The SD on my 50 SXRD, which I watch in 4 x 3 mode, is as good as the Sony 32 inch crt I have upstairs. Both have non-digital cable feeds. The OTA antenna feed (2nd input on the SXRD) SD looks a little better than the SD cable feed. I get my HD from OTA.

Zoom the SD to fill the 16 x 9 is a different matter. Much worse!