Hello,

*****MY TITLE IS WRONG, IT SHOULD SAY WHICH IS BETTER, A 1080P UPSCALER OR 1080I HD-DVD PLAYER?***

I have a 56" 1080p RPTV, my dvd player just died so im looking at getting either an upscaler or and HD-DVD player to use as an upscaler (I will only be watching SD dvd's not HD-DVD's).

I see the HD-A2 only supports 1080i, and I can get a Toshiba SD-6000 (upconverter) for a good price but it upscales it to 1080p.

Is there a big difference in 1080i and 1080p?

We also have a 56in RP HD TV with native 1080p resolution but so far as watching up converted standard def dvds I'm not sure a HD player will do any better job for you.

I think there could be something more to this than number of lines claimed by a HD format player re overall image quality.

A BIG part of standard definition dvd image up converting is the power and quality of the player's image processor and associated software as they attempt to analyze a 480p native image and then add lines of resolution based on that analysis.

Another important issue is how well your tv or projector will process and display the incoming up converted image - again, image processor quality and power and associated software.

Now we're in a multi-layer of complication issue - answer is what your personal eyeballs tell you - mine might tell me something different so go to a big box store and compare all the different players on a big screen tv of same format as your projector.

Odds are that best player with the tv will also be best with the projector.

Maybe an Oppo up converting player would do a better job but our Sony up converting player delivers such a near HD image to both our TV and projector we couldn't imagine spending more for a "better" one.

Like you, we have no plan to upgrade to BluRay at this time cause we have a very large collection of standard def dvd movies that look REALLY good to us via up conversion. Maybe not true HD but REALLY good.
goodluck

Circuit City has Toshiba A30's for $130USD,it can output 1080p and uses an ABT chip for upconversion.
It also comes with two HD DVD movies.

Circuit City has Toshiba A30's for $130USD,it can output 1080p and uses an ABT chip for upconversion.
It also comes with two HD DVD movies.

i use the toshiba a30 with my 720p hd pj and 108" screen and the upscaling @1080i is a little sharper and has better color, better definition than my a2!
op, go 4 a30 or a35 if u can find one.