I have this Panny 42PX6U plasma with two HDMI inputs. I'm replacing an Oppo 971H player with a Toshiba HD-A2. Will I see any difference in the upscaling of regular rental DVDs?

Secondly, can you rent HD DVDs anywhere? Netflix? I heard that Blockbuster was going strictly BluRay.

Thirdly, would a $99 Panasonic S53K up-converting player give me the same picture with regular rental DVDs as the other two?

Thanks.

Anyone got any ideas about this, or is the question moot?

I have this Panny 42PX6U plasma with two HDMI inputs. I'm replacing an Oppo 971H player with a Toshiba HD-A2. Will I see any difference in the upscaling of regular rental DVDs?

It's hard for anyone to say what you will see.

Secondly, can you rent HD DVDs anywhere? Netflix? I heard that Blockbuster was going strictly BluRay.


You might try the HD-DVD forums for this sort of question. Netflix and Blockbuster rent HD-DVD online. Some Blockbusters stores are going BR only.

Thirdly, would a $99 Panasonic S53K up-converting player give me the same picture with regular rental DVDs as the other two?


These devices all use different hardware and firmware so they will produce different images. Whether the difference is important depends on your viewing habits.

-Bill

It's hard for anyone to say what you will see.



You might try the HD-DVD forums for this sort of question. Netflix and Blockbuster rent HD-DVD online. Some Blockbusters stores are going BR only.



These devices all use different hardware and firmware so they will produce different images. Whether the difference is important depends on your viewing habits.

-Bill

Thanks for the attempt to answer--probably the question was not so focused. Anyway, I sent the A2 back for various reasons not having to do with the PQ. Now I have the Oppo 971H and its awful remote and am trying to figure out which inexpensive player, if any, will generally provide improved PQ for SD movies from Netflix and equivalent.

Have a reasonably sharp eye and have not been displeased with the Oppo, only with the pathetic excuse for a remote that comes with and, possibly, the onscreen menus which seems a little daft/unclear.

Originally I was thinking of getting the cheap ($99) Panny S53K which I assumed would have a sensible remote, but I was unsure whether the PQ would be equal to the Oppo, given the 971's sterling reputation.

Also, I'm now thinking about upgrading to the newer Oppo (980 or 981) and handing off the 971 to friends.

Thanks for the attempt to answer--probably the question was not so focused. Anyway, I sent the A2 back for various reasons not having to do with the PQ. Now I have the Oppo 971H and its awful remote and am trying to figure out which inexpensive player, if any, will generally provide improved PQ for SD movies from Netflix and equivalent.

Have a reasonably sharp eye and have not been displeased with the Oppo, only with the pathetic excuse for a remote that comes with and, possibly, the onscreen menus which seems a little daft/unclear.

Originally I was thinking of getting the cheap ($99) Panny S53K which I assumed would have a sensible remote, but I was unsure whether the PQ would be equal to the Oppo, given the 971's sterling reputation.

Also, I'm now thinking about upgrading to the newer Oppo (980 or 981) and handing off the 971 to friends.

All the Oppos have similar remotes. Maybe you would like a programmable remote better?

-Bill

I have the Oppo 971H and the Pan S53 . Went with the S53 because it supports closed captions on the older dvds. It feeds a toshiba 37HL86 lcd. I went with 37" as am getting a Optoma HD 80 projector for sat night movies. I am trying to find if either of the above players will play the older dvds well on the HD 80. They both do very well on the Toshiba with pref to the S53.
At this point the A 2 is $400.00 here, so am waiting for price to drop.

I also rent dvds from canflix and I can say they are in pretty rough shape when I get them .
The S53 plays them just fine at this point