http://www.tech.co.uk/home-entertainment/tv/tvs-displays/plasma/news/pioneer-our-720p-set-is-better-than-1080p?articleid=1348320666

James Rivington

08 Jan 2008 10:36 GMT

While many people see resolution as the most important consideration when buying a new TV, this might not actually be the case. Jim Catcheside at Pioneer says that people are too hung-up on resolution and that this is causing some to buy inferior products.

"One of the blights on the TV industry at the moment is the big hang-up that people seem to have on resolution. It's a big bugbear of mine. All most people are worried about at the moment is that their new TV should have a resolution of 1920 x 1080. 1080, 1080, 1080, 1080. That's all some people want to hear about," he said when we spoke to him at CES today.

Resolution not important?

"But at the moment if you put our 42-inch 720p screen against all or any of the 1080p sets that are out there [from other manufacturers] at the same size, I know hand on heart it will blow them away.

"Only about five minutes ago, when all TVs were CRT, they all had the same resolution. Every one of them. So then, why were some better than others?

Resolution, explains Catcheside, is only one tiny element of the picture. People should consider what the black quality does to the overall colour palette and what happens when you turn the ambient light down (an Achilles heel for LCD technology).

"Lots of things go into making a better picture," explains Catcheside. "Colour, contrast, black levels. All those things are equally important."

At CES, Pioneer has been demonstrating a large plasma panel that's just 9mm thick, and a concept panel that produces the most realistic black-levels ever seen in a display.

Resolution is obviously on one part of the picture, but to suggest his 720p can BLOW AWAY 1080p sets? That must be a piss poor 1080p.

I agree with Bladeneo, the 1080p TV that is getting 'blown away' must just be really crap!

i'll be purchasing a HD TV in the next few months... i should start paying attention to this kind of news!

They are correct in what they say. I'd take a television with a marginally better contrast ratio at 720p over one with a marginally worse contrast ratio at 1080p ANYDAY!!!

I have two HDtv and in 720p (42 inches) looks better and in the other one the 1080p (32 inches) looks better

theoretical : no
practical : yes

Yes, and 720p tv can be better than a 1080p tv. But with all other things the same, a 1080p tv will always look better than a 720p tv (unless you are so far away that they look the same)

Isn't that the catch with most 1080p TVs: That in order for them to really stick out, they need to be at least 50 inches?

Of course possible. Look at cameras: pictures from a professional older 5 megapixel camera will of course be better than a 8GP cellphone with crappy lense.
But if you enlarge them sufficiently and both are quality cameras a higher resolution will be better.
The resolution is not the only feature after all. Onm the other hand 1080p displays really look awesome at the store.