Product face-offs
Test date: 2007-06-08
What size television should you choose? Anyone looking for an attractive large product asks this question. Should they be reasonable or can they really let themselves go? We would respond that the size of their next television is dependent on two factors:
- The maximum distance between the screen and your couch, favorite EZ chair, etc.
- The quality of the image source or more precisely the definition: DVD, VOD, Blu-Ray or HD-DVD movies… ?
The reason we mention the second criteria is that the more degraded the image is from the start, the more distance will be needed to give you an impression of precision and neatness. For example, place yourself 50 cm from the screen and you will see all the scaling defects, shimmering and afterglow. Step back and you will immediately notice the improvement. After this, at an equal diagonal size this distance will be affected by the panel’s precision and the number of lines it has. In the case of a classic 32 inch (82 cm), if the image is composed of only 625 lines (and therefore not an HD-Ready TV), we recommend stepping back at least 2.5 meters. On the other hand if you opt for a 720p model, from our experience, 1.9 meters is enough. Finally, the luxury and great finesse of screens with 1080p images reduces this figure to 1.3 meters.
From up close, the logo appears more degraded the more we go down in resolution.
However, beyond a certain distance, for example 2.5 meters, the 1080p logo doesn’t appear more precise than the 625 line image.
Here is our golden rule which was established based on our experience and with the television and tape measure instead of some inexistent mathematical formula:
In a graph, this gives us the following curves:
Now, it’s great to have a television with an ultra-precise image, however, the sources should also be up to par. Here is some useful information to better understand this concept:
Digital television, cable, DVD, VHS, older game consoles (Xbox, PS2, Game Cube…), and Nintendo Wii all transmit with a max of 625 lines (the Wii is even in 480). If these are your sources, it’s useless to go too high in resolution. With a 720p or 1080p television this will only add a scaling of images and therefore degradation.
720p : This was supposed to be THE high definition standard, but it is quickly falling out of fashion due to diffusion offered in both 720 and 1080 lines for a number of supports like HD-DVD and Blu-Ray players (including those in the Sony PS3 and Microsoft Xbox 360). However, there are some satellite channels which transmit in 720 for an additional cost of 9 €/month with Canal Satellite (a French company). We also find some channels offered in internet provider packages, which are included in ADSL fees. It is also the resolution of the first HD movies offered in VODs on the Internet.
1080p : this is the top in terms of HD, HD-DVD and Blu-Ray support and you have the choice depending on your television to play movies in 720 or 1080 lines. Of course, the latter is more precise and images are richer – even too much for some people’s taste. The new sharpness can be surprising and we sometimes lose the softness associated with cinema rendering. However, like everything we quickly become used to it, to the point where it is difficult to go back to anything less. On the other hand, DVDs can be seriously disappointing on such products. Rescaling the original 625 lines over 1080 isn’t without consequence (unless you benefit from an extraordinary circuit correction) and the price to pay is often seen as a stair effect on edges, very noticeable shimmering and solarization. 1080p televisions should only really interest those who are already outfitted with HD players or those who wish to acquire them in the near future.
> Product survey 32 to 47 inches
