OK! After being disappointed with my Toshiba SD-3950 DVD player after swiching to an HD LCD (Olevia 532H) I was looking into getting the best bang for buck Upconverting DVD player.

I am not going to buy into HD or Blu ray at this point, and I ALWAYS try to find the best values.

After searching info on the Zenith at Circuit City and the Insignia at BB, I was leaning towards the Insignia as I liked its black case better. I decided to look online and see what they had here at HH Gr*gg's.

I found that they had a SpectroniQ Upconverting DVD player with coaxial out AND toslink for only $34.97!!!!!

I decided I HAD to buy one and rip it open just to see what I was getting!

This thing has the EXACT same chipset as the Zenith/Insignia the Zoran Vidalis? 888!

I then hooked it up component and toyed with the settings and was pretty darned pleased with the results!

On my old toshiba there were certain types of scened that NEVER played well.

One example is in Star Trek Generations, when Picard visits Kirk in the nexus. When the light is coming through the blinds in the kitchen and then AGAIN when they are riding horses, there would be all kinds of judder and motion artifacts? in the trees and grass etc?

This player sailed through those problem areas! I also had only one optical input on my receiver and had my old DVD player connected coaxial, which required my having to get up to switch digital inputs EVERY time I wanted to watch a dvd. My old sherwood receiver didnt do digital input switching!!!

This solved that problem for me as well!!!

After seeing that when I press the display button on my TV remote that the incoming signal over component was only being recognized by my tv as a 480 signal, I switched the HDMI from my HR-20 DTV receiver and?......

Voila!! My tv sees the signal from the DVD player as 1080i!!!

This player is HANDS down the bad ass of the Value category!!!

I paid less than $38 TOTAL for this player!!!

It is for all intents and purposes the SAME as the Zenith or Insignia!

The only thing that I have found which could be a problem for SOME viewers is that the front of the player has soft blue led lights.

I and my wife like it fine, but for viewers who watch movies in the dark it could be a distraction.

I have been unable to find a way to dim it or disable it as of yet, just a heads up!:cool:

Thanks for the info on this budget player. Zoran is a relatively poor performer for HD upconversion (bottom of the barrel). Consider Mediatek like the Sony 77H (for $99) or Phillips 5982/37 (for $60) for best bang for the buck. It has much more sharpness than Zoran chipset. For even better chipset, check out the Faroudja or DCDi chipset of Oppo 981 ($229). The Oppo 983 will use ABT which is even better as no macroblocking that can be found on some display and DCDi (likely double the money of Oppo 981). Reon is another excellent chipset found in the more expensive Denon's 2930/3930, Tosh XA2, Samsung BD1200 for more money. Sony PS3 is also another excellent upconverter along with the Tosh A2, A30, etc.

While your comments are valued and correct as far as they go, I would like to point out that the Zenith and Insignia models are what I was considering.

I found a highly suitable competitor for quite a better deal!

I have a 32 in LCD that I watch in a medium lighting environment, for me this player is HANDS DOWN the best bang for buck out there.

While there are certainly MANY better upconverting dvd players out there...

There are NONE that will do a significantly better job at less than DOUBLE the price of this one.

THATS what I mean by bang for buck, ya know?

For the person on a budget that is replacing a standard or progressive scan dvd player, this is a solid choice at a great price.

I am also interested in hearing from people who have the Insignia and Zenith players!

I have been quite happy with my cheapy player so far, especially compared to my old Toshiba Progressive scan player!

I am of course concerned about longevity. If you have one of the cheaper players, tell me how long!

BUMP!!!

After a little use, I do have ONE small complaint. it locks up once in a while and it also has a tendency to go purple once in awhile? Either way, I just either shut it off and turn it back on or unplug it and it resets.

This doesnt happen often and I have NEvER had any trouble in the middle of a movie yet.

Still pretty pleased for the price I paid!

not sure what happened when I first hooked it up, but after a discussion with a fellow owner on Amazon I reconnected over component and confirmed that this player

DOES convert at least to 720p over component!

Just thought some one might want to know.

Was this with original, non-ripped, commercial, copy-protected DVD's?

Most upconverted DVD players can upconvert via component on ripped, copied, non-protected DVD's.

Yes normal store bought DVD's.

I believe though that due to copy protection schemes that it is becoming increasingly difficult to buy a player that actually upconverts over Component.

Something about it is easier to make unauthorized copies over component?

Sorry it took so long to reply.