Progressive Scan - A Scam?
Sep 18 '02
The Bottom Line Don't be sold something you'll never use !!!
One of the most difficult problems facing consumers today is the lack of product knowledge. This is especially true when it comes to new and emerging electronics technologies. DVD players are very quickly becoming so main stream that the prices are dropping dramatically. The latest "buzz word" with this technology is the "Progressive Scan" DVD palyer.
I'll be completely honest, I own one. So what's the scam you ask? Well let's look at what this DVD player does. A regular TV program is displayed in 480i. The 480 refers to lines of resolution, and the i stands for interlaced frames. Interlaced frames means that the television intermittently flashes each 1/2 of the picture information. This is why a home video which shows the TV in the background can look so strange. Only 1/2 of the picture is actually on the screen at any given point in time. This is the type of signal that a normal DVD player sends to the TV.
A progressive scan DVD player outputs a 480p signal to the TV. This means the same 480 lines of resolution, but the progressive scan means that the entire picture is shown at any given time instead of just 1/2. This is the method that your average computer screen uses. It is providing the display with double the amount of information, providing a more accurate and detailed picture.
The main issue arises with the sales pitch at the store. The typical salesman might forget to mention to the average consumer that unless you own a digital television, you can not benefit from this technology. The regular analog 27" Sony (even the fancy WEGA) you bought last year reaps no benefit whatsoever. These TV's are not capable of displaying anything except the standard 480i picture. Digital televisions are primarily the HDTV ready sets you see which sell for at least $1000.
There is one other issue I must mention. As noted earlier, I own one of these DVD players because I also own a digital HDTV. However, I actually do not even use this "Proggressive Scan" feature because I get a clearer picture without it. My Toshiba HDTV converts the 480i signal to 480p itself, and does a much better job. This seemed surprising at first, but after thinking about it for a little while....one cost over $2000 and one cost just over $200, it should look better with the TV doing it.
One final note, this method of thinking is debated back and forth between audio/videophiles all the time. It all comes down to a matter of personal preference, so if you have a digital TV you still might consider purchasing a progressive scan DVD player for the extra $50-75 it costs, but if you are like 97% of the TV viewers in the country and have a regular analog TV, save your money and buy yourself 3 or 4 movies to go with your new DVD player.
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one_listen
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Location: Pelham, NH
Reviews written: 40
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About Me:
Bargain hunter on most items, spender on audio/video equipment
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