June 21, 2006
High Definition DVD Recorders
HDTV - High Definition DVD Recorders and Your PC
Most consumers aren't satisfied to simply display broadcast or pre-recorded material. Since the advent of inexpensive VCRs in the 1980s viewers have expected to be able to record material for later playback or permanent storage.
DVD recorders brought that capability in-line with the quality possible with DVD. Panasonic and others have several models with either hard drive or DVD-RAM/DVD-R/DVD-RW capability or both.
The next logical step, since the internal technology is nearly identical in many cases, is to extend that functionality to and from the PC. Not long after that, the goal will be to connect the PC to the new HDTV and high definition players and recorders.
Whether digital photos or video, or full Hollywood movies, users want to be able to transfer and use content anywhere within the home. With the ubiquity of the Internet, they also want to be able to access and display that content on the road on a laptop, in a hotel or at work or someone else's home.
Thanks to advances in all the relevant technology, as well as leading edge business arrangements, that's now all possible. The long-promised convergence between TV, PC and the Internet is finally becoming a practical, affordable reality.
Hot on the heels of the new HDTVs, with ever lower prices, and the new high definition DVD players from Toshiba (HD-DVD), Samsung (Blu-ray) and others comes Blu-ray RECORDABLE devices.
That there's at least one Blu-ray recorder on (or soon to be on) the market shouldn't be too surprising. Sony has had a Blu-ray recorder on sale for two years. The near $3,000 cost (as they expected) kept it from any kind of mass-market adoption, but it no doubt helped them shake down the bugs.
Apart from that somewhat exotic offering, Sony is bringing out a laptop in their Vaio line that will have a Blu-ray player built in. At $3,600 it's pricey, but it does offer a 17in screen, making it viable for serious video folks who have to be on the road.
Connecting the laptop to an HDTV is as easy as obtaining a HDTV card, such as ATI's Wonder card. With a simple software installation and the use of a special cable, the PC connects to the component or HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) connectors on the set. Expect an Ethernet connection that does more than just transfer firmware to the HDTV before too long.
AMEX recently announced their Digital MPC-505BD Media Center PC with Blu-ray recorder. No price has been set, but the Windows Media Edition-enabled device can actually record onto Blu-ray DVDs.
The unit offers 7.1 channel audio and a hybrid analog/digital DVB-T TV tuner. It also houses a full terabyte (that's one thousand twenty-four gigabytes) of hard disk storage. It is, in effect, a Blu-ray DVD player/recorder and PC in one that can be connected to a HDTV. The future has arrived.
Posted by HDTV at 04:58 PM | Comments (0)
June 20, 2006
Toshiba's HD-A1
HDTV - HD-DVD: Toshiba's HD-A1, A Mixed Success
Toshiba's new HD-DVD player has hit the shelves, at an initial price of around $500. Several reviewers give it mixed marks, with the picture quality rated excellent and several of the features rated less than ideal.
On the plus side, the player sells for half to one-third the expected price for Blu-ray machines, due in the summer of 2006. True, $500 is still pricey for a DVD player, but at more than four times the displayed number of pixels, resolution on an appropriate HDTV will dazzle even the most blasé viewers.
Also, to Toshiba's credit they hit their expected delivery date so that early adopters can judge for themselves whether the premium over a standard DVD player is justified.
Beyond price and delivery, a full line of ports is available on the machine, including not just the expected component and HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) ports but also an Ethernet connection.
The HDMI port is essential for getting the highest quality out of HD discs and standard DVDs. Also, if the studios follow through on copy-protection, it will be required in order to play the discs in high definition.
Other features and behavior may or may not be acceptable, depending on the consumer's level of patience with first generation technology.
Since HD-DVD machines are as much a PC as a video player, they are slower and have many of the possible glitches that computers are prey to. The machines have an in-built operating system running on a Pentium 4, 2GHz chip. (It's rumored to be running a version of Linux, but with Microsoft strongly supporting HD-DVD over Blu-ray that may change, if it's even true.)
That's both a pro and a con. Any operating system, even running off a chip, is going to be slower to perform some functions than dedicated electronics. But it does open the door to increased functionality with a simple download (through the Ethernet port).
That may explain why the unit takes more than half a minute to display an inserted disc and why menu movement is sometimes a little slow.
Some reviewers had trouble with HDMI errors. They would hook up the cables and receive no picture, even after re-booting the unit, requiring the cables to be reconnected. That could be loose or defective cables, a semi-defective unit or a firmware error correctable via an update. Or, it may be a design flaw. There's no way to tell at this early stage.
In any case, it's something consumers should be wary of. You don't want to have to hassle with your DVD player the way you've (unfortunately) become used to with your PC.
Reviewers also gave poor marks to the remote, citing it as large and illogically arranged. Those things are often a matter of taste. What isn't a matter of taste are the semi-functional buttons that have to be repeatedly pressed. That could be a weak signal from poor batteries, but that's unlikely for a new unit. Buyer beware.
Back on the upside again, there's that undeniably excellent picture. Even standard DVDs look better, but that may be as much due to the HDTV used. In any case, the HD-DVD player is at least performing the minimum required by displaying standard DVDs in better than standard quality.
Sound quality, too, on the new unit is excellent - reproducing full Dolby quality. However, depending on your set, you may need to do some 're-engineering' to hook up your system differently to obtain the optimum sound.
Whether the units are 'ready for prime-time' is to some degree a matter of interest in HD material. Given that Sony is preparing to release (slated for Nov 2006) a $600 Playstation that will play Blu-ray discs, games and support downloads consumers may want to wait and see.
Posted by HDTV at 04:55 PM | Comments (0)
June 19, 2006
Blu-Ray HD Player Models Previewed
Due to be released in summer 2006, Blu-ray high-definition DVD players from Panasonic, Samsung and Pioneer are set to change the video map. Though initial models, at between $1000 and $1800, are pricey that won't last long as competition from HD-DVD and more manufacturers gear up.
HDTV sets with the newer, potentially sharper, 1080p resolution will be coming out over the same time frame and you can expect sales of the players to help drive those of the sets and vice-versa.
Technical side notes, before launching into the product reviews: 720 or 1080 represent the number of horizontal lines of pixels, with the larger number corresponding to 1920 x 1080 resolution. The letter 'p' or 'i' stands for progressive and interlaced, respectively. Interlacing 'paints' the screen in two passes, one for even lines another for odd, progressive does so in a single pass.
Overall picture quality is determined by several things, not just the total number of lines or pixels. Interlaced projection has to paint the lines in such a way as to fool the eye to avoid flicker. That depends on frame rates, which also come in a variety. Differing frame rates and projection methods introduce the need to convert signals. How, and how well, that conversion is done has a large effect on the perceived picture quality.
Blu-ray DVD uses a blue light laser to illuminate the pits found in any DVD disc (now known as BD discs). Blue light has a shorter wavelength, allowing the pits to be spaced closer together, so more information can be packed into the same space.
One of the advantages of the new Blu-ray players is their ability to output a 1080p signal via the HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) jack. HD-DVD models are capable only of 1080i resolution. Most current sets convert the signal anyway, though, so you won't see any difference. But newer, 1080p native resolution sets are on the way and will become common in HDTV over the couple of years.
Any of the models we're about to look out will have this feature.
Samsung BD-P1000
The Samsung BD-P1000 is anticipated to be the least expensive, but at $1000 is still twice the cost of Toshiba's HD-DVD player. As with most consumer electronics, the price can be expected to drop, if not on this model then on future ones.
For that money the consumer can expect a slim, quality unit from one of the leaders in HDTV. Their DLP TVs are consistently rated among the best available in that class.
