New to HDTV, have a question

[e_a_g_l_e_p_i]

When you play a DVD on a HDTV is the quality of the picture as clear as a HDTV broadcast???

[ChuckSolo]

Well, it depends on the observer and the display. Since HDTV is broadcast in either 720p or 1080i, the obvious answer SHOULD be yes. However, it all depends on the display itself. I have seen some HDTVs that looked softer than others at the same resolution. DVDs are actually a 480i medium and can be progressively upgraded to 480p. Upconverting players can upconvert 480p to 720p, 768p, or 1080i depending on what the display they are hooked up to can handle. On my RCA HD RPTV a program broadcast in 1080i is visibly superior to a DVD played in 480p. My upconverting player comes pretty close to the clarity of an HDTV broadcast in 1080i mode, but you can still tell it isn't true HD. Then there are differenced in the way the broadcaster send sthe signal. As an example, the HD picture I get here in San Diego from Cox Cable is fantastic if you are viewing Discovery HD Theater. CBS, ABC, Fox and NBC look great too, but ESPNHD looks dismal compared to the others. UNIHD, a new channel here in San Diego looks excellent and even older movies they show in HD really have to be seen to be believed. They broadcast the new "Battlestar Galactica" premier episode on UNIHD a couple of weeks back and the picture was fantastic. So fantastic in fact that watching the new episodes on the Sci-Fi Channel is quite painful.

[mjones73]

Simple answer, no, DVD's are only in 480i format where HD is 720p or 1080i. It's possible based on the quality of your TV, DVD player, and the DVD itself to get close but it's still starting with a non HD resolution.

[57U]

Although it is possible for a good DVD to look "as good as" a poor HD programme (with poor production values), it is not possible for a good DVD to look as good as a good HD programme.

However, TV size comes into play a little bit. The larger the TV, the more noticeable the difference.

[Rich]

On a 30" screen or smaller, a really good dvd (such as RTOK) looks pretty close to the average cable hd broadcast, IMO. Not quite as good, but close.

[flyboybob]

True HD DVDs will be available as soon as the movie industry decides on a standard. Until then, a DVD hooked up to a good HD TV through the component input is as good as it can get.

Flyboybob