Hitachi Boasts 8,000,000:1 Contrast Ratio

[J_UNTITLED]

Okay then.

[HDTV1080P]

Some one needs to come up with a standard that all the manufactories agree to when measuring contrast ratio. With Hitachi and Samsung making huge contrast ratio claims it turns educated Videophiles off to their products. At least when someone who purchases a 1080P set in the USA is guaranteed that the display is over 2 million pixels with a resolution of 1920 X 1080. This is a standard that makes it easy to compare a 720P display to a 1080P display. To bad contrast ratio does not have some standard that everyone agrees to.

[welwynnick]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

Some one needs to come up with a standard that all the manufactories agree to when measuring contrast ratio.

There are standards, but people don't always say what standard they are referring to. In simple terms, there are probably four different types of contrast:

1) Maximum On/Off contrast, say 4000:1
2) Calibrated On/Off contrast, say 2000:1
3) Maximum ANSI contrast, say 200:1
4) Calibrated ANSI contrast, say 100:1

"Maximum" means every last drop of light and dark you can get, using any possible combination of settings at your disposal, and to hell with fidelity, colorimetry, greyscale, etc.

"Calibrated" means fixed settings and linear brightness and colour response.

"On/off" (also called sequential or INTER-frame contrast) means the difference between the brightest possible bright frame and the darkest dark frame.

"ANSI" (a standardised type of simultaneous or INTRA-frame measurement) means the difference between the brightest and darkest part of the same image.

Manufacturers usually seem to quote the highest possible figure, without explaining what it is, and "independant" testers seem to quote the lowest, and often fail to explain that, too. The best manufacturers (Like InFocus) and testers (Like Cine4home) give you all the information, but sadly there aren't enough like that, hence the confusion.

There are some complications, such as with CRT and PDP displays, which only achieve max brightness and contrast with small areas of illumination, and with projectors, where contrast can depend on lens, zoom, and iris settings. So results really need to be qualified to be comparable.

While I have heard despicable urban legends about unscrupulous manufacturers who improved their measurements by turning their display OFF to achieve a better black, I wouldn't usually be too sceptical about some of the seemingly inflated recent claims. Contrast really should and could be that good.

BR, Nick

[SS316SRV]

I claim to have 25" bicepts and a 50" vertical leap. The problem with contrast, as stated before, is there is no standard. That is why in a store, side by side with a similar product is the only way to to tell if there is a good contrast. I know that I have to see. If a TV says 8,000,000:1 contrast, I need to see it next to a Kuro, just to compare.

[Branden]

don't forget to throw the word "dynamic" around a bit, just for some added confusion.

[welwynnick]

Originally Posted by SS316SRV

I claim to have 25" bicepts .....

You forgot to mention whether that was contracted or extended.....

Nick

[SS316SRV]

Originally Posted by welwynnick

You forgot to mention whether that was contracted or extended.....

Nick

That is just when I am sleeping. After a work out they're like 27". That is how much man I am...

[welwynnick]

Originally Posted by SS316SRV

That is just when I am sleeping. After a work out they're like 27". That is how much man I am...

I could be mistaken, but with great stats like that, it sounds like you might be claiming to be the elusive Joe Six-Pack himself!

Nick

[DavePS3]

All in all, you can't trust contrast specs any more than you can trust watts per channel in amps (and subwoofers). I've heard a Wyetech 16 WPC tube amp playing at club levels through Tannoy Churchill's... That is still the best sound I've ever heard - to this day. Better than live. Watts per channel and contrast levels are BS.