Does everything need to be in High def?

**bruceames** · 01-02-2007, 06:50 PM

The majority of my viewing is still in SD DVD, so it would really suck if I was HD-spoiled to the point where SD viewing became noticable enough to be a distraction. Fortunately, the A1 does a fine job of upconverting and maybe this upconverting is what makes the difference between being OK (still) with SD and it being a "problem" (distraction due to being spoiled on HD).

In any case, I do have an extensive collection of SD material, much of which I haven't seen even once yet (mostly TV on DVD), so hopefully I can get to view all those, and later SD purchases, and enjoy them just as much as if I had never seen a moment of HD in my life.

SLedford · 01-02-2007, 09:47 PM

Since I am still holding out for a dual format player, I am still buying standard DVD movies. I think they look great with my player & set, although not as sharp as the HD-DVD & BD demos at BB.

If I can get a HD-DVD combo movie (other side SD-DVD) for only a little more than the regular DVD, I may go that route to future proof myself.

**bruceames** · 01-02-2007, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLedford

If I can get a HD-DVD combo movie (other side SD-DVD) for only a little more than the regular DVD, I may go that route to future proof myself.

If HD DVD can be soon seen by the mainstream as being "here to stay", AND the combo prices are attractive (only a little more and you get the HD version, too), then I think many people will be enticed to "go combo", which I believe will be a huge advantage for HD DVD.

rmslives · 01-03-2007, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stchman

I am sure someone said the same thing about color. Why does everything have to be in color. Does a comedy become more funny in color? No, but it does enhance the overall enjoyment of your watching experience.

As far as HD, no a comedy is no funnier in HD, but it does enhance the overall enjoyment. I wish everything was in HD.

No offense, but I do not think the difference between SD and HD is comparable to that of black and white versus color. That was a huge leap ahead, whereas this one is fairly small (as compared to the leap ahead in technology from VHS to DVD).

But that's just one man's opinion . . . .

The whole reason I started this debate is to question whether people are ready to start paying more for their movie-watching experience, even if the benefit is not worth the price increase. Again, just my opinion, but Lord of the Rings in High Def would be something I am willing to pay for . . . but Click? Why pay extra for that, when I can get it on SD and upconvert it? Is the Blu-Ray version really worth the extra $10? Sony would like me to think yes (and I could argue the same for HD movide like A Christmas Carol), but I do not feel like giving extra money away for movies - or tv shows - that do not need more than an upconversion.

That's what I was curious about!

SLedford · 01-03-2007, 07:57 AM

rmslives,
I think you have hit on to something as far as buying SD or BD / HD-DVD. Some movies are fine in SD, some would really benefit from being in high def.

A movie like the Lord of the Rings series would be worth paying more to get in HD. The scenery is stunning in that movie and I would be willing to pay more to have it look even better.

A movie like The War of the Worlds was dark and somewhat fuzzy (filmed that way on purpose). Ignoring the limited artistic value, this movie would not be improved much in high def.

borromini · 01-03-2007, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLedford

...A movie like The War of the Worlds was dark and somewhat fuzzy (filmed that way on purpose). Ignoring the limited artistic value, this movie would not be improved much in high def.

On the contrary, there is an incredible amount of detail in WotW's cinematography. You need the HD to appreciate those dark scenes on an HDTV! Just because it was given a higher grain finish and a filtered color palette doesn't detract from the fact that only in HD can one enjoy these details at home on a large display. It was a very well crafted film by Spielberg.

I'll just add one point to the broader argument raised by the OP. Those of us who own 60" or larger displays will benefit with any high-def disc title and of course HD cable/sat as well. Front projection display owners have even more of a demand for high-def discs as upconversion shows its limitations when you get up to 100". Also for those of us who largely rent movies, the growing option for HD-DVD/BD versions is a no brainer as the monthly costs remain the same.

rmslives · 01-03-2007, 11:20 AM

Very well said, borromini!

**PFC5** · 01-03-2007, 02:44 PM

Also remember that with the HD video comes the HD audio also. To me, that is just as important to get me "INTO" the movie. Even comedies.

borromini · 01-03-2007, 02:46 PM

Yeah, that's never been the case for me since my surround sound system is minimal at the moment...standard DD/DTS tracks will suffice for the time being.

