DVD player

[shelliesv]

My HDTV has been in the house for 2 weeks. I have a 5 year old Pioneer progressive scan, the component outputs don't work, so I have it connect via S cable. It looks pretty good, BUT if I buy a new HDMI DVD Player will I see a huge difference in quality? As of now, we don't have a home theater system yet, that will be next.

Our TV is a Toshiba 62MX195 1080p DLP set.

Also what is DVI and is it better/worse than/or the same as HDMI?

Is an HD DVD player really going to be released or is it never going to happen? Would I see the difference? What would you do if you were me!

I am sooo brand new to all of this so forgive me if my questions seem dumb!

[Splicer]

You wont see a 'huge' difference, but a noticeable one none-the-less.

Yes, HD DVD players are scheduled for release in the spring of this year. Best Buy is taking pre-orders for the new Toshiba HD-DVD player. $319 I think I saw.

DVI is like HDMI in as far as it is an all digital connection.

[HDTV-NUT]

ya, HDMI or Components that work is a big step up from S-Video.

[hammie]

Honestly, I would save your money and get a fairly inexpensive upconverting DVD player. Oppo, Samsung, and Panasonic are the more popular/favored ones today. Any of these should be less than $300.

The reason I am swaying you against one of the new HD formats (HD-DVD or Blu-Ray) is that no one really knows who will be the winner. I would hate for you to get a sour taste in your mouth if within one year of purchasing your new player, that format is no longer being supported. Also, the number of titles on day one will be very limited.

With that being said, get an upconverting DVD player.

I'm biased to Oppo since that is what I own.

BTW, welcome to the HD family!

-Lou

[shelliesv]

hmm, will old DVDs play on a HD DVD player?

I'm just trying to decide whether to buy something right now or wait.

I actually thought my component inputs on my new TV were broken because I couldn't get my DVD player to work. I had monster cables, I returned those! I bought radio shack gold tips and still nothing, then I connected it with an s cable I had and it worked, I guess the components on the DVD player are shot, oh well.

When we bought the TV, I wouldn't compromise on quality. Aside from the Sony SXRD set, I thought the Toshiba was 2nd best, and the Sony set wouldn't fit in our space because of the speakers on the side, so we went with Toshiba. Anyway, we got a GREAT, GREAT deal on it, so I want to buy the home theater and a good DVD player. I appreciate everyone's input!

[oman321]

Yes HD DVD will upconvert your old DVD's according to the specs. The pre-orders at BB are for $500.00 though.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7652523&type=product&id=1134699969167

[shelliesv]

Wow $500 is a little pricey, maybe I should just get something with an HDMI output for now and wait a little while until the prices come down on an HD player? Any recommendations?

[kevinw]

Go buy an inexspensive Progressive scan DVD player and in a year or 2 you can upgrade toa HD DVD player when the prices come down or when the format war is more decided..

[terryfoster]

I actually thought my component inputs on my new TV were broken because I couldn't get my DVD player to work. I had monster cables, I returned those! I bought radio shack gold tips and still nothing, then I connected it with an s cable I had and it worked, I guess the components on the DVD player are shot, oh well.

Are you sure there isn't either a mechanical switch or a software switch that is necessary to enable the component video output on the DVD player? I'd hate to see you buy a new DVD player if you don't have to. What's the model number of the DVD player?

-Just checkin'

[HDTV-NUT]

I would go with an upconversion DVD player for now until the format war between HD-DVD and Blue-Ray is over. There is no standerd right now and anything you buy now may not work in a year from now. This is the DVD player I own, cheap and works great. http://www.crutchfield.com/S-CY2fKib6Zss/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=54400&I=305DVDH850

[hammie]

Some inexpensive upconverting DVD player are Oppo, Samsung, and Panasonic. They are the more popular/favored ones today. Any of these should be less than $300.

I'm biased to Oppo since that is what I own.

