Hi,

I recently bought a Panasonic 50" 720p Plasma (TH-50PC77U). I am waiting the Blu-Ray/HD-DVD conflict out (although it looks like Blu-Ray is leading now). I don't have a standard DVD player anymore. So, I am in the market for one until the winner is assured.

My question is, should I go upconvert? Or just good 'ol standard DVD player? I do have an open HDMI port on my TV, so that is not a problem. I am just wondering will I see a big difference with an upconvert player? I sit about 13 feet away from the TV.

Either way, can someone give me a recommendation for an upconvert or stanadard DVD player, depending on which way I should go?

Thanks.

Hi,

I recently bought a Panasonic 50" 720p Plasma (TH-50PC77U). I am waiting the Blu-Ray/HD-DVD conflict out (although it looks like Blu-Ray is leading now). I don't have a standard DVD player anymore. So, I am in the market for one until the winner is assured.

My question is, should I go upconvert? Or just good 'ol standard DVD player?

I think most players available today have some upconversion resolutions. If you use them at 480i they behave as an old style player. Or at 480p, as a progressive scan player.

I do have an open HDMI port on my TV, so that is not a problem. I am just wondering will I see a big difference with an upconvert player? I sit about 13 feet away from the TV.

Define "big difference". SD-DVD is what it is. The images can be very fine, but upscaling does not get you into a new realm of video quality.

Either way, can someone give me a recommendation for an upconvert or stanadard DVD player, depending on which way I should go?


I've been pleased with my Oppo players. The 980 is $169. At closer to $100, the Sony NS75 and NS77 seem well-liked here.

-Bill

Avoid those Sonys like the plague. You are better of buying OPPOs or the all mighty Panasonic S97

As with most things a lot depends on what looks good to YOU.

We also are waiting for the Hi Def standard conflict to work itself out and also for the obscene pricing of the movies to come down.

A lot depends on the up converting capability of the processor in your tv. Our JVC HD-ILA does a very satisfactory job of upconverting standard def dvds if fed a component signal from the player (and our player is an older Panasonic 5 disc but it does have component video and optical audio outputs).

As another has posted up conversion is not HD but in our humble opinion is can be very good and our JVC TV seems to upconvert both out-of-the box dual layer and "shrunk" single layer movie content equally well meaning we can't see much difference between the two.

However, our Panny AE-900U front projector seems to have no up conversion capability so we temporarily bought a little Sony NS71HP while we researched for something better and to our pleasure and surprise it sends a very nice up converted image via HDMI cable to our PJ that looks good even streched across a 10 ft screen and equally good with both single and dual layer content. Each consumer will have a different personal experience with a brand or model and this little single disc Sony is doing just fine for us for now.

So in summary first check out the up converting capability of your tv and you may not need to invest in another dvd player. On the other hand, dvd players with HDMI up conversion out put aren't terribly expensive regardless of brand.
GoodLuck

deres nuttin wrong wid a toshiba hd dvd player for upscaling; check out hd-a3/a30/a35. a nue a3 ken be botten cheep.:D

deres nuttin wrong wid a toshiba hd dvd player for upscaling; check out hd-a3/a30/a35. a nue a3 ken be botten cheep.:D

And even cheaper next week, and next, and next :D