**PFC5** · 01-03-2007, 02:53 PM

I built my sound system long before I built the video side of my system because sound is very important to me. Others feel the opposite so it depends on the person.

**bruceames** · 01-03-2007, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by borromini

Those of us who own 60" or larger displays will benefit with any high-def disc title and of course HD cable/sat as well. Front projection display owners have even more of a demand for high-def discs as upconversion shows its limitations when you get up to 100".

Display size means little if nothing is revealed regarding how close one sits from the screen. I never viewed a 100" display, but would one really see more HD detail sitting 100" from the display as one would sitting 27" away from a 27" HDTV? I know you're very knowledgable on this subject on would like your opinion on the importance of viewing distance relative to display size, given everything else is the same (on both setups).

I WUV HD · 01-03-2007, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruceames

Display size means little if nothing is revealed regarding how close one sits from the screen. I never viewed a 100" display, but would one really see more HD detail sitting 100" from the display as one would sitting 27" away from a 27" HDTV? I know you're very knowledgable on this subject on would like your opinion on the importance of viewing distance relative to display size, given everything else is the same (on both setups).

He's saying that blowing something up that big reveals flaws and imperfections not seen at smaller sizes (smaller being 50" and below, or thereabouts.) Having the extra resolution from an HD DVD (or BD) can do nothing but improve the quality of any film when watched at the sizes he's describing (100+".)

SD DVDs look pretty great upconverted on my 50" plasma. I'm sure they look far worse to borromini, since he's got the same SD source pushing a big projected image, roughly twice the size of what I'm getting.

He'll explain it a lot better than I can, but that's the gist (I think.)

borromini · 01-04-2007, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I WUV HD

...He'll explain it a lot better than I can, but that's the gist (I think.)

Actually you're pretty spot on with the explanation.

bruceames, since you've never seen an HD image at 100" or larger, I can understand the doubt. The short answer to your question is yes.

The relationship of this magnification to increasing seating distance can't necessarily be done 1:1 as in your example of 100":100" vs. 27":27" since no one really watches a 27" TV at 27" away.

From my own experience, the seating distance in the living room isn't that much different than in a bedroom...roughly between 6' to 8' in the living room and 5' to 6' in the bedroom, yet the living room has a 102" image and the bedroom has a 40" image. The difference in artifacts from DVD upconversion was substantial enough to make my HD-DVD purchase a definite must!

As good as the upconverstion is on the HD-XA1, I really try to just stick to HD-DVD titles in the living area.

borromini · 01-04-2007, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PFC5

I built my sound system long before I built the video side of my system because sound is very important to me. Others feel the opposite so it depends on the person.

That's true and while everyone has their own threshold for what they require in sound, at the very least, I would hope that anyone interested in home theaters wouldn't consider anything less than a physcial 5.1 system capable of DD playback.

Today, this can be achieved rather inexpensively with decent sound results.

**bruceames** · 01-04-2007, 08:41 PM

Thanks, Borromini, but I just used the 1:1 ratio as a normalizer. Let's do 2:1, which is more apropo. Would a viewer notice more detail on setup B over setup A? (display quality is assumed to be equal, the only difference is size)

Setup A) a 27" display viewed 54" away

Setup B) a 65" display viewed 130" away

01-02-2007, 09:47 PM	#62
SLedford HD Fan Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Little Rock, Arkansas Posts: 1,023	All my purchases still SD-DVD Since I am still holding out for a dual format player, I am still buying standard DVD movies. I think they look great with my player & set, although not as sharp as the HD-DVD & BD demos at BB. If I can get a HD-DVD combo movie (other side SD-DVD) for only a little more than the regular DVD, I may go that route to future proof myself. __________________ Toshiba 57H83 television, Paradigm Monitor 5 front speakers, Paradigm CC370 center speaker, Paradigm Mini Monitor surround speakers, Sony subwoofer, Yamaha HRT-5590 receiver, Denon DVD-2800 II, Toshiba HD-DVD A2, Play Station 3 - 40 Gig, Comcast HD Cable

