[mythtv-users] Samsung CRT HD 32" TV WS32Z30HE

[Tortise]

If this TV is a native 1080i , why bother with 720p ...

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The main reason I prefer 720p is that the default desktop icons and text are readable at good distance, whereas using 1080i makes 
all those things cross the bridge into poorly readable - as they are smaller - and also seem more liney.  I made those observations 
using a Sony 32' "HD" CRT (DA32) - that also takes 720p/1080i inputs and I expect the Samsung to be similar, but clearly not the 
same.  In terms of video quality difference between 720p and 1080i, the only differences seems to be speed (e.g. car racing) is 
clearer with the 720p in/540p out compared to more blurriness noted using 1080i which makes sense considering xp (not the microsoft 
type!) is generally better for speed and xi is better for still landscape scenes.  More testing is in order to be sure about this 
however on balance the 720p/540p may be preferable to interlaced 1080i/xi on these CRT tubes.

Incidentally, anticipating the question about why not just go LCD, the blacks, colours and viewing angles are excellent - superior 
to most LCD.  Size for size CRT and LCD uses much the same power, with LCD probably having only a minor edge. Tube life may also 
exceed LCD as the LCD backlight over time degrades in performance, I am not aware that CRT's do that.

While the mentioned Sony's take 720p in, I understand internally it is downscaled to 540p - as the CRT tubes are not fast enough to 
scan electrons @ full 720p.  Most of the 1080i is probably also downscaled to ~600 to 800i (guestimate).  These things are to some 
degree easy to prove (input not the same as output, not so easy to show what the output actually is) and be readily demonstrated 
using test videos and images with alternating pixel wide lines - which confirms 720p/1080i horizontal lines are not seen by the 
user, although the image remains noticeably superior to SD 576i.  (Anyone thinking that the question of whether viewers are cheated 
might be a consideration here might be understandable for thinking such things!)

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Here they are just in case:

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Many thanks Jean-Yves.  I'll let people know what works.