Best Bang for the Buck- DVD Player

[S10 Guru]

OK I made the jump and went with LCD TV's which the research was much easier and more informative. Not to mention in store comparasions were available.
Now the new dilemma, what DVD player???
The one I have is currently a Memorex with progressive scanning at 480P with component hookup. Not bad but getting up in age at 4 years old.New TV's will support the higher end and have DVI connections.
So the question is which DVD player, dont need a recorder, will do 780P and not break apart or break the bank!! Nothing over $250 really, am not a complete top end freak, but not one that breaks down after months of use which I end up seeing way to many times in reviews!!

Suggestions and personal trials???

[Ratman]

IMO... use your existing player and enjoy it until it dies. By that time, perhaps HD DVD players will be available and the better investment.

Earmark that $250 for now and add a few $$ each month and you may have enough saved up.

[abeas]

I would just use the one you have, but if you must, try the Samsung HD 850 or 950. I assume you mean "720P" and not 780P. These will upconvert but only if you use the HDMI output. In fact, most upconverting DVD players only upconvert copyrighted material through the HDMI/DVI out put.

[gparris]

I would just use the one you have, but if you must, try the Samsung HD 850 or 950. I assume you mean "720P" and not 780P. These will upconvert but only if you use the HDMI output. In fact, most upconverting DVD players only upconvert copyrighted material through the HDMI/DVI out put.

I believe that there is a special combination of buttons on the remote for allowing upconversion through component cabling found in this forum.
See: http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=20543&highlight=HD850+hack
This maybe useful in the case of having only one DVI or HDMI input on you HDTV. :)

[S10 Guru]

OK, I did it and here is my observations on it.
Took Stars Wars 3 with me to the local places. Played it on anything from Oppos, Denons to Cyberhomes etc.
First off, what was said about keeping a progessive scan one it mostly true. 720P was and improvement, but something you needed to be 2 feet or less from the screen to detect at 6 feet or more you'd be hard pressed to see anything different. Interlaced scanning against progressive showed the biggest screen imaging differences even detected at further distances. But progressive didnt show a whole lot in differences. So IMO, waiting for true HD (1080P) ones showed me only prices are really going to be that wild a difference.

Progressive units can make lower end TV's look just as good and high end TV's, once it the progressive mode they pretty much equaled out.

If you have interlaced only, progressive is the way to go. Wait on a true HD, only if your a nut and sit 2 feet away from the screen. Buy the time true HD ones are decently priced and bugs worked out, TV's to actually support them are the norm, not a freak my current stuff will be at its life ending point anyhow.

I tested the Samsungs Abeas had mentioned and found for me there right up there with the Denons and Oppo,s with just features lacking which I wouldn't use anyhow. 720P and 1080i played so close to the higher ended $300-$400 than these sub $200 Samsungs did.

So the Memorex ended up and a 2nd in the bedroom to replace and OLD interlaced one and a Samsung HD-841 is on the main TV.
Why the Samsung HD-841. Well reviews said as far as picture it was right there. Troubles were had with mechanisms for the most part. But as far as returning etc, looking at the sales amounts of each product, yes more Samsungs were returned in quantity, but they sold 6fold or better more units than the higher end ones.Come to find out throught solid researching that 2.8 of all of them, per 10 units sold,will be returned when new due to problems. And refurbeds had a rate of .3 returns for every 10 sold for all makers.
Samsung HD-841 now outdated and refurbed costed me $49 . And like when I buy gas grilles, which is one of a few products where extended warrenties pay for themselves, for $12 more I added 2 years extended. So for $61 I think I did ok and its covered for 2 1/2 years which by then a true HD one or the lastest of the great now progressives upscalers might be had for a decent price.

[Maxpower]

Samsung HD841 for 50 Buck's is definitely the best bang for the buck., max

[badchad]

It will also depend on your screen size.

I have a 50" plasma and the samsung upconverting player mentioned previously (HD-850). While the scaler in the DVD player seems slightly better, the upconversion is very, VERY subtle.

On a smaller set, the difference would probably be undetectable.

[gparris]

I always recommend an upconversion player with setups greater than 50" as the differences are more than just subtle, at least to my clients and me.

Just like the need for 1080p is, IMO, more pronounced in the 70+ inch sets over say the 42" sets because you are increasing the picture size-expanding the scenes, etc.