Blu-ray

[gerry]

ah that's ok because I don't believe in sky.

pog, go outside and look up.  it's there

[pintsofguinness]

ah that's ok because I don't believe in sky.

pog, go outside and look up.  it's there

No, I'm going to stay in and watch Independence day on film 4 - at least that's based on facts.

[The Real Laoislad]

HDMI cable would make it better yeah Nally. 

I'd love to hear the answer to question 2.

HDTVs contain an HD tuner allowing you to receive high definition, for example from your house antenna's over the air signal reception.

HD_READY TVs contain everything necessary to display high definition except that HD tuner. To display high definition, you need a separate high definition tuner box

I dont understand 

Whats not to understand,I think he explains it very clearly

[pintsofguinness]

HDMI cable would make it better yeah Nally. 

I'd love to hear the answer to question 2.

HDTVs contain an HD tuner allowing you to receive high definition, for example from your house antenna's over the air signal reception.

HD_READY TVs contain everything necessary to display high definition except that HD tuner. To display high definition, you need a separate high definition tuner box

I dont understand 

Whats not to understand,I think he explains it very clearly

We can't all be as smart as you.

[The Real Laoislad]

HDMI cable would make it better yeah Nally. 

I'd love to hear the answer to question 2.

HDTVs contain an HD tuner allowing you to receive high definition, for example from your house antenna's over the air signal reception.

HD_READY TVs contain everything necessary to display high definition except that HD tuner. To display high definition, you need a separate high definition tuner box

I dont understand 

Whats not to understand,I think he explains it very clearly

We can't all be as smart as you.

Very true....

[David McKeown]

A few quick questions about Blu-ray and HDTV etc.... I have a PS3 and an HD Ready LCD TV. I wouldn't be much of a tech genius so maybe someone might be able to shed light on a few questions for me.


1. Do you need HDTV to get the benefit of watching a blu-ray dvd on your PS3 or would a "HD Ready" TV do the job? (as I say, the TV I have is LDC and HD Ready)

2. What is the difference between HD and HD Ready TV's?

3. Does the PS3 blue-ray make a HD 'Ready' TV into HD?

4. Is there much difference in ordinary DVD & Blu-Ray?


Cheers for the help, hope all those abbreviations aren't too confusing 

Ok Ill try and answer these in line but I will answer question 2 first.

2. There are effectively 3 types of HDTV on the market (ignoring 3d etc). Firstly HD ready. These are tvs capable of displaying an image at a native resolution of 1024 x 720 pixels. This although technically HD is not the best resolution possible for HD. This resolution is known as 720 p (the p meaning progressive scan I.e all the image is on screen at one time. Most HD ready tvs are also capable on displaying a resolution of  1080i (the i meaning interlaced I.e only half the image is displayed but both halfs alternate quicker than your eye can see so you a full image at slightly higher quality than 720 p)

'Full HD' or HD Ready 1080p is the next set of tvs and is the next step up. These tvs are capable of displaying an image from an external source at a resolution of 1080 p and at 24 frames per second which is the highest resolution available from a blu Ray

'Full HD TV's' are the same as above however they also have a built in tuner (either freesat HD or freeview HD) and don't require an external source 

1. You will get some benefit from a blu Ray on a normal tv although this will be minimal. On a HD ready tv you will get more benefit but the most benefit will be gained from watching a blu Ray on a Full Hd tv. It is worth noting that Sky HD only outputs at 1080i and therefore you will not see the same improvement if this is your HD source.

3. Adding a HD source will not convert a HD ready tv into a HD tv

4. There is a big difference between DVD and blu Ray. I notice it more in sound quality though


The one thing to note though is this will all depend on the individual tv (as there are many other factors at play) and it's location within the room. Rule of thumb is most people struggle to notice difference between 1080p and 720 p content on tvs under 42 inch or at a distance of more than 1.5 metres

[Nally Stand]

Cheers David you clearly know your stuff! Thats mad that most struggle to notice a difference more than 1.5m from the TV, makes you wonder how Blu-ray/HD has been such a big industry.