In addition, the player will have a 9-in-2 Multi Memory Card slot that will enable viewers to see digital photos on their set. That may or may not be a big advantage, since many HDTV sets come with a similar capacity built-in.
The Samsung will also offer the ability to set an alarm, presumably in order to alert the viewer to an upcoming show or event. Details are sketchy at this point.
Like the other models, the unit is a player only but recordable models are expected in another year or so.
Pioneer BDP-HD1
Pioneer's foray into the HD player market will offer some features not found on the Samsung. The BDP-HD1 is expected to make use of their proprietary Home Media Gallery software that allows viewers to display digital photos, listen to music or watch movies all stored on the home computer.
All that content can be displayed in 1080p, but of course this is useless unless the source material has sufficiently good resolution to take advantage of it.
Pioneer makes excellent quality consumer electronics goods (their CD changer is the best on the market) and has for decades. Their HDTV models are highly rated and consumers can expect a reliable, well-performing unit.
But those features and that quality will come with a stiff price tag. The BDP-HD1 is slated to premier for $1,800.
Panasonic DMP-BD10
Scheduled to arrive later than the others, the DMP-BD10 is slated for September 2006, along with Panasonic's new plasma-type 1080p HDTV.
Price, for a Blu-ray player, is anticipated to be in the middle of the pack at 'under $1,500' according to company data. Even at that price, the company has the advantage of being one of the most highly rated in the field. Their DVD player and HDTV sets are second to none.
The unit is promised to debut with the company's proprietary EZ-Sync HDAVI feature. The feature allows viewers to connect and control multiple HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) units with a single remote.
It remains to be seen whether Sony's hotly anticipated Playstation 3 will provide these 'full HD' players with further competition. The unit, slated for release November 2006, is reported to be able to play Blu-ray discs, along with downloading and playing games. At $600 it would radically alter the playing field.
You may soon be competing with the kids for control of the game console, just to play a great looking movie. Whichever brand or model you investigate, be sure to look past the hype and actually test the model in the store. First generation technology has a way of disappointing viewers who have only read about the features.
Posted by HDTV at 04:53 PM | Comments (0)
June 18, 2006
Standard DVD Recorders and HDTV
While HDTV prices on sets are coming down, HD players are just hitting the market and prices are $500-$1,800. At the lower figure, that's more than what a top flight DVD recorder would cost. The higher figure is 10 times the price of a quality DVD player.
At those prices, many consumers will wait the two years or more for the initial bugs to get worked out and prices to reach more common levels. If you're one of those, you can still get a great picture on your HDTV from a quality DVD recorder/player. DVD recorders all record in 480i, for backwards compatibility with older discs and TVs. That means they all record at the level of resolution of standard TV, with 480 lines of resolution, interlaced. Then the signal is converted from digital to analog, if the TV display is an analog type.
'Interlacing' is a technique in which the image is formed by 'painting' the screen in two passes, even lines in one pass, odd the next. Progressive scan recorder/players - which all good ones are these days - 'de-interlace' the picture before sending it to the display, if the TV can display a progressive picture. Traditionally, interlacing is performed by the TV circuitry.
When connected to a HDTV the recorder/player-TV system has additional conversion to do. By definition, HDTV offers more than 480i resolution. 480p is an interim standard, sometimes called EDTV (Enhanced Definition Television). HDTV native resolutions vary. Some are 720p, some 1080i, some newer ones even offer 1080p.
Whenever the source is one resolution, say 480p, and the display is another, more conversion has to take place. The system converts the 480 signal into either 720p or 1080i for display. How well that conversion, called upscaling or upconverting, is done plays a large role in the ultimate picture quality, no matter the contrast ratio and other specs.
Quality DVD recorders do a good job of producing a great picture even with all the conversion going on behind the scenes. Here are some units that offer that, plus some really useful additional features.
The Panasonic DMR-EH75 offers a DVD recorder that can use a single layer DVD-R or DVD-RAM disc to hold up to 8 hours of video.
It also houses an 80GB hard drive to record, time shift and play back material. That material can be from DVD (for non-copyright blocked sources) or directly from broadcasts. Depending on recording/playback quality, the hard drive can hold up to 142 hours of programming.
It provides a HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) interface for getting the maximum quality image out to the TV set. Price is currently in the $440 range for a unit that will display an excellent quality image on a good HDTV set.
For the really space-hungry crowd, Toshiba offers their RD-XS52 recorder, with 160GB hard drive that will hold up to 200 hours of video. Panasonic had larger units, from 120GB up to 400GB with an Ethernet connector. They may still be available from some merchants.
As with most Toshiba products, the quality is great and the price is stellar at around $350. But, for those less interested in recording than in the best possible playback, there's the new HD-A1. Retailing for around $500, it offers full high definition output at 1080i.
Posted by HDTV at 04:51 PM | Comments (0)
HDTV - Pioneer's Line
Pioneer, long known for excellent stereo equipment, has moved into television in a big way in recent years. Sizes on plasma sets range primarily from 42" to 50", with prices as low as $1,700 all the way to over $6,500.
All sets offer Pioneer's version of 3-2 pulldown, which they call Advanced PureCinema. This feature allows the set to manipulate film-based source material on DVD to provide the best quality picture on a HDTV set.
HDTV is, after all like every TV, a video reproduction system. Technical differences in frame rates and other factors always make conversion necessary for non-broadcast source material and even much broadcast material today. How well the set performs that conversion plays a large role in picture quality.
All sets offer a DCR (Digital Cable Ready) capability, making - in some cases - the use of an external cable box unnecessary. Beware that phrase 'in some cases'. Not all features are always supported, such as 'on demand', and not all cable companies broadcasts are compatible. Check with your area's provider.
As you would expect with a quality plasma set, color reproduction is excellent and deep blacks and good contrast are the norm. The bright, 1100 cd/m^2, screens are among the best.
The 50" PRO-1130HD is part of Pioneer's Elite line, the top of the line. Resolution is on the low side at 1024 x 768, but it includes detachable side-mounted speakers.
On the upside, the set provides excellent conversion capability for handling the wide variety of sources available today. Often HDTV sets do a poor job of converting 480i or 480p material to the 1080i that HDTV is capable of. Pioneer competes well in this area.
Scaling a standard analog TV broadcast to HDTV generally results in a degraded image below not only HDTV standards but even ordinary CRTs. Video 'noise' introduced by the conversion was non-existent and images were sharp with excellent contrast and brightness.
The set handles another kind of conversion well, also: scaling. Standard TV material is in 4:3 aspect ratio, films in the now-familiar 16:9 standard on HDTV sets. Sets can stretch the image to convert one to the other, or crop or zoom. The PRO-1130HD provides the option to select the one most comfortable to you.
But, not surprisingly, the set shines best with full-HD material. 1080i feeds provide fine detail with excellent color reproduction over a 170 degree viewing angle. When coupled with an HD-DVD or Blu-ray using a HD disc, we would expect the set to live up to its full capability.
Similar picture quality is available for much less (about $2,000 less) than the $6,500 price tag in the Pioneer PDP-5050HD. This set offers an excellent 4000:1 contrast ratio, using the same plasma element as the higher end unit.
Posted by HDTV at 04:47 PM | Comments (0)
June 17, 2006
HDTV and Your PC
Several companies have long been promising the convergence of the PC and the TV. Their promises are finally becoming a practical reality. While mostly the younger set will want to watch movies on their PC, the prospect of connecting the two and sharing content is potentially attractive to anyone.
PC monitors and TVs traditionally projected images in entirely different ways. But as digital broadcasting, DVD and other media grew the differences diminished. Though there remain many dissimilarities under the covers, it's much easier now to mask those.
