Will a standard def TV play an HD input ?

jonnyquest · 11-06-09, 11:50 AM

I'm considering getting one of these HD media player devices to watch my various computer video files on my TV. My TV is a standard def TV with RCA jacks (yellow-red-white) input. Will this work, will I be able to watch HD video on my TV? I know the image will not be HD, due to the native resoultion of the TV. But...will the video show OK, or will I get wacky video, or snow, or what? I've googled this and found conflicting answers.

Superman07 · 11-06-09, 12:22 PM

It depends on the output capability of any one of those specific devices.

My GF has her cable box hooked up to her 4:3 CRT through component and can receive HD channels on the box. Oddly, they will show up letterboxed on her tv. I'm honestly not suer how this is happening, but I'll assume the box is downconverting for the tv. However, I assume if I were to hook the same two up through composite the same results would not happen.

jonnyquest · 11-06-09, 01:14 PM

I'd have to use composite (yellow-plug). I'm leaning toward the Patriot device. The product description on their website says:

Quote:

HDMI and composite video connections - The High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) port lets you connect to the highest quality HDTV or home theater. Additional composite (RCA) outputs ensure compatibility with virtually all television sets.

So maybe this is one of those "It depends..." questions, as you said.

DRG · 11-06-09, 03:08 PM

I own the Seagate FreeAgent Theater+ in that review. Although it isn't obvious from looking at the connections on the device (or Seagate's own descriptions), there is a composite option/cord that comes with the device. It plugs into the small input to the left of the component connections and branches out into the the composite RCA plugs. I have it hooked up to my TV via composite right now and it works like a charm for playing XVID and various other formats. I haven't yet tested playing a HD-specific file format (like H.264) on it yet to see what it does through the composite connection.

11-06-09, 11:50 AM	#1
jonnyquest Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 560	Will a standard def TV play an HD input ? I'm considering getting one of these HD media player devices to watch my various computer video files on my TV. My TV is a standard def TV with RCA jacks (yellow-red-white) input. Will this work, will I be able to watch HD video on my TV? I know the image will not be HD, due to the native resoultion of the TV. But...will the video show OK, or will I get wacky video, or snow, or what? I've googled this and found conflicting answers.

11-06-09, 12:22 PM	#2
Superman07 DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 3,861	Re: Will a standard def TV play an HD input ? It depends on the output capability of any one of those specific devices. My GF has her cable box hooked up to her 4:3 CRT through component and can receive HD channels on the box. Oddly, they will show up letterboxed on her tv. I'm honestly not suer how this is happening, but I'll assume the box is downconverting for the tv. However, I assume if I were to hook the same two up through composite the same results would not happen. __________________ "Chuck me!" "Hey, I'm Eddie. How do you like me so far?" - Keen Eddie I've seen him. He's like fire, and ice, and rage. Like the night, and the storm in the heart of the sun. He's ancient and forever. He burns at the center of time and sees the turn of the univrse.

11-06-09, 03:08 PM	#4
DRG DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: ND Posts: 9,626	Re: Will a standard def TV play an HD input ? I own the Seagate FreeAgent Theater+ in that review. Although it isn't obvious from looking at the connections on the device (or Seagate's own descriptions), there is a composite option/cord that comes with the device. It plugs into the small input to the left of the component connections and branches out into the the composite RCA plugs. I have it hooked up to my TV via composite right now and it works like a charm for playing XVID and various other formats. I haven't yet tested playing a HD-specific file format (like H.264) on it yet to see what it does through the composite connection. Last edited by DRG; 11-06-09 at 03:20 PM.