<p>If the 1080p encode has a high enough bitrate, one shouldn't notice a significant difference, else the BD source offers greater headroom to retain detail.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-13T18:12:25.577Z
Isn't a double step doomed to a greater loss from the start?, one might doubt
ed0
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-13T18:19:23.647Z
Mathematically, yes. But your query concerns perceptual quality.  Run the command in this [answer](http://video.stackexchange.com/a/16668/1871) on both a 1st-generation and 2nd-generation encode to see how much difference you get.
Gyan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-13T17:13:27.457Z
2015-12-13T17:13:27.457Z
Gyan
<p>A lower-than-optimal bitrate video with higher resolution could easily look worst than a smaller one with proper bit per pixel dedication. Of course a very important fact is the viewing device and condition. A smaller video should get upscaled to fill the screen, for example a 1280×720 will get upscaled in full-screen mode on a 1920×1080 screen. </p>

<p>So, in conclusion the perceptual quality highly depends also on other factors than the resolution only.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-08T13:27:56.977Z
2019-10-10T15:47:09.117Z
2019-10-10T15:47:09.117Z
Behnam Kakavand
<p>If I was to compare a 720p video encoded (using x264) from an untouched 1080p Blu-ray rip with the same video encoded at a similar bitrate but from a 1080p x264 rip, which one is more likely to look better in terms of perceived quality?</p>

<video-quality><x264>
x264 quality results based on source
ed0
# x264 quality results based on source

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-12-13)

If I was to compare a 720p video encoded (using x264) from an untouched 1080p Blu-ray rip with the same video encoded at a similar bitrate but from a 1080p x264 rip, which one is more likely to look better in terms of perceived quality?

**Tags:** video-quality, x264


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-12-13. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

If the 1080p encode has a high enough bitrate, one shouldn't notice a significant difference, else the BD source offers greater headroom to retain detail.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Isn't a double step doomed to a greater loss from the start?, one might doubt  
> **username_1**: Mathematically, yes. But your query concerns perceptual quality.  Run the command in this [answer](http://video.stackexchange.com/a/16668/1871) on both a 1st-generation and 2nd-generation encode to see how much difference you get.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2019-10-08. Score: 1

A lower-than-optimal bitrate video with higher resolution could easily look worst than a smaller one with proper bit per pixel dedication. Of course a very important fact is the viewing device and condition. A smaller video should get upscaled to fill the screen, for example a 1280×720 will get upscaled in full-screen mode on a 1920×1080 screen.

So, in conclusion the perceptual quality highly depends also on other factors than the resolution only.


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