-Lou

[badchad]

A related question though: Won't the TV "upconvert" any type of DVD signal?

or stated differently: Which hardware component should upregulate the DVD picture? (The DVD player, or the TV?)

[kevinw]

Some inexpensive upconverting DVD player are Oppo, Samsung, and Panasonic. They are the more popular/favored ones today. Any of these should be less than $300.

I'm biased to Oppo since that is what I own.

-Lou
I agree to a point. Something to think about? What would you rather use your DVI connection for? Your STB or your DVD player? Me personally it would be the STB.

[badchad]

Something to think about? What would you rather use your DVI connection for?

Had the same problem as my set only has 1 HDMI input.

For me personally, I decided my high def. TV was spectacular. So good, that when I switched to DVD's, they looked poorer in comparison (obviously). Thus, I wanted to maximize my DVD quality; so DVD got the HDMI connection.

Also, in my particular case, my Samsung HD-DVD850 only upscaled via the HDMI input.

As I understand it, upscaling was desirable initially because when they player did it; it was upscaling a digital image. Alternatively, if the TV did it, the TV was upscaling an analog input (Since DVI and HDMI weren't yet available). But nowadays, the TV will be upscaling a digital source when connected via DVI or HDMI.

Hence the question: At what level should one upscale? (the TV, or the DVD?)

I will obviously try both, I'm just curious of other's experiences.

[shelliesv]

By STB, I assume you mean the cable box from the cable company. I know they hooked mine up in component and I'm not sure if it has an HDMI hookup - wouldn't they connect it that way if it did or do they leave that up to me?

As for the question about the DVD player, there are no switches or software settings that I can find. I don't mind upgrading and I think I will go with a good upconverting DVD player. I also think I may have more than one HDMI input, but I have to look. If I have an HDMI input and my cable box has an HDMI output, would I benefit from buying an HDMI cable to connect it?

[kevinw]

Had the same problem as my set only has 1 HDMI input.

For me personally, I decided my high def. TV was spectacular. So good, that when I switched to DVD's, they looked poorer in comparison (obviously). Thus, I wanted to maximize my DVD quality; so DVD got the HDMI connection.

COOL,
This answers my question, The STB via component and invest in a upconverting DVD plyer for the time being..

[badchad]

The cable company doesn't always know best. Although they aren't outrageous (depending on the brand), HDMI cables are more expensive so I doubt the cable company would provide them; but thats just a guess.

Your connections depend on the number of inputs and what you want to hook up. There is a FAQ where the answer to using component or HDMI is basically: "see which you like better".

[FutureX]

wally world has a good Near HD Quality dvd player....

ive had it bout a week now and im really impressed only cost me bout 80 dollars, and came with all the cables....im currently running through Componet Cables.... i can imagine the noticable diff if i was to run through HDMI/DVI ...

http://www.cyberhome.com/1208/products.asp?Product=655

some of the Vide Feats.

Up-conversion to 720p/1080i Resolution through HDMI connector
Progressive Scan with 3:2 Pulldown
Component, S-Video and Composite Outputs
16:9 Widescreen, 4:3 PS and LB Video Modes
NTSC/PAL TV Systems Supported
Multi-Language Subtitles
10-bit 54MHz Video DAC Converter

like i said ive had it for about a week, and so far im extremly impressed.. also has MPEG4 Playback

[hammie]

I agree to a point. Something to think about? What would you rather use your DVI connection for? Your STB or your DVD player? Me personally it would be the STB.

I have two HDMI ports on my TV so I have both connected with HDMI. :D

-Lou

[hammie]

Hence the question: At what level should one upscale? (the TV, or the DVD?)

I will obviously try both, I'm just curious of other's experiences.

There are couple things going on:

What type of TV do you have? CRT, LCD, Plasma, other
What has the better scaler? DVD or TV?

-Lou

[badchad]

I guess that was my question: which (should) have the better scaler.

I have an akai 50" plasma (PDP 5025).