Several TV networks now offer a variety of popular TV shows as downloads over the Internet. Disney, for example, provides some content exclusively found on the web and it's free. Other producers have made arrangements for episodes to be available the day after TV broadcast, sometimes for a subscription fee.
Finally, with the advent of large screen LCD and plasma panels, the differences between a TV and a computer monitor have been reduced in some cases to how the unit is connected and what software drives the display.
Most HDTV panels have one or more methods for connecting to your PC.
Some have RGB (red-green-blue) connectors of the type familiar to anyone who has hooked up a stereo. Cables run from the front or back of the TV into either the VGA connector on your PC's graphic card or into a similar connector on a HDTV card.
Another method involves connecting a VGA-to-component cable between the PC and the HDTV's component ports. In that setup the graphics card in the PC usually goes to a standard monitor, with a HDTV card providing the interface between the PC and your HDTV.
Either setup allows viewers to display digital photos or video on the HDTV. But there's more. To expand on that capability a card, such as ATI's HDTV card, can be used to receive over-the-air HDTV broadcasts.
Most homeowners have cable or satellite, but broadcasters still do what their name suggests: broadcast TV over the air. As time goes on, more and more of that content is in the form of high definition TV. Several popular shows, and many sports events, are now regularly shown in HD format.
Installing the ATI HDTV Wonder card and connecting it to your HDTV is simple and relatively inexpensive. The card retails for around $120. The limitation is you can only receive and display over-the-air material. The card is NOT a method for bypassing the cable or satellite companies' pay-for-play offerings.
More expensive, but more full-featured, options are available. For example, NEC has recently announced their ValueStar product. Combining a HDTV, a DVR (digital video recorder, ala Tivo) and a PC in one, it retails for about $2,800.
Lastly, several of the newer HDTV sets, as well as the new HD players (HD-DVD or Blu-ray) have an in-built Ethernet connector. Currently, its use is primarily for firmware upgrades to the TV or player, but that's likely to change over the next two years. Several vendors are promising movies and more shuttled between the PC and the HDTV, to the point that the distinction - after all these years - may finally, truly, disappear.
Posted by HDTV at 04:45 PM | Comments (0)
June 16, 2006
HDTV - I Want My HDTV!
For years (or decades, depending on where you start), consumers have been asking, 'Where is it?' about HDTV.
Sets that cost thousands of dollars were never going to be adopted by the mass market. Even if you popped for the price tag, the number of sources was minuscule. Unfortunately, also for several years, the industry (or in this case industries, since several are involved), were faced with a dilemma.
Manufacturers could, without too much difficulty, produce large quantities of equipment - TV sets, players and recorders, camcorders, etc. But if there was no hope of adequate content to take advantage of them, they wouldn't make the investment.
Content producers - filmmakers and studios, TV broadcasters, etc - were not going to go to the expense and trouble to create HD content until there was a large enough audience to buy or watch.
In the mix were the government bodies (the U.S. FCC, the UK Radio Authority, etc) who were either making the situation impossible or trying to arbitrate an impossible situation, depending on your point of view.
Fortunately for all concerned, many of those hurdles have now been overcome and all systems appear to be go for lift-off on the long-awaited superior pictures and sound.
As of July 1, 2006 (in the U.S.), all new 25" or larger sets are required to have digital tuners, or at least be DTV-ready. (By March 1, 2007 the figure reduces to all 13" or larger sets.) Finally, February 17, 2009 has been selected for the cutoff date for analog broadcasts. After that date, you'll either need a digital TV or a converter to receive broadcasts.
At the same time, as both cause and consequence, HDTV sets are coming down in price to the mass-market range, and headed further south. Some good quality, large-screen sets are now available for under $2,000. That seems high by today's standards, but less than 10 years ago an ordinary 36" Sony - twice the weight and several times the bulk - used to cost that.
HD (high definition) broadcasts are becoming more common. Where only a few years ago there were one or two special broadcasts, there are now several regular programs shown weekly in HD format.
And, as often happens, the player/recorder market is now ramping up release for HD equipment. Though saddled with two different formats - HD-DVD and Blu-ray - the new player/recorders have arrived.
Content for either HD-DVD or Blu-ray (primarily in the form of Hollywood movies) is thin, but so were DVDs not too many years ago. Now, there is only a small percentage of classic films that are NOT available for DVD, and nearly every new release is available a few months after theatrical runs.
Already a dozen films are available in the high definition format. With all the major studios committed to one or both formats, it won't be more than a few years before most films are released that way. Both HD-DVD and Blu-ray format players will play ordinary DVDs.
So for those who have long been clamoring for crystal clear pictures and stereo sound, it's now time to start looking at those big, flat-screen sets. You can now have your HDTV.
Posted by HDTV at 04:42 PM | Comments (0)
June 15, 2006
High Definition DVD Recorders
HDTV - High Definition DVD Recorders and Your PC
Most consumers aren't satisfied to simply display broadcast or pre-recorded material. Since the advent of inexpensive VCRs in the 1980s viewers have expected to be able to record material for later playback or permanent storage.
DVD recorders brought that capability in-line with the quality possible with DVD. Panasonic and others have several models with either hard drive or DVD-RAM/DVD-R/DVD-RW capability or both. The next logical step, since the internal technology is nearly identical in many cases, is to extend that functionality to and from the PC. Not long after that, the goal will be to connect the PC to the new HDTV and high definition players and recorders.
Whether digital photos or video, or full Hollywood movies, users want to be able to transfer and use content anywhere within the home. With the ubiquity of the Internet, they also want to be able to access and display that content on the road on a laptop, in a hotel or at work or someone else's home.
Thanks to advances in all the relevant technology, as well as leading edge business arrangements, that's now all possible. The long-promised convergence between TV, PC and the Internet is finally becoming a practical, affordable reality.
Hot on the heels of the new HDTVs, with ever lower prices, and the new high definition DVD players from Toshiba (HD-DVD), Samsung (Blu-ray) and others comes Blu-ray RECORDABLE devices.
That there's at least one Blu-ray recorder on (or soon to be on) the market shouldn't be too surprising. Sony has had a Blu-ray recorder on sale for two years. The near $3,000 cost (as they expected) kept it from any kind of mass-market adoption, but it no doubt helped them shake down the bugs.
Apart from that somewhat exotic offering, Sony is bringing out a laptop in their Vaio line that will have a Blu-ray player built in. At $3,600 it's pricey, but it does offer a 17in screen, making it viable for serious video folks who have to be on the road.
Connecting the laptop to an HDTV is as easy as obtaining a HDTV card, such as ATI's Wonder card. With a simple software installation and the use of a special cable, the PC connects to the component or HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) connectors on the set. Expect an Ethernet connection that does more than just transfer firmware to the HDTV before too long.
AMEX recently announced their Digital MPC-505BD Media Center PC with Blu-ray recorder. No price has been set, but the Windows Media Edition-enabled device can actually record onto Blu-ray DVDs.
The unit offers 7.1 channel audio and a hybrid analog/digital DVB-T TV tuner. It also houses a full terabyte (that's one thousand twenty-four gigabytes) of hard disk storage. It is, in effect, a Blu-ray DVD player/recorder and PC in one that can be connected to a HDTV. The future has arrived.
Posted by HDTV at 04:41 PM | Comments (0)
June 14, 2006
HDTV - DVD Just Got More Interesting
With the reduction in prices for HDTVs and the release of high-definition DVD players, ala HD-DVD and Blu-ray, the whole market is seeing an upsurge in activity. But sorting out all the options can be confusing. Here are some simple guidelines to help you make an informed choice.
