My gf's DVD player crapped out so we got a Sony DVP-NS77H from Best Buy. I havent tried it yet cuz its at her house and she needs to bring it here, but from glancing at the manual i kinda gathered itll only upconvert over HDMI. Does that sound right? My TV has an HDMI input, but id rather not buy an HDMI cable and just use my component cables.. can these upconvert over component?

10/4/2007 1:42:39 PM

Quote :

"Does that sound right?"

no, it doesn't sound right. it might be true, but it doesn't sound right to me

10/4/2007 2:07:27 PM

I was under the impression that upconverting only happens using HDMI. I was debating on an upconverter vs. a regular DVD player about a year ago while I was still at Best Buy. I didn't have my plasma back then, so I didn't pay the extra $10-20 to get a DVD player that would upconvert.

10/4/2007 2:09:14 PM

actually i think it is right after some reading. here's why (so i gather).

Its cuz its illegal to upconvert DVDs or something unless copyright protection is ensured. So it can only be done over HDMI w/ HDCP. but DVI can have HDCP too, right? *shrug*


Where can i buy a cheap HDMI cable in this town?

10/4/2007 2:09:28 PM

Quote :

"can these upconvert over component? "

i think most dvd players require the use of an hdmi cable...maybe you can find one that will send that upconverted signal over analog cables...i havent seen them tho

and the hdmi cables arent that expensive anyway, and are better quality...get one from monoprice.com or ebay for <$15 shipped

wikipedia says this:

Quote :

"Upscaling DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) Players are a reasonably cheap way of upscaling standard DVD-Video discs using a video scaler to match the pixel count of the signal to the physical pixel count on a high-definition television or computer monitor, resulting in better detail and color consistency. Standalone DVD players which feature upscaling use either a standard component video or VGA analog cable, or a DVI-D or HDMI digital cable to connect to the high-definition television. Standalone DVD players with component video or VGA output connectors use a digital-to-analog integrated circuit microchip which does the upscaling, while DVD players with DVI-D or HDMI output connectors use a digital-to-digital integrated circuit microchip which does the upscaling. Computer software DVD-Video players like PowerDVD and WinDVD also features upscaling of DVD-Video."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_scaler

for cheap cables of any type check big lots first, then tiger direct on capital

10/4/2007 2:14:33 PM

Quote :

"i think most dvd players require the use of an hdmi cable"

no.

10/4/2007 2:28:52 PM

obviously i meant most [upconveting] dvd players require hdmi.

is that not the case, or did you not read this thread?

10/4/2007 2:45:09 PM

I thought you were saying what you said.. that they [dvd players in general] only had and thus required the use of an hdmi cable.

you are correct tho in that up-conversions generally require hdmi

[Edited on October 4, 2007 at 2:54 PM. Reason : asdf]

10/4/2007 2:54:04 PM

HDMI is not always better than component, quality-wise.

10/4/2007 2:59:06 PM

The component cables you have are sufficient. You can transmit 1080i or 720p HD signals over component analog cables. TimeWarner will give you component cables with your HD box, rather than an HDMI cable.

99% of the ugly on your screen is going to come from the upconversion from a standard DVD's low resolution. If you want a crisper picture, buy an HD-DVD or Blu-ray player.

10/4/2007 3:27:46 PM

Quote :

"99% of the ugly on your screen is going to come from the upconversion from a standard DVD's low resolution. If you want a crisper picture, buy an HD-DVD or Blu-ray player."

does that even make sense?

are you saying the "ugly" is coming from the actual upconverting, or the native 480p media?

10/4/2007 3:44:55 PM

from the upconverting.. the whole trying to make something out of nothing thing, i assume

[Edited on October 4, 2007 at 3:54 PM. Reason : asdf]

10/4/2007 3:54:31 PM

Quote :

"The component cables you have are sufficient. You can transmit 1080i or 720p HD signals over component analog cables. TimeWarner will give you component cables with your HD box, rather than an HDMI cable. "

sure you can transmit 1080i over component, but the question is if upconverting dvd players will transmit that upconverted 1080i signal over component cables...and the answer to that is usually no.

