I just got a new plasma TV, 50 inch, 720p. I know that Blu-Ray transmits in 1080. Is there any value, image-wise, to a Blu-Ray player with a 720p TV, or will movies look no different than they do with my regular 5-year old dvd player?
They’ll probably look a lot better.
If your DVD player is upwardly convertable (can’t remember the precise terminology) it won’t be as noticable. That is, if your DVD player has an HDMI slot (and you’re using an HDMI cable, obviously), the picture will be pretty good. But still, Blue Ray will be much crisper … and the sound will be better too.
However, I don’t think they started offering regular DVD players with HDMI slots but recently – a 5 year old machine may only give you the RCA jacks option (red, white and yellow). If that’s the case – a Blue-Ray player will definitely be better, most noticeably so. Think of it this way, with RCA jacks all your video is going over one little cable at analog. HDMI is a pure digital signal. One step up is to go with component cables, which gives you separate analog signals for red, blue, green. Not sure if a 5-year old DVD player would have that either.
My Blue Ray player is my PS3. I have it set to play Blue-Rays at 1080i (which is my only 1080 option), but even at 720p it’s an amazing quality jump over regular old DVD with RCA connections.
Are you sure that 50" TV is only capable of 720p?
My 50" set is two years old and will accept 1080p but will “only” display at 1080i.
Even my behemoth old Sony CRT TV from 1998 or so would accept 1080i.
What’s your audio set up? I personally don’t derive THAT much pleasure from bluray over a good upcomverted DVD, but I do notice the difference in the new sound formats BR provides. Of course; you need a receiver that can decode them as well (or a BR player that decodes and outputs in seperate audio analogs (and a rceiver old enough to have analog channels)).
gotpasswords- I’m pretty sure. It’s a 720p. I deliberated long and hard between the 1080p and the 720, and I decided to save a few hundred and get the 720. It will accept 1080i, but it will display at 720. It’s the Panasonic TH-50PX80U.
Munch- audio is a Philips 5.1 surround system from 2000. Not state of the art. However, in the next year or two I may be upgrading to a better system. It sort of depends on whether there will be any visual benefit from BR on the TV- if so, I’ll improve the audio as well. If not, I’ll just stick with what I have.
Any way you slice it, keep repeating to yourself, “HDMI cable, HDMI cable, HDMI cable” because if you want any sort of true Hi-Def, you’re going to have plop down some sheckels for one of them.
They usually run around $40 or so.
That’s what “they” want you to think. If you are going to buy an HDMI cable, I cannot recommend buying from Monoprice (http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240) enough. Got my last one there (a 6-footer) for $12, including shipping.
- HDMI cables shouldn’t cost you more than $10, any more and you’re getting ripped off.
- You can get all the “true high-def” from component cables. Where are you getting your information?
Munch- That’s a good point about the HDMI/component cable issue- my cable company only had HD boxes with componenet hookups, none with HDMI, when we picked up the new box. I hooked up the component and the picture is remarkably clear. Are you saying there will be no difference if I get a box w/HDMI connections?
I’m not saying there will be no difference, but it comes down to personal perception. Spending ten bucks at monoprice is worth it, regardless.
According to the manual for my Blu-Ray player, a component cable doesn’t provide 1080p, and the 24FPS progressive option isn’t available either. But if your TV doesn’t display in 1080p anyways, who really cares?
exactly. And my comment was more about the nebulous, fake term of “true high-def” that Jack used. Extremely misleading and false.
I guess I got ripped off on HDMI cables, because that’s what I paid at Best Buy.
The info I got, from various places, rank component cables below HDMI for quality. Component cables aren’t digital, are they.
Oh, well pardon me for fucking up your world. Jeez.
I was just riffing on the fact that HDMI is de riguer for Hi-Def sets.
Yeah, I recommend against getting HDMI cables at brick and mortar stores. I just got some 6’ cables online for $2.98 each and they work flawlessly. I have yet to find HDMI cables for less than $30 in a store.
Relevance, especially with regard to a 720p TV? Is he broadcasting his signal from several miles away?
And I was just riffing on the fact that I don’t think you have a very clear picture as to what you’re talking about. The biggest reasons to use HDMI are to take advantage of lossless audio by running it to your receiver, and ease of use (1 cable v. 5).
Listen - component cables are theoretically capable of delivering a 1080p signal to your television. However, most sources support that as a possible output through component. For a 720p set, it’s going to be negligible. In fact, a component cable may in fact bring you better contrast (some HDMI sources won’t deliver a blacker-than-black or whiter-than-white signal). This YouTube video has some excellent points:
He recommends HDMI for the cable box and component for a DVD player. You should also determine whether an upconverting DVD player is worth it, or if your TV will do a better job.
Another article on the subject:
Conclusion: It depends, and you should test both to see what setup you think is going to provide the best picture with your source and display components.
Fine. No need to be a douchebag about it.
:dubious:
I notice a big difference between Blu-Ray and DVD on my 42" 720p plasma. Just watched “The Bank Job” last night.
That’s perfectly reasonable as long as you are okay with the notion that you are paying for the convenience of having them in your hand right now. I’ve done it once or twice for exactly that reason, shrugging off the expense.
But cables/interconnects generally really do have ENORMOUS markups in stores. Ordering HDMI cables online can get you essentially the same thing for almost literally one tenth the price.