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
1385 Views
I used to work at a cable company. A few things:
- 20/12/2010 06:53:15 PM
882 Views
Re: I used to work at a cable company. A few things:
- 20/12/2010 07:42:11 PM
979 Views
Re: Filling the entire screen
- 20/12/2010 09:59:35 PM
867 Views
If the picture isn't filling the screen, then it's not HD
- 21/12/2010 04:06:27 AM
944 Views
Time for a new eye glasses exam *NM*
- 20/12/2010 08:01:29 PM
434 Views
Re: Time for a new eye glasses exam
- 20/12/2010 08:22:21 PM
883 Views
Well damn...
- 20/12/2010 09:33:58 PM
768 Views
I'm glad you like it better, but everything I've read says that's incorrect.
- 21/12/2010 07:06:26 PM
726 Views
If you have to ask....
- 20/12/2010 09:36:01 PM
872 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
401 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
711 Views
The deal is... you've gone crazy!
- 21/12/2010 04:45:33 AM
1154 Views
The only Blu-Ray I've seen is those in the stores comparing that to DVD.
- 21/12/2010 04:48:04 AM
860 Views
No one seems to have asked you this yet.
- 21/12/2010 05:56:55 PM
962 Views
Re: No one seems to have asked you this yet.
- 21/12/2010 06:57:42 PM
786 Views
Since everyone else seems to think you're weird or offbase...
- 21/12/2010 11:35:42 PM
831 Views
There's nothing wrong with not caring, only with not being able to tell.
- 22/12/2010 02:31:24 PM
723 Views
I'm with you, dude.
- 22/12/2010 07:12:24 AM
706 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
419 Views
Have you let your horse at the special mushroom patch again? 
- 22/12/2010 02:40:21 PM
838 Views
- 22/12/2010 02:40:21 PM
838 Views
Damn!
- 22/12/2010 03:16:39 PM
726 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
704 Views
Something's wrong witg your settings, or you have a perception problem....
- 26/12/2010 08:36:07 PM
913 Views
So... My conclusions from this discussion.
- 28/12/2010 03:03:13 PM
797 Views
I've seen people with the exact same problem as you before
- 30/12/2010 12:25:00 AM
719 Views
So I'm an idiot for not believing in the all mighty power of the HDTV?
- 30/12/2010 12:31:44 AM
808 Views
No...
- 30/12/2010 02:05:18 PM
749 Views
I fail to see how calling him names contributes to this discussion. *NM*
- 03/01/2011 11:11:35 AM
411 Views
Re: I fail to see how calling him names contributes to this discussion.
- 04/01/2011 10:27:43 AM
757 Views
Re: I fail to see how calling him names contributes to this discussion.
- 06/01/2011 08:28:25 AM
786 Views