What's the difference between EDTV and HDTV?

[minchjp]

Some of you are generalising about PAL standards. Only channel 7's HDTV chanel is braudcast at 720x576 (576p), but all other HDTV chanels are set at 1080i (with exeption to one government channel which has no native hdtv programs)

[edDV]

...

Without closer ananlysis i'm not convinced that the 1280 width gives much improvement over 720 for films. probably a lot easier to read when you hook up your PC though

Well it depends on the screen quality and the eye of the beholder. Both 576p and 480p are major steps up from analog PAL and NTSC. Side by side you should be able to see the difference between 1280x720p and 720x576p especially as screen size goes to 42" or more. In the USA, ABC and FOX use 720p for sports and the quality is stunning.

Most of the upscale plasmas here are capable of around 1450x1080p native display.

[junkmalle]

[quote="edDV"]

Most of the upscale plasmas here are capable of around 1450x1080p native display.

I think you are wrong about this. Very few plasma HDTVs have a native resolution of 1080p (they down convert). In fact, until very recently, most of them were 480p native.

[edDV]

[quote="junkmalle"]

Most of the upscale plasmas here are capable of around 1450x1080p native display.

I think you are wrong about this. Very few plasma HDTVs have a native resolution of 1080p (they down convert). In fact, until very recently, most of them were 480p native.

The 480p natives are the EDTV's

720p (1280x720) HDTV plasmas are becoming more available and look like they are going to be the next logical step up from EDTV when the dust settles.
http://www.sjgreatdeals.com/tb-42hp83p.html
http://www.electrodiscounts.com/Electronics/discr23299.htm
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-4vWuM28xRzU/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=153650&I=130PDP5045

I was referring to the upper end plasmas (>$12K) that are being billed as 1080p. Most current models don't have the full 1920 horizontal resolution, typical models top out around 1440.

True 1080p (full 1920 x 1080 native) plasmas are beginning to hit the stores at the very high end. LCD models were shown at CES.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1749523,00.asp
http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/ISEO-rgbtcspd/reviews/20050119/ces_TV.html
http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/learningcenter/home/tv_flatpanel.html

[pyrate83]

Some EDTV's can downscale an HDTV signal Yoda. But EDTV is basically like what you get with component cables and DVD's. It's 480p. Big step up from S-Video or composite video though.

[Gritz]

edDV,
Thanks much for the good information. I appreciate all you wrote and did a cut and paste of everything in the hopes of understanding how all this newer technology fits together to obtain the best picture. My old 45" Mitsibushi is on it's last leg (color tube kept collapsing and marred the screen) and it's about time to make the upgrade. What would you buy in about a 42" Plasma if you don't mind?

[flaninacupboard]

I am holding out for SED displays late this year. contrast and brightness of CRT, compactness of LCD or plasma, one third the power consumption of plasma!

[junkmalle]

SED looks promising. Prices probably won't be reasonable for a year or two though.

[edDV]

edDV,
Thanks much for the good information. I appreciate all you wrote and did a cut and paste of everything in the hopes of understanding how all this newer technology fits together to obtain the best picture. My old 45" Mitsibushi is on it's last leg (color tube kept collapsing and marred the screen) and it's about time to make the upgrade. What would you buy in about a 42" Plasma if you don't mind?

Thanks,
All I can suggest is you read the review sites and user opinion forums. The models change often and user opinion takes a few months to surface when a new model comes out.

There are several home threater sites that review new models. Once you have a model number, Google will search out the reviews.

Lots of specific model discussions can be found at
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/index.php?s=.

[Gritz]

Thanks for the reply. I'm just starting to look and the NEC 42XR3: 1024 x 768 looks interesting but I can't find any information on contrast ratio OR brightness on this model. I'll look into the forums that you mentioned and see what I can dig up though.

[energy80s]

One thing worth noting is that HDTV is really only appreciated on screen sizes bigger than 26". In a country where 21" 4x3 and 28-32" 16x9 is the norm, the jump from standard def to hi def won't be that noticable. Proper high bitrate standard def would be a vast improvement on the existing crap that is broadcast. The BBC have six 42" plasma screen in the reception of broadcasting house in Belfast and most of them are fed with studio feeds as the off air feed that the normal punters get is just too poor for display on such a large screen! Also they produce a lot of heat. We had to turn the heating off in reception as people were complaining!! Certainly hi def isn't something I will be rushing into.