DVD formats are - it's sometimes hard to believe - now 10 years old. The initial disc offered many times more storage (4.7GB) than the average CD (around 700MB, seven times less than DVD). Double-sided DVD was soon available and doubled the capacity.
Double-layered discs are available as well. Here are the four types:
Type - Capacity - Maximum play time
- Single-sided, single-layered 4.7 GB 120 minutes
- Singled-sided, dual-layered 8.5 GB 4 hours
- Double-sided, single-layered 9.4 GB 4 hours
- Double-sided, dual-layered 17 GB 8 hours
Despite some early technical difficulties, the DVD soon became a read-write medium, not just read-only. With that change came another round of acronyms to understand. DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD-RAM are the three most common. All types can be recorded on.
DVD-RAM is the more expensive option, but can (in theory, and to a large extent in practice) be re-written 100,000 times over many years. Also, since they store data non-sequentially, they're more useful for video editing than the other types. But, beware, not all players can play this type.
DVD-R can only be recorded onto once. Discs are cheap, so that isn't a problem these days and the format is compatible with nearly any player on the market.
DVD-RW, though, is only slightly more expensive and can be recorded onto many times. Not quite so many as DVD-RAM - only 1,000, in theory, but that's many more times than most people will need.
That was the state of things until very recently. Now comes the interesting part. Two new formats are coming onto the market and they're lining up for a good old-fashioned format battle. HD-DVD, developed by Toshiba, and Blu-ray from Sony have more in common than they have differences but one type will not play on a machine made for the other.
HD-DVD will store 15GB (30GB on dual-layer discs), while Blu-ray does better at 25GB (50GB on dual-layer). But the time differences are minimal. HD-DVD will hold about 8 hours of movies, etc and Blu-ray 9 hours. (100GB, quad-layer, Blu-ray discs are in development.)
Toshiba has lined-up support for its format from Microsoft, Intel and a few movie studios. Blu-ray is supported by nearly every major movie studio including Paramount and Disney along with Apple, Dell and several other PC companies.
Early HD-DVD machines from Toshiba (the HD-A1 and HD-XA1) are already on the market, retailing for around $500 and $800. Reviews are mixed, but that's usually the case with machines targeted at early-adopters.
On the upside, they can display high-definition discs in 720p or 1080i, and will show what your HDTV is really capable of. Blu-ray will display 1080p, the highest quality possible, assuming your TV has this capability. Few yet do.
A dozen HD movie discs are already available, including Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Serenity, and Phantom of the Opera. More are slated to become available (in both formats) soon.
For those who like to adopt the latest and greatest and are willing to accept some of the limitations always found in first generation technology, the new formats offer astounding visual quality. Be prepared to replace your equipment, though, in a couple of years once the format situation settles out and the bugs in the early machines are overcome.
Posted by HDTV at 04:33 PM | Comments (0)
June 13, 2006
HDTV - DLP TV Explained
Conventional TVs (CRTs) project electrons in a series of lines across the back of the screen, usually by 'painting' every other line, then starting over and illuminating the other half.
DLPs (Digital Light Processing) have no electron gun. Instead, the image is formed by shining tiny lights onto a million or more miniature mirrors that tilt 'on' or 'off' a thousand times per second. The light is passed through a color wheel, filtering it into red, green and blue then shone onto the DLP chip.
The DLP chip at the heart of the system is a proprietary technology invented by TI engineer Dr. Larry Hornbeck in 1987 and marketed by Texas Instruments starting in 1996.
All color combinations are produced from these three. The rapid 'switching' has the potential to cause a kind of visual 'flutter', but most good sets no longer suffer from that drawback. The signals are then converted into an image projected onto the rear of the screen.
DLPs paint the screen in one of two different ways - progressive or interlaced. 'Interlacing' consists of drawing every other line (like CRTs), 'progressive' scanning hits them all in one pass. The result is two different specifications for DLPs – p or i, following the number of lines making up the screen, 720 or 1,080. There are 480p sets, but they're not recommended for anyone willing to spend the money for an HDTV set.
Add to that already complicated picture the variation in resolution created by differing numbers of pixels. For example, 1366 x 768 resolution means: 1,366 times 768 = 1,049,088 pixels, 1920 x 1080 = 2,072,600. More pixels, better resolution (all other things being equal, which they rarely are).
The major TV networks already show many programs in 1080i format and 1080p is anticipated in the near future.
The final major element determining quality is the ability of the set to 'convert up or down'. Most sources (DVDs, commercial broadcasts, etc) don't fit neatly into the numbers shown above. For example, films are shown in 24 frames per second, video in 30 frames per second.
Some electronic wizardry has to be performed to get them to match without the picture looking odd. How well the set does that - and several other kinds of internal - conversion has a large effect on the resulting visual quality.
DLP HDTVs can produce a crisp, realistic looking image with no motion blur and excellent color fidelity. Gamers, sports fans and anyone who wants an unbelievably sharp picture should test view some sets. They are often less costly than other HDTV sets, such as LCD and plasmas, and (with the micro-projector type) don't suffer from burn-in problems.
Contrast ratios for a quality set are in the range of 12000:1, putting it at the top of the list for this important criterion. Unlike some plasmas and LCD sets, there's no 'screen door' effect, thanks to the mirrors being spaced less than a micron apart.
Digital Light Processing is a rear-projection technology that - in most commercial sets today - ranges in size from 40" to 80". They frequently have replaceable lamps, with a lamp life of 2,000-3,000 hours or more.
The systems can theoretically reproduce many millions more colors than the human eye can discern, and over a thousand shades of gray. The result is excellent color and shading realism in a large (near) flat-panel display.
Posted by HDTV at 04:30 PM | Comments (0)
June 12, 2006
HDTV - Hitachi's Line
Hitachi consistently makes it into the top 5 for all HDTV manufacturers and with good reason. They make quality products with excellent pictures.
In the LCD type, they wisely keep to the smaller sizes with flat panel models ranging from 26" to 37". All signal types are supported from 480i, 480p to 720p, 1080i and 1080p (with their 'VirtualHD' video processor). Even the smaller end 26" 26HDL52 offers a 768p resolution and the ability to reproduce over a billion colors. Far more than the human visual system can distinguish, anyway.
Some models, such as the 32" 32HLX61, offer a USB connector, allowing for the display of digital photos. Others, including the 32HLX61, offer HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) and component video ports. That's important if you want to get the best quality picture out of your DVD. Using S-video, for example, will result in less picture quality reproduction than the system is capable of.
All models come with Hitachi's excellent warranty, in this case 2 year parts and labor with in-home service.
Hitachi makes only two sizes in the plasma type, 42" and 55" but all are quality sets. All are in the thin-panel (4") style, suitable for wall mounting. There are real differences, though, even among sets of the same size.
The 55" 55HDS69, for example, houses Hitachi's Picture III video processor while the 55HDX62 uses the VirtualHD 1080p II.
More than just a techno-geek's difference, the VirtualHD analyzes and smooths film frames as they're delivered to the set. The result is a crystal clear image with no motion blur. While the 55HDS69 is still a great set, it supports only the 1080i signal, which is not the highest possible quality.
The 55" 5HDS52 offers a USB 'Photo File Viewer' connector for viewing digital photos on the large flat-panel and uses the VirtualHD processor, as well. Unusual for such a large set, it also offers an optional swivel stand.
Models in the 42" size offer essentially the same range of choices in connectors, video processor and so forth. The smaller, though hardly small, screen size offers the same visual quality with the main differences being weight, size and of course, price.
