1080p, etc.

J

jimmyjazz

2,500+ Posts
I'm thinking about buying a PS3 for our kids, and I'd like to run it through an HD flat-panel TV in our gameroom. I'm not very knowledgable about the different HD formats -- as of today, what puts out a 1080p signal? The only other HD feed we'll be able to take advantage of is DISH Network.

We already have a 720p Sony HD LCD monitor in our living room, and I'm trying to figure out if it makes more sense to replace it with a 1080p screen and move the Sony to the gameroom for use with the PS3, or if I should just buy a smaller 720p monitor for the gameroom. I don't want 1080p capability if I'm not going to be able to use it any time soon.

Apologies for not googling or wiki-ing this . . . hornfans is easier.
 
I have a PS3 that I run through my 720p Panasonic display. Eventhough the PS3 outputs 1080p, your monitor will downscale the picture to fit the monitor. Did you know that the PS3 is also a Blu-ray player? I mention this because I do not know whether you knew this and whether it changes your location preferences. I bought the PS3 for the Blu-ray player and set it up in my home theater room. I will be buying a 58" 1080p display this spring to take full advantage of 1080p resolution.
 
Yeah, the fact that it's a Blu-Ray player is a big part of the decision to buy it. However, I'm content to move the player around the house when we want to view Blu-Ray discs. Can the PS3 output a 720p DVD signal to a 720p monitor, or does it downscale all the way to 480?

I measured the cabinet in the game room and found out our older Sony LCD won't fit, so that's out. It will stay in the living room. I'll have to buy a smaller flat screen for the game room, which probably means something like the Sharp Aquos 32" 1080p LCD monitor.
 
hey JZ,
My understanding is about the only thing you are going to get the 1080p advantage is the Blu-ray, as in PS3 (especially now that the Toshiba
HD is dead). So that is the reason for 1080 vs the 720. Also note that
everyone has said, on this board often, that at the size you are talking about
32" you will not see the 1080 diff unless you are within like 3 ft of monitor. It is on the larger screens where it begins to show a diff at
normal viewing distances. Of course some folks also say 'its all in the
eye of the beholder'.
I got a 40" Samsung LCD recently for game room and got the 1080p for the
grandkids to play the games on. I do admit it is awesome but I realize it is the games alone that do the 1080p. TV does 720p and some 1080i, both look phenominal. This is same room I can have all to myself when I pick
up the guitar.
Hookem
 
You're waisting your money buying a 1080p set at 32". Is your Sony an actual monitor, meaning no HD tuner or is a consumer model, meaning HD tuner and the ability to down scale higher definition video? I need to know exactly what kind of display you have?
 
The Sony is a Bravia LCD HDTV. It gets local Austin HD with an over-the-air antenna, but I'm using the DISH tuner for other HD content. Regardless, it's a non-player for the gameroom, because it's too big for the cabinet.

That said, are you implying that it will be sufficient in our living room for viewing Blu-Ray DVDs, given that it's only 40" diagonal and we view it from 12-14 feet away? I'm sure not interested in replacing it for the living room if I won't be able to tell the difference between 720p and 1080p at that size/distance.
 
Yes, I think the Sony Bravia 40" would be sufficient in the living room viewing Blu-ray movies. My first display was a 37" Panasonic and it looks great with my PS3. I now use the 37" for games and my current 50" for movies. I'm not a big gamer so my PS3 stays mostly connected to my 50" display. You will notice a significant upgrade in PQ from Standard DVDs to Blu-ray DVDs at any distance but you will not be able to notice the difference between 720p & 1080p at that distance. You could buy the 32" LCD 720p model for the kids to use to play games and it would be fine.
 
Thanks, everyone. No 1080p for us at this point. I'll buy the kids a bargain-basement 720p HDTV and they'll like it.
 
Consider replacing the cabinet, putting the 40" in the game room, and getting more like a 50" for the living room (I assume it's a pretty big room).
 
Neither room has an easily-replaced cabinet. Both are built-ins. We have a 3rd room -- it's really my music studio, but we use it as a home theater on occasion -- that has an HD projector and good sound. I have no intention of making the living room or gameroom into anything but casual viewing locations.

That said, I wired the PS3 into my big screen projector and we watched "3:10 To Yuma" on Blu-Ray last night. Damn!
 
That's a great article. Having read it, I'm going to buy a 44" 720p for our bedroom with our tax refund.
 
Unless you plan to get a set that is 40" or more I would not waste the money on 1080P cuz you won't notice the difference unless it is over 40". The picture looks great with the Blu-Ray even in 1080i or 720P so it is worth it even without 1080p.
 
You don't see the point? Why? You think they're going to be suddenly unplayable at some point?

I'll continue to fill my collection with bargain priced HD DVDs. And I'll keep stocking up on Blu-Ray disks too. My copies of Blade Runner will look just as good on HD DVD as they do on Blu-Ray next year and the year after that.
 
My folks have a 50 inch LG Plasma that is 720p (Fry's, ~$1,200) and we sit about 8 feet away. Looks just as good as our neighbor's 45 inch Aquos at 1080p, in my opinion, but if price isn't an option then 1080p is probably the top of the line decision for anyone looking for an hdtv.
 
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