What Is the Difference Between Standard-Definition TV And High-Definition TV?
Standard-definition TV (SDTV) has a lower resolution than HDTV. Therefore, it has a lower quality picture. However, SDTV and HDTV use digital technology. The images on SDTV are of better quality than those of today’s typical TV screens and SDTV supports stereo sound. In technical terms, SDTV operates at resolution that’s comparable to computer VGA displays that operate at 640 x 480. Because of overscan and display differences most SDTV resolutions are rated at either 704 x 480 or 640 x 480. HDTV, however, operates at resolutions that range from 720p (1280 x7 20, with progressive scan that shows every line on the screen every time the screen is refreshed) to 1080i (1920×1080, with interlaced scan that shows every other line on the screen every time the screen is refreshed). Enough tech talk. The improved resolution of HDTV is just one benefit. HDTV also offers a wider 16:9 aspect ratio for images than does SDTV (4:3). The wider ratio more closely resembles the aspect ratio used when fil