Several models offer CableCard, a PC-type card that fits in a slot in the back of the set. In theory, and often in practice, it can eliminate the need for a separate cable box. Not all features (such as TV on demand) are always supported and the card isn't compatible with all cable systems. Check with your area's provider before spending the extra money.
On-board audio is good and comes in either a 36-watt 3-way or 40-watt 2-way option, but it won't satisfy audiophiles. Fortunately, all models offer audio connectors that enable integration with a stereo or home theater system. Warranties on some of the plasma sets is lower, at 1-year parts and labor. Be sure to check the details of the particular model you're considering.
Posted by HDTV at 04:28 PM | Comments (0)
June 11, 2006
HDTV - Blu-ray vs HD-DVD
HDTV - Blu-ray vs HD-DVD, Which Is For You?
Echoing the format debates over VHS and Beta of the 1980s, HD-DVD and Blu-ray supporters are touting their own technology and lambasting the other guy's. What's in that for you?
Provided you'll be able to obtain any movie or other content you want, it matters very little. To help you decide here's some information on the two formats, along with the pros and cons of each.
Ordinary CDs and DVDs use a laser that produces red light (whose wavelength is about 650nm, a little more than half a micron). Blu-ray and HD-DVD units use a blue-light laser, with wavelength of 405nm (a little less than half a micron). That tiny difference in wavelength makes a large difference to many people.
Standard DVDs can hold about 4.7GB of data. That data can be computer documents or thanks to clever software movies or audio. That permits storing a two-hour film and a few extras to display on standard TV sets. It isn't nearly enough to store a high-definition film to show on 720p or 1080i or 1080p HDTV sets.
The number refers to the number of lines of pixels on the screen, the 'i' or 'p' indicates whether those lines are painted in two passes - every other line interlaced - or progressively in one pass. 1080p has the best picture, all other things being equal - which, of course, they rarely are.
Enter HD (high definition) discs and players.
Blu-ray and HD-DVD can both store enough data for a HD film and extras - HD-DVD up to 30GB using dual-layer discs and Blu-ray up to 50GB or more. Both achieve this by using smaller pits in the aluminum disc, spaced closer together in spirals layed out from the center to the edge.
A smaller wavelength laser is required, due to some interesting physics of waves, to 'read' the more closely spaced pits. Some 100GB discs and players are under development using four layers inside a single disc. That could store 10 years of standard TV episodes on a single disc.
Though important for computer applications, the different storage capacities mean little to consumers interested primarily in watching HD films and other on-disc content. Either will display the same quality image on an HDTV. Both will offer far superior audio compared to today's DVDs.
But there is behind-the-scenes activity that does make a difference to consumers.
Most of the major studios are lined up to deliver Blu-ray format content, though some are supporting both. HD-DVD players and some content are now available and the machines are currently priced about half (+/-$500) the anticipated prices of Blu-ray machines. Blu-ray machines are expected to launch in the summer of 2006. Either format will play a standard DVD.
This time, Sony (makers of both Beta and Blu-ray) seem determined not to repeat the experience of the 1980s. They've lined up a great many large company supporters, including Panasonic, Samsung and others.
Toshiba (originators of HD-DVD), Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft and others are pushing HD-DVD. The advantages are much less need (and therefore lower cost) to modify existing disc duplication equipment and other technical factors.
It's too early to tell which format will win out, or whether they'll both carve a large enough niche withconsumers to remain viable. It's likely at this stage that Blu-ray will win out for films and HD-DVD for PCs, but it's too soon to be sure. Much will depend on costs and available content over the coming years.
Posted by HDTV at 04:26 PM | Comments (0)
June 10, 2006
HDTV - Panasonic's Line
Panasonic is at the pinnacle of home electronics and their line of HDTVs is no exception. Long focused more on plasma HDTV, they now sport many models in LCD and DLP as well.
Like most manufacturers the plasma models tend to be more expensive than either LCD or DLP, but prices in all three lines are dropping. That trend is expected to continue for at least another year. Offsetting those price drops are an emphasis on larger screens and higher resolutions. The 37" plasma is still available and can - theoretically - display over 8 billion colors. 'Theoretically' since the human visual system can't discern that many differences anyway. Most models are 42" or larger. Several offer an in-built card that makes a cable box unnecessary, in some cases.
The 42" TH-42PM50U plasma sports a 4000:1 contrast ratio. In general, higher is better - though, here again there's a limit to what humans can perceive. Some plasmas are rated as high as 10000:1. Any set within that range is likely to offer very black blacks and vivid, realistic colors.
Most of the differences among plasmas, like other types, is size and price but some carry extras. The 50" TH-50PX60U comes with an additional SD memory card slot, which allows displaying digital camera photos on the large, flat-panel set.
There are a dozen different models to choose from, ranging from 37" to 50" with several 42" models available. Differences lie mostly in the small details. Some have more input/output slots and ports, some have PC card slots or SD slots, others have more speakers than another.
The LCD line is a good option for those wanting to spend a little less and willing to accept a smaller screen in exchange. Some extras are available among the LCD models. The 26" TC-26LX60, for example, comes with an included pedestal stand (which many of the larger units don't).
The PT-50LC14 is a 50" model that supports 480i, 480p, 720p and 1080i in a flat panel design. Picture quality is excellent, but like any LCD it's important to view from the proper distance. For this size, eight feet would be the minimum recommended.
The 'i' stands for interlaced, a technique in which the pixel rows are illuminated every other line, a complete screen 'painted' in two passes. 'p' types make one pass across the screen. While, all other things being equal, 'p' types offer a superior picture, interlaced models are still excellent. Older technology suffered from some flicker with interlacing, but that's largely no longer true.
Whatever size you choose, be sure the model includes an HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) interface and component ports. Without it, you may be frustrated by the poor picture quality from your DVD player. With it, even 480p DVDs can display an impressive picture quality.
Though among their newer offers, the DLP line is second to none. Currently, only three models are available - though you may find older models at some outlets - but all are outstanding.
The PT-56DLX75, for example, offers an extraordinarily clear, sharp 56" screen with a range of resolutions supported: 480p, 720p and 1080i. Prices are affected by screen size, obviously, but also by resolution supported (720p vs 1080i for example), extras and a host of other factors. As with any TV, be sure to view under good lighting conditions before deciding.
Posted by HDTV at 04:24 PM | Comments (0)
June 09, 2006
HDTV Signals
HDTV - What's All The (Signal to) Noise About? - The Signals
Discussions of HDTV focus mostly on the receiver, which is natural since that's the most visible part. But that receiver has to have something to receive.
HDTV sets display 1080 lines of pixels (small, colored rectangles composing the screen), about twice the traditional number. And the screens themselves typically have a 16:9 aspect ratio rather than the standard 4:3. That means, even though the dimensions of the sets vary, the ratio of width to height is always 16 to 9 vs 4 to 3 for standard sets.
Behind the scenes, so to speak, other technology is at work.
Traditional TV signals were broadcast in analog fashion. Avoiding some complicated physics, that just means the radio waves composing TV signals are wiggled (modulated) in different ways. Those modulations make variations that the set's electronics can process into moving images that look like people, horses, etc. No variation, no moving image.
Digital signals, by contrast, make those changes by varying the pattern of 1's and 0's that form every kind of digital source (DVDs, TV, MP3, etc).
Whether the signal is delivered over the air via satellite transmitters and receivers, via cable or even into your PC or TV via DVD player or over the Internet the basic idea is the same. Make a changing pattern of 1's and 0's and translate that into a series of moving images to create the illusion of real people riding real horses.
There are several advantages (and a few hurdles) to using that method.
