I have a Panasonic 50 inch plasma 50PHD6 that I had hooked up via HDMI with TiVo H10-250 HD DVR. It worked great. That receiver started failing, so I upgraded to new DirecTV HR 20 HD DVR. I am using an HDMI to DVI cable, as I only have DVI on plasma. l CANNOT get a picture with the HR 20. When I hook it up, it just continues to cycle through the resolution lights on HR 20 and never finds a signal. I unhooked my DVD and hooked up HR 20 via those component connections and it works fine.

Does anyone know why HDMI to DVI will not work?

If component connection is my only option for the TV, then I need a new DVD player that will work via my current HDMI to DVI connection. I need one that has SACD and DVD Audio playback as well. Any suggestions on a good unit to buy for under $300?

It must be one that will not present the HDMI to DVI problem I have currently having.

I have a Panasonic 50 inch plasma 50PHD6 that I had hooked up via HDMI with TiVo H10-250 HD DVR. It worked great. That receiver started failing, so I upgraded to new DirecTV HR 20 HD DVR. I am using an HDMI to DVI cable, as I only have DVI on plasma. l CANNOT get a picture with the HR 20. When I hook it up, it just continues to cycle through the resolution lights on HR 20 and never finds a signal. I unhooked my DVD and hooked up HR 20 via those component connections and it works fine.

Does anyone know why HDMI to DVI will not work?

If component connection is my only option for the TV, then I need a new DVD player that will work via my current HDMI to DVI connection. I need one that has SACD and DVD Audio playback as well. Any suggestions on a good unit to buy for under $300?

It must be one that will not present the HDMI to DVI problem I have currently having.

SInce your display has DVI instead of HDMI I presume it is a few years old? Older DVI displays often did not have HDCP, so no HDMI->DVI will work with them.

If so...

The discontinued Opp 971 was a DVI player without HDCP which would work in this case. It has DVD-A but not SACD.

The Oppo 970 and new 980 have both HDMI and component video and do SACD and DVD-A.

Upscaling over component is no longer allowed by the industry so people who want this rely on unsupported third-party firmware hacks.

-Bill

Get the new Oppo DV-980HD since you have a plasma. It should do everything you want and more.

Avoid the Oppo 971 and 981... they use a Genesis/Faroudja processing chip that causes terrible macroblocking artifacts on most plasma and DLP sets.

If the 980HD won't work with your DVI input (and you don't want to apply modified firmware to shut off HDCP), you can easily return it. Oppo has fantastic customer service.

Why not just upgrade the blade to the latest version to have the HDMI versatility? They should be readily available for your display, and not all that expensive.

Get the new Oppo DV-980HD since you have a plasma. It should do everything you want and more.

Avoid the Oppo 971 and 981... they use a Genesis/Faroudja processing chip that causes terrible macroblocking artifacts on most plasma and DLP sets.

If the 980HD won't work with your DVI input (and you don't want to apply modified firmware to shut off HDCP), you can easily return it. Oppo has fantastic customer service.


Since OP has a budget of $300, plus he wants an SACD player, this would be a good choice. However, if you have an HD TV, why would you want SD player only. Can't you get PS3 that will play BD, Plus it will upconvert as good as Oppo and play SACD at double the sampling rate of Oppo 981. (Edit:I just checked, Oppo980 has the sampling rate of 192khz)
I'm surprised by Oppo's announcement of releasing another upconverting player. I was expecting them to come out with one of the HD players. May be they are waiting for the format war to end. I would jump on it if they release one ,based on their reputation.

Toshiba HD-A2 is now $239.99 + free shipping on Amazon.com :)

Toshiba HD-A2 is now $239.99 + free shipping on Amazon.com :)
No SACD/DVD-A.