SD vs HD

SD vs. HD

Standard Definition (SD)

16:9 widescreen pictures
Improved picture quality - similar to DVD quality
MPEG digital stereo sound - similar to CD quality
Some Standard Definition programs are enhanced with Dolby Pro Logic surround sound
Standard Definition broadcasts are transmitted at all times - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Additional channels and multi-camera views are broadcast in Standard Definition

SD Picture Resolution SD picture resolution is: - 576i (576 horizontal lines interlaced)

16:9 widescreen pictures
HD picture resolution - highest available picture quality (when viewed on an HD display)
MPEG digital stereo sound and, on selected programs, Dolby Digital sound
Some broadcasters are currently transmitting a number of High Definition programs
In August 2002 the Government announced it will seek to change each broadcaster's HD obligation to an annualized requirement of 1040 hours. These obligations will commence from 1 July 2003 for mainland capital cities, and effectively not before 2005 in other areas. Programs transmitted in HD will also be simultaneously broadcast in SD.
An HD-DR will also receive SD broadcasts, to enable the HD viewer to receive SD digital transmissions when HD

Standard Definition display resolutions:

Video Format (WxH)	Name	Pixel aspect ratio (W:H)(Standard 4:3)	Pixel aspect ratio (W:H)(Anamorphic 16:9)	Description
640x480		4:3		Used to be used on YouTube
720×576	576i	5:4	64:45	Used on D1/DV PAL (ITU-R 601)
704×576	576p	12:11	16:11	Used on EDTV PAL
720×480	480i	8:9	32:27	Used on DV NTSC
720×486	480i	8:9	32:27	Used on D1 NTSC (ITU-R 601)
704×480	480p	10:11	40:33	Used on EDTV NTSC

High-definition display resolutions:

Resolution (W×H)	Pixels	Aspect Ratio	Video Format	Description	Bitrate (Mbps)	Storage (MB) for 1 min
1024×768	786,432	16:9 (non-square pixels)	720p/XGA	Used on PDP HDTV displays with non square pixels	135	1012
1280×720	921,600	16:9	720p—HDTV standard format	First step toward true 1080p HD, see below (HD)	158	1187
1440×1080	1,555,200	16:9	1080i	Used on a majority of HDTVs, and is 'half' of 1080p due to its interlacing (i)	266	2002
1280×1080	1,382,400	16:9 (non-square pixels)	1080p	Used on PDP HDTV displays (Full HD, HD Ready 1080p)	237	1780
1920×1080	2,073,600	16:9	1080p—HDTV standard format	Used on all types of HDTV technologies (Full HD, HD Ready 1080p)	356	2670
3840×2160	8,294,400	16:9	2160p DCI Cinema 4k standard format (4096×2160)	Quad HDTV, (there is no HD Ready 2160p Quad HDTV format)	1424	10679

HD Picture Resolution HD picture resolution may be one or more of the following:

Some brands tested

Standard definition

High definition