One advantage just hinted at is the ability to transmit movies to PCs. That's becoming ever more popular since, among other things, it enables people to see more kinds of content on their PC - such as movies from a library on a pay-per-view basis. People aged 16-24 throughout the world now spend more time on a PC than they do watching TV.
Another is the ability to deliver not just better quality images, but vastly better sound. Though it's long been possible to hook up your TV to your stereo, the sound broadcast wasn't always worth the effort. Now Dolby Digital 5.1 sound is commonly broadcast along with standard HDTV video signals, making the investment in a full home entertainment center much more attractive.
Digital broadcasts will, in the long run, lower broadcasters costs. Currently, they're supporting two different technologies. That eats into revenue that could be used elsewhere. Converting to digital-only broadcasts (currently scheduled for 2009) enables them to invest more in programming content and other things consumers want.
Digital broadcasts make it much more feasible to eliminate different kinds of interference. Though with cable and DVD many of the older problems with TV are history, such as snowy or rolling pictures, digital broadcasts eliminate even more sources of trouble. And, of course, last but not least, high-definition digital broadcasts allow sending signals with much more 'information', feeding those HDTV sets that can display those impressive pictures of people riding horses.
Posted by HDTV at 04:21 PM | Comments (0)
June 08, 2006
HDTV - Sharp's Line
Sharp Electronics doesn't offer plasma or DLP models, but in the LCD arena they have one of the most extensive lines available. Everything from the 26" LC-26D6U to the largest LCD panel currently available, the 65" LC-65D90U, are offered in the Aquos line.
Even at the lower end of the range the specs are impressive. And unlike some manufacturers, Sharp puts out detailed and honest comparison specs for all their models. The 37" LC-DB5U, for example, offers a 1366 x 768 resolution, with a contrast ratio of 800:1. They go on to list a dynamic contrast ratio of 4000:1.
The larger number is often used in ads and on websites to suggest a very high contrast, deep-black-capable picture, but the lower number gives a more realistic idea. Those two qualities make a significant difference when viewing one screen versus another. Lower contrast ratios give a kind of washed-out appearance familiar to users of LCD computer monitors.
Also, Sharp lists lamp lifetimes for all models, something others often leave out. All models are rated at 60,000 hours. That's almost seven years, if you left the set on 24 hours a day, year-round. DLP models, for example, require lamp replacement every 3-5 years under normal use and bulbs run in the $250-$300 range. Something to consider when deciding between LCD or DLP HDTV.
Larger models, such as the 45" LC-45GD7U come with 'full-HD' 1920 x 1080 resolution and 170 degree viewing angles. Response times on all models are under 12ms, so motion blur is not an issue. Older LCD sets showed significant blur for sports and active game displays. That's less common now, though shoppers should test for this when considering a set.
The largest model, the LC-65D90U, sports a 1200:1 contrast ratio and 6ms response time, which is stellar in such a large screen. The system provides 1920 x 1080, with full 1080p support for an excellent picture.
The system comes equipped with the increasingly popular CableCard. The card, which plugs into a slot in the back, can eliminate the need for an external cable box. But beware that word 'can'. Not all functions are supported and not all cable companies can use them. Check with your area's provider.
Of course, at a mere $15,000 and up you'll want to get one for the kid's room, too. Naturally, at that low price you'll have to pay for shipping if you buy online.
Speakers across the line are the now-common 10 watts and each model provides two for Dolby stereo reproduction. Fortunately for audiophiles, the sets offer a range of ports, including an optical digital output, audio, etc so that a hi-end stereo system or home theatre arrangement can easily be integrated.
Posted by HDTV at 04:18 PM | Comments (0)
June 07, 2006
HDTV - Home Theater Systems
Many HDTVs do a good job of delivering quality audio, but few in-built speaker systems will satisfy audiophiles. After all, if you've invested in the top-quality image, you'll want to accompany that with the high-end audio possible only with a home theater audio system.
The two basic components are a receiver and set of speakers. Home theater receivers are much like standard stereo receivers, but support more channels. Stereo is two-channel, home theater is three or more, usually five to seven.
Receivers have to have sufficient output power to drive multiple speakers. Any receiver can play audio loud enough to annoy even hard rock fans. But along with that high volume can come noise inherent in the electronics.
To get good volume with noise-free sound requires higher power. Most HDTVs have 10 watt per speaker systems and can't deliver that. Home theater systems have 30 watts or more per channel, often 50 watts or more. All other things being equal, the more the better (up to a point). More power, usually costs more.
Receivers will also have to have enough, and enough variety, ports to connect all the devices you'll want to run through them. That includes at least two HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) ports, component, S-video and connectors for the speakers. It can also serve as a FM-tuner, or in some cases a satellite radio receiver.
Speaker systems run the gamut from three speaker sets - the bare minimum since otherwise you could just use your stereo system - to seven channels with possibly multiple speakers connected to each channel.
Five speakers would form the set for most high end systems: left and right front-channel speakers, left and right surround system speakers and a center-channel speaker. Often, though, a sixth - the sub-woofer - is added.
The center channel carries most of the dialogue and the left and right front-channel units provide most of the background and major sound effects. There's considerable overlap in any system between sources, though. Otherwise the system would sound unnatural.
The sub-woofer, as the name suggests, carries the very low bass common in a great many modern movies with special effects - jets, crashing buildings, earthquakes... anything that produces very low frequency sound.
The surround speakers are generally placed to the side or in back for that 360 degree effect everyone is now used to from movie theaters. They add the 3-D audio realism of bullets zipping by, swirling wind, chirping birds, etc. Though, again, those sounds will come partly from all other speakers, as well.
Contemporary HDTV sets don't use an electron gun, so they're not sensitive to the magnets in speaker systems, but it's still a good idea to look for video-shielded systems.
Any set will have to be matched, though most manufacturers do a good job of providing seamless integration between all speakers. Even so, it's important to listen to any system you're considering in good testing conditions to ensure it's capable of producing a high-end, realistic audio experience.
Posted by HDTV at 04:15 PM | Comments (0)
June 06, 2006
HDTV - Samsung's Line
Samsung is at the pinnacle of home electronics and their line of HDTVs is no exception.
Like most manufacturers the plasma models tend to be more expensive than either LCD or DLP, but prices in all three lines are dropping. That trend is expected to continue for at least another year. Offsetting those price drops are an emphasis on larger screens and higher resolutions. Several 42" plasmas are still available and can - theoretically - display 549 billion colors. 'Theoretically' since the human visual system can't discern that many differences anyway.
The 42" HP-S4253 plasma, for example, sports a 10000:1 contrast ratio. In general, higher is better - though, here again there's a limit to what humans can perceive. Any set within the range of 4000:1 to 10000:1 is likely to offer very black blacks and vivid, realistic colors.
Most of the differences among plasmas, like other types, is size and price but some carry extras. The 50" HP-R5072, for example, comes with an in-built card that (in some cases) makes an external cable box unnecessary.
There are a dozen different models to choose from, ranging from 42" to 63" with several 42" models available. Differences lie mostly in the small details. Some have more input/output slots and ports, some have PC card slots or SD slots, others have more speakers than another. Several offer hidden speakers.
The LCD line is a good option for those wanting to spend a little less and willing to accept a 'smaller' screen in exchange. Sizes range from 32" to 46", with the smallest considered small only in the past few years.
The 46" LN-S4692D offers a great viewing angle, 178 degrees, in a flat-panel display on a swivel stand. Contrast ratio is very good at 5000:1.
Even the smaller 40" LN-S4051D would be enjoyed by gamers using an Xbox. At a contrast ratio of 4000:1 with 8 ms response times, blacks will be great and motion blur undetectable for most content, whether game or TV.
