Hi everybody!
I am about to purchase a DVD player from OPPO. Before that, I would like to ask you a few questions.
I have a Sony WEGA KD-34XBR960 - which is a wide screen 34 inch CRT HDTV set and DVD player Mitsubishi DD-6040 True Progressive. The DVD player outputs 480i/480p through the component, the Mitsubishi does not have a HDMI out.

The TV set has a HDMI and component and the specification says :
HDMI in (Video) 1080i/720p/480p/480i
Component : 1080i/720p/480p/480i

When I am playing DVDs (output is set to 480p), I am very happy with the picture, but I need also support for PAL DVD, DVIx, Xvid, so definitely need a new player.

I can't chose between DV-981HD and DV-980H. The first one has a Faroudja chip but no component out, the second one has a component and HDMI, but no Faroudja chip.

If I'm sure that I will get better or the same quality picture trough HDMI for DVD,Pal DVD,xVid, Dvix and etc. I will take the DV-981HD.

I am little confused because, I read that sometimes the picture is not better via HDMI (for playing DVDs) , is this true?


What model do you guys recommend for this TV, DV-981HD or DV-980H ?

My second question:

I also ordered a VGA to Component adapter (Audio Authority) for connecting my Laptop to the XBR960, I will use "Power Strip" to send resolutions. What resolution should I send from the Laptop for the best picture possible, 1920x1080i (refresh rate 30Hz) , 1280x720p (at 60Hz) or 720x480p (at60Hz)? The native resolution of this TV is actually 1440x1080i according to wikipedia, so maybe 1440x1080i (at 30Hz) ???



Thanks for reading.

I can't comment on the Oppo models, but the ability to ouput HD resolutions over component to me may be more interesting then picture quality of HDMI vs. component.

Regarding the laptop output, stick to the standard TV resolutions and ignore the 1440 - let your eyes judge if it is sufficiently sharp. Depending on the image you display, however, you may not want to use 1080i. There can be a fair amount of flicker with a standard desktop image output.

I have the same set and have a desktop pc hooked up to it via component. I've found that setting the output to 720p yields the most visually pleasing result. A bit part of the decision came from the intended use. Yes, I do use the pc to play stored DVDs (I have a player too, but it's just easier to have them all in one place without having to screw with the discs) but I also do some web browsing and play a few games on it as well.

Yea, I have heard that the 960's HDMI is inferior to it's Component quality.

Who knows.

I'd be on the safe side and get a DVD player that can output 1080i with component video.
http://www.helios-labs.com/us/products/hline/index_hline.shtml

Helios supposedly makes them.

Personally though, I want an HD DVD player that outputs 1080i upconversion through component video.

I'll wait until the format war is decided though.
Though, I personally want HD DVD to win, it may wind up being a tie for a very very long time.

Just because of the PS3 though.
Since every American mundane kid wants a PS3 just because it's called a PS3.
The same reason they got PS2.

And when you have Blu Ray in just about everyone's home, you're going to sell a lot of Blu Ray movies.

That's how DVD got so big over VHS so quickly.
PS2.

At least, that's what most gamers credit PS2 for...

I hooked up the new panasonic blu-ray (BR-30) to my 960 via HDMI and it is fantastic.