When it comes to cartoons, many are often impressed with BD cartoon movies because of the improved signal to noise ratio and the true 8 bit color with sharpness offered in the 1080p x 1920. The difference is impressive as the detail factor is somewhat removed from the equarion since detail is just not present. This allows you to concentrate on color noise and color gradient.
When it comes to digital video there seems to always be room for improvement. Since we are currently fixed at 1020 pixels on the top end of resolution in Full HDTV, where do we turn to improve quality until native displays greater than 1920 enter the scene? Ine area is bit depth. Most BD players have been processing the 8bit color space on the disks with 10 bit players. Most of us with budget concious purchasing have 10 bit color space processing. Recently, I went to look at the Pioneer Elite Player to see if there was any improvement when spending 3x the price for a 12 bit player. In comparing (in the store) to another system at 10 bit there was a slight edge quality difference but the demos were on Pioneer Elite 50" monitors. I use a 92" DLP front projector. The Pioneer had better blacks than my PJ but I don't think it had as good detail. Now, Sony has just announced the latest in this arena of PQ improvement the 14 bit color space processing.
The HD Reality Enhancer continually analyses [sic] the image coming from the disc, sharpening edges while not over-emphasising other elements of the picture, reducing the effect of grain on the original filmstock, and increasing the colour depth from the 8 bits on the disc to the equivalent of 14 bits. Meanwhile Super Bit Mapping, which uses unique processing based on human visual sensitivity, enables the player to deliver the best possible quality over HDMI™, with smoother colour tones.
Few have seen this next stage in processing but one things for certain, it's cost will likely be an order of magnetude higher to have the best of the best.
What I find interesting is today, everyone can make huge improvements by simply having a display that is 1080p x 1920 over a 720p native display, use HDMI 1.3 vs. RGB for transfer. Use Master audio analog decoded in player vs. DD5.1 over fiber optic cable for a base price and be 98% of the best of the best. Then to get close to 100% you need to spend 3-5 times the budget. Is it worth it? Heck some would believe that a 720p playing BD is worth it.
The problem of dealing in a system that limits your main picture resolution in pixel depth with a lessor native display is you are dealing with not seeing all that the source will provide. In the case of color bit depth that is already higher than the disk and adding to that, the improvement is questionable. Seeing is believing and that is the only way I would buy such a technology.
In summary a 1080p x 1920 over a 720p x 1280 native display is a no brainer upgrade. A 12 or 14 bit color depth player over a 10 bit when the native is 8 bit, needs to be carefully evaluated in the home before spending that kind of additional money for quality improvement.
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