Like any LCD it's important to view from the proper distance. For this size, seven feet would be the minimum recommended.
Whatever size you choose, be sure the model includes a HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) and component ports. Without it, you may be frustrated by the poor picture quality from your DVD player. With it, even 480p DVDs can display an impressive picture quality.
Samsung has a variety of DLP style TVs, ranging from as 'small' as the 50" HL-S5065 to the enormous 71" HL-R7178W. All offer excellent picture quality, though some reviews question Samsung's reliability.
The 71" HL-7178 sports a digital cable ready card and supports 1080p video, which no current Panasonic model does. Even the smaller 56" HL-S5688W offers a great 1080p picture and a 14,400 rpm color wheel to minimize 'rainbow' effects that some DLP models suffer from.
The 'i' stands for interlaced, a technique in which the pixel rows are illuminated every other line, a complete screen 'painted' in two passes. 'p' types make one pass across the screen. While, all other things being equal, 'p' types offer a superior picture, interlaced models are still excellent. Older technology suffered from some flicker with interlacing, but that's largely no longer true.
Many HDTV's are offered in HD-ready types. That indicates the receiver has no in-built HD tuner. That isn't necessarily a deal-killer, since many cable or satellite boxes have tuners that can perform just as well. HD-ready is generally less expensive, all other things being equal.
Prices are affected by screen size, obviously, but also by resolution (720p vs 1080p for example), extras and a host of other factors. Check your favorite price comparison website for details. As with any TV, be sure to view under good lighting conditions before deciding.
Posted by HDTV at 04:12 PM | Comments (0)
June 05, 2006
The Pros and Cons of Plasma, LCD and DLP HDTVs
HDTV expands consumer choices from the traditional CRT and rear projection. To these, now vastly improved, types it adds Plasma, LCD/LCoS and DLP. All have their strong points and drawbacks.
CRT - Traditional CRT (Cathode Ray Tube or 'direct view') works by shooting electrons at a screen. The electrons from the gun get pushed around by magnets, 'painting' the screen by illuminating lines of pixels (short for 'picture elements'). In the case of HDTV there are commonly 1,080 lines and the entire screen is formed from 1920 by 1280 pixels. There are lots of varieties, including those with only 720 lines and smaller numbers of pixels.
Newer HDTV-style CRT models offer the same great pictures - deep, sharp blacks, excellent contrast, even richer and more realistic looking color, along with the enhanced resolution of HDTV. Better resolution translates to a sharper picture.
Those traditional strengths come with some trade-offs. CRT tubes can only be made so thin before the edges of the picture become fuzzy. Though some current sets have shallow tubes, they are still deeper than flat panel TVs. Even shallow tubes are around 14" deep.
The largest screens are limited to about 38". And the larger the CRT, the heavier and bulkier they become. Most CRTs are at least 20" (51cm) deep and weigh up to 200lbs (91kg).
Plasma
One of the cleverest design ideas, plasma TVs produce an image by passing a current through a gas held between two glass screens. The electricity causes the gas to glow in a way similar to fluorescent tubes.
The screen size generally starts where CRTs leave off at 38", and can be as large as 62". Most are made in 'thin-profile' style, only a few inches deep. They're both lightweight and thin (relatively), making it possible to hang them on the wall. You can recreate the movie theater atmosphere and free up floor space.
But, though prices have fallen in the last year, they are still on the high side and quality is very mixed. Good sets will still cost upwards of $5,000 or more. Even then, contrast ratios (the difference between dark and light across the screen) are rarely as good as a high-quality CRT.
Newer models have less difficulty with burn-in. 'Burn-in' results when a static image, such as the broadcaster's logo, stays on the screen for long periods. The image then never fades. Still, consumers need to be wary.
Nevertheless, spend enough and you'll get one of the most spectacular pictures available in a large screen.
LCD/LCoS
Liquid Crystal Display (or Liquid Crystal on Silicon) TVs operate much the way a laptop or flat-panel computer monitor screen does. It passes current through a series of rectangles.
Most TVs, though, suffer from the same problems as monitors. Blacks aren't black enough, contrast isn't high enough and viewing is generally limited to a smaller angle than other types.
But in the more costly models, most of these problems have been overcome to a large degree. Picture quality can be outstanding and they don't suffer from burn-in problems.
DLP
Digital Light Processing is a rear-projection technology that - in most commercial sets today - ranges in size from 40" to 80". They frequently have replaceable lamps and offer excellent picture quality in a flat-panel arrangement.
They are often less costly than other HD sets and (with the micro-projector type) don't suffer from burn-in problems. Fortunately for those considering an HDTV purchase, prices have fallen over the last year and continue on a downward trend. But don't wait too long. By Feb 17, 2009 all broadcasters will discontinue analog (standard TV) broadcasts and switch completely to digital. Sometime before that happens, prices are likely to spike.
Posted by HDTV at 04:10 PM | Comments (0)
June 04, 2006
HDTV - LCD vs Plasma
HDTV - LCD vs Plasma, Pros And More Pros (And a Few Hurdles)
Digital LCD screens first became popular several years ago when they were introduced as lighter, slimmer alternatives to CRT computer monitors. The differences were dramatic. When used to form a HDTV they're even more so.
LCDs produce an image by projecting a light onto a series of 'liquid' crystals sandwiched between glass rectangles. Those crystals can pass or block light as they twist internally. Not really a fluid, the term comes from the fact that the crystals can twist easily when subjected to an electrical current. Varying the voltage changes the amount of twist, which results in more or less of the rear-projected light being blocked.
That curious bit of physics gives LCDs their great advantages and introduces some hurdles for manufactures trying to produce great pictures at affordable prices.
The rectangles making up the screen are arranged in rows of pixels ('picture elements') and are actually composed of three, colored sub-pixels set side-by-side. That close spacing and the precise control of twist allows designers to produce an image with great resolution, accurate color reproduction and astounding clarity.
Since every pixel contains the three colors needed - red, green and blue - to form any perceivable color, LCD sets can produce a very realistic color image. But doing so requires that 'behind-the-scenes' the pixels filter the white fluorescent backlight projected onto them.
That arrangement leads inherently to attractive, bright images that plasma type sets can't quite match. However, as sets age, that backlight can dim or change color, reducing their advantage.
Some sets offer the option of replacing the backlight, but that can be expensive. Current models have good lifetimes, though, and by the time it becomes a problem many will be looking to replace the set with the latest technology.
LCDs retain that bright, clear image better than most plasmas even under varying light conditions. Both types perform well in darkened rooms, but LCDs have a slight advantage under brighter conditions and more room arrangements. Inherently anti-glare, these sets look great in almost anyone's setup.
For several years, plasma dominated the upper reaches of size, while LCD often outperformed in the smaller (13" to 37") range. With improved technology, both types do well, with LCDs now available as large as 65". Though, of course, you pay a premium for the larger size.
During those same years, plasmas held the advantage in viewing angle. The nature of LCD panels makes them lose some contrast and the ability to project deep blacks as the viewer moves to the side. Images can look gray and 'washed-out'. Even colors can shift subtly.
Current sets have reduced that problem to a minimum so that under most viewing conditions it will be unnoticeable. For several years 130 degrees was about the best one could hope for, but 160 degrees or more is common today. That covers a field that would satisfy just about any normal setup.
LCDs offer a wide range of uses. In the morning they may serve as a great looking computer monitor, in the afternoon as a game console and in the evening make a first-rate HDTV set. Older models struggled with motion blur (games and some films or shows require 12-15ms response times to avoid streaking), but current offerings have largely overcome that limitation.