[theskull1]

And just to be clear PS3's/Blu ray players/External Freeview or Freesat tuners need to be connected via a HDMI cable to get Hi Def (720p/1080i&1080p)

[David McKeown]

As I say it really depends on the individual tvs at the moment.  I recently swapped my 37 inch hd ready tv for a 42 inch full hd tv and I notice a huge difference between the two tvs but very little difference between 1080 p image and a 720p image unless im sitting very close to the screen.  That said I can barely watch dvds anymore as I think the quality is crap.

You dont want to get me started on the Plasma v LCD v LED debate

[David McKeown]

And just to be clear PS3's/Blu ray players/External Freeview or Freesat tuners need to be connected via a HDMI cable to get Hi Def (720p/1080i&1080p)

Not exactly External Freeview and Freesat Tuners wont output in HD regardless of the cable used to connect them.

Playstation 3 and a lot of Blu ray players can output HD via either HDMI or the Red/Green/Blue component lead also known as YPrPb however only HDMI can carry full HD with HDCP encryption which is a copyright protection used by blu ray discs. As a result if you try to watch a Blu Ray using a component lead you likely wont get a full HD signal.

In summation and to save you having to make sense of the above, yeah stick with a HDMI lead. 

On which point im of the opinion that all HDMI leads are of identical quality but I have seen studies which prove the aren't (mind you ive seen the same number that say they are)

[theskull1]

Thanks for clearing that up

Re: HDMI leads......I have a 10m long lead bought from amazon for £10 and it is flawless.

[Nally Stand]

You dont want to get me started on the Plasma v LCD v LED debate

You have me curious now! Could you give me a brief idea on the difference or what you would recommend??!

As for all this depending on the type of TV, mine unfortunately is 32". It's a Sharp Aquos LC-32P50E as below:
http://www1.uk.shopping.com/xSBS-Sharp-Sharp-X20-Range-LC52X20E-Sharp-LC-32P50E~PT-xPO~P-1~PRDLT-28153683-45429783

[theskull1]

I've a friend who recently bought a 42 LCD and says its as good as plasma (he's a semi pro photographer and a film buff so he's not a half wit when it comes to looking at images on a screen). LCD must have moved on a bit because plasma used to outgun LCD for overal image quality when you got above 37inch.   

If thats the case LCD must be the better option now as the power consumption for plasma is alot higher than an LCD

Have no clue about OLED

[Nally Stand]

Interesting stuff but seriously confusing!

[David McKeown]

You dont want to get me started on the Plasma v LCD v LED debate

You have me curious now! Could you give me a brief idea on the difference or what you would recommend??!

As for all this depending on the type of TV, mine unfortunately is 32". It's a Sharp Aquos LC-32P50E as below:
http://www1.uk.shopping.com/xSBS-Sharp-Sharp-X20-Range-LC52X20E-Sharp-LC-32P50E~PT-xPO~P-1~PRDLT-28153683-45429783

I have recently moved from LCD to Plasma for three reasons.

1. Plasmas historically and in my opinion still do handle motion alot better than LCD's and I watch a lot of football and it used to drive me nuts to see the artificating whenever the ball started moving.

2. Plasmas historically and in my opinion still do have the deepest blacks which I like as I also watch a lot of action movies where its useful to be able to tell the difference between black and dark.

3. I got a cracking deal.

All that said there is so little to choose between LCD's and Plasmas now that it really all does come down to matter of personal preference and what your going to be watching.  I am still not fussed on LED as it looks great with slow and still images but absolutely awful whenever anything moves on screen.

Oled is the next big step forward im looking forward to but i think 23inch oled tvs are still around £5000

I should add the tv widely regarded as the best on the market at the minute is plasma (Panasonic G20) as is the range of tvs that were considered the best of all time (pioneer kuro)