I looked through some threads but didn't see anything like what I'm wondering. Basically, when I go to Best Buy I will see upscaling DVD players for between $50-$70. This price just seems awfully low. Now, I know we can't ask for price info here so please don't get started on that. I'd hate for my thread to get locked before I can get some answers.

I'm just wondering if any of these are actually good DVD players? When I say good, I mean will produce a great picture and will be easy to use and last a long time being used heavily. Or, do these tend to be pretty junky and not really worth the cost?

I've also read some people say SD DVD with component is just the same or better than upscaling. Right now the DVD player I have is also a recorder but won't really work with my HD cable box, so I need to replace it with a new DVD player. I want the best one possible but don't want to spend more than ~$75 and just figured upscaling had to be better than component. I'll obviously look at both if they are about the same but basically I know I can get a SD DVD player for that range that will be great but am not so sure about the upscalers.

So yeah, do those cheaper upscaling DVD players tend to be really good players for the price? Thanks for any insight.

I looked through some threads but didn't see anything like what I'm wondering. Basically, when I go to Best Buy I will see upscaling DVD players for between $50-$70. This price just seems awfully low. Now, I know we can't ask for price info here so please don't get started on that. I'd hate for my thread to get locked before I can get some answers.

I'm just wondering if any of these are actually good DVD players? When I say good, I mean will produce a great picture and will be easy to use and last a long time being used heavily. Or, do these tend to be pretty junky and not really worth the cost?

I've also read some people say SD DVD with component is just the same or better than upscaling. Right now the DVD player I have is also a recorder but won't really work with my HD cable box, so I need to replace it with a new DVD player. I want the best one possible but don't want to spend more than ~$75 and just figured upscaling had to be better than component. I'll obviously look at both if they are about the same but basically I know I can get a SD DVD player for that range that will be great but am not so sure about the upscalers.

So yeah, do those cheaper upscaling DVD players tend to be really good players for the price? Thanks for any insight.
I think the Sony DVP-NS700H might be what you are looking for.

I would spend just a little more, or find a coupon if available, and get the Pioneer 410. You can get it from Pioneer's website here (http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/HomeEntertainment/Blu-rayDisc+DVD/PioneerDVDPlayers+Recorders/ci.DV-410V-K.Kuro). It is very nice player for that price.

Thanks. It's good to know that there are a few solid brands out there.

So, assuming I'm looking to get an upscaling DVD player, what should I be looking at in terms of specs? Or is there no way to differentiate between what is and isn't good without actually checking specific reviews?

How big is your TV? Is it wide screen? Consider upping your budget to 100. The extra 25 will get you more choices and additional features.

I've also read some people say SD DVD with component is just the same or better than upscaling.

It kind of depends on the player and your TV. Some TVs upscale really well by themselves, and just need a progressive scan player outputting 480p signals, and some even do deinterlacing well and just need a 480i signal.

Others don't so well and can benefit from an upscaling player. I prefer my player to upscale, but I tried it both ways.


So, assuming I'm looking to get an upscaling DVD player, what should I be looking at in terms of specs? Or is there no way to differentiate between what is and isn't good without actually checking specific reviews?

Sometimes you can tell by the type of processing chip they use, such as the Reon chip.

Well I currently use the JVC XV-N650B (black model)/ XV-N652S (silver model) and really like it. It can be made region free, output 480i if needed, and can be had off ecost for $35!

I think the Sony DVP-NS700H might be what you are looking for.

I can vouch for that as I own one.

A majority of DVD manufactured after 2001 look great upscaled on this player, only a minority do not. I do not know why.

Before 2001, its hit and miss, but before 1996 its mostly miss.

Pre-2001 anamorphic widescreen is often a good disk [ e.g. Jeremiah Johnson or Cool Hand Luke] although a few are not good.

The worst looking disks are "letterboxed" compared to 'Pan and Scan'. With the P&S, you can zoom and stretch it to fill the HD screen with a clear picture, while the zoomed 'letterboxed' versions are pixelated.

I have compared some movies available on DVDs that were broadcast at 1080i on the Starz network, and the differences for these movies are slight see below. However, on many pre-2001 disks, the DVD pq is nowhere near 1080i, even if the signal outputted by the player is 1080p.

For example, the follow are breath taking and near Blu-Ray quality: Band of Brothers HBO series, Troy, Saving Private Ryan, Gladiator ... all released after 2001.

'Master and Commander' and the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series on DVD actually look far better than the 1080i Starz versions!

Some movies that were re-released as a 'special edition' after 2001, the prior editions being before 2000, are now excellent e.g. Goodfellas and Sam Peckinpah's Straw Dogs.

One very old disk remastered in Dec 2007, had multiple releases since the 1st DVD in the early 1990s, is finally superb: The Final Cut: Blade Runner.

