Simple question is what DVD player do you reccomend for this setup?

I am trying to get the best picture I can out of the set up we currently have without upgrading yet.

- BenQ PB7200 projector
- Onkyo HT-R510

The projector is currently connected to the Onkyo HT-R510 and DVD player via S-video. I think that is the only option we have for video except for maybe the RGB on the projector, but I am not sure. The cuurent DVD player is just a crappy Walmart special that I didn't buy. So what do you suggest with the current setup? Would an upconverting DVD player such as the OPPO DV-970HD be what I am looking for or would something cheaper be better for this somewhat out of date setup. Thanks in advance for helping!

Simple question is what DVD player do you reccomend for this setup?

I am trying to get the best picture I can out of the set up we currently have without upgrading yet.

- BenQ PB7200 projector
- Onkyo HT-R510

The projector is currently connected to the Onkyo HT-R510 and DVD player via S-video. I think that is the only option we have for video except for maybe the RGB on the projector, but I am not sure. The cuurent DVD player is just a crappy Walmart special that I didn't buy. So what do you suggest with the current setup? Would an upconverting DVD player such as the OPPO DV-970HD be what I am looking for or would something cheaper be better for this somewhat out of date setup. Thanks in advance for helping!

Your PJ is a 4:3 data format projector so I'm not sure you really need an Oppo, just a DVD player that has Component (RGB) output on it and then hook that to your PJ Component connection.

However, if you do buy the Oppo, maybe you will start to contemplate replacing the PB7200 as well!

Your PJ is a 4:3 data format projector so I'm not sure you really need an Oppo, just a DVD player that has Component (RGB) output on it and then hook that to your PJ Component connection.

However, if you do buy the Oppo, maybe you will start to contemplate replacing the PB7200 as well!

I agree but, I just picked up a Toshiba HD-A2 for $199 (CAD). If you could find one at that price, why not go with an HD DVD player rather than an upconverting player? The Toshiba also does upconversion as well.

NOTE to the original poster -- DVD's can't be upconverted through component video.

hey KeithfromCanada where did u manage to find a HD-A2 for 199 CAD. Im interested at upgrading to a new dvd player as well and that seem lik a good price especially consdiering its hard to find deal for us up here

Oh sweet, I can't belive I couldn't figure that out. I will have to order a VGA to Component (RGB) cable then correct? Sucks that we have been using S-video this whole time when we could have had better picture quality.

On the DVD player I am just looking for a better player than we have that has all the features that I can take advantage of with this setup. So an upconverting DVD player won't help my projector since it isn't HD? I just want to get a standard DVD player for now. What would give me all the features I need with good performance and price? Thanks!

Also I am wondering why on projectorcentral it says this

Compatibility: HDTV: 1080i, 720p

what exactly does that mean that I can do with my projector?

I would get a vga cable from Monoprice in the length you need then add a vga to component adapter on the dvd player end. For a dvd player, just buy a brand you are comfortable with and don't spend more than $100. I'm still waiting for the HDDVD players to come down to $100 before I buy one. Then I know that format will have a chance.

Compatible means that it will accept the signal and scale it down to what will work on your PJ. It can still look very good because your PJ can display more that 480p.

hey KeithfromCanada where did u manage to find a HD-A2 for 199 CAD. Im interested at upgrading to a new dvd player as well and that seem lik a good price especially consdiering its hard to find deal for us up here

I snagged it on the first day of the Future Shop Anniversary sale. They had a bunch in stock when the sale first started and within 30 minutes their inventory was done.

The HD-A3 is supposed to retail for $349 but my guess is that it will be $249 (or less) by Christmas. With the PS3 dropping their price and Blu Ray units likely to follow suit, it's just a matter of time before we start to see a real good price war between the two.

I would get a vga cable from Monoprice in the length you need then add a vga to component adapter on the dvd player end. For a dvd player, just buy a brand you are comfortable with and don't spend more than $100. I'm still waiting for the HDDVD players to come down to $100 before I buy one. Then I know that format will have a chance.