The playing field for LCD and plasma has leveled to a significant extent the last few years. Today, except for the extreme sizes, the choice comes down primarily to price, reliability and that ever elusive 'best picture' quality. Be sure to 'test drive' any set you consider under good lighting conditions with a quality source.
Posted by HDTV at 04:03 PM | Comments (0)
June 03, 2006
HDTV - Phillips' Line
Phillips, inventors of CDs and a host of other electronics related gadgets, offer an extensive line of both LCD and plasma HDTVs. The line covers everything from the 30" 30PF9946D LCD for under $1000 to upwards of $6400 for the 50" 50PF9986 plasma. Fortunately, with Phillips, you frequently get what you pay for.
Even the - these days - relatively tiny 30" 30PF9946D offers six widescreen modes, just as do the high-end models. The modes are used, for example, to adjust a standard TV broadcast from 4:3 aspect ratio to the now-standard 16:9 aspect ratio of HDTV.
Resolution is excellent at 1280 x 768p. The 'p' stands for progressive, a technique in which the pixels are illuminated in one pass, rather than interlaced - i.e. 'painted' in two separate passes. The contrast ratio is a respectable 600:1, and brightness is good at 600 cd/m^2.
But, Phillips' line really starts to shine in the 42" plasma arena. The 42PF9630A, for example, offers Phillips' proprietary Ambilight and Pixel Plus 2. The first allows a very fine control over the color and brightness, while the Pixel Plus 2 creates a smooth, natural-looking movement.
One advantage most plasmas have over some LCDs is the off-axis contrast. Though less an issue now, contrast and even color can shift at wide-angles of view with a LCD set. Plasmas don't suffer from this effect and provide a deep black and good contrast at all angles.
Contrast ratio for the 42PF9630A is listed at 10000:1, which would be phenomenal. Some reviewers put the actual measured number in the 1500:1 range; still an excellent number.
One possible reason for the large difference, may be less blatant dishonesty than old-fashioned marketing. The larger number often refers to dynamic contrast, as opposed to static. Since images are usually moving, the larger number isn't completely bogus.
Burn-in is largely a thing of the past for most normal circumstances. Not too long ago, having a stationary image for 15 minutes on a plasma could contribute to a permanent haze. Now, it would take hours before the effect would be a concern. Newer sets move the image across pixels ever-so-slightly every few minutes. So, unless you leave a news broadcaster's logo on the screen all day, every day you can buy a plasma without concern.
The set comes with a variety of ports, such as two HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) inputs, which allows for showing the best quality possible from your DVD. S-video, for example, doesn't output the highest possibly quality for films on DVD.
The USB ports will come in handy for those who want to display digital photos or video on their large, flat panel and can also be used to upgrade the software inside the set.
At 93 lbs (42kg), the set is on the heavy side for wall-mounting, but that's certainly possible with proper installation. Priced around $2,400 the set is competitive with comparable models from Samsung, Hitachi and others. Larger models offer the same great picture, but with a correspondingly higher price. Phillips is known for making quality equipment and shoppers will find it worthwhile to give their line a look.
Posted by HDTV at 02:06 PM | Comments (0)
June 02, 2006
HDTV Hype?
HDTV - What's All The (Signal to) Noise About? - The Sets
Look closely at your TV screen and you'll see that the image is made up of many little colored rectangles, spaced slightly apart. HDTV, in effect, squeezes more of them onto the screen closer together and changes the shape of the screen.
So what good does that do?
Paper clips aren't the only thing magnets can push around. They can push electrons, too. Take a pair of magnets, one on each side, and vary the strength so that the electrons move in a curve. Otherwise they all would hit the screen in one spot.
Do that to illuminate 480 lines of pixels on a screen four units wide by 3 units high. Do that many times per second and change the intensity and color just right to create the illusion of real-life motion. That's standard TV. 4:3 is the 'aspect ratio'. No matter the TV's dimensions, the ratio of width to height is 4 to 3.
Now, increase the number of lines to 1080 and change the aspect ratio to 16:9. That's High Definition TV, HDTV.
So, what's 'digital' about that?
Standard TV broadcasts send the radio waves they consist of in analog fashion. They wiggle (modulate) the signal to provide changes that the set's electronics can process into images.
Digital signals instead use a changing pattern of 1's and 0's, just like computers. The result is an image with much higher resolution, less fuzzy, fewer sharp corners in parts of the picture ('jaggies') and overall a better looking display. If you've ever seen an HDTV set with a good signal, and by now most people have, the difference really is striking.
The results are clearer pictures, sharper, more realistic colors and a look that's much closer to the 35mm film resolution on which most movies were originally shot.
There are a few commonly-added features - not strictly part of the HDTV standard - that improve the experience even more.
Most HDTV sets support 5.1 Dolby stereo, for sound of the type you'd expect from a good stereo system. Home theater systems take advantage of that and add multiple speakers to provide movie theater-style audio coverage.
Different manufacturers offer different frame rates and techniques for 'painting' the screen.
A 'frame rate' is the number of times per second the gun moves completely across the screen. Anywhere from 25 to 60 frames per second.
The 'painting' is done by moving the gun from top to bottom, in one or two passes. When it's done in two passes, the gun skips every other line, then comes back and does the skipped lines. That's 'interlacing'. In 'progressive' systems all the lines are illuminated in one pass.
For example, 1080i50 is equivalent to 1920 x 1080 pixels, interlaced, projecting 50 fields (25 frames) per second.
The visual results of the different frame rates and of using 'i' vs 'p' methods is often debated. In general a higher frame rate results in a smoother looking image. Interlacing helps to reduce flicker under certain conditions.
Posted by HDTV at 02:03 PM | Comments (0)
June 01, 2006
HDTV - Sony's Line
Beginning in 2006, Sony has made significant changes to their HDTV lineup. Moving out of plasma HDTV and re-branding their LCD line to Bravia, the consumer electronics giant may be trying to rebuild a badly tarnished image.
They offer an extensive array of LCD sets ranging from the 26" Bravia XBR KDL-V26XBR1 to the 46" KDL-46S2000.
The larger set comes with 1366 x 768 resolution and Sony's proprietary Bravia Engine video processor. But at $3,500 and up the set is barely competitively priced, given the company's history.
Reviews tout the fine quality picture you would expect from a LCD with good blacks and vivid color reproduction, though some calibration is required to achieve optimum levels. The 720p reproduction in the 40" KDL-V40XBR1 provides a sharp image, for example, but proper color balance is difficult to achieve.
Not quite at the level of the better plasma screens, the LCDs offer good viewing angles and perform well under varying lighting conditions.
Like all brands and most models, the sets come with multiple in-built tuners. One delivers standard-definition TV, but like most the picture isn't as good as a quality CRT for the same source. The ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) tuner provides reception for over-the-air HDTV broadcasts, which are becoming more common.
The KDL-V40XBR1 also comes with DCR (Digital Cable Ready via CableCard) and a QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) tuner, making it - in some cases - unnecessary to have a separate, external cable box. Beware of that 'in some cases' warning, though. Not all features (such as 'on-demand') are always supported, nor is the card compatible with all cable companies offerings. Check with your area's provider.
Like many sets, they offer the ability to change aspect ratio from the HDTV standard 16:9 to 4:3 (standard TV). Be sure to preview how they do this, though. Some viewers find the results displeasing. Cropping by black bars on the screen can usually be adapted to, but some viewers find stretching the image unacceptable.
The sets provide good quality images, but at $2,000-$3,500 and up shoppers will want to investigate other brands before deciding.
Posted by HDTV at 02:00 PM | Comments (0)
