Anybody with HD still use SD upconverter?

Yep, I use it for PAL DVD support and region free SD-DVD play.

I considered keeping my LG upconvert player in use, but I really don't like out it stretches 4:3 content.

I use my Oppo 970 for upconverting regular DVDs, since it supports region free and PAL (IIRC - haven't actually had a need...) and, most importantly, DVD-A and SACD.

Give me a true universal player that does BD, HD DVD, DVD-V, DVD-A, SACD, maybe even karaoke disks and other CD-G based formats, and I'll snap it up, until then, I guess I'll just keep all three separates.

shinksma

I will still use my HTPC to play any non-anamorphic DVDs, but with all the HD discs I have, that will rarely happen.

I use my Oppo DV-980H regularly for CD's, SACD's, DVD-Audio, children's DVD's, etc.

My XA2 does just fine

Ditto.

I still use my Philips 3475/37 for playing certain homemade DVD+R's and dual layer discs that my finicky Toshiba A20 doesn't like.

Maybe if you use an Oppo but other than a Denon or Pioneer Elite, I'd stick with the Tosh.

I have the A1 and use the SD up-converting all the the time on the A1 as my HDTV "suks" at it.

Last night I watch the original 1963 Nutty Professor staring Jerry Lewis, the PQ is just superb!

...Angelo

I use my XA-2 for HD-DVD and SD upconversion...picture is awesome. I use a Marantz SA8001 for my CD's and Stereo SACD, the Marantz DV6001 for 5.1 SACD's, DVD-Audios and the Samsung BD-P1400 for Blu-Ray.

I tried using the high end Arcam universal players (DV137 and DV139) but they had major HDMI issues and repeatedly broke down, so I sent them back and bought all separates.

I am format neutral, just want to listen to good music and watch the movies I like without restrictions.....

I don't use my Zenith 1080i upconverter anymore, since it does stretch the picture, I keep having to go in and changing it to 480p so I quit, and now using my Xbox 360 with HDMI output and upconverts 4:3 to 720p/1080p perfectly without stretching.

I use my Denon 3910 instead of my A2. Not only does the picture seem a little better on a 106" screen, but it also has great audio.

I have a feeling there's going to be some really nice CD/DVD players that'll be for sale lightly used for good prices over the next few years due to the intro of HD players. That's how I got the 3910 and I love it.

Using my Centerstage-2 works wonders for up-converting from the A30. Picture on the player is more sharp than my previous player. Sounds a whole lot better too. When I called the maker of my scaler the other day to ask a question the lady taking messages wanted to know what business I worked for. It is for production not the average consumer so I thought that was interesting and kind of funny.

Yes, I still use my Oppo DV-970HD regularly, especially animated movies. I use 1080i output from both the Oppo and the HD-A2 via HDMI into Philips 47PF9441D/37 LCD. I use component at 1080i from the Direct TV HD DVR.

Still use my Lite-On 2001, as my PJ does not have HTPC so I have to use component inputs for both dvd players. BTW, I heve a XA1.

I take back what I said the DVD quality on the A30 it is not even remotely good. What I was thinking of was up-converting the HD-DVD which for me will be a thing of the past soon if goes as planned. Watching WOTW through me off. Looks like I will be using my Sony DVD player still after all. My mistake.

I will post a side by side comparison of my Sony DVD VS my Toshiba DVD. I have an old pic to use already. It may help me.

Wow I did a good job taking the same pick as last year.

The difference I had to adjust in the settings (THX setup on the DVD) was to make the Tohsiba slightly darker because I saw grain. Both shots were the same camera setting on the front rows center seat. Both were 480P upscaled to 720P. Both got -25 saturation adjusted. It looks to me like I need to setup my convergence on my projector better and my older Sony may have done a better job at removing noise. I am not taking a new blurry pic of the Sony as well to be sure and I am not giving this any more time. The camera told me what I needed to know.





edit: The above image got 1 step sharpening for an edit. The one bellow did not.

Hmmmm, I am not an expert on these things, but before I bought an A-20 I was using a Sony for up-converting, and in my opinion the A-20 is far better than the Sony. Have you tried making any adjustments on the A-30, your TV, etc.?

I still use my OPPO in the bedroom for DVD watching.

My A20 does the DVD upconverting on my main set.

No not yet all I did was turn down the brightness some on the scaler. The plan is to do a better convergence on my projector. The one I did for the photo a few days ago and I spent about 5 minutes on it. I was in a hurry to try out the player. I can see in the photo (the bottom one) it is off in areas the lines (like the bottom edge side of his collar on the jacket to on his right side) have some colors showing that are off. That is why I thought the Toshiba was blurry it isn't the players fault at all. I see the Toshiba is doing a better job however softer does equal less noise. I already see so much more detail now in dark colors on the Toshiba the difference is night and day, no pun intended. The other day I was watching 28 days later on it and I was so thrilled to see in the dark scenes so well. I know that grain can be a part of the movie but my Sony removes those so that may be a reason to keep the Sony in the room. Badly encoded movies could be played on the Sony.

It is easier to see if the convergence is off with the camera. I thought it was good. I could go do a convergence and repost a screen shot if anyone likes.

a closeup of what I need to fix to enjoy the player more. Do you think the above is misleading others?

post 1000 woohooo

Nevermind no "blurfest" for me then. I am not going through that again. Sony dvd goes in my bedroom I will record my shows easier.

Yes the setup of the projector helps a great deal. Here are the results again. The Toshiba Obviously doing better. Both shots using the THX setup on the DVD. No gimmicks. The sharpening was slightly lower than before with the scaler setting. That tells me there is more to focus into. I did not adjust any hardware on the PJ and it is slightly blurry but they are focused so that I can get them the most similar.

Same way it was shot only I did not make color corrections to the Toshiba and and I added one sharpen step to each of them equally so they look true to life. I need to go watch some up-convert HD-DVD now. Can't wait to see non SD material and I should be this weekend I hope. I am waiting on my transcoder to ship. I don't know if I will use the player to up-convert as of yet.

Toshiba HD-A30



Sony RDR-6X7



This was also taken after a calibration of the pj but they are not identical it is important to note.

Damn he looks dead on like a young Alec Guinness. And yes, the A30 looks like it's doing a much better job.

Anyone else?