upconverting dvd - will we need HDMI cables ??

I've not done an intensive comparison between DVDs upscaled to 720p, 1080i, or 1080p.

However, your TV seems to be a 1080p model so you will need to use HDMI if the player upscales to 1080p and you want to pipe that into your 1080p TV. Generally, component connections are limited to 1080i max upscaling.

IMO, inexpensive HDMI cables such as from Monoprice or Tartan cables seem to work just fine for me.

Your receiver seems to offer only HDMI switching. So, regardless if you connect through the receiver or directly to the TV, you'll need a separate connection for the audio. Also, the on screen display of the receiver doesn't seem to be transmitted on HDMI so you'll need to maintain a non-HDMI video connection to the TV for that.

So, to me, it seems you might just as well go direct to the TV from the player for video with HDMI (if 1080p, that is), then use the typical coaxial/optical connection from the player to the receiver.

Yeah, but we couldn't do as much back then.

480i/480P is your max

IMO... just get a Progessive Scan DVD player, connect with component cables and let the TV do the rest.

"Standard" DVD's are encoded at 480i. The DVD player will deinterlace to 480p and the TV will automatically upscale to it's "native resolution" (1080p). There's really no benefit to purchasing a "upscaling" DVD player. Your TV probably does a MUCH better job.

Most DVD's players only upscale to 1080i via HDMI only. Best you can get is 480p via component (due to copyright restrictions). Obviously if $$ wasn't an obstacle, a BluRay DVD player would be the optimal solution for the best picture, sound and get the most from your HDTV.

There must be some confusion...the TV the OP listed is a 1080p LCD.

HDMI cables are all pretty much the same. I use Monoprice and it works fine. You may be able to get a cable locally at a reasonable price. For example, Fry's has a 10 ft HDMI cable for $3.97


From CNET: What HDMI cable should I buy?

"The editors at CNET are so confident that cheap HDMI cables offer identical performance, we've been using inexpensive Monoprice HDMI cables in the CNET Home Theater Lab for more than a year with no issues.

The OP probably means no HD source, like Blu-Ray or HD sat/cable/OTA.

That should be a crime...a HDTV but no HD sources.

Should be able to pick up at least a couple OTA HD stations or HD freebies from CATV.

I understand buying new stuff, but if you have cable or an antenna, likely you can get at least a couple of HD tv stations for free.

Unless, perhaps, you mean you just don't watch TV per se, and only DVDs etc.

Yes, that's what it means. It will pass through the video, but it will not take any audio off the HDMI connection. Hence the need to also connect the coaxial or optical cable to get the audio bitstream into the receiver.

I guess you could always start with the Wiki article on HDMI.

Well, if you're not into Blu-Ray yet, a separate optical or digital coax in addition to the HDMI cable will work fine. DVDs and CDs don't exceed an optical/coax cable's bandwidth.


Might ask the CD player forum.

I would think an average CD player wouldn't be that much better than a good DVD player, but some of the better CD players might be, especially if you're using stuff like the CD player's DACs, etc.

Ditto Ratman.

The majority view on the DVD player forum seems to be output 480p with a good 'ole component video cable to your TV, and let it upscale to your native 1080p resolution. If you aren't happy with the result, you can allow the player to upscale the resolution and use a DVI or HDMI cable.

Unless you're going to buy the Oppo, which is said to be an excellent upscaler, then the 480p approach is probably your best bet. In other words, any progressive scan DVD player should do the trick!

The key is whether the scaler in your TV is better/worse than the scaler in the DVD player. So, experiment! Just rememeber that no upscaling DVD player is going to make your DVDs look like Blu-Rays.