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DVD Player with HD upscaling - Best option?


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Old 27-11-2006, 00:00
james_brew
 
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I have bought a Samsung 32 inch WS32Z409TQX HD Ready CRT TV. And I am looking at buying a DVD player with upscaling. But I am not sure which one to get. I understand that DVD upscaling onto CRT HD TV playing is worse than a LCD or Plasma. But i wonder if anyone could help me choose which DVD player with upscaling is the best and what sort of quality i should expect.
I would prefer to pay under £100.

And what proper HD-DVD players are available?

Thanks
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Old 27-11-2006, 01:24
gixxerman 001
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I have a Samsung WS32z419d (the freeview version of your '409 TV).

I also have a Pioneer Dv696 dvd player (matching it in black, looks the business too ) which I have connected with HDMI.

IMO it's an excellent (top end of the) 'budget player' & the results are outstanding.

Amazon will do the DV696 (delivered) for £119.
I realise that's slightly above your budget but don't forget delivery is included.

It can play all the Divx I can throw at it and SACD & DVD-Audio (it has 6 channel analogue outputs).

IMO it's a great combination.

.......if you want true 'proper HD players' you're currently limited to
- two Toshiba HD-DVD players (one at £350 and the other higher spec one around £800 IIRC),
- a Samsung (at around £850) &
- a Pioneer (at £1300) Blu-ray high def DVD player and
- the XBox 360 HD-DVD add-on (£129 but you need either the XBox 'base unit' @ £190 - £270 or a decent spec PC to operate it with).

But bear in mind that an upscalling SD DVD (which is basically everything else on the market) is not true HD DVD at all.......and isn't a patch on real HD either

Last edited by gixxerman 001 : 27-11-2006 at 01:31.
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Old 27-11-2006, 07:32
leaky5
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My one year old LG upscaler is starting to play up. I am probably going to wait for HD players to come down in price before I replace it.
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Old 27-11-2006, 12:34
TommyW
 
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Originally Posted by james_brew
I have bought a Samsung 32 inch WS32Z409TQX HD Ready CRT TV. And I am looking at buying a DVD player with upscaling. But I am not sure which one to get. I understand that DVD upscaling onto CRT HD TV playing is worse than a LCD or Plasma. But i wonder if anyone could help me choose which DVD player with upscaling is the best and what sort of quality i should expect.
I would prefer to pay under £100.

And what proper HD-DVD players are available?

Thanks
Personally with a budget of £100 for an upscaling DVD player I wouldn't bother. You would most likely get the same results with a basic non upscaling player and having your TV scaling this to it's native resolution. It's only when you get into the high end players that have quality scalers that a difference can be seen.

I would be more inclined to save a bit more and go for a HD DVD. Have seen the Toshiba HD-E1 HD DVD Player as low as £339.
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Old 27-11-2006, 12:49
nick h
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if you want an HD-DVD player i use and recommend the Toshiba range - imported from the USA

though the uk versions are due to launch shortly i think they may be 'cheaper' - the USA machines are built like a tank and are Japanese made!

and Toshiba offer superb software downloads to update your player as new features are added and bugs sorted out!
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Old 27-11-2006, 13:00
Weigh-Man
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The HD upscaling DVD players are not that good, you would be better off getting a decent DVD player with progrssive scan and connecting it via component, other than that just wait for the HDDVD Players.
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Old 28-11-2006, 11:46
james_brew
 
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Originally Posted by Weigh-Man
The HD upscaling DVD players are not that good, you would be better off getting a decent DVD player with progrssive scan and connecting it via component, other than that just wait for the HDDVD Players.
What DVD players have progressive scan? As maybe i should try this.
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Old 28-11-2006, 11:59
nick h
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Originally Posted by james_brew
What DVD players have progressive scan? As maybe i should try this.
you see this is where it gets confusing - i switch off the progressive scan on my harman kardon sd dvd player and send the panny an interlaced signal which gives me better picture quality

if your tv has good scaling/deinterlacing it may well be that a progressive dvd player is not the best choice

at least try and get a player that gives you the option of progressive/interlaced output!
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