What player would you guys suggest. Which is the best bang for your buck player. Dont want to spend too much. Probably no more than 200 US at the most. Was thinking harman 47 but hard to find. Thanks a lot.

What player would you guys suggest. Which is the best bang for your buck player. Dont want to spend too much. Probably no more than 200 US at the most. Was thinking harman 47 but hard to find. Thanks a lot.

The Oppo 970 and Sony NS75H are popular here in the under $150 range. You can read test reports here: http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/cgi-bin/shootout.cgi

-Bill

Philips 5982 around $70. At this price this one is hard to beat

Philips 5982 around $70. At this price this one is hard to beat

Ditto, though I think the Oppo 981 or 971 has a significantly better picture.

Ditto, though I think the Oppo 981 or 971 has a significantly better picture.Unless he has a plasma TV. - DR

Ditto, though I think the Oppo 981 or 971 has a significantly better picture.

I did a side by side comparision with 971. 971 has a very slight edge in PQ but at three times the price of 5982 philips is a keeper. I returned my 971 and kept 5982.

I did a side by side comparision with 971. 971 has a very slight edge in PQ but at three times the price of 5982 philips is a keeper. I returned my 971 and kept 5982.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I have both the Oppo981 and the Phillips 5960, and they are for two different markets, but to be fair, you should mention both given a $200 budget.

Oppo for best picture quality and better format support.

Philips to save some money and if you like playing divx off usb. Episode 3 of My Podcast (http://realht.info/EpisodePages/EP003.html) tells you how to make a low cost video jukeboxwith one of these and a USB Hard Drive.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I have both the Oppo981 and the Phillips 5960, and they are for two different markets, but to be fair, you should mention both given a $200 budget.

Oppo for best picture quality and better format support.

Philips to save some money and if you like playing divx off usb. Episode 3 of My Podcast (http://realht.info/EpisodePages/EP003.html) tells you how to make a low cost video jukeboxwith one of these and a USB Hard Drive.

I didn't find significant diff between 971 and Philips 5982 but thate me. With 971 I also have terrible macroblocking on my olevia LCD. I think right now Oppos are overpriced may be an year back they are good but not anymore but that's me. YMMV.

I have a panasonic ax100 projector. Do you guys think my harman 745 will do a good enough upconversion on a progressive scan dvd player? Or worth the money on the upgrade. Dont mind spending the money if its worth it. No one is really suggesting the harman 47 I see. Its just not worth the money? Thanks for all the replies so far.

Oppo for best picture quality and better format support.
Both statements are being repeated like gospel around here.
But the truth is that an average Joe won't notice neither better picture quality, nor the advantages of the obscure standards support.

Both statements are being repeated like gospel around here.
But the truth is that an average Joe won't notice neither better picture quality, nor the advantages of the obscure standards support.

Guess I'm not the average joe.

Both statements are being repeated like gospel around here.
But the truth is that an average Joe won't notice neither better picture quality, nor the advantages of the obscure standards support.
Frankly I think the "average Joe" is probably not reading this forum.

I'm looking for an upconverting player for a budget home theater setup, leaning towards the Philips. But if anyone can say with certainty the Oppo 971H will provide a better picture on my Pioneer 4270HD without macroblocking then I'll gladly plunk down the extra bucks. I have one and it does provide a great picture but also exhibits tremendous macroblocking on my JVC DILA set, despite calibration.

Frankly I think the "average Joe" is probably not reading this forum.

I'm looking for an upconverting player for a budget home theater setup, leaning towards the Philips. But if anyone can say with certainty the Oppo 971H will provide a better picture on my Pioneer 4270HD without macroblocking then I'll gladly plunk down the extra bucks. I have one and it does provide a great picture but also exhibits tremendous macroblocking on my JVC DILA set, despite calibration.

Well I can't tell you that it's not going to macroblock, because it does. Can't change that. For me though, macroblocking occurs so infrequently, that I put up with it for the better picture the other 99% of the time.

I am getting a Panasonic TH-58PZ750U (1080p/60hz Plasma) - HDMI only (for 1080p).

Does anyone have a recommendation?

I hear the Oppo has macroblocking visible on some sets.

The Samsung and Toshiba have the Reon Chipset, but are not standard DVD upconverters.....

I am looking for a good upconverter.

I see Samsung has a new model out - DVD-HD1080P7. If it has the same guts as their BD-P1200 model, the DVD-HD1080P7 might be the best thing on the market for 1080p upconversion, MPEG4/DIVX etc?

Any advice?

Thanks in advance!

If you have the dough, get the Reon HD/BD players as they will upconvert SD DVDs better than any Faroudja players on plasmas.

Samsung 1080p7 uses Zoran and is average at best. It does not have Reon (typo on press release--or intentionally deceiving to boost sales).

I just did a test on a Samsung BD1200 which has HQV (Reon chip) and I popped in Xmen standard dvd on a new samsung 40 inch LCD at Best Buy. And I was BLOWN away. People started to crowd around me and started to praise the HD picture and they were blown away when I told them it was a standard dvd. I was very picky about how standard dvds looked on LCDS and that is why I still own a 34 inch CRT. I own 300+ standard dvds and I wanted to make sure that they get the justice they deserve. After testing out HQV processing, I am fully ready to sell my 34 inch CRT and purchase an LCD soon.