I have a Sony KDL-40S3000 and I am wondering what the best setting for my Shaw Box (Motorola DCT6416) is. I have the choice of 720p or 1080i for HD channels (the box defaults to 720p on HDMI and 1080i with component). A cnet review of a 46S3000 said that it should be set to 720p.

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/sony-kdl-46s3000/4505-6482_7-32331189.html?tag=txt

I always thought 1080i was better?

Any thoughts?

Having switched between 720p and 1080i on the box the most I saw difference wise was in the guide font. 720p it looked jaggie. 1080i, nice and smooth. So I left it at 1080i. Actual programming, to me at least, looks the same for both.

Since Shaw sends all signals to the STB at 1080i, then I would recommend leaving the output of the STB at 1080i for HD, otherwise, you will be converting to 720P at the STB and the TV will be converting again to 768P, the native resolution of the TV.

Most TVs are better at converting than a STB. The story is different for upconverting DVD players. See:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=73528

If you had an HD-DVD player, then 720P may be the better choice, but with a STB it may not be. In the end, try both and see what you prefer.

See also: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=79350

I agree with 57 about the 1080i, although I thought I should mention the guide is jagged in 720p even on a true native 1280x720p display. When I used to have my Optoma HD-70, I noticed the same thing and concluded it is that the box does a bad job of scaling the guide itself to 720p.