10/4/2007 4:13:27 PM

Yeah, I know it says pretty specifically in the PS3 manual that it will only upscale DVDs over HDMI. Definitely some sort of copyright issue.

10/4/2007 4:14:50 PM

Ugh, ok then, I will yield that component cables SHOULD be enough, however they may not be depending on how orwellian your dvd-player is.

Did they not get the memo about DeCSS?

10/4/2007 5:28:03 PM

big lots ftw. HDMI cable for $12. Even tiger direct's cheapest was $29.

I'll report back after i watch a movie

10/4/2007 5:39:21 PM

ncsu bookstore has them for cheap

10/4/2007 6:15:03 PM

Just ordered a Helios H4000 which claims to output HD signals over HDMI, VGA, and Component. We'll see. It also claims to play PAL region 2 DVDs in HD signals. Potential awesome.

[Edited on October 12, 2007 at 4:13 PM. Reason : asdf]

10/12/2007 4:08:52 PM

bttt..

looking to get a DVD player.

amazon has this for about $160.

http://www.amazon.com/OPPO-DV-980H-Up-Converting-Universal-Player/dp/B000UIA6YM/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-4299298-9426023?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1193158047&sr=8-1

OPPO DV-980H 1080p Up-Converting Universal DVD Player with HDMI and 7.1CH Audio

or this for $229

http://www.amazon.com/DV-981HD-Universal-Player-1080p-Up-Converting/dp/B000LU8A7E/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/105-4299298-9426023?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1193158047&sr=8-2

Oppo DV-981HD Universal DVD Player with HDMI, 1080p Up-Converting, DivX & SACD



[Edited on October 23, 2007 at 12:57 PM. Reason : ]

10/23/2007 12:50:02 PM

so whats the difference between upconverting dvd players that are in the $50 range, and the ones he linked ^?

Also seems like once you're in the $150 range you might as well get an hd player

10/23/2007 1:07:16 PM

jWIN JD-VD519 - $60

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=2973530&sku=J23-1006

i have this one and absolutely love it, though the main selling point (for me) was using the built-in 5.1 so that i could hook up my klipsch system to it directly rather than paying for a whole new surround sound system

also, it plays divx, xvid, vcd, mp3, pictures...even comes with an HDMI cable

my only complaint is that i can't find remote codes online so that i can use my universal instead of their included remote (though i haven't tried to get my universal to "learn" the dvd player's)

10/23/2007 1:09:12 PM

^^^Yeah dude, if you're gonna spend ~$200 on a DVD player, just get the Toshiba HD-A2 so you can at least watch HD DVDs.

10/23/2007 1:14:06 PM

^^ hmmmm

yeah, i was also going to ask (but had to get back to work) about the HD player and stuff.
i also figured if were to spend around $200, might as well shell out more for HD or bluray, but isnt bluray around $400?

the DVD player i have now works good. but for some reason (its happened on 2 different players) like halfway through the video it freezes for a second.

the tv is a 37"LCD Sharp HDTV and all.

using component cables.



[Edited on October 23, 2007 at 1:27 PM. Reason : ]

10/23/2007 1:20:06 PM

^ you do have an HDMI input on that TV right?

and you should just get the toshiba, or another HDDVD player for <$250 with free emovies...or get a base PS3 if you wanna go the blueray route (imo)

10/23/2007 1:43:26 PM

yeah, has like 2 or 3 inputs.

ive been looking at the PS3..

ill look into the toshiba.. whats the one with free movies?

10/23/2007 2:03:21 PM

well i know circuit city was selling them with free movies recently for like $230

looks like that deal might be dead tho

heres current local "deals":
http://www.salescircular.com/nc/video/dvdp.shtml

amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-HD-A2-HD-DVD-Player/dp/B000IJV4BC

10/23/2007 2:10:24 PM

so im debating whether or not to just get a 20GB PS3 for like $250 or so.

10/23/2007 2:45:57 PM

^ where are they that cheap