Stretch Marks

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday November 7, 2005

Rod Easdown

Digital broadcasting and DVDs are boosting the popularity of widescreen TVs, writes Rod Easdown.

If you're a big fan of DVD movies a widescreen television makes a lot of sense. One of the most common aspect ratios in which movies are shot is 1.85:1. It can be reproduced on a conventional 4:3 television only with black bars at the top and bottom of the screen, but it matches quite nicely to a widescreen television's 16:9, or 1.78:1, aspect ratio.

Because television manufacturers want to ensure the top, bottom and sides of the picture form neat, straight lines, they tune them so that a fraction of the picture overshoots the screen on all four sides. It's not enough that you'll miss any of the action, but it rules out ugly, jagged borders. This is called overscan and manipulating it a little will make a 1.85:1 movie fill a 16:9 television's entire screen, despite the slight difference in ratio.

The other popular shooting format among movie directors is 2.35:1, a very wide image that's often used for action movies and blockbusters. This leaves wide black bands at the top and bottom of 4:3 televisions and the remaining image area on smaller sets, such as 51cms, is very small. Again, a 16:9 television does a much better job here because the black bands, while still there, are much narrower.

Widescreen televisions entered the Australian market some years before most people knew what DVD was. They became popular only when the masses embraced DVD. However, there's another reason for buying a widescreen - digital broadcasting. Many programs on digital, indeed most of them in prime time, are broadcast in widescreen format to fit a 16:9 screen exactly.

There is some debate about whether digital broadcasting helped sell widescreen televisions or if it was the other way around. Many retailers say that people buy their widescreens to watch DVDs, but get a digital set-top box at the same time, figuring if they have a widescreen they may as well watch broadcast television in widescreen.

Whatever, widescreen is now such a significant force in the market that most conventional 4:3 screens sizes are provided only in the cheaper formats of cathode ray tube (CRT) and entry-level rear projection. And CRT is the value format here, significantly undercutting both plasma and LCD in sizes of up to 76cm.

We particularly like 66cm CRTs for their balance of screen size, cabinet size and price, and we looked at three costing about $1000.

Panasonic TX28F250

This looks good and is a well-featured 100Hz high-definition television with clever technology that analyses incoming images to optimise quality. It also has good virtual surround sound, an equaliser and a volume leveller. Headphone and RCA connections are at the front bottom. Dimensions: 731mm x 498mm x 545mm; weighs 41kg.

RRP: $999 (spotted for $899)

Sony KVDA28M36

This high-definition television looks great and has Sony's DRCMF, its equivalent of 100Hz technology.

It also has a signal booster for problem reception areas and headphone and RCA connections at front bottom. Sound is good with virtual surround and an equaliser. The picture quality is terrific. (The stand costs extra.) Dimensions: 786mm high x 504mm wide x 544mm deep; weighs 45kg.

RRP: $1399 (spotted for $1299)

LG Lafinion70W

We were surprised by the picture quality at this price and the sound is good, too. This is a 100Hz television with a full range of features including twin tuners, picture-in-picture and virtual surround sound, and it's NTSC and SECAM compatible. There are headphone and RCA connections at one side. (The stand costs extra.) Dimensions: 854mm x 535mm x 509mm; weighs 42kg.

RRP: $1299 (spotted for $999)

infofile

Sony 1300 720 071 www.sony.com.au

Panasonic 132 600 www.panasonic.com.au

LG 1800 725 375 www.lge.com.au

The verdict

This is a strange one. We reckon the Sony is best, followed by the LG and then closely behind by the Panasonic. Roll the prices in, however, and it's exactly the reverse - we'd recommend the Panasonic first, then the LG before the Sony.

Next week

We compare headphones for digital music players.

© 2005 Sydney Morning Herald

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