01-03-2007, 07:57 AM	#65
SLedford HD Fan Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Little Rock, Arkansas Posts: 1,023	I think you are on to something rmslives, I think you have hit on to something as far as buying SD or BD / HD-DVD. Some movies are fine in SD, some would really benefit from being in high def. A movie like the Lord of the Rings series would be worth paying more to get in HD. The scenery is stunning in that movie and I would be willing to pay more to have it look even better. A movie like The War of the Worlds was dark and somewhat fuzzy (filmed that way on purpose). Ignoring the limited artistic value, this movie would not be improved much in high def. __________________ Toshiba 57H83 television, Paradigm Monitor 5 front speakers, Paradigm CC370 center speaker, Paradigm Mini Monitor surround speakers, Sony subwoofer, Yamaha HRT-5590 receiver, Denon DVD-2800 II, Toshiba HD-DVD A2, Play Station 3 - 40 Gig, Comcast HD Cable

01-03-2007, 02:44 PM	#68
PFC5 Super Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 28,420	Also remember that with the HD video comes the HD audio also. To me, that is just as important to get me "INTO" the movie. Even comedies. __________________ Denon AVR-887 Klipsch RP-5 Pwred Towers (mains) (525 watts peak each 12"Subs) All Klipsch RC-25(ctr),(2)SS1(surr),(2)SS1(rearSurr) Toshiba (2)HD-A20,PS3,BD35 For SACD/DVD-A Samsung HD-841 Panny 50pz80u plasma SETTINGS RCA HD50LPW162 50"DLP w/HD2+ SA 3250HD 47" LCD+Yamaha5790+HD-A1(bedroom) Harmony 680 + (2) 670s (amazing remote/support) Game room with Onkyo receiver & B&W Speakers The_Cable_Game Take the high ground and be happier

01-03-2007, 02:46 PM	#69
borromini HT Frontiersman Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Northern California Posts: 9,826	Yeah, that's never been the case for me since my surround sound system is minimal at the moment...standard DD/DTS tracks will suffice for the time being. __________________ "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy"

01-03-2007, 02:53 PM	#70
PFC5 Super Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 28,420	I built my sound system long before I built the video side of my system because sound is very important to me. Others feel the opposite so it depends on the person. __________________ Denon AVR-887 Klipsch RP-5 Pwred Towers (mains) (525 watts peak each 12"Subs) All Klipsch RC-25(ctr),(2)SS1(surr),(2)SS1(rearSurr) Toshiba (2)HD-A20,PS3,BD35 For SACD/DVD-A Samsung HD-841 Panny 50pz80u plasma SETTINGS RCA HD50LPW162 50"DLP w/HD2+ SA 3250HD 47" LCD+Yamaha5790+HD-A1(bedroom) Harmony 680 + (2) 670s (amazing remote/support) Game room with Onkyo receiver & B&W Speakers The_Cable_Game Take the high ground and be happier

01-02-2007, 06:50 PM	#61
bruceames Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Rafael, CA Posts: 10,171	The majority of my viewing is still in SD DVD, so it would really suck if I was HD-spoiled to the point where SD viewing became noticable enough to be a distraction. Fortunately, the A1 does a fine job of upconverting and maybe this upconverting is what makes the difference between being OK (still) with SD and it being a "problem" (distraction due to being spoiled on HD). In any case, I do have an extensive collection of SD material, much of which I haven't seen even once yet (mostly TV on DVD), so hopefully I can get to view all those, and later SD purchases, and enjoy them just as much as if I had never seen a moment of HD in my life.

01-03-2007, 11:20 AM	#67
rmslives High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 314	Very well said, borromini!

01-04-2007, 08:41 PM	#75
bruceames Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Rafael, CA Posts: 10,171	Thanks, Borromini, but I just used the 1:1 ratio as a normalizer. Let's do 2:1, which is more apropo. Would a viewer notice more detail on setup B over setup A? (display quality is assumed to be equal, the only difference is size) Setup A) a 27" display viewed 54" away Setup B) a 65" display viewed 130" away