DVD Player Help

[grommit928@mac.com]

Hey Guys

I just bought a new samsung 32" HDTV (widescreen) already having a sony progressive scan play. Noticing the picture quality wasn't great (through component video cables - color was dull, and blacks were very muddy) I bought a new samsung upscaling DVD player. I connected it through HDMI and noticed while the picture was better, I still had a problem with the darks, and upscaling to 1080i, the picture looked a little grainy. A couple questions :

- Can DVD's upscale to 1080i ? What is their native picture quality ?
- Anything I can do to help picture quality, or is this just the full extent of what an upscaling DVD player can do as opposed to an HD-DVD ?
- I am confused with the "picture settings" on this DVD player. It seems to just choose whatever is best and that is fine. 2:35:1 movies play great and I still get the bars, while on 16:9 it fills the screen. I'm still getting the complete picture, right ?

Any help would be appreciated - thanks !

[57U]

1. DVDs are 480i.

2. Yes, an upconverting DVD player can upconvert to 1080i, usually only with the HDMI connection, not component video. Progressive Scan DVD players deinterlace the 480i DVD to 480P. See the HDTV FAQ on DVD players.

3. See the HDTV FAQ "What you need to do to your new HDTV".

4. See the HDTV FAQ on "Black Bars". They are normal on 2.35:1 DVDs.