Its clear to me that the DVD format can be mastered in a way to maximize video quality, but I haven't a clue on how this is done, Can anyone help or point to a thread with a discussion on it?

The best criteria I can find that defines whether a DVD will likely look wonderful upscaled is if its definitely made past 2001, newer is better, and some or all the words are on the box: collectors or special edition or set, newly remastered, enhanced for 16:9. Discounting marketing tricks such as memorabilia or toys in the boxes, what I value in 'special edition' sets is the DVD mastering. The wording helps when choosing multiple releases of the same movie. Sometimes the medium priced verison is a better value [ it has the same DVD mastering as the premium box] if all that makes the premium are toys, leaflets and a fancy box.

I was trying to keep my tv out of this just because I figured it would open a whole new can of options but I guess I'll spill it.

I have a Samsung ln37a450. So it's a 37" 720p tv. Basically I'm thinking of getting rid of my DVD player because if I'm going to get a DVR, the HDD on mine is useless. So if half of the thing is useless I may as well look at getting a stronger DVD player in its stead. But since I don't want to commit a ton of money, I'd be looking at the cheaper ones.

My price limit is certainly not fixed so a $100 player is possible. I know I would not consider something much more expensive because then I could just get the upscaler with the HDD and have all-in-one. But I was also not being too specific because I may still go that route and save money on the DVR service since having my own recorder will last for a long time with no extra charges but a DVR will always cost me $12 extra per month. After 2 years I was better off just getting the combo. Of course, I've been told the combo unit does not have the best upscaling, which is why I thought I'd get more info on this aspect of a dvd player.

So yeah, my mind isn't made up yet but all the info I can absorb, I'll take.

Right now the DVD player I have is also a recorder but won't really work with my HD cable box No present DVD recorder will record in HD. Before you invest in a new DVD player that upscales, I would try your present DVD recorder with the display doing the scaling. The advantage of a DVR is you can record in HD. Disavdantage is monthly fee and you can not keep a permanent copy. No right answer to your situation. Many reasonable choices.

If you are PC savvy, the best way to rip movies for time shifting is via a full blown PC, racks of external standard HD for storage, and a good video card. There is no format that cannot be saved. However, you will not have the quick and easy action of an appliance but it will allow you do to everything you ask here for under $500, excluding the PC, and a lot of Internet time for material, software and updates.

Until then for 720p, you can certainly get a good upscaling player for under $100, the best solution is to audition the unit at home, return it to the store if you are not satisfied.




I was trying to keep my tv out of this just because I figured it would open a whole new can of options but I guess I'll spill it.

I have a Samsung ln37a450. So it's a 37" 720p tv. Basically I'm thinking of getting rid of my DVD player because if I'm going to get a DVR, the HDD on mine is useless. So if half of the thing is useless I may as well look at getting a stronger DVD player in its stead. But since I don't want to commit a ton of money, I'd be looking at the cheaper ones.

My price limit is certainly not fixed so a $100 player is possible. I know I would not consider something much more expensive because then I could just get the upscaler with the HDD and have all-in-one. But I was also not being too specific because I may still go that route and save money on the DVR service since having my own recorder will last for a long time with no extra charges but a DVR will always cost me $12 extra per month. After 2 years I was better off just getting the combo. Of course, I've been told the combo unit does not have the best upscaling, which is why I thought I'd get more info on this aspect of a dvd player.

So yeah, my mind isn't made up yet but all the info I can absorb, I'll take.

Pioneer DV-400V, Philips DVP-3140/37 are well reviewed and are $70-100. Sony doesn't seem to get good marks for upscaling. The OPPO DV-980H at $169 is considered the best bang for the buck for video/audio performance and the OPPO DV-981HD (HDMI only) the best value video performer.
You might also take a look at the new Toshiba HDE-500 at $149. Most of the under $70 upscalers don't seem to do any better than progressive scan, but that works if your TV upscales well.

The newer Philips DVP5990 which is $58 at Wal-mart is outstanding. I have compared this machine with my new Samsung BD P2550 (has the HQV REON Chip for standard DVD upconversion) and I honestly can't tell the difference and might even give the edge to the Philips. The Region free playback is excellent as well. The other nice feature this machine has is the Lip Sync adjustment.

So yeah, do those cheaper upscaling DVD players tend to be really good players for the price? Thanks for any insight.
Not really. Or at least not on a relative level.

They all 'upscale' to HD resolution, but here is the issue that most folks miss: all HDTV sets already have internal de-interlacing/scaling that is usually better than these discount units. Yes, there units out there that do an excellent job of upscaling (example: Oppo DV-983H (http://www.oppodigital.com/dv983h/)) but they are not the sub $100 units.

