One of downside of the large screen TVs (55") is that SD sourced material isn't always too hot, some of the TVs don't upscale that well.

 

I've heard that too, but I'm very satisfied with the upscaling on my Sony. It does a great job on everything, including the inputs from my recorders.

.

One of downside of the large screen TVs (55") is that SD sourced material isn't always too hot, some of the TVs don't upscale that well.

 

To some extent, I think this is where part the price differential between sets / models lies. Upscaling was an important consideration for me as most, if not all, of my viewing will be upscaled HD broadcast programmes. Some sets make a good job of it, others are terrible.

My computer is a computer I don't need my TV to be one too.

 

My computer is my TV (on my second monitor). and I can adjust the size of it

Back in the day my computer was my TV too. I actually made a special Linux version for my computer and it's DVB-S card. But Astra in its wisdom took the satellite with freeview away so that we can't watch the BBC or ITV any more, the sat card is in the computer spare bits box. I could watch freeview if I had an antenna of over 1.6 metres diameter but I don't think it would be very stealthy on the window ledge of my apartment like the tiny rectangular digital antenna would have been.

 

All this is of course to protect the "rights" of "rights holders". I mean you can't have ex-pats in Spain watching the beeb can you! Think of the rights holders rights! I mean it isn't as TV is broadcast freely to all households is it. Um wait a minute... So the new narrow beam satellite works for ex-pats in Brittany and Normandy but if you want TV here or even further south two solutions - huge disk (2 metres would be comfortable) or an English I-pad with an English owner address going through a proxy to watch i-player.

you want a ott box from ebay 30-50 quid as uses kodi/xbmc so can watch all the films and tv shows on it for free down the wifi from the sites that there on.

You are not making sense but don't worry - I have gotten used to that

google ott mxq tv box you soon see what i mean

 

See what I mean! You are not listening! I used to build Linux boxes that did that but where does your live TV signal come from? Mine came from DVB-S but Astra (satellite company) cut that off. I don't care about free movies just want to watch the 9 o'clock news sometimes.

its android so can use the web browser for live news signal comes from wifi or cable.

And what do I do about geo IP blocking?

 

"BBC iPlayer TV programmes are available to play in the UK only. Find out why.

If you are in the UK and see this message please read this advice."

 

So I can pay for a VPN service or an IP spoofing box or other tools to get around this. Yes pay to watch free to air TV which kind of defeats the purpose of the whole thing. I doubt very much that the VPN service is sending some of the money to help fund public TV... Maybe now that phone roaming charges have been abolished we can move on to having European TV visible in all of Europe but I am not holding my breath.

https://unblocked.pe/

Programmes improve? In a sense some do actually. When a program has content that benefits from really good picture quality and good quality sound, a marginal program can become much more watchable.

.

 

I now have my new Samsung TV installed and I'm very pleased with it. The upscaling of HD input is simply stunning. I don't think the build quality of the exterior is up to Sony standards, but the picture is unbelievable. The sound quality is excellent, which is a bonus.

 

However, I must disagree about a UHD tv making programmes more watchable. I'm sorry to have to report that Star Wars is still the same heap of infuriating horse dung that it was in standard definition. In fact it would still be unwatchable if the actors were in my lounge performing live. It's that bad.

I now have my new Samsung TV installed and I'm very pleased with it. The upscaling of HD input is simply stunning. I don't think the build quality of the exterior is up to Sony standards, but the picture is unbelievable. The sound quality is excellent, which is a bonus.

 

However, I must disagree about a UHD tv making programmes more watchable. I'm sorry to have to report that Star Wars is still the same heap of infuriating horse dung that it was in standard definition. In fact it would still be unwatchable if the actors were in my lounge performing live. It's that bad.

 

 

Glad that you are enjoying the upscaling as much as I am, stunning it really is.

 

I agree about Star Wars, I only meant some marginal programs could become more watchable, that's certainly not a universal benefit.

.

Glad that you are enjoying the upscaling as much as I am, stunning it really is.

 

Prior to needing a new TV I hadn't paid much regard to UHD, dismissing it as a gimmick like 3D TV. Because there is little UHD programming actually broadcast, I couldn't see the point.

 

That was until I read about and saw upscaling. This is not a gimmick, upscaling technology works well and is a major enhancement to the viewing experience. Definitely worth investigating if anyone is considering a new TV.

Prior to needing a new TV I hadn't paid much regard to UHD, dismissing it as a gimmick like 3D TV. Because there is little UHD programming actually broadcast, I couldn't see the point.

 

That was until I read about and saw upscaling. This is not a gimmick, upscaling technology works well and is a major enhancement to the viewing experience. Definitely worth investigating if anyone is considering a new TV.

 

That's what I've been advising everyone over the last year and a half, and those who've seen mine don't need any convincing, seeing really is believing.

.

How can upscaling make that much difference? If the detail isn't there in the source material, it can't just be pulled out of thin air.

 

I've not got a 4k TV but I do have a 4k monitor on my PC. I've got to say planet earth bluray looks the same quality on there vs. Full HD TV. Initially I thought the 4k monitor was much better, but it was mainly because of proximity (my office is only 5 feet wide!)

How can upscaling make that much difference? If the detail isn't there in the source material, it can't just be pulled out of thin air.

 

I've not got a 4k TV but I do have a 4k monitor on my PC. I've got to say planet earth bluray looks the same quality on there vs. Full HD TV. Initially I thought the 4k monitor was much better, but it was mainly because of proximity (my office is only 5 feet wide!)

 

I take your point and I think the affects of up scaling are more noticeable on larger screen sets, probably 55" and above. Below that size the benefits may become less noticeable.

 

I guess that what is happening with the large screen sets is that the normal picture with a fixed number of pixels is stretched over the huge area and in standard or even HD that can start to look pixelated on some of these very large screen TVs. The upscaling interpolation fills in the gaps by guessing what should go in the void between pixels. Some make a fantastic job of it and others don't, that's why it's important to choose carefully.

 

All I can say is that on the 55" Samsung, the upscaling software works very well and make for a very pleasant viewing experience. But ultimately, you are right, the missing information isn't there, it is just a good guess as to what should be there.

Agreed, the interpolation is just good guessing, but in my experience Sony and Samsung seem to have algorithms that are particularly effective, producing surprisingly realistic results. They seem to be ahead of the best photo processing programs like Adobe Photoshop's resizing in this respect.

 

It may be that LG and Panasonic have caught up since my 18 months ago experiences of their products, so they shouldn't be disregarded by anyone currently buying.

.

Edited December 24, 201510 yr by flecc

My next TV will be one of these 4K jobbies....... i did buy a new TV about 18 months ago and thought about 4K, but i felt it was too early for the 4K content and too expensive being new tech as well. So i just bought a HD..... But in a couple of years i'll go for one.

I always buy my TV's from either Richer Sounds or John Lewis.... both will price match anywhere and both give a free 5 yr warranty.