1080p screen as soon the prices drop a little.
Not sure if many people use there TV for the PC but i would never go back to my 17" moniter even if it can display a higher res.

I cant understand why everyone is getting hung up with 1080p to be honest, another marketing ploy to confuse people all the more

The fact it accepts 1080p means nothing if it cant display 1080p and correct me if im wrong but unless your looking at a big panel (60" and above) then most people arent going to see any difference between what is on the market already.

People need to concentrate on processing because that is what is important, not how many pixels your screen has

 

[hutch]

You are wrong, I use a Sammy 32" more for my PC than i do for my 360 and Sky vewing Its great to play games on and watch DVD's from the PC.

But I could do with a higher res Screen for my Surfing and general PC usage so I'm interested in getting a 1080p screen as soon the prices drop a little.
Not sure if many people use there TV for the PC but i would never go back to my 17" moniter even if it can display a higher res.

No im right but of course if your primary use is PC then resolution is everything.

Like I said before though unless your getting a big screen then 1080 aint going to make any difference at all.

 

[Wilt]

I'm a bit wary of 1080p giving me a better image than the 1366x766 image i'm watching now.

I'm considering getting a 1080p 37inch panel in the future when i've demoed and convinced myself that 1080 is better. But for example if i get close to my current screen, i can see the idividual pixels and the black gaps between them. At half a metre the gaps are invisible, i sit 2.5m away. So will i see the extra pixels that fill these gaps on a 1080p screen? I don't think so. Like some people say, it'll only benefit larger screens.

But why do manufacturers make 37 inch 1080p screens?

 

[andykn]

The key factor for me was that Sky HD is all in 1080i. It must be better to put that on a screen with 1080 lines rather than scale it to 768/720 lines.

 

[hutch]

The key factor for me was that Sky HD is all in 1080i. It must be better to put that on a screen with 1080 lines rather than scale it to 768/720 lines.

Nope, if the panel you are feeding it into has good processsing then it wont make any difference at all.

I had the pleasure of viewing the Fujitsu 58 Plasma and the Sony X LCD side by side at the weekend and although they were very close in performance the Fuji has just edged it for me even though it has lower resolution because the processing is just so damn good

 

[hutch]

But why do manufacturers make 37 inch 1080p screens?

To make more money