lawdog - 11 June 2009 02:20 AM
I have a Panasonic 42 inch Plasma with 768 resolution. Will I notice any difference with a BlueRay player over my existing DVD player, or do I need to upgrade to a 1080p television in order to appreciate BlueRay?
The answer is “Yes, you will notice a difference. If you sit close enough and are watching a Blu-ray disk.”
According to a great report by Carlton Bale (http://www.carltonbale.com/2006/11/1080p-does-matter/), on a 42” screen, the benefits of 720p (or, technically 768p) from a Blu-ray player over the a standard DVD player (480p) start to become apparent at viewing distances of around 12 feet and become fully apparent at around 8 feet. So, if your TV is within this range you will notice a difference. In fact, you will likely notice more difference going from 480p to 720p with the Blu-ray player then you will later if you buy a new flat panel and go from 720p to 1080p.
Keep in mind, this all assumes we are talking about Blu-ray discs, which are 1080p. Playing standard definition DVDs (at 480p) will likely not be improved by buying a Blu-ray player. There is only so much information on a standard DVD and a Blu-ray player can’t magically add more.
