At what resolution do you watch anime?

[Buffalobiian]

What do you do these days? SD for bandwidth saving? 1080p because it's great? Personally I use 720p because I didn't see a difference between it and the first 1080p stuff that came out. My main screen is also only 1280x1024 in resolution, so the 720p works out nicely. Having extra storage space and quicker downloading are also pluses.

[Kraco]

720p. Bandwidth isn't actually such a huge concern for me, but I very much appreciate the less HD space claimed in my archive. Plus, like Bill, I don't perceive such a huge difference anyway watching all the shows from a 24" screen. I only use my home theater setup (with a modest 42" TV) for watching the occasional movies, and consequently some of those I've got in full 1080p.

[Ryllharu]

I don't think my computer and network are up to snuff streaming 1080p to my TV, so I stick with 720p which is "good enough" for anime.

[Penner]

The highest resolution i can find, which is pretty much 1080p.

Since i live in Sweden where we have awesome internet with unlimited bandwidth thats never an issue, and i never archive/save anything either, just download, watch, then delete it.

[David75]

1080p
Recently watched Vampire Bund that seemed to have proper encoding and it showed.
Limitations? Well fiber and a 4TB NAS, an XBMC htpc and a dedicated screen, there's really no limiting factor.
1080p is slightly better than 720p, but it sometimes shows. It really depends on the show though.
I'm starting Major from S1 and the very low resolution and encoding eps are not that much of a bother because this is a fairly simple animation/design/background anime.
I would not tolerate that on a GITS OVA/movie, or other shows with high image/art quality.

For 4K and 8K, well... I'll wait for H265 to be ready :D

[KrayZ33]

I tend to grab the best (which is 720p for most releases)
so 720p is the way to go imho. I start seeing blocks on lower resolutions and that kills the fun

I believe 1080 is better on a TV, I don't know though since its all just upscaled to the max, isn't it?
at least if its a TV-show release - I don't know how they handle the BD-releases and whether thats true HD material shown there... or not

[MFauli]

480p when im at my appartment, where internet is sloooooow.

720p when im at my parent´s, because my screen there is only 1680x1050.

1080p when I decide to archive an anime.

[Xelbair]

there is not much difference between 720p and 1080p when it comes to watching anime. i usually roll with 720p for normal releases, but i archive 1080p releases of movies.

[FelixZeroAlastor]

720p. I usually watch anime on my laptop so I never notice much of a difference. Quicker download too.

[DarthEnderX]

480 just because I have slow internet and it takes the least amount of time to download.

Doesn't really bother me either.

As opposed to when One Piece used to come out in 360. Which even I noticed to be poor quality.

[Carnage]

I can confirm there is a significant difference when watching 1080p on a tv. I imagine once you break 42" in screen size then it's worth downloading 1080p.

[shinta|hikari]

480p and it isn't in the damn poll.

[Buffalobiian]

480p and it isn't in the damn poll.

That's SD. There are other various intermediate ones in between as well (576p?) that I just group into the sub-HD category.

[shinta|hikari]

No it isn't. It is enhanced definition.

[Buffalobiian]

Hmm.. interesting. Weird but interesting. According to wiki all the SD formats are interlaced. You're right.

[Alhuin]

720p for most things, 1080p if it's a series/movie I really like.

[Archangel]

I've been trying to download in 1080p since i have a true hd 24 inch screen now that makes 720p look blurry as shit.

[darkshadow]

Hyperbole, 24" is not big enough for 720p content (a cartoon) to look that much different, especially considering 1080p anime is just upscaled in the first place (unless the source is a BD).

[Archangel]

Hyperbole, 24" is not big enough for 720p content (a cartoon) to look that much different, especially considering 1080p anime is just upscaled in the first place (unless the source is a BD).
Don't know what to tell you, to me it looks significantly blurrier when i turn on full screen. No issues with 1080p rips from horriblesubs though.

[Killa-Eyez]

720p because of very limited HDD space (should prolly delete some pr0n). It also depends on which anime it is. Like Shippuuden, for instance, I download in 480p because the show sucks anyhow (quality wise) yet I am archiving it because I archived the first installment already. But an HnI: Rising gets 720p preference quality and content wise. 1080p is usually for OVA's and movies because of the usually high quality animation.


I don't think my computer and network are up to snuff streaming 1080p to my TV, so I stick with 720p which is "good enough" for anime.

