New here and already in need of help.
(btw, I'm from Europe)

I just got delivered my plasma, but I still have an old Sony DVP-LS500 dvd-player hooked up through scart (so no HDMI connection).
I was planning on getting the Pioneer DV-410V, but now I've read some reviews that say it's not very good (while the 400V received very good reviews).
So, I've started hesitating again...

Here is my shortlist:

* Pioneer DV-410V (still my favourite, but no optical out)
* Panasonic DVD-S54 (best match with a Pana plasma? or is the S53 better?)
* Philips DVP5990 (never really liked Philips, but this seems a very good player, successor to the 5980?)
* Sony DVP-NS708 (it's called the NS700H in the US, don't know anything about this one, has optical out)
* Onkyo DV-SP406 (the same inside as the Pioneer??)


Oppo, Pioneer 610AV or Denon are out of the price range I'm looking in.
All above-mentioned players cost between €80 and €120 ($113 - $170) over here, the Philips being the cheapest and the Pioneer the most expensive one. (those prices are pretty high compared to yours I think)

I can also get the Sony NS78 (NS77H in the US) for €59 ($84). It appears the differences between this model and the new NS708 are purely cosmetic...
In the meantime I kind of eliminated the Panasonic and the Onkyo, unless someone can give me a good reason not to.

The questions:
1. Which of the above would give me the best picture on my new plasma or is there a candidate I overlooked that would be even better?
2. Is the Pioneer really that much better then any other player in that price range?
3. Will I be able to see an objective difference in PQ between the Pioneer and the others when connected to my plasma?

Please help me decide.

(FYI, an Oppo 980H would cost me $280 over here, not including shipping)

Where are the experts here?
:confused:

I upgraded recently to an Oppo 981 model for my Panasonic 46PZ80U plasma display.
I highly recommend it, it was a good upgrade from an older 480p DVD player for me, I use 1080p output format.

That one would cost me $340.
Sorry, not the budget I'm looking at, for that price I would buy a BR-player.

(and to be complete, the 983H would cost me the gigantic amount of $550)

Check on EBAY, there may still be some low priced units offered from the big woot! sale last month.

check craigs list too . im waiting on a reply now on a $60 new in the box HD-DVD player . according to this forum the discontiued HD players are great upscalers . i guess ill start looking for used HD movies that i like now ;) .
eventually i want to get a PS3 so i dont want to invest too much in a player now .