Best affordable DVD player that does 720p / 1080i over component? - Page 5

Since anyone with a DVD burner and rudimentary knowledge of Google can find a way to copy DVDs on his computer very easily, this whole "no upconvert over component" limitation is one of the strangest things I've ever seen. Upconverting is something the average consumer doesn't care about because their TV does upconverting anyway. So this restriction not only doesn't affect them, they probably will never even know about the limitation.

So the restriction seems to be a way to force early HD adopters (whose sets don't have HDMI ports) to get a TV with HDMI ports.

I just purchased a Samsung DVDR135 and I didn't know about this component output limitation. Is there a hack for this player to output 720p through the component connection available somewhere? I did some searching but came up empty.

Thanks in advance for any information.

where can i download the hack firmware for the oppo 970?
can i properly burn the cd on a mac?

Check this post for the hacked firmware:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&&#post9366396

but it looks like you have to wait for a "free download slot".

hm I had a DV-333 but it was Pioneer. pretty sure same model # though. At the time it was the dvd player that played the most formats including vcd's on cdr. It was listed on vcdhelp.com which later changed its name to someting else as theplayer that played themost formats at the time though it was already older even then.

I am looking for a dvd player that can upconvert to 720p/1080i over component and DVI (i guess via hdmi to dvi cable).

This would be for a Panasonic 60" 720p/1080i RP LCD. Not my best tv but its going in newly finished basement which actually has my best sound with Dolby 6.1 so I want to have best picture I can get with the 720p rp lcd for movies etc.

Prob use cable box with hdmi to dvi so will want a dvd player that can upconvert to 720p/1080i over component though if i switch cable box to component I can use the hdmi to dvi cable for the dvd player.

So is there any player that can upconvert over both component and hdmi. Will the fact that it will be hdmi from player to dvi to tv cause any problem. if so then i guess i should just leave the dvi for the stb and stick to component for the dvd player.

I may move my xbox 360 with hddvd addon player down to that tv and plug it in via VGA to the panny 60" 720p rp lcd as i think it does have vga for pc input. But that would be pointless to watch 1080p hddvds on a 720p/1080i set. If it werent for that the 360 hddvd would make a good upconvert player for that set and through vga which is good keeping dvi and component free. But forget that idea as its not a 1080p set.

so what is the best 720p/1080i upconvert dvd player over component?

That LG one that ppl said will upconvert any movie over component or the Oppo 970 with hacked firmware? I would think the former because it will supposedly upconvert any while others might not work for all movies that dont allow it or something, plus applying a hack firmware could be a bit of a pain. I prefer as much of a plug and play otb experience as possible.

Whats the best players for my use with that tv?

for upconversion over component, for a pnp experience, you have no choices for new players. You'll have to mod the player via firmware. I've owned several component upconverters. Here are my recommendations in order in terms of pq (I'll add audio notes where appropriate):
1) oppo dv-970HD. has hdmi. update via hacked firmware. update via hacked firmware to get component upconversion. see 970HD master thread page 1 for details. Universal player with good audio. no MB enhancement. available refurb'd from oppodigital.com for $119.
2) lg 481 (or lg 531). has hdmi. update via hacked firmware to get component upconversion. available refurb'd on ebay for about $85. Has sage/fourdja so might show MB enhancement.
3) zenith 318 with original firmware availble from keohi website. Has sage/fourdja so might show MB enhancement.

where can I get the Oppo 970HD firmware mod file for upconverting to 108i over component !
I'd like to get this machine and do the mod,but need to know that the mod is still available ?

I have an older display {pioneer elite 510} and an older player {panny RP91}
would the oppo do a better job overall ?

thanks,

Try here for the hack: oppo 970 hack

Man people... READ THE TOPIC before posting more questions. Its only 5 pages long and takes no time to read . Its very rare I get annoyed with questions but this thread is giving me a bad case of deja vu

Totally agree. I can understand if it were over a 100 pages which some of these threads become, but 5 pages is a little ridiculous.

After reading this thread, I decided to go with the Oppo 970 from Amazon. Hopefully I'll get it in a couple weeks.

I'll never understand Hollywood's position on component upscaling.

I don't see a link for the file ? is this still active ?
and I really appreciate you trying to help me out !

You can add the Samsung 850 and 950 to your list. They both upconvert via component with a remote hack. There is also a yahoo group which specializes in modding Samsung firmwares. I have a EU firmware for my 950 so it can also play Divx files. And there is one that basically turns your 850 into a 950. Pretty crazy stuff.
-Matt

Anyone know why some DVDs will display in full screen while others display w/ black bar on top and bottom. I used the hacked Oppo 970 to upconvert thru component. Watched Omen666 last night, it displayed full screen and the picture look amazing, close to HD on my RPTV. (some DVDs is only marginally better, btw)

Don't forget other Sigma 8500 DVD players like Bravo D1/D2, LiteON LVD-2001, Yamakawa 375, DreamX.

