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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder if anyone else 'can't see' HD?

141 replies

CrohnicallyAspie · 28/12/2015 21:49

A family member got a new 4k TV at Christmas and it sparked a discussion about whether there's a discernible difference between standard/HD/4k.

Almost all the female members of the family (3/4) say they 'can't see' any difference, but the men (5) can.

I am the odd one out, I'm female but find HD much clearer.

So I was intrigued as to whether there is a genuine division by male/female, or if it's coincidence and another family might find all the women can see it but not the men, or if it's because the women in my family don't really care about TV so aren't observing that closely?

And if there really is a male/female divide, why can I see it? Anything to do with the fact that I'm autistic?

OP posts:
LackOfAdhesiveDucks · 29/12/2015 03:16

I can tell the difference and am a woman. I don't actually care, but I am able to tell that HD is clearer.

cricketballs · 29/12/2015 07:13

When we first had our HD tv DH took great delight in swapping channels between HD sport (which was showing golf) and the non HD howing and there was a definate difference.

He has a theory that he HD channels aren't really that much better, but the SD has been made worse so everyone thinks HD is far superior Hmm

londonrach · 29/12/2015 07:21

Am i missed something...whats hd. I had noticed the new tvs in john lewis on display make your eyes hurt and throught it was 3d? Was grateful i had a old tv. Worried if it breaks.

MirandaWest · 29/12/2015 07:47

I can tell the difference between HD and non-HD on televisions from 32 inch upwards. It's sharper.

Roussette · 29/12/2015 08:31

HD is high definition and is 4 times the pixels and clarity of SD, standard definition. 4K is 4 times the definition of HD but it is only possibly Amazon Prime and Netflix showing anything on 4K and you need a good broadband speed which rules me out.

However, if you buy a new TV which we've just done they are all 4K and it does mean it is ready for any 4K channels should they come along. I love HD and wish everything was all in HD, the difference on this new telly is amazing but it is 48inch.

ICanSeeForMiles · 29/12/2015 08:37

It's a quality of TV thing, not a male/female thing. We've a Sony TV and I can see the difference in HD, especially football. On the Hitachi it's crap, because the general quality of the picture isn't as good.

Enjolrass · 29/12/2015 08:44

Female. Don't see a difference really with just HD.

The new 4K, I can. But think it makes everything look animated. Special effects look rubbish in them imo.

We3KingyOfOblomovAre · 29/12/2015 08:47

Can't see it. But then can't see 3D when go to cinema and put on the glasses. Does this mean there is something wrong with my eyes?

MorrisZapp · 29/12/2015 08:49

HD is a clever invention designed to part men from their money.

DP insists on watching everything in HD, despite the fact that we often get interference on our HD channels, making them harder to watch.

There is no. Bloody. Difference.

SoftKittyWarmKitty · 29/12/2015 08:50

When the OP mentioned 4k TV, I thought that was the price of it Grin.

JohnLuther · 29/12/2015 08:52

If any of you cannot seriously see any difference between SD, HD and 4K and you aren't saying it because you think it's a 'man thing' then I strongly urge you to book an eye appointment.

LatriceRoyale · 29/12/2015 08:56

I can't see HD or 3D TV.

springscoming · 29/12/2015 08:57

I couldn't see the difference until I had my eyes tested recently and got varifocals. Now I definitely can. Seconding JohnLuther's post Smile

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 29/12/2015 08:58

I have an upto date prescription in my glasses and still can't see a difference.

JohnLuther · 29/12/2015 09:00

And FYI my wife can see a difference, she's reading this thread and shaking her head Grin

Theoretician · 29/12/2015 09:02

Asking whether someone can "see" HD is like asking if they can the Eiffel Tower from their living room. The answer has nothing to do with the ability of their eyes or brains, it mainly tells you how far away they are from the thing they are looking at. (At borderline distances it may tell you how much they care whether or not they can.)

So this thread is a poll of how many screen-widths away from the TV most people sit.

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 29/12/2015 09:04

How close do you need to be? My sitting room is only 12ft square!

UndramaticPause · 29/12/2015 09:05

I can see it in cartoons and things with special effects or when I'm playing the PlayStation. Can't see it in normal programming.

Womaloosh · 29/12/2015 09:08

Female. Can definitely see the difference. When was interested in football, I used to love watching matches in HD. For normal TV, I rarely remember to swith to the HD channels...

Womaloosh · 29/12/2015 09:41

I may change my name to 'ThreadKiller'...of course nobody will see this because mine is always the last post... Grin

imwithspud · 29/12/2015 09:42

There is no. Bloody. Difference.

There really is, honestly. It's nothing to do with parting men from their money.

It probably has something to do with the size of the tv and how far away you are from it but I can 100% see a difference between for example, bbc1 sd and bbc1 HD.

Roussette · 29/12/2015 09:44

There is no comparison! Non HD is just woolly round the edges. HD is sharp. I think some eye appointments are needed, yes! (To be fair, apparently it isnt so noticeable on smaller screen TVs)

ArgyMargy · 29/12/2015 09:48

Yes, of course OP. Women's eyes are a bit cloudier than men's and there brains are a bit befuddled so can't interpret things as clearly. I've never sworn on MN but this kind of thing makes me want to swear and weep.

Hulababy · 29/12/2015 09:48

We have just got an ultra 4K TV after having a HD one before.

Yes the picture quality is far better - the colours seem a fair bit brighter and more vivid and the picture is sharper. That is when just watching normal TV, which actually isn't shot in 4K anyway. But the new TV has better graphics so even that makes a difference.

When you watch something actually filmed in 4K the difference is much greater ime. Apparently the olympics next year will be filmed in 4K which should be good.

MetalMidget · 29/12/2015 09:50

"So what are the people who claim 4k is much better, watching?"

Generally the 4K shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and running PC games through the TV, etc - broadcast TV doesn't do 4K yet (most of it doesn't do HD!), nor do the main consoles. Blu Ray movies start coming out in 4K early next year, I think.