Video Asylum

Posted by jsm (A) on April 22, 2008 at 16:07:12

In Reply to: RE: I'm in the market for a new TV. Do I rule out 720 and just go with the 1080 TV at this time? posted by artemus on April 21, 2008 at 19:12:46

The chart below corresponds well with my experience. I was faced with the same choice you had. I knew I'd be sitting about 12 to 15 feet from the screen, and I was considering a screen around 60-inches in diagonal size. I hadn't seen this chart, but went to a store with lots of sets and simply backed up from a number of 720 and 1080 sets. Up close the 1080 sets were obviously superior, but for a 60-inch set and my eyesight (similar to yours), 720 sets became about the same at around 12 feet or so.

However, I also saw something that should be obvious- not all sets rated the same are equal. Wether it is adjustment or brand, and in some cases it was clearly the latter, some sets were obviously better than others in terms of resolution and other factors of picture quality. I ended up with the best I felt I could do in terms of price, size, and quality, and for me it was a 58-inch Panasonic 720 for $2300. At my viewing distance of 15 feet I haven't seen a TV with a picture that I like significantly better- better, yes, but not a whole lot better. With a first-class signal I am still often amazed by how good the picture is. I would rate its video performance on a par with the audio performance of my Vandersteen 5 speakers, if that means anything to you.

Joe