Which is better, LCD or Plasma TV in terms of pixelation?

DarrellS · Member Joined: 28 Nov 2002 Location: United States

I think it's probably the set top box. I live in a neighborhood in Maricopa County (AZ) that's less than 10 years old. It's got all the modern technology. I don't need a phone modem for the digital telephone service like I did before we moved here.

The guy at COX gave me a unit that had been returned because it was the only HDMI unit they had. He gave my brother another box without HDMI that was supposed to be new but it looked older than mine. He said his would work on the 36" analog TV but he can't get it to work at all on one TV and it acts like a weak signal on the 36" or like it can't process the signal. The picture is all corrupt.

I'm supposed to be getting 307 channels with this box, including the the PPV channels but I'm only getting 157 channels plus 45 Music Choice channels that just play music and the picture on the music channels looks like a frame from a very low bitrate and very low resolution divx file that was blown up to fit the screen.

I was probably getting close to 157 channels before I got the box using the QAM tuner.

dzsoul · Geohound Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Location: Philippines

edDV · Posted: Mar 21, 2009 22:46

DarrellS · Member Joined: 28 Nov 2002 Location: United States

Sorry, it wasn't my intention to hijack the thread. Just thought if anyone was interested, the Samsung was an excellent deal at Bestbuy and to warn people that aren't aware that you need to have an HD source if you expect the picture to look good.

MJA · Member Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Location: IL

edDV · Posted: Mar 22, 2009 15:49

A 1080p panel will look better for HD source (e.g. Blu-Ray or high res computer desktop with text or 1080p HD file playback). It won't look much better for upscaled SD video. For a smaller 32" screen, you won't see much difference unless you sit very close (inside four feet).
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nitro1973 · Member Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Location: europe

dzsoul · Geohound Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Location: Philippines

it's been months since my last post but until now i have not bought a TV coz my dad was gone and he just arrived recently (coz the one going to buy the TV).

anyway, so to conclude, 1080p = 720p at 32"?

what if i have a 600x200 divx file...it isn't bad right? or a DVD player with upscaler would have a HUGE difference and far better quality. or an LCD has a built-in player in it for USB memory stick/flash drive?

until now i'm confused if im going to choose samsung or sony...haha. don't really know the difference. i'm only sure about the screen size which is 32".

jagabo · Member Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Location: none

dzsoul · Geohound Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Location: Philippines

ok thanks a lot.

right now, im thinking of samsung LA-32b550 and it has usb 2.0.

with a memory flash drive, what file format does it support, or how do these files open in the TV? or it will only work if there's a computer, right?

jagabo · Member Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Location: none

samsung LA-32b550: The manual says it supports FAT16, FAT32, and NTFS. Only JPEG and MP3 playback.

dzsoul · Geohound Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Location: Philippines

finally we were able to buy a tv. its model is samsung la-32b530. with HTZ210 package. standard dvd players only support its maximum res at 720x480. how about our package, will it not?

jagabo · Member Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Location: none

The HTZ210 includes a 1080p upscaling DVD player. It probably won't make much of a difference since the HDTV probably has a decent upscaler too. In both cases what's on the DVD is 720x480 or 720x576. Either the DVD player or HDTV will upscale to the HDTV's native 1920x1080. Test both and see which looks better. Try both progressive and interlaced DVDs. Use an HDMI cable.

dzsoul · Geohound Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Location: Philippines

oh sorry for not stating that what i meant is movie in a USB with a resolution bigger than 720x480 as Divx. will it work?

jagabo · Member Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Location: none

FulciLives · Posted: Jul 09, 2009 16:17

You can get the Western Digital Media Player. This is a small black box that connects to the TV via HDMI or component video etc.

The box has USB 2.0 inputs and you have to input a source like an external HDD or a (fast) USB thumb drive etc.

This box can display DivX and XviD files that are 1080p (as well as 720p and smaller). It also supports MP4 and most MKV files that use H.264 (same video in a MP4 file). It also supports M2TS which is H.264 with AC-3 audio.

It's a great little device for around $110 US Dollars. Just remember it has no networking so you do have to use an external USB HDD or Thumb Drive but it is the cheapest solution if you want to play back Hi-Def media files.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
BEST BUY sells it or you can get it on-line.
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RabidDog · Old B. Joined: 25 Oct 2002 Location: UK

And dont forget, with your new telly, to sit down with the manual and change every single setting. It will be delivered to you with showroom settings, to outcompete every other TV on display in the shop. Mostly you probably need to turn everything down, especially the brightness. Get a test disc and use Flesh Tones to get the best picture. If the zombies look life-like and the news presenters look like zombies, hmm, its wrong .. Homer simpson is Butter coloured, marges Hair is Bright blue

The WD is also V. good.

Incidentally, I can tell the difference between HD and SD on my SDTV (26')
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dzsoul · Geohound Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Location: Philippines

jagabo · Member Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Location: none

dzsoul · Geohound Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Location: Philippines

can't find the setting in the dvd player for upscaling. the dvd player is actually a part of the package from samsung, which comes along with the home theater system. it's HT-Z210.

what i have right now is samsung la-32b530. and yes, i use HDMI cable.

I have also tried the SD/HD on the remote control and i think it's for the TV, not for the DVD player...or is it for the DVD player not for the TV? I have set it to 1080p.

jagabo · Member Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Location: none

I don't know your DVD player so I can't tell you exactly where to find the upscaling options. Try looking in the HDMI settings for upscaling or output resolution options. Or the Video section.

What did the SD/HD button on the remote do? That sounds like it might be what you're looking for. Remember, no matter what your DVD player feeds the HDTV you will get 1080p on the screen. Either the player or the HDTV (or a combination of the two) will do the upscaling. The only question is which does the better job. It may be very hard to tell the difference, even with test patterns.