Samsung HD1000 can also upconvert via component with DCDi/Faroudja.

There is also the Zensonic Z500, Iodata Linkplayer, Snazio, Buffalo Linktheather, and others using the EM8620L chipset from Sigma which allows component upconversion with certain firmwares.

Are any of these players "Plug and Play" or will all need hacked firmware or some other type of modification?

Thanks
BOB

The oppo needs a firmware hack by burning a cd and changing the firmware ,but some others are done with a remote like my samsung hd-841 that really has a great picture (which I happen to have 2 of), and the oppo 970 as well does and excellent job upscaling via component video.

Bravo D1/D2, LiteON LVD-2001, Yamakawa 375, and DreamX just requires secret menu to disable Macrovision and Region Free to upconvert via component (similar to Momitsu v880/888(N) as they are all Sigma 8500). Bravo D1 of course is pretty unreliable so needs some hardware modding on most players (capacitor c1022 replacement, IDE cable change, possibly loader change, etc.)

Samsung HD1000 does not have digital port at all so all it CAN do is component upconversion. It's expensive, heavy, and beefy (has good analog section for audio and video). It's reviewed on Secrets DVD Benchmark. It can be found used or refurbed only.

The Sigma EM8620L all CAN do component but later firmware disabled it due to copyrights complaints from USA. If you can find older firmware then they can do component upconversion. This chipset is better than its older Sigma 8500. All these players are more expensive due to their network ability as well as other neat features like WMV support, etc.

The dreamx-108 requires a special firmware using the production firmware would not upconvert. it required a later firmware version based on a german player's firmware.

this player is also sort of unreliable. You have to insert the disc, let it spin up, eject it, and reinsert it to get it to reliably play. My particular player started having the random freeze problem that could be solved by power supply capacitor replacement. there was a website that had the fix for this player on line. If interested, googling might find it. One thing I really did like about this player was the mpeg decoder (sigma designs 8500). it produced really nice film-like images.

Best,
jeff

I have an extra samsung hd-841 so if anyone needs one pm me.
Which is a good player and has the hack implimented and is also a universal player.

I just received my oppo 970 yesterday. I was going to install the hacked firmware, but thought I'd try it first without. I hooked it up (via component) put in a DVD and hit play. When I pressed the HDMI button the OSD said 480P. I Stopped playback, hit HDMI a few times until the player said 1080 on its display. The TV went blank. I hit play and the picture came back. Hit HDMI, the OSD said 1080i60. The picture looks wonderful, compared to my old (very, very old ) player. Much clearer and well defined. I tried 6 other DVDs (including some of the latest releases) and they all show 1080i60 on the OSD. Does this mean that my 970 is upconverting to 1080i over component from the factory, without the hack? Or will the OSD show 1080i60 and still output 480 over component?

MTBottle,
Read back a couple of pages (or search for my user name in this thread). The player is tricking you. the OSD shows 1080i, but the player is not outputing 1080i on copy protected discs over component. Does your set "lock-in-full" when fed 1080i, i.e. are stretch modes disabled when inputing 1080i? If so, then when you think you're playing 1080i, try and change the stretch mode. I can assure you that the 970 will not, OOTB, upconvert via component copy protected discs.

Best,
jeff

I have had very good luck with my DVB318. Ebay always seems to have a few available. They bring wildly varying amounts. The first one I bought was about 100, but have seen them bring 150. I bought another recently for 75 to have as a spare, although with my new AE-900, it is probaby time to look at an oppo and forget the component path

I've still got my 318 boxed up as back-up ;-)

jeff

Thanks, jeff
I will install the firmware hack tonight. I can't wait. I was happy with the picture quality difference over my ancient DVD player, so I hope the upconversion makes it better yet.

Installed firmware MVer:05.00.01.07 Batch:1A0613 on the oppo 970 and now I have a black screen when on 1080i60. 480p plays fine. I have an older Hitachi 53FDX20B rear projection HDTV monitor. I have gone through every TV setting (set to input 1080i Y, PB, PR) and every setting on the 970. I can't find what is wrong. Anyone have any sugestions?

Odd... Does the set accept 1080i or 720p, or both. Try 720p.

jeff

It only accepts 540p and 1080i, or thats the only options in the setup menu. Even before installing the different firmware 720p didn't work.

Is the 841 hacked comparable to the newer oppos and sonys, or a step down? I like the option to use component, as my eventual PS3 or HD-DVD will be using up my other HDMI.

Could there be an issue with that particular input on the set? Some sets only accept 480p on some ports and 1080i on others.