I've just bought a new Epson TW1000 projector that supports 1080p. I have two DVD players I could hook it up to:

A Marantz DV7010 which was produced in 2001 and cost £700 ($1400) new
or
A Samsung DVD-HD950 which was produced in 2006 and cost £130 ($250) new

The Samsung is an upscaling DVD player and I don't know how much technology has improved since 2001 - would it be better to use the Samsung because it can upscale to 1080p and iit has newer technology in it or would it be better to let the projector upscale the image from the expensive (but old) Marantz player?

How much has technology improved in DVD players since the Marantz was released? If it's worth using the Marantz i'll go and buy the right cable.

Marantz wasn't really making good players back then, not sure about that specific unit, but I would definitely be looking at more current players. Marantz has some solid units nowadays though. Though I probably wouldn't pick the samsung as the best option over the Marantz.

I agree with Chris. The technology has improved dramatically, and new players should outperform your old Marantz. However, I would not pick Samsung myself (check out the Oppo threads, Sony, or Denon).

I'd suggest using a current player anyways, the technology of upscaling has improved a lot since 2001, a LOT. Did they even have players that did it back then? Anywho, it may be better to let the player do the uspcaling instead of what's throwing your video onto the screen. It's a decent rule to follow when dealing with TV's so, why not a player? You're just keeping more wear and tear off your projector. Look at the Oppo's, good price, great quality picture.

I think in 2001, progressive scan was the latest and greatest.

You can get $25 players from Walgreens today that do that. :p

I've just bought a new Epson TW1000 projector that supports 1080p. I have two DVD players I could hook it up to:

A Marantz DV7010 which was produced in 2001 and cost £700 ($1400) new
or
A Samsung DVD-HD950 which was produced in 2006 and cost £130 ($250) new

I wouldn't be able to resist from trying them both since you have both players. Maybe borrow the cable if that's the issue, but try them and maybe let us know what happens. I never could resist and experiment.

I was in the same boat with a slightly newer denon 1600 (maybe one year older than the marantz.) in testing both of them with a piano 3200 projector, the oppo BLOWS the denon out of the water. The colors and contrast are far better than the denon.. Even the sound is better. I am amazed. The denon cost around $500.00 or so while the oppo costs 1/2 the price.

I'm a little not sure if i should have waited for high def because i think we are getting close to paying the same for a high def player, however, if you want a player now, the oppo would be the way i would go.

Charles