OTHER TECH

Eye Definition

Q. I know 1080p is technically the highest HDTV resolution you can get today, but can the human eye tell the difference between a 720p- and a 1080p-format HDTV picture? Colin Denner Flushing, NY

A. Al Griffin says: Yes, indeed: The human eye can perceive increased detail in a 1080p-rez picture viewed on a 1080p TV when it's compared to a 720p-rez model with the same screen size. But you'll need to sit close enough to the screen to see that extra detail. Due to limitations in the eye's ability to process information, there's a viewing-distance "sweet spot" where the extra detail in a 1080p image becomes apparent. See our Maxing Out Resolution for a chart showing how far you'll need to sit from various 1080p TV screen sizes to derive a benefit.

Managing Bass

Q. For DVDs, I have dutifully set up my speakers using test tones and a sound-pressure-level meter, so I am pretty confident that things are as they should be when I play a DVD via the digital input on my receiver. But I also listen to multichannel music on SACD, using the 6-channel analog output of the DVD player. Do the speaker settings I created for DVD affect this multichannel analog source? The player I use for SACD playback allows me to set up speaker parameters. Do I need to do this, or will it conflict with the DVD settings? Nathan Wolfson Santa Clara, CA

A. Ian G. Masters says: Generally, the audio settings for DVDs are performed digitally by the surround decoder in your receiver and don't affect signals that bypass the decoder via the receiver's 6.1-channel analog input. That includes the signals from your SACD player, so you should probably use its built-in facility for setting levels for music listening. There are exceptions, though, so check your receiver's manual to make sure it doesn't perform bass management on the analog input.

Almost Blu

Q. My 50-inch plasma HDTV has component-video and DVI connections, but no HDMI input. I'm not ready to upgrade to a 1080p set just yet, so if I purchase a Blu-ray Disc player, should I connect it through the component-video input or with an HDMI-to-DVI cable? Also, will the picture from the Blu-ray player be worth showing on my current set, or should I wait until I upgrade to a 1080p-rez model? Theron Williams Houston, TX

A. Al Griffin says: You could use either method to connect a Blu-ray player. But the main drawback to using component video is that the copy protection on DVDs will limit the player's video upconversion on those standard-def discs to 480p resolution, as opposed to a 720p or 1080i high-def format. You'll encounter no such limitation with an HDMI-to-DVI hookup. It's safer to go with the digital input anyway: Some TVs looks both softer and noisier when using the analog component-video connection.

As for watching on a 720p-resolution HDTV, all manner of high-def programming - and HD DVD and Blu-ray discs in particular - will look stunning on a 720p-rez screen. You'll ultimately be able to see more detail on a 1080p-rez set, but only from an appropriately close viewing distance.

See Last Month's Q&A Back to Homepage What's New on S&V