The real question: do these units do a better job upscaling than the TV they are connected with? In most cases, the answer is no. (The exception would be early generation HDTV sets with poor video processing or 'discount' HDTV sets.)

Far better results will often result from getting a quality SD-DVD player that can transport a raw 480i video signal to the TV for processing and viewing. FWIW, many lower priced DVD players cannot do this via HDMI and are limited to 480p.

As an example, both the Oppo DV-980H (http://www.oppodigital.com/dv980h/default.asp) and Pioneer DV-410V-K (http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/HomeEntertainment/Blu-rayDisc+DVD/PioneerDVDPlayers+Recorders/ci.DV-410V-K.Kuro) will output 480i via HDMI. There are several others, I simply listed these two off the top of my head.

(edit: Here (http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6449_7-6859904-1.html) is an article on cnet that explains many of the issues.)

So in summary, there are some excellent discount DVD players...but the good ones are the ones that allow you to transport the 480i signal for your TV to process.

The Philips DVP units have come back to rave reviews both for upscaling, multiregion, USB support, and Divx support.

I owned an older non-upscaling model and it has been a good player, until it died; I repaired it and still use it, I have 3 DVD players hooked up so I can preview disks very quickly, 3 at a time :rolleyes:

Given its costs as much as a tank of gasoline, its worth your while to explore a unit until it dies, then upgrade to an even better one when it available.


The newer Philips DVP5990 which is $58 at Wal-mart is outstanding. I have compared this machine with my new Samsung BD P2550 (has the HQV REON Chip for standard DVD upconversion) and I honestly can't tell the difference and might even give the edge to the Philips. The Region free playback is excellent as well. The other nice feature this machine has is the Lip Sync adjustment.

I read that article and it seems logical, but the output of a good upscaling DVD is worth the money. A standard DVD player retails between $30-50, while a noted upscaling DVD [ e.g. the Philips and Sony mentioned earlier in this thread] are between $60-80.

As I wrote below, I have 3 DVD players, 2 connected as 480p on component and one via HDMI on the upscaling Sony. The HDMI upscaler picture is nearer Blu Ray quality, while the component output is better than 480p via broadcast, its nowhere near the 1080p quality.

My TV is an Sharp 46SE94U.


Not really. Or at least not on a relative level.

They all 'upscale' to HD resolution, but here is the issue that most folks miss: all HDTV sets already have internal de-interlacing/scaling that is usually better than these discount units. Yes, there units out there that do an excellent job of upscaling (example: Oppo DV-983H (http://www.oppodigital.com/dv983h/)) but they are not the sub $100 units.

The real question: do these units do a better job upscaling than the TV they are connected with? In most cases, the answer is no. (The exception would be early generation HDTV sets with poor video processing or 'discount' HDTV sets.)

Far better results will often result from getting a quality SD-DVD player that can transport a raw 480i video signal to the TV for processing and viewing. FWIW, many lower priced DVD players cannot do this via HDMI and are limited to 480p.

As an example, both the Oppo DV-980H (http://www.oppodigital.com/dv980h/default.asp) and Pioneer DV-410V-K (http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/HomeEntertainment/Blu-rayDisc+DVD/PioneerDVDPlayers+Recorders/ci.DV-410V-K.Kuro) will output 480i via HDMI. There are several others, I simply listed these two off the top of my head.

(edit: Here (http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6449_7-6859904-1.html) is an article on cnet that explains many of the issues.)

So in summary, there are some excellent discount DVD players...but the good ones are the ones that allow you to transport the 480i signal for your TV to process .

Its clear to me that the DVD format can be mastered in a way to maximize video quality, but I haven't a clue on how this is done, Can anyone help or point to a thread with a discussion on it?

There is no single answer as several technology issues converged about the timeframe you mentioned. Some examples:

The motion picture industry began moving to an all-digital workflow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_intermediate) (expect for the actual film used on set or location). One of the many end benefits of this process is the ability to use a digital master as the basis for direct digital encoding of DVD's.

In addition, the actual software tools used for DVD encoding continued to evolve. By 2001 they were greatly improved compared with the tools of only a few years prior. As the encoders improved in capability, it enabled better quality images within the same "bit budget."

There is no single answer as several technology issues converged about the timeframe you mentioned. Some examples:

The motion picture industry began moving to an all-digital workflow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_intermediate) (expect for the actual film used on set or location). One of the many end benefits of this process is the ability to use a digital master as the basis for direct digital encoding of DVD's.

In addition, the actual software tools used for DVD encoding continued to evolve. By 2001 they were greatly improved compared with the tools of only a few years prior. As the encoders improved in capability, it enabled better quality images within the same "bit budget."

WOW, thank you so much. That's what I needed to know to explore the issue further.