So I get a Sony Bravia S2010 (768p) a month ago and decide to upgrade from a 3 year-old Sony non-progressive DVD player to the Denon 1730..

I'm underwhelmed with the Denon via HDMI to 720p..it's solid, but I can't tell if there was any difference from the Sony DVD player..

So I go to the store again and get the 1930ci with the Faroudja chip..

This time I hook the old DVD player directly into the component on the tv and hook up the 1930ci via HDMI on another input..I calibrate both inputs with the Avia disk and proceed to watch Deja-vu and Star Wars Clones back and forth between both players..

I can tell ZERO difference...In fact I am trying to tell myself that the $350 player is better than the $90 Sony..but I can't...

Call me surprised..it's not like the Sony S2010 is high-end or anything...but it's upconversion was just as good as the Denon's..

Since your LCD has to scale everything to 1366x768 it may be making both players look equally good or equally bad - depending on how you look at it. :)

larry

Since your LCD has to scale everything to 1366x768 it may be making both players look equally good or equally bad - depending on how you look at it. :)

larry

I understand that, but I don't understand how some people post that going from a non-upconverting player to an upconverting player is a night and day difference. That the PQ from the SD dvd was terrible before they used an upconverting player. :confused:

My SD dvds look great either way

I guess I'm lucky and my tv's scaler does the job fine..or I need a higher prescription on my glasses. :D

I DO want to get the XA2, though..I KNOW that there will be a night and day difference from SD DVD's to HD dvd's..

Most other people are using different displays and players. There is no universal rule saying the upconverting helps.

larry

I understand that, but I don't understand how some people post that going from a non-upconverting player to an upconverting player is a night and day difference. That the PQ from the SD dvd was terrible before they used an upconverting player. If you're in an experimenting mood, why not give a less-expensive upconverting player a shot too. A given is one of the Oppo's, but there's also Philips, Toshibas, Sonys, and so on that might work too. I think it's shown in recent years that more money doesn't get you a better picture anymore.

I don't understand how some people post that going from a non-upconverting player to an upconverting player is a night and day difference.

Many factors:s
Some folks start with a non progressive pos player and the upgrade = wow :cool:
Some folks sets do great processing no matter what you feed it :p
Some folks have active imaginations :D
Some folks have poor eyesight ;)

Some folks have active imaginations :D I believe that to be the case A LOT. When someone spends $400 on a DVD player, it just has to be better than a $75 one and they won't believe (or accept) otherwise.

As already mentioned, the problem is likely the display, which has to rescale all inputs due to the native 768p resolution (largely defeating the advantages of an upscaling player). The benefits of upscaling are totally dependent on the specific equipment. Also, the 2 Denons looked at are not exactly their high end players.

Upconversion makes a very small difference when done correctly.
I can show you on a test pattern easily, but you may not notice it on real material and the display size is another factor. People with projectors take this very seriously.

Also, did you calibrate or standardize your 2 inputs w/ the dvd players in any way?

The 1930 should have had better deinterlacing too.

Upconversion makes a very small difference when done correctly.
I can show you on a test pattern easily, but you may not notice it on real material and the display size is another factor. People with projectors take this very seriously.

Also, did you calibrate or standardize your 2 inputs w/ the dvd players in any way?

The 1930 should have had better deinterlacing too.

yes...both tv inputs were calibrated..
I am returning the 1930ci and keeping the 1730. Much cheaper and I'll end up getting a HD player one of these months...

Many factors:s
Some folks start with a non progressive pos player and the upgrade = wow :cool:
Some folks sets do great processing no matter what you feed it :p
Some folks have active imaginations :D
Some folks have poor eyesight ;)

that's my point.. I DID start with a non progressive POS Sony player that I got 3 years ago

Well, in the end, it's all about what looks good to you, since you probably won't have this forum over for movie nights. :p If you've tested players you're willing to buy, and came to the conclusion that there isn't a difference, then stick with the one that has the features/price you want.

I did notice an increase in quality going from a Panasonic non-ps changer to an Onkyo upconverting changer. Both tested on a Samsung DLP, Panny used component, Onkyo uses HDMI.

I'm satisfied.