I have been cruising these forums for a while and a whole heck of lot in the past couple of weeks leading up to my projector purchase, but haven't really needed to post until now. I ended up getting a BENQ W500. It has built in HQV processing, so I'm wondering if upgrading my DVD player will really help. I am projecting a screen that's about 110" currently, sitting about 13 feet back. For DVDs I'm currently using a Pioneer DV-341 which I've had for a while. I don't even think it is progressive scan. I'm running component cables.

So alot of what I have read leads me to believe that sending a 480i signal (like I'm doing now) would be best, because it allows the projector to do the upconverting with the HQV chip. I also have an XBOX(original) but it looks about the same PQ-wise to me.

So for those in the know, would upgrading to a new DVD player help me out? I watched some movies and I was thinking maybe a new player would help a little, but last night we watched the incredibles and I just can't imagine a SD picture looking any better, so now I'm wondering again. I wouldn't want to spend more than $100, otherwise I'd just get a HD player. but I'd really like to wait to see how the two HD techs play out before I pick one. Thanks for any advice.

Rob

Just use 480i from the dvd player and let the Reon chip do all the rest. It will scale and deinterlace as good as the best DVD player available today.

How do you like the BenQ? How is the picture in moderate light?

I love it, but it's my first hi-def TV and first projector. I am using it in the living room so there is light seeping in from everywhere. However, it works fine, just have to pull the curtains(of course, I had to do that with the old CRT also). It's plently bright for me and it's been on in most conditions already(morning, noon, and evening). Plenty viewable in the day, but really looks good at night. I was in awe watching the incredibles.
And I'm still projecting onto a flat white wall. Unfortunately I don't have any HD content where I'm at currently, which is one of the reasons I went with the W500 and its on-board chip.

Thanks for the info. I am interested in buying my first PJ, but was curious how they looked during the day as I have no way to create a "bat cave" like so many have done. I would watch mostly DVDs at night but also some daytime programs off my TiVo HD.

For the best PQ i'd find an inexpensive player that passes 480i over HDMI. This will eliminate the D-A and A-D conversions, with the D-A likely being a week point of your Pioneer player.