720p vs 1080p – Content Quality

This is the last guide of the four part 720p vs 1080p guide. We have seen images depicting how 720p compars to 1080p in real life, we have looked at this subject from a technical and theoretical perspective and we have analyzed the factors that affect your perception of detail. In this last 720p vs 1080p guide, we are going to see the role played by content quality. Depending on what type of content you are watching on your TV – standard definition (SDTV), enhanced definition (EDTV) or high definition (HDTV) – buying a 1080p TV may not offer you any advantages. In the end of this guide, I will explain why resolution is not the most important quality factor.

Standard Definition Content

It is important to take into consideration what kind of content you are going to watch on your HDTV. No matter how good your HDTV is, standard definition (SD) content is not going to look as good as high definition (HD) content. If you will primarily watch SD content or regular DVDs – they are also standard definition – it will not matter whether your HDTV is 1080p or 720p. Also, your HDTV will tend to act as a magnifying glass for flaws present in this low quality content. In some cases poor quality content look worse than on a smaller CRT TV. Modern HDTVs have video processing systems that try to make this type of content look better, but they cant make miracles.

HDTV Broadcasts

At this moment, the only high definition broadcast is in 720p or 1080i, the only 1080p content coming from Blu-Ray Disks (BD). 1080i content is interlaced and that means for every two frames in the signal, one frame is displayed on the screen. In other words, two frames are combined to form a complete picture. The result is a picture that has the same resolution (amount of detail) as 1080p but half the frame rate. Because of that, 1080i offers the same amount of detail as 1080p but lower performances than 720p (which is progressive) when it comes to fast moving content. This is one of the reasons sports channels broadcast in 720p. Given the fact that sports have a lot of movement, it is preferred to have lower resolution but a sharp picture. Taking all that into consideration, if you watch 1080i broadcasts you will get an advantage from an 1080p HDTV. This will happen however, only if you are at the right viewing distance.

Resolution is NOT the Most Important Quality Factor

Though resolution is pushed in front and marketed as an important factor, it is not the most important factor affecting your experience. Controlled lighting, black levels, color accuracy, saturation and contrast are more important than resolution. When you have to choose between better picture and higher resolution you should not dismiss the importance of quality. Between a HDTV with great picture quality but 720p resolution and one with 1080p but inferior picture quality, you will enjoy more the former. Having to make a choice like this is not uncommon. Many of you will not afford to buy the perfect TV and will have to choose certain features over others. Do not think that a TV is better because it is 1080p.

This was the last guide in the 720p vs 1080p series. If you want to read more guides you can go to HDTV Guides section of the site.

All 720p vs 1080p Guides

• 720p vs 1080p – The Ultimate Guide
  • 720p vs 1080p – Images / Screenshots
  • 720p vs 1080p – Technical Comparison
  • 720p vs 1080p – Factors Affecting Perception of Detail
  • 720p vs 1080p – Content Quality