Compatible means that it will accept the signal and scale it down to what will work on your PJ. It can still look very good because your PJ can display more that 480p.

Would an upscaling DVD player help me at all or not? I will look for one in that range from reviews I guess. Any particular reason that I should put an adapter at the very end of the VGA cable instead of just buying a VGA to Component cable? Is the VGA cable itself better quality? I was definitely arlready looking at Monoprice. :) Also what places would I be able to get that higher than 480p signal from? Can I get higher than 480p signal when watching movies since that is basically all this setup is used for. Thanks for the help and sorry for all the questions.

Would an upscaling DVD player help me at all or not? I will look for one in that range from reviews I guess. Any particular reason that I should put an adapter at the very end of the VGA cable instead of just buying a VGA to Component cable? Is the VGA cable itself better quality? I was definitely arlready looking at Monoprice. :) Also what places would I be able to get that higher than 480p signal from? Can I get higher than 480p signal when watching movies since that is basically all this setup is used for. Thanks for the help and sorry for all the questions.

You can certainly get the cable made specifically that way but then your options for using that cable are more limited. I just prefer to use adapters on cables myself. :)

An upscaling PJ is going to add content that does not exist so that your PJ can then remove data to make the image fix. The problem is that you will lose real data and keep fake data in that process. You are better off sending 480i/p from your dvd player and let the PJ scale it up one time. If your Walmart special has progressive mode and component output, try it before you throw it under the bus.

Also what places would I be able to get that higher than 480p signal from? Can I get higher than 480p signal when watching movies since that is basically all this setup is used for. Thanks for the help and sorry for all the questions.

720p and 1080i video sources would come from cable HD, satellite HD, HDDVD or BluRay players, and game machines like xBox360 or PS3.

DVDs are 480i videos so anything higher would have to come from upscaling.

Don't worry about all the questions. How else are you supposed to get answers? :)

You can certainly get the cable made specifically that way but then your options for using that cable are more limited. I just prefer to use adapters on cables myself. :)

An upscaling PJ is going to add content that does not exist so that your PJ can then remove data to make the image fix. The problem is that you will lose real data and keep fake data in that process. You are better off sending 480i/p from your dvd player and let the PJ scale it up one time. If your Walmart special has progressive mode and component output, try it before you throw it under the bus.

All right, I know the DVD player has component output, but I don't think it has progressive. It also doesn't have DTS and a few other things which is why I want to upgrade it. So should I look for a player with progressive mode, and no upscaling technology?

All right, I know the DVD player has component output, but I don't think it has progressive. It also doesn't have DTS and a few other things which is why I want to upgrade it. So should I look for a player with progressive mode, and no upscaling technology?

Good point on the audio!

Yes, a good progressive dvd player with component video and optical audio output is what you are looking for. I looked at your receiver user manual and you have two optical and one coaxial audio input. Nice!

How is you sub and your center channel speaker?

The DVD player does have a digital coaxial, but the DVD player doesn't support DTS. It does play Dolby Digital EX though, I am not sure the DTS technology is any better. I would just like to be able to use all types of digital audio.

I am not sure what you want to know about the sub and center channel. I think it is a very nice overall audio system for the $500 that we spent on it. I have the settings set to the best of my abilites and the speaker placement is about as good as we can get I think. I am just trying to work on getting the video output up to speed now. ;)

Sounds good! I thought I would check since you were looking at updating the dvd player.

I really like DTS. It seems to have a better surround feel to it, at least on my setup.

With the coaxial audio output, you might be able to get by with just a better video connection!

I think we will be set for ahwhile with the better video connection. I wonder how much difference you will be able to see in the PJ picture quality. Hopefully it is substaintial, not that the picture is that bad even with the S-video. DTS is only on certain DVDs from what I could see anyways. It would sure be nice to be able to use it when it is. Thanks for all your time reconlabtech as well as everyone else who responded. I think we got this solved.

Added: Looks like the Philips DVP3140 could be a good choice. It is selling for $37 shipped too. :)