How far from the TV are you sitting? 37 inches is good-sized, but not huge. If you sit farther from your TV than the average person, it's very likely that higher resolutions won't be noticeable to you. There's a <a href="http://s3.carltonbale.com/resolution_chart.html">famous chart</a> floating around the internet that will give you a rough idea of what I'm talking about. I'm not sure how accurate it is, but I've never seen it specifically denounced, so I think it's decent. Anyway, according to that chart, you're likely not to notice HD at all at distances around 13-15 feet (lower than that for 480p, but SD is 480i, so I'm guessing 13-15). That's not an excessive distance if you have a big living room, maybe have the TV above your fireplace or something, etc. Besides, even if you're a little closer, the difference may be marginal.
My TV is about six, maybe seven, feet from the couch. When I'm sitting on the couch I'm looking up at the TV a VERY tiny bit. It's almost level with my eyes.
Other possible factors:
1) Cable "HD" is not always the best quality, and can vary by program. Put in a blu-ray for an accurate test.
I don't own a blu-ray player yet. Likely won't for some time either. I like to wait to buy tech when it's at a much lower cost than it originally starts. I've only bought one game new for my XBox since I got it.
2) TVs have processors that handle your source material before it's displayed. Your TV may be particularly good at showing SDTV, and perhaps not great at HDTV, making the difference more marginal.
Maybe. The TV I have has a 4.5 star rating on zdnet.com. Not sure how reliable that is or what it's based on, but I'm sure someone took the HD aspect into account.
3) No offense meant, but your eyes may genuinely not be that great. *shrug*
My last eye exam was in July or August. It was good then, and hasn't changed since then.
If I were you, I'd stand 5-6 feet from your tv, and find a program that's playing on both HD and SD channels at the same time. Sports are ideal. Flip back and forth between one and the other. If you see only a very marginal picture difference under those circumstances, you probably need your eyes checked. If you see NO picture difference (other than brightness or whatever) then something may be wrong with your setup in some way.
I've done that several times. I don't watch sports enough to care about their look (when I watch it's just to see my Panthers lose). I'm told that something with lots of CGI is good to test it on. I tried flipping back and forth between Stargate Universe and Caprica a few times and just noticed the difference of brightness and sound. Plus the fact that it took up double the space on my DVR.
Kirk: Spock, you want to know something? Everybody’s human.
Spock: I find that remark…insulting.
Spock: I find that remark…insulting.
HD. What's the deal?
- 20/12/2010 06:27:40 PM
1290 Views
I used to work at a cable company. A few things:
- 20/12/2010 06:53:15 PM
782 Views
Re: I used to work at a cable company. A few things:
- 20/12/2010 07:42:11 PM
886 Views
Re: Filling the entire screen
- 20/12/2010 09:59:35 PM
783 Views
If the picture isn't filling the screen, then it's not HD
- 21/12/2010 04:06:27 AM
841 Views
Time for a new eye glasses exam *NM*
- 20/12/2010 08:01:29 PM
391 Views
Re: Time for a new eye glasses exam
- 20/12/2010 08:22:21 PM
775 Views
Well damn...
- 20/12/2010 09:33:58 PM
691 Views
I'm glad you like it better, but everything I've read says that's incorrect.
- 21/12/2010 07:06:26 PM
640 Views
If you have to ask....
- 20/12/2010 09:36:01 PM
763 Views
I can see the wrinkles and nose hairs much more clearly. I am not necessarily keen on HD. TMI. *NM*
- 21/12/2010 12:43:59 AM
361 Views
Re: I can see the wrinkles and nose hairs much more clearly. I am not necessarily keen on HD. TMI.
- 21/12/2010 11:10:29 AM
628 Views
The deal is... you've gone crazy!
- 21/12/2010 04:45:33 AM
1063 Views
The only Blu-Ray I've seen is those in the stores comparing that to DVD.
- 21/12/2010 04:48:04 AM
774 Views
No one seems to have asked you this yet.
- 21/12/2010 05:56:55 PM
869 Views
Re: No one seems to have asked you this yet.
- 21/12/2010 06:57:42 PM
669 Views
Since everyone else seems to think you're weird or offbase...
- 21/12/2010 11:35:42 PM
740 Views
There's nothing wrong with not caring, only with not being able to tell.
- 22/12/2010 02:31:24 PM
640 Views
I'm with you, dude.
- 22/12/2010 07:12:24 AM
621 Views
Blu-ray looks fantastic on the right set, but I wouldn't go crazy over subscription media. *NM*
- 22/12/2010 02:20:16 PM
373 Views
Have you let your horse at the special mushroom patch again? 
- 22/12/2010 02:40:21 PM
748 Views
- 22/12/2010 02:40:21 PM
748 Views
Damn!
- 22/12/2010 03:16:39 PM
644 Views
If you really want to see the difference, watch HD only for 1 month then switch back! Like wine...
- 23/12/2010 11:34:13 PM
618 Views
Something's wrong witg your settings, or you have a perception problem....
- 26/12/2010 08:36:07 PM
810 Views
So... My conclusions from this discussion.
- 28/12/2010 03:03:13 PM
704 Views
I've seen people with the exact same problem as you before
- 30/12/2010 12:25:00 AM
634 Views
So I'm an idiot for not believing in the all mighty power of the HDTV?
- 30/12/2010 12:31:44 AM
729 Views
No...
- 30/12/2010 02:05:18 PM
667 Views
I fail to see how calling him names contributes to this discussion. *NM*
- 03/01/2011 11:11:35 AM
366 Views
Re: I fail to see how calling him names contributes to this discussion.
- 04/01/2011 10:27:43 AM
669 Views
Re: I fail to see how calling him names contributes to this discussion.
- 06/01/2011 08:28:25 AM
685 Views