EDTV Vs. HDTV - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

Sid · 12-12-2004, 08:39 PM

My dad is in the market for a new TV, and he's been wanting to get an HD for a while, but we recently saw EDTV. Which is better? We plan on hooking up a DVD player and thats about it (besides digital cable). So which is better, they are priced pretty competitively so the choice is hard. I'm usually pretty knowlegable about these things, but I've never heard of EDTV till now

I 8 Piglet · 12-12-2004, 09:01 PM

HDTV is higher resolution. To watch High Definition programing, in HD that is (my projector is ED in resolution, but will scale HD content which yeilds better picture quality than SD (standard definition) but not quite as good as HD), your going to need an HDTV. EDTV is lower res. The thing is if you arent watching HDTV, than you dont need an HD set. EDTVs will show digital cable and DVDs at thier full resolution.

However, with more and more HD programing becoming available, and HD-DVD around the corner an EDTV will be outdated shortly.

RaceTripper · 12-12-2004, 09:42 PM

HDTV (High Definition) by definition produces resolution of either 1080i (1080 lines of interlaced video) or 720p (720 lines of progressive video).

EDTV (Extended Definition) produces resolution of 480P (480 lines of progressive video).

There is also 1080p (1080 lines of progressive video), but there is currently no source material for this resolution (not that I know of anyway).

Progressive DVD players output 480p. High Definition cable/sat/OTA is either 720p or 1080i depending on the source (station) and STB (set top box). Standard definition cable/sat/OTA is 480i (480 lines of interlaced video).

So if the primary use is DVDs and standard definition cable/sat the EDTV will be just fine. High definition content will also display but be downconverted from 1080i/720p to 480p, which still looks pretty good.

EDTV can be a good way to get into a plasma display at lower cost if you mostly care of viewing DVDs.

Dean

slap · 12-12-2004, 10:34 PM

The viewing distance always seems to be a factor in the EDTV vs HDTV debate. Many people can't seem distinguish the two from 8 feet or greater.

12-12-2004, 08:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sid Actor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Antioch, California, U.S.A.	EDTV Vs. HDTV My dad is in the market for a new TV, and he's been wanting to get an HD for a while, but we recently saw EDTV. Which is better? We plan on hooking up a DVD player and thats about it (besides digital cable). So which is better, they are priced pretty competitively so the choice is hard. I'm usually pretty knowlegable about these things, but I've never heard of EDTV till now

12-12-2004, 09:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
I 8 Piglet Actor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: missing NYC hardcore :(	HDTV is higher resolution. To watch High Definition programing, in HD that is (my projector is ED in resolution, but will scale HD content which yeilds better picture quality than SD (standard definition) but not quite as good as HD), your going to need an HDTV. EDTV is lower res. The thing is if you arent watching HDTV, than you dont need an HD set. EDTVs will show digital cable and DVDs at thier full resolution. However, with more and more HD programing becoming available, and HD-DVD around the corner an EDTV will be outdated shortly. __________________ "I have respect for Beer!" - John Nash "He was a wise man, who invented beer." - Plato My HT v2.1: with x1 screen shots New screen shots 2/4/04 \| My DVD Collection as of 12/15/04

12-12-2004, 09:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
RaceTripper Actor Join Date: May 2003	HDTV (High Definition) by definition produces resolution of either 1080i (1080 lines of interlaced video) or 720p (720 lines of progressive video). EDTV (Extended Definition) produces resolution of 480P (480 lines of progressive video). There is also 1080p (1080 lines of progressive video), but there is currently no source material for this resolution (not that I know of anyway). Progressive DVD players output 480p. High Definition cable/sat/OTA is either 720p or 1080i depending on the source (station) and STB (set top box). Standard definition cable/sat/OTA is 480i (480 lines of interlaced video). So if the primary use is DVDs and standard definition cable/sat the EDTV will be just fine. High definition content will also display but be downconverted from 1080i/720p to 480p, which still looks pretty good. EDTV can be a good way to get into a plasma display at lower cost if you mostly care of viewing DVDs. Dean __________________ RaceTripper Racing is life! Anything that happens before or after, is just waiting! -- Steve McQueen

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12-12-2004, 10:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
slap Actor Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boston	The viewing distance always seems to be a factor in the EDTV vs HDTV debate. Many people can't seem distinguish the two from 8 feet or greater.