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Need Advice on Upconverting DVD Players

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Need Advice on Upconverting DVD Players

Postby Rabbit Fighter » Thu Jul 26, 2007 7:23 pm

Last weekend I finally got rid of the 35" tube TV and bought a 42" Sharp Aquos LCD HDTV... beautiful picture when watching HD on cable, but standard DVD's from my standard DVD players look so-so at best, for obvious reasons.

I have read a little about upconverting DVD players, and was wondering if anyone here has one, or can offer any advice on whether or not such a player is worth getting. I do not want to shell out for a HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player yet.

Any brand names, types of connectors (HDMI, component cables, etc) or anything else you can recommend (or advise against) would be really helpful!
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Re: Need Advice on Upconverting DVD Players

Postby HGervais » Thu Jul 26, 2007 7:44 pm

One word, Oppo. I know several people who own Oppos and everyone raves about them. Not only are they great players but they are also region-free.
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Re: Need Advice on Upconverting DVD Players

Postby Rabbit Fighter » Thu Jul 26, 2007 8:13 pm

Thanks, Harold! I've heard good things about Oppo, too. Kind of looking for specific differences between a regular DVD player and an upconverted DVD player, though...

Anyone here actually own an upconverting player, and can you notice a difference between an upconverted DVD and a standard DVD?
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Re: Need Advice on Upconverting DVD Players

Postby Steve T Power » Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:01 pm

Rabbit Fighter wrote:Thanks, Harold! I've heard good things about Oppo, too. Kind of looking for specific differences between a regular DVD player and an upconverted DVD player, though...

Anyone here actually own an upconverting player, and can you notice a difference between an upconverted DVD and a standard DVD?


Yes and yes. Picture generally appears cleaner and less grainy. Mine looks marvelous in 720p.

I use a Samsung DVD870HD running through HDMI.

I've also used the PS3 as an upscaling player and it looks even nicer!
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Re: Need Advice on Upconverting DVD Players

Postby hoytereden » Fri Jul 27, 2007 12:19 am

Do use an HDMI cable. It's digital, so your digital signal, output from the DVD player, doesn't have convert to analog then back to digital as it does if you use component.
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Re: Need Advice on Upconverting DVD Players

Postby Rabbit Fighter » Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:13 am

Thanks guys... I'll make sure to use HDMI cable. My new TV is full 1080p, so I'm still not sure if an upconverting player will make a whole lot of difference... but it can't be any worse.

Any judges who care to chime in on what they are running when reviewing standard DVD's? Are you watching them on a standard def or high def rig?
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