Can get a long way with PS3 Media Server depending on your set up. A 64-bit quad core of 2.6Ghz with 4GB ram and a wired connection are minimum requirements for flawless 1080p streaming. I use it on my PS3 and my recently (today) bought (€20,- w00t! :cool:) Sony SMP-N200 (because of Cinavia limitations on PS3).

:o

[Ryllharu]

Can get a long way with PS3 Media Server depending on your set up. A 64-bit quad core of 2.6Ghz with 4GB ram and a wired connection are minimum requirements for flawless 1080p streaming.
Yeah, that would be my problem. I'm right at the minimum, and on wireless, so even bad 720p encodes occasionally stutter during the OPs.

[poopdeville]

I go SD for exposition and 720p for climaxes/boss battles/etc. I'd have to be sitting 3 feet away from my 24 in screen to see any difference between 720p and 1080p.

[NeoCybercoin]

1080p if I can find it for that show. Don't care much about the size. Got like 1 TB for series, movies and anime. So I'm fine with that.

[Xelbair]

i've got ~3TB and that is not enough :P

[Buffalobiian]

i've got ~3TB and that is not enough :P

I had 3.5TB, but that wasn't enough. Currently I've got 6TB. For now that's enough..

[DarthEnderX]

I have one TB, and I just delete stuff I don't think I'm ever going to watch again or show anyone else.

[Munsu]

I prefer to watch on 1080p when available, but since I also archive my downloads I usually go with the 720p version just because I don't like to redownload, I have a lot of space but shit adds up very quickly.

For movies and OVAs though I usually go with the 1080p version almost always and I also archive that version as well.

I don't now, but when those 8TB or so HDDs come to market and at an affordable price, I'd jump on 1080p almost exclusively.

[David75]

Well, by the time 8TB drives become affordable, we'll have UHD... Meaning HEVC encodes, so probably some hardware refresh needed (screen, able player...)
over the years, I have accumulated quite a lot of shows. But I do just that, accumulate.
I gues I should jut list everything and try to find the best alternatives for the shows I think I might like again and rematch a cleaner version. Also, even if not yet in the process of learning the language, I get more and more from what is said. So the shows I liked in say 2005, might provide a new experience now... Or not. But I digress.
1080 is the way to go for me when available, even with upscales.

[lelouch]

I'm too lazy i just look up my shit on animefreak

[Buffalobiian]

I was under some pretty hard bandwidth restrictions earlier in the year when I had to relocate, and I was forced to watch anime in 480p. I was surprised at how little I minded the drop in resolution. Combined with the fact that 480p is also much quicker to download, I'd say that it will stick around for some time to come. It's not yet irrelevant.

[Kraco]

I was under some pretty hard bandwidth restrictions earlier in the year when I had to relocate, and I was forced to watch anime in 480p. I was surprised at how little I minded the drop in resolution. Combined with the fact that 480p is also much quicker to download, I'd say that it will stick around for some time to come. It's not yet irrelevant.

You are going to watch UBW in 480p?

[Buffalobiian]

You are going to watch UBW in 480p?

I meant that there are still good reasons to get 480p.

UBW will be watched in 720p most likely. When I move away from a 1280x1024 monitor, then I may consider watching regular shows at a higher resolution - if they make a good enough difference that is.

[vejita613]

1080p unless it's unavailable or I'm just impatient.

[DarthEnderX]

I gues I should jut list everything and try to find the best alternatives for the shows I think I might like again and rematch a cleaner version. Also, even if not yet in the process of learning the language, I get more and more from what is said.I've been watching subbed anime for ages now and I'm sad to say I haven't really learned jack shit via osmosis.

All I've managed to learn is some attack names and a couple of exclamations(nani?).

[Buffalobiian]

1080p unless it's unavailable or I'm just impatient.

It actually annoys me slightly that 720p versions can be delayed for quite some time after a 1080p release has been made.

[shinta|hikari]

I've been watching subbed anime for ages now and I'm sad to say I haven't really learned jack shit via osmosis.

All I've managed to learn is some attack names and a couple of exclamations(nani?).


I became fluent in Japanese mainly because of anime, manga, and eventually VNs.

[David75]

I'm also watching some Doramas, you need a better encode for those as it's bothersome having lavish colors and encoding artifacts on real life images.
They really help in understanding the language for obvious reasons: faces and body language. Both lost in anime.