Denon 1930CI 1080p DVD Screen Samples

Quick Report on Denon 1930CI 1080p Unconverting DVD

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Here are screen shots from 2 SD-DVDs that are not good quality (video or content wise) to begin with.

All with Westinghouse LVM-37W3 37" 1080p at factory default settings for HDMI except for backlighting to 20% to prevent overexposure with digicam. No other lighting except for table lamp behind the XBOX360.

This 1st one with Denon 1930CI at 720p and native mode on Westinghouse LVM-37W3


This one at 1080i and native on HDTV


This one at 1080p and native on HDTV


This one at the same 1080p with HDTV in "fill" mode


This is another 1080p sample



My observations.

Compared to a regular DVD Like Pioneer DV-563A, the Denon 1930CI is way better at 720p, 1080i, or 1080p

Compared to OPPO 971 with DVI output, the Denon 1930CI seems cleaner with less noise and more stable video. This is even when compared at the 1080i which is available on both players. At 1080p, the Denon 1930CI has sharper and more natural colors than any other 1080i up converting players I have tried. (I have not tried the new Denon 2930CI but was told by the dealer that the video from the 1930CI with a 37" 1080p LCD would not justify the $500 price difference)

It is also MUCH BETTER than playing the same DVD with PowerDVD 7.0 on a DELL computer at 1080p.

A minor but surprising result is that while the OPPO 971 leaves a border on the left and a border on the right, the Denon 1930CI does not. It has clean edges at 1080p and with really good SD-DVDs like 5th Element, AS GOOD AS THE 1080i VERSION WHEN BROADCASTED BY HBO-HD through cable!

Paul

I am sorry, I cannot adjust the players so they have similar colors.

I'll try getting some screenshots but my 30 days on the OPPO 971H is soon over, so....

As for the pictures. They were taken with a SONY DSC-T1 5MP digicam with no flash and on a tripod from 5 feet with self timer trigger. All to reduce as much camera shake as possible.

The person at the high end AV shop did not want to sell me the Denon 2930CI, the $850 1080p upconverter. I was motivated by recent reviews and a write up in Forbes for the 2930CI, but the rep told me to save for the upcoming Blu-ray players that also upconvert old DVDs.

From the early results of the 1930CI, I think I can wait at least until Spring to get a second generation Blu-ray or HD-DVD.

Paul

The OPPO 971H is better at 720P when compared with the Denon 1930CI's 720P.

The OPPO seems to have more lines of resolution, tighter, and better sharpening at 720p.

The Denon 1930 once again do not have borders on the left and right on my 1080p testing LCD, the OPPO does. Both scaling at 720P.

Paul

Has anyone told you you're a dead ringer for Robert Wagner?



That said....

The OPPO 971 has a superior 720p video on my 1080p 37" LCD and my 1080i 64" Zenith RPTV than the Denon's 720p.

The Denon 1930CI's 1080p is better than the 1080i in all of my monitors; which includes the above 2 and my 23" computer LCD.

It's not fair to compare the 1080p of the Denon's to the 720p of the OPPO 971.

I kept the Denon 1930CI because the 1080p was just better than the OPPO 971's 1080i, Samsung 960 and a Panasonic s52. Yep, I tested quite a few.

If they let me, I would have tested the Denon 5910, but ......

Paul

Yes it does. Played those Hong Kong VCDs last week...

It's pretty bad, those HK VCDs. As you know, we don't watch them for the PQ...

Yes on the digital audio...

I think the owner would have let me test the 5910 as I have spend over $20K over the last 10 years with them, but it's a special order item with none in stock. Oh well.

I think most who buy that unit are audiophiles, not video nuts like us.

Paul

I have not tested any burned DVD or CDs on it yet. That's a good idea as I should.

Heck, 30 days is coming up...

Thanks,

Paul

jedi,

I set it to 1080p and the default settings with HDMI.

With bad DVDs, I do like their brightness and contrast adding some dynamic gain-like quality to the video. Otherwise, it's mostly at flat settings.

Paul

Jeff,

Since it's close to the release of the 2nd Gen Blu-Ray DVD players, you may want to consider getting one of the SONY and Pioneer Elite players as they also will upconvert to 1080p.

The 3930 will be wonderful and probably serve you well as an Audio player.

HBO-HD or channel 701 in NYC through TWC may not be that great on your 100" Sony projector. You may want to curb your Enthusiasm a bit. HBO broadcast in 1080i and not really clean all the time.

How far back are you viewing your screen?

Paul

WOW, I did not check this out before the Denon's.

http://hometheater.about.com/gi/dyna...ne%2Fx5000.asp

http://hometheater.about.com/od/dvdp...sx5000full.htm

Ability to play WMV-HD is important.

Paul

This unit does not burn off your Tivo, it's merely an upconverting DVD player that converts regular DVDs into 1080i or 1080p for your large screen HDTV.

SOrry, nothing in the US that can burn onto hard drives at 1080i, 1080p, or even 720p that I know about.

There may well be Japanese or Korean machines that can, but the US QAM encrypted content, which is just about every 1080i movie over cable or satellite, cannot be recorded onto drives. The only way is TIVO-3 when they have the software and you can a HD cable card from your provider.

I have also read that Adaptac or ATI will have a box with receptors for HD cable cards that work with a computer to record QAM encrypted shows onto your media computer. That my friend may be what you need.

I have pretty much given up on recording since HD-DVD and Blu-ray as I have found that the quality of cable or satellite HD is not as good as the new HD mediums.

If you like the re-formated 16:9 1080i formats that cable and satellite HD give you, then HD-DVD and Blu-ray in the original 2:35:1 won't be to your liking. In that case, wait for the Adaptac....

Paul

The pioneer does not do 1080p.

At 1080p, the Denon 1930ci, 2930ci, or higher will look noticeably sharper than the 1080i off the Pioneer or a few other upconverters I've tried in that 1080i group.

Paul