720p Plasma is it the same?

**SamsB** · 01-12-2010, 10:23 AM

I'm being told that a 720p Plasma 50in TV will be the exact same picture as 1020i. He's saying that it would make a bigger difference if looking at an LCD/LED TV, but since it's Plasma and I'm only using it for DirecTV HD and not with a Blueray player or gaming, then I won't see a difference with the 720p Plasma.

Does this sound right? TIA for any help.

**Bobber** · 01-12-2010, 10:25 AM

Distance from screen has a lot to do with noticing a difference. Generally the closer you sit, the more you notice.

Most people can not distinquish a difference.

**khaal53** · 01-12-2010, 10:27 AM

I believe a 1080i TV is basically comparable to 780p. Meaning it doesn't make much difference.

I bought a 720p 50" a couple years back and have no complaints. I'm fairly certain that HD from your cable/satellite company isn't 1080p anyway. Only Blu Ray would be...

**bringmagicback** · 01-12-2010, 10:29 AM

It was my understanding when I purchased last year that if you are mostly using it for cable/sat. that it wouldn't matter because they don't broadcast in 1080. I found this on wiki. I became very confused while reading it so take it for what it's worth.

1080p - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**joefrog** · 01-12-2010, 10:33 AM

The basic rule of thumb I have always heard is that anything over a 36" TV you want to make sure and get 1080i. 36 you can maybe get away with 720p.

Thing is, you are not just buying TV for today, but probably the next 3 or 4 years. You want to get the best one you can afford. Now a TV that size at 720p would probably be just fine for HDtv from cable or satellite. You will notice a difference when it comes to playing Blu-Ray movies on it however. So keep that in mind.

**aeroclone** · 01-12-2010, 10:38 AM

Okay, I have seen this question asked here on several occasions. The resolution the TV displays is fixed in the case of a Plasma or LCD. A 720p will convert any signal it gets to 720p, and a 1080p will convert anything to 1080p. Of course the best picture will be a 1080p source sent to a 1080p display, but a 720p source sent to a 1080p display will still display at a higher resolution than if it was sent to a 720p display.

So yes, 1080p will be better regardless of the source. However, there is one other factor to consider: the limits of the human eye. The factors at play here then will be the screen size and the distance you are sitting from the screen. The larger the screen and the closer you sit, the more likely it is that your eye can actually discern the difference between 720 and 1080. For help with that, take a look at this graph:

So, based on this with your screen size being 50", you would have to be sitting 10 feet from the set to appreciate the full 720 lines of resolution. If you are sitting closer than that, you will start to see a difference between 1080p and 720p. To actually get the full benefit of 1080 on a 50" set, you need to be sitting around 6 or 7 feet away.

This chart also shows why some common advice is often that 1080p doesn't matter on a set smaller than 50". If you are looking at a 32" or 42" set, you would have to watch it from around 5 feet to really enjoy the benefit of the additional resolution, and how many people sit that close? You are better off saving your cash and getting 720p.

**dmclone** · 01-12-2010, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by SamsB

He's saying that it would make a bigger difference if looking at an LCD/LED TV, but since it's Plasma and I'm only using it for DirecTV HD and not with a Blueray player or gaming, then I won't see a difference with the 720p Plasma.

Does this sound right? TIA for any help.

As soon as he said that you should have stopped listening to anything he said. This makes no sense.

You can get a good Panasonic 50" 1080p plasma for under $1,000. Buy one of those and you'll be happy. How much more will the 1080p cost than the 720p cost and what other features will the 1080p have.

I agree with what others are saying about the distance but the resolution is probably not the only difference between the TV's.

**1100011CS** · 01-12-2010, 10:53 AM

Are we talking about 1080i or 1080p?

**JUKEBOX** · 01-12-2010, 10:55 AM

Depends on how good your eyesight is...
Some people notice, some people can't.

**benjay** · 01-12-2010, 10:55 AM

720p is considered "better" than 1080i, because it draws more pixels per second.

Progressive DTV FAQ

**JUKEBOX** · 01-12-2010, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by benjay

720p is considered "better" than 1080i, because it draws more pixels per second.

Progressive DTV FAQ

I have heard that as well, but for my tv, 1080i seems to look better.

**Cydkar** · 01-12-2010, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by SamsB

I'm being told that a 720p Plasma 50in TV will be the exact same picture as 1020i. He's saying that it would make a bigger difference if looking at an LCD/LED TV, but since it's Plasma and I'm only using it for DirecTV HD and not with a Blueray player or gaming, then I won't see a difference with the 720p Plasma.

Does this sound right? TIA for any help.

No. It comes down to the distance you will be from the TV. I have a 720p 50" Plasma and love it. However, at closer than 6-7 feet or so I can tell that it's not 1080p. If you sit 8-10' away I'd go for it. I love mine and the price was great.

Truth is, if you don't have a 1080p set sitting next to it you will probably never know the difference unless you sit pretty close like already said.

If you are comparing actually to 1080i then I wouldn't even worry about it.

**ISUonthemove** · 01-12-2010, 11:01 AM

Go with 720p. You honestly can't see a difference between 720p, 1080i or 1080p. I'm not even sure if HD television is displayed in 1080p? I think it's all 720p, correct?

**benjay** · 01-12-2010, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by JUKEBOX

I have heard that as well, but for my tv, 1080i seems to look better.

Very possible I think. 1080i has higher resolution, it's just that it doesn't update the picture the same way.

**jbhtexas** · 01-12-2010, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by aeroclone

Of course the best picture will be a 1080p source sent to a 1080p display, but a 720p source sent to a 1080p display will still display at a higher resolution than if it was sent to a 720p display.

So yes, 1080p will be better regardless of the source.

I don't quite understand what you are saying here. If a 1080p display gets a 720p signal, that 1080p display has to use some algorithm to "make up" the necessary information to fill in the pixels for which it is not getting information in the 720p signal. So yes, the 1080p display has a higher resolution, but the picture may actually look worse on the 1080p display if the upscaling algorithm is not so good, or if the 720p source is such that it is does not upscale well.