Home audio & video forum: can HD tv be played on a non hd tv?

You will not be able to view HD content on a non-HD TV. Until you get a HD TV, just get the digital TV package because that will be the best looking option that your standard definition TV can handle.

You can watch HD content on a conventional TV - it just won't be in high definition and won't look as good. So, I'd go ahead and get the HD receiver now; in fact, usually there are some additional channels included with the HD package. Then, you'll be ready to enjoy all the HD content in its true splendor as soon as you get your HD television.

You will not be able to view HDTV channels unless your TV is HD-ready. Although HD channels might be featured in your digital service, you will not be able to see any picture on these channels(screen will be black)on a non-HD TV, but you might still be able to hear the sound coming from the channels. It is possible,however,to view HD channels on an HD TV using an ordinary digital box rather than an HD box. So even when you do get an HD TV, you can still keep your digital service instead of upgrading to an HD cable box. The only thing that really makes an HD cable box different from an ordinary digital box is that an HD cable box has more advanced outputs for making better connections to an HDTV, such as DVI, HDMI and optical digital hookups.But you can still get HD channels on an ordinary digital box, as long as you let the cable company know that you have the box hooked to an HD tv so they can activate the HD signals.

I sell TVs for a living and I install them as extra cash-in-hand.

Yes, you can put a high definition source into an SD TV. Cable, satellite, DVB-T (free-to-air digital), Blu-ray; you can plug them into ANY TV with composite ports (the yellow, white and red ports). The signal will be downconverted to SD by your cable box when it is sent through the composite video port.

I have a high definition DVB-T set-top-box plugged into a standard definition TV through composite, and it works fine. I have also set up many HD set-top-boxes with cheap SD plasmas, CRTs and even a rear projection telly. I also met a guy who bought an HD Tivo and a Panasonic Blu-ray recorder, and had it plugged into a 51cm CRT. Both worked fine even when watching HD channels.

So, to answer your question: Yes, with 100% certainty, a high definition cable box will work with your TV as long as the box and the TV both have composite video ports. The box might have a SCART-to-composite converter, which will also work fine. Your TV doesn't need to have the "HD-Ready" logo on it. Some very old TVs might only have an aerial port, in which case you'll need to plug the cable box into the AV input of your VCR or DVD recorder.

To the people who said "No, it won't work": While I'm sure you are very good at helping on other forums here on Cnet, please refrain from posting about audiovisual unless you can speak from personal experience.

...a provider (such as Comcast, TW, etc.) would not permit that a certain channel or group of HD channels be downconverted to SD, perhaps in certain markets. I've seen this first hand. Usually, it works though.