I have my upscaling DVD player connected via HDMI (Samsung DVD850 HD). Thus, since it's a fixed pixel display, the TV has to upscale a "normal" DVD input. The 1080i setting seems to be the best; albeit only an extremely small difference. Thus, it seems the DVD player has the best scaler.

[hammie]

This may be the case. The Samsung may have the better scaler than the Akai.

It may also be the fact that it is keeping a digital signal the entire way from source to display so there is no PQ degredation (digital-digital vs. digital-analog-digital).

-Lou

[badchad]

It may also be the fact that it is keeping a digital signal the entire way from source to display so there is no PQ degredation (digital-digital vs. digital-analog-digital).

-Lou

Right, but since I'm connecting via HDMI I'm keeping my signal digital the entire way right?. I commented on your above statement in post #14 (about the digital to analog conversions and upscaling).

[shelliesv]

I have 2 questions:

1. Do any DVD players upscale to 1080p?

2. Does anyone know if I will actually see a difference if I connect my STB via HDMI instead of component?

[kevinw]

I have 2 questions:

1. Do any DVD players upscale to 1080p?

2. Does anyone know if I will actually see a difference if I connect my STB via HDMI instead of component?
no and doubtful

[hammie]

I have 2 questions:

1. Do any DVD players upscale to 1080p?

2. Does anyone know if I will actually see a difference if I connect my STB via HDMI instead of component?

1.) Yes, the new NeuNeo HVD2085 1080p Upconverting DVD Player. (http://www.neodigits.com/body/product/HVD2085/feature.asp)

2.) Certain channels looked better via component than HDMI on my television. I use HDMI because I feel more channels look better. YMMV.

-Lou

[Ratman]

Note the "*":
Now you can play any regular DVD titles in 1080P resolution*.
* Your display device needs to be 1080P capable in order to take advantage of the DVD player's 1080P output.

And keep in mind that all current DVD's are encoded at 480i... so don't expect HD miracles.

[hammie]

And as far as I know, only the HP television's can support a 1080p input. At least from the ones currently available.

-Lou

[Allin4greeN]

And as far as I know, only the HP television's can support a 1080p input. At least from the ones currently available.

-LouNope. Westinghouse's 37" LCD model supports 1080p input http://www.westinghousedigital.com/pc-26-7-37-1080p-monitor.aspx I'm pretty sure there are others, also.

[shelliesv]

I had no idea my TV wouldn't accept a 1080p input? How are 1080p TVs going to hande it when a 1080p source material is availabe? I assume the reason 1080p is better at this point is because it is upconverting the incoming signal to 1080p? Is that right?

[Ratman]

Your TV will accept a 1080i input source. The TV will then deinterlace the signal and display it at 1080p.

[shelliesv]

I assume at some point in the future source material will be broadcast at 1080p, what will the people who bought 1080p without input ability do then?

[57U]

The same thing as all the people who have 720P, 1080i HDTVs. The (1080P) STB will convert the signal to 1080i/720P.

[shelliesv]

And then the tv will upscale it back to 1080p. Why on earth would they come up with 1080p displays but make them incapable of accepting a 1080p incoming signal? I guess I didn't do enough research before I bought my set or I would have waited to buy one that could accept 1080p source material!

[shelliesv]

I would go with an upconversion DVD player for now until the format war between HD-DVD and Blue-Ray is over. There is no standerd right now and anything you buy now may not work in a year from now. This is the DVD player I own, cheap and works great. http://www.crutchfield.com/S-CY2fKib6Zss/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=54400&I=305DVDH850

This looks pretty good, I assume it doesn't come with the HDMI cable? If not, how much does one cost? Is there a difference between a cheaper and a more expensive cable?

[Ratman]

Why on earth would they come up with 1080p displays but make them incapable of accepting a 1080p incoming signal?

For the same reason they made progressive scan DVD players (480p) when all DVD's are 480i.