I hope I can get some answers on here on a new player to pick out.

I have been looking at Yamaha, Denon, and Pioneer Elite for my needs,but I'm getting confused going through all the threads.

Here's what I'm looking for, trying to stay under $500

1. Region Free upgrade
2. PAL to NTSC conversion.
3. HDMI upconversion
4. DVD-A through HDMI
5. Pillarboxing for 4x3 material

I want to pass everything through HDMI. I'm concerned about getting good PAL to NTSC image. I've read that some players convert PAL from 625 lines to 480 back to 1080. Does anyone know a good player that converts PAL 625 directly to 720p or 10801?

Im buying a "40 Sony 1080p LCD to hook up to.

Please let me know if any player out there will do what I'm looking for, even if its more than my budget.

I hope I can get some answers on here on a new player to pick out.

I have been looking at Yamaha, Denon, and Pioneer Elite for my needs,but I'm getting confused going through all the threads.

Here's what I'm looking for, trying to stay under $500

1. Region Free upgrade
2. PAL to NTSC conversion.
3. HDMI upconversion
4. DVD-A through HDMI
5. Pillarboxing for 4x3 material

I want to pass everything through HDMI. I'm concerned about getting good PAL to NTSC image. I've read that some players convert PAL from 625 lines to 480 back to 1080. Does anyone know a good player that converts PAL 625 directly to 720p or 10801?

Im buying a "40 Sony 1080p LCD to hook up to.

Please let me know if any player out there will do what I'm looking for, even if its more than my budget.

The Oppo 981 meets your criteria for $229. It also has 1080p, although I don't know if your display accepts that.

I don't know the specifics of its PAL->NTSC conversion, although PAL users have been giving good reports on the 981 thread. You might write Oppo support and ask; they are very open about system internals.

-Bill