4. DVD Performance

When connected to the Oppo OPDV971H DVD Player via the HDMI input, the LVM-47w1 produced good, if not great, results. Again, this may be due to the fact that DVD sources have to be scaled from 480p to 1080p, which is a big jump compared to scaling them to 768p. That being said, movies were entirely pleasant with only the occasional scaling distraction. Color and contrast performance were similar to HDTV sources, and image geometry was very good.

As you can see from the comparison of The Fifth Element below, the reference image shows you how much detail is intended. Notice how flesh tones are reddish compared to the reference image, even though the hair color hue is almost identical in both frames. Color saturation and overall image detail are very good. Expect a substantial drop-off in resolution and overall performance if you choose a component video connection instead of HDMI.

The Fifth Element (Oppo OPDV971H DVD Player - 720p via DVI to HDMI)
TOP: WESTINGHOUSE LVM-47w1 - BOTTOM: Reference Image

1080p Vs. 768p - Is There A Difference?

There has been an ongoing debate over whether paying the extra cash for a 1080p is worthwhile, with varying conclusions. Some say 1080p is a waste of money, as you can't see any increased detail with HDTV, and all non-HD signals look worse. Another argument is that some broadcasts that claim to be in 1080i resolution are so compressed that the additional detail gets lost in the shuffle. While there is some truth to these arguments, I did notice a considerable difference in finely detailed portions of scenes when viewing HDTV broadcasts.

At first you don't think there is much of a difference, but over time you start to notice things that jump out at you - like strands of hair, beads of water, or small objects in the background that seem a little clearer and more in focus. Of course, if you prefer to sit far away (over 12 feet) from the display, the difference will be less substantial, if not non-existent.

Here is a close-up comparison of a 1080i broadcast displayed on a 768p LCD compared to the 1080p LVM-47w1. As you can see there is a substantial increase in detail throughout the image, but especially in the shirt fabric.

Korean Broadcast - SBS HD - 1080i
TOP: Vizio GV42LHD - BOTTOM: WESTINGHOUSE LVM-47w1

Here is another comparison from Pirates of the Caribbean. Notice the increased detail in the bandana, as well as the overall facial details.

Pirates of the Caribbean - INHD2 - 1080i
TOP: Vizio GV42LHD - BOTTOM: WESTINGHOUSE LVM-47w1