Can you really see the difference between a 1600:1 vs a 8000:1 contrast ratio on a hdtv?

Question

Can you really see the difference between a 1600:1 vs a 8000:1 contrast ratio on a hdtv?

Answer 1

The only way to know for sure is to compare them side-by-side using a good old black and white movie....have the salesman find one on their cable setup there....

Answer 2

Multi-thousand to one contrast ratios are a complete crock, created by the marketing department.  Think about it - at 8000:1, the blackest black would be 1/8000 of the whitest white. A typical set puts out around 350 nits. 1/8000th of that would be 0.04 nits. That would be down around the level of moon light on a half-moon night.

In any typical living room, especially one with white (or at least light-colored) walls, light from the TV will bounce off the walls and reflect back off the TV screen, adding to (and swamping) the minimum radiated light from the screen. This will reduce the contrast ratio to hundereds, not thousands.

You need to go look at the picture on a set and not trust contrast ratios so much.

Answer 3

It's a numbers game.  They use tricks to measure a small portion of a display, and then extrapolate to attach a number to the larger area.  The bigger the number, the bigger the hype about one's product.

The human eye is really the limiting factor.  While it's true that people can see well in bright sunlight, and in near total darkness, they can't do it all at once.  Look how long it takes for your eyes to adjust when you go into a dark room from bright light.

Typical human eye contrast ratio is about 800:1 at best.  And for TV displays, any ambient light wipes out the huge numbers claimed.  So, unless you plan to watch TV in total darkness, with light-tight shutters AND your walls painted black (even reflection onto surrounding walls from your TV will reduce the contrast ratio), don't buy into the numbers.  They're derived from settings that you will never duplicate.

Your eyes are still the ultimate test.  Whether 'seeing is believing' has any validity, it's still YOUR seeing that going to justify the price YOU pay.  No matter what the manufacturer SAYS you should be seeing.  Think Emperor's New Clothes.

Answer 4

Yes