what is the difference between 1080p on cable tv & PSN, as apposed to Blu-ray 1080p?

[big1matt]

just wandering if there is a difference in picture fidelity and quality between these formats...thx

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by big1matt

just wandering if there is a difference in picture fidelity and quality between these formats...thx

Ya... 1080p TV signals don't actually exist. Even when advertised as 1080p, there tends to be a huge amount of compression to the image since cable companies can't handle, or don't want to pay for, the technology to handle high enough bandwidth.

Sports are the closest thing to the quality that I've come to expect from Blu-ray.

[LoveHomeTheatre]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Sports are the closest thing to the quality that I've come to expect from Blu-ray.

Even then, sports channels vary as the quality of cameras used and whether or not they have been set up properly can make or break the picture. By break I mean the colors are off or overblown whites, etc...

Another problem with channels from cable is when they don't retain OAR. Some channels retain it while others basically zoom it in because people complain about black bars.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by LoveHomeTheatre

Even then, sports channels vary as the quality of cameras used and whether or not they have been set up properly can make or break the picture. By break I mean the colors are off or overblown whites, etc...

Another problem with channels from cable is when they don't retain OAR. Some channels retain it while others basically zoom it in because people complain about black bars.

That's why I specified "closest thing to what I've come to expect from Blu-ray."

[xneox]

It's like asking - which weighs more: a pound of feathers or a pound of bananas?


1080p is 1080p. It's not the beginning and end of picture quality, which is why there is a stark difference between one 1080p program and another...but if something is broadcast in 1080p (some satellite programming is), it's the same as the 1080p from your blu-ray player. Doesn't mean it'll be the same quality...just means it's 1,080 lines, 'drawn' sequentially from top to bottom.

[Tempest]

Originally Posted by xneox

It's like asking - which weighs more: a pound of feathers or a pound of bananas?


1080p is 1080p. It's not the beginning and end of picture quality, which is why there is a stark difference between one 1080p program and another...but if something is broadcast in 1080p (some satellite programming is), it's the same as the 1080p from your blu-ray player. Doesn't mean it'll be the same quality...just means it's 1,080 lines, 'drawn' sequentially from top to bottom.

No.. some cable will say 1080p but it is not the same as blu ray 1080p.. they may have 1080 lines up/down but they chop the resolution left/right to save bandwidth.. so they are cheating you resolution and lying in a way.. also they compress the heck out of it so it is no where near what Blu Ray would be like as well.

And of course the sound quality is less channels and not lossless like Blu Ray as well..

There is a huge difference between Blu Ray and anything else..

[xtop]

Originally Posted by xneox

It's like asking - which weighs more: a pound of feathers or a pound of bananas?


1080p is 1080p. It's not the beginning and end of picture quality, which is why there is a stark difference between one 1080p program and another...but if something is broadcast in 1080p (some satellite programming is), it's the same as the 1080p from your blu-ray player. Doesn't mean it'll be the same quality...just means it's 1,080 lines, 'drawn' sequentially from top to bottom.

exactly.

1080p isn't the only factor you go by when comparing the different 1080p sources out there.

i would say blu-ray is probably (always) going to be the better quality 1080p (as of now). but that doesn't mean what dish/directv/psn/etc offer sucks. you're just going to get a more compressed image with (probably) worse sound.

so to the op, yes, there is a difference. but the reviews i've seen of dish/directv 1080p have it beeing a pretty close 2nd to blu-ray. as for the psn's movies. i haven't a clue, i've never seen one from the psn, but i would probably put it in last place

[No-So-Blu]

Originally Posted by xneox

It's like asking - which weighs more: a pound of feathers or a pound of bananas?


1080p is 1080p. It's not the beginning and end of picture quality, which is why there is a stark difference between one 1080p program and another...but if something is broadcast in 1080p (some satellite programming is), it's the same as the 1080p from your blu-ray player. Doesn't mean it'll be the same quality...just means it's 1,080 lines, 'drawn' sequentially from top to bottom.

I agree that 1080p is 1080p, anyway you slice it. But, I will add this to the discussion; 1080p with 8 bit color will provide a different PQ that 1080p at 12 bit deep color. 12 bit deep color support, is available in most of BD players being sold today. I doubt any broadcaster is pushing out a 12 bit deep color 1080p feed.