Helping the parents home theater...

[crypted]

My aged parents have upgraded in recent years to decent equipment. However, they want to get a blu-ray player now. There is a problem I think though. Their Plasma TV is not a 1080p. So, I don't know that blu-ray will be compatible? I don't know how the whole 1080p thing works through movies.

Here's the setup:
1080i / 720(?)p Maxent Plasma TV from Bestbuy
HD Receiver from DISH (I'm jealous I can't afford one on military pay!)
Samsung 1000W 5.1-Ch. Home Theater System/Upconvert DVD/CD

One further complication even if this is compatible is the audio portion. The Samsung would have to be replaced with a new system. Any ideas of a cheap, yet decent, Home Theater Receiver that can handle multiple digital audios in and out? Their HD DISH Receiver has an optical out that they use.

Again, they are old and retired and I want to set them up in the cheapest way. Feel free to advise on blueray players.

Thanks so much!!!

[Gimpenstein]

Blu ray will work fine with their 720p TV but it won't be "True HD" but that's something they could upgrade at a later date.
As far as recievers go, Onkyo is a name thet gets mentioned a lot on this site and is generally well thought of.

[Beta Man]

I'd just stick with the receiver they have, because I don't think they're going to really "need" the extra audio options etc, and they probably just want a quick video upgrade. If their T.V. has an HDMI input, just run a cheap HDMI cable from MONOPRICE.COM from the T.V. to the Blu-Player, and run Optical or whatever audio inputs the Receiver has from the Blu-Player to Receiver.

720p is fine for most people, and if the television is 40" or smaller, they'll probably want to stay with 720p (may want a nicer one with faster refresh etc.... but if they get a Blu-Player, they're gonna get instant gratification in the improvement in PQ over their current up-convert player)

[yellowblanket]

^ what betaman say

[Tyler2106]

The bluray player will work with their tv and it will look great!!!

[un4gvn94538]

Originally Posted by Gimpenstein

Blu ray will work fine with their 720p TV but it won't be "True HD" but that's something they could upgrade at a later date.
As far as recievers go, Onkyo is a name thet gets mentioned a lot on this site and is generally well thought of.

there is actually no such thing as "true hd" that has been made up to sell more 1080p tvs. hd is hd wether its 1080p or 720p. it has to do with screen size and viewing distance

[Ben123]

Originally Posted by un4gvn94538

there is actually no such thing as "true hd" that has been made up to sell more 1080p tvs. hd is hd wether its 1080p or 720p. it has to do with screen size and viewing distance

Sorry, I don't think that's correct. TrueHD ( or more accurately full HD ) refers to TVs that have a native 1080p resolution. 720p TVs can only display 720 lines of resolution max or abt 2/3 of the full resolution of a Blu-Ray movie. For playing back DVDs ( which is only 480p ), there's no difference, but for Blu-Ray, yes it does. To display a image on a 720p TV ( not full HD ), a Blu-Ray player will down-rez the picture so that it can be displayed. So technically, you are not getting the full picture.

The perceived difference to the viewer will be more pronounced on a big screen and less so on a small screen or further viewing distance.

[un4gvn94538]

Originally Posted by Ben123

Sorry, I don't think that's correct. TrueHD ( or more accurately full HD ) refers to TVs that have a native 1080p resolution. 720p TVs can only display 720 lines of resolution max or abt 2/3 of the full resolution of a Blu-Ray movie. For playing back DVDs ( which is only 480p ), there's no difference, but for Blu-Ray, yes it does. To display a image on a 720p TV ( not full HD ), a Blu-Ray player will down-rez the picture so that it can be displayed. So technically, you are not getting the full picture.

The perceived difference to the viewer will be more pronounced on a big screen and less so on a small screen or further viewing distance.

this is what i have read. certain size tvs are supposed to be viewd at certain distances. thx specs for example. and at these distances hd is hd.

not to mention that the tem "full hd" are only used when selling the pruduct. never in a review of a prudect. no one but the salesman uses that term

[Jonty]

Originally Posted by Ben123

Sorry, I don't think that's correct. TrueHD ( or more accurately full HD ) refers to TVs that have a native 1080p resolution.

I think the point un4gvn was making is that a 720p still meets the specs for HD. The terms True HD and full HD are marketing terms used to sell 1080p displays.

Regardless of whether or not you will notice a difference between 720p and 1080p, both are "true" HD in the literal sense...

[un4gvn94538]

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6449_7-6810011-1.html

[Ben123]

Originally Posted by Jonty

I think the point un4gvn was making is that a 720p still meets the specs for HD. The terms True HD and full HD are marketing terms used to sell 1080p displays.

Regardless of whether or not you will notice a difference between 720p and 1080p, both are "true" HD in the literal sense...

720p is sufficient for broadcast quality HD channels. But the Blu-Ray HD's specs exceeds that as all BD movies are encoded at 1080p native. So for the same TV size and a close enough viewing distance, 1080p TVs will always shows a better picture than a 720p TV. It's a matter of superior specs.

It's a marketing term, but I kind of find it useful to differentiate between 720p TVs and 1080p TVs. Actually, 720p TVs are fast being phase out and soon, all TVs will be "Full HD" anyway and by then, we won't hear sales person using this term when selling their TVs.

[un4gvn94538]

Originally Posted by Ben123

So for the same TV size and a close enough viewing distance, 1080p TVs will always shows a better picture than a 720p TV.It's a marketing term,

i agree. you can see a difference BUT as everyone keeps saying, its a matter of size and viewing distance. thats what it comes down to. what distance are you viewing at? whats your budget and what sizes are you looking at? answering these may determine wether you get a 1080 or 720

[Ben123]

Originally Posted by un4gvn94538

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6449_7-6810011-1.html

Yes, I've read it. The reviewer was making a point that for small TV size ( ie < 50" ) and a sufficient viewing distance ( ie not sitting close ), 720p is perceived as the same as 1080p. In this aspect, it's quite true though I will say that it's 40" and below, there is no clear advantage for 1080p. But for bigger sets, the extra resolution does make a clear difference.

I used to have a 720p rear-projector TV and recently upgraded to a 1080p plasma. The difference in PQ is significant. And btw, my TV is 63".

[Ben123]

Originally Posted by un4gvn94538

i agree. you can see a difference BUT as everyone keeps saying, its a matter of size and viewing distance. thats what it comes down to. what distance are you viewing at? whats your budget and what sizes are you looking at? answering these may determine wether you get a 1080 or 720

Yes, we are in agreement on this. I'm just wish to point out that 1080p TVs does have better PQ than a 720p TV. It's the perceived difference that is a function of TV size and viewing distance. As for the OP's question, I will think it will depend on his parents eye-sight, TV size for his budget and viewing distance to determine if 1080p or 720p is more suitable.

[un4gvn94538]

Originally Posted by Ben123

Yes, I've read it. The reviewer was making a point that for small TV size ( ie < 50" ) and a sufficient viewing distance ( ie not sitting close ), 720p is perceived as the same as 1080p. In this aspect, it's quite true though I will say that it's 40" and below, there is no clear advantage for 1080p. But for bigger sets, the extra resolution does make a clear difference.

I used to have a 720p rear-projector TV and recently upgraded to a 1080p plasma. The difference in PQ is significant. And btw, my TV is 63".

well, regardless like i said, size and distance.

never heard of 720p being phased out. where did you hear/read this?

[Ben123]

Originally Posted by un4gvn94538

well, regardless like i said, size and distance.

never heard of 720p being phased out. where did you hear/read this?

Are newer 40" and above 720p models still being introduced? I've not seen them so far. Even there are, I think the price gap is already closing fast.

[un4gvn94538]

Originally Posted by Ben123

Are newer 40" and above 720p models still being introduced? I've not seen them so far. Even there are, I think the price gap is already closing fast.

not tv shopping or reading on new sets lately but i have seen 720 sets for sale. i know there still there. dont know if theyre being produced or not. havent seen any concrete evidence of this

but i think its good prices are coming down. maybe ill upgrade but i havent seen a need to.

[guitarist155]

well back to the issue. to the op, what your saying is the surround will not have enough optical inputs, you just need an optical switch http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2
unless you think they might not want that many steps ( my grandma would complain about have to switch it )

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Ben123

Are newer 40" and above 720p models still being introduced? I've not seen them so far. Even there are, I think the price gap is already closing fast.

I thought I would never post again in public, but I have to back the cat that belongs to the wolfpack (un4gvn) . Is there a difference between 1080p and 720p - yes. Will it be discernable by everyone? No, no, and again I say no. Why? The same reason that everyone can't tell superior sound from good sound. There is a point of diminishing returns. Me - being a sound type guy when given a choice, will choose sound over sight. A videophile, however, will choose sight.

I see people get top of the line video products, great bluray and even a great receiver - only to mate it with what I would deem inferior sonics or should I say speakers. Speakers are the only component that you actually listen to. This is the same thing with video - to some people (especially us with inferior vision) 720p/1080i is good enough. Can we tell the difference? Sometimes yes - sometimes no. 720P is HD it meets the specs for HD. 1080p is the highest form of HD that we have (in the movie world - pc gaming is capable of resolutions that exceed 1080p - check the Nvidia site).

It's a matter of indiviual taste and priorities, but to say 720p is not HD (by spec) is incorrect. Full HD is just a term to describe 1080p just as Extreme HD is a term used by Nvidia to describe gaming beyond 1080p.

This ones for you UN4!!!!

[Ben123]

Originally Posted by prerich

I thought I would never post again in public, but I have to back the cat that belongs to the wolfpack (un4gvn) . Is there a difference between 1080p and 720p - yes. Will it be discernable by everyone? No, no, and again I say no. Why? The same reason that everyone can't tell superior sound from good sound. There is a point of diminishing returns. Me - being a sound type guy when given a choice, will choose sound over sight. A videophile, however, will choose sight.

I'm not surprise with your conclusion and your preference for sound over sight, seeing that your sound system contains not 1 or 2 but 4 subwoofers! It's first time I see anyone with 4 subwoofers. Hope your neighbours don't mind