Selcection of 720p vs 1080i on HD cable box

cjlaurin55

Can someone speak to the following issue: Assuming that a consumer has a 1080p-capable TV, certain people have told me that it is nevertheless preferable to select 720p over 1080i on a hi-def cable box, since 720p is allegedly superior in ultimate viewing quality to 1080i. I have heard that ESPN broadasts in 720p - opposed to 1080i -- since "quick" sports movement is better depicted in 720p. Any comments on this issue, i.e., 1080i vs 720p Thanks in advance for any insights -- CL

Bigloww

Set it to 1080i IMO. Your TV is 1080p so (in most cases) it is easier/better for your TV to de-interlace a 1080i signal vs. upconvet a 720p. And most of the stations broadcast in 1080i vs. 720p. ABC and ESPN are a few exceptions...

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unr3a1

I think it really depends on what his TV is actually set to. If you are forcing your TV to upconvert the image to 1080p, then yes, 1080i would be the way to go. But I have my TV set to go into whatever resolution the cable box tells it. So when I start watching ESPN, my TV actually changes its resolution to 720p. If your TV is the same, then this is preferred as progressive scan is always better than interlaced when it comes to sports.

The other thing you have to remember, that depending on how big your TV is, 1080p may or may not really matter. I have a 40" LCD TV, and that size, you really can't tell any difference between 720p and 1080p. Now, if I had a 50"+, then it would be a different story. But at the size I have, it doesn't matter, the two resolutions look identical.

Bigloww

If your TV is a 1080p display (1920x1080 pixels) progressive scan, it will display everthing as such. So your TV will display whatever you feed it as such. I will not display a 720p source as1280x720 or a 1080i as interlaced, it will all be be displayed as the native resolution of the TV. With that said and as I stated above..... Most stations broadcast in 1080i, but a few do in 720p. So if you take a 1080i broadcast and set your box to 720p, the 1080i broadcast is converted to 720p and then your dislplay converts that to 1080p. If it is your box is set to 1080i, your TV simply de-interlaces the 1080i to 1080p. But in most cases (depending on the equipment), you won't tell much if any difference between the setting. But the least conversion the better, it it usually better to down convert than up convert and de-interlacing a 1080i to 1080p is usually the best way to go. But see for yourself and let your eyes decide. If you can't tell the diif, set it to whatever.Just my ..

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Commit to the Indian..

In Loving Memory of Junkie, The Rizz, Eagle and the Boys.. They are gone (wasted in fact) but not forgotten..

unr3a1

I have a Sharp AQUOS 40" HDTV. And I could swear that it changes its actual resolution in the upper right corner of the TV (where it displays the input, resolution [both the number and 720p, 1080i, etc], and some other information). I will have to double check that and double check my documentation. Maybe I am just confused by what my TV is telling me?

Bigloww

If you are hitting the display or info button on the TV remote and it tells you 720p or 1080i in the corner, that is most likely the display of what the source is... Not what the TV is displaying. If I go to ABC from my OTA, the channel will show 720p if I hit info button on my TV's remote. My Dish box is set to 1080i, so if I go to ABC via Dish, my TV will show that channel as 1080i (because that is what it is fed from the Dish Box).. This is not the way my 1080p TV is displaying it, just the way the source is feeding it to be converted. I think this is what you may be confused about.

__________________
Commit to the Indian..

In Loving Memory of Junkie, The Rizz, Eagle and the Boys.. They are gone (wasted in fact) but not forgotten..

unr3a1

Huh. You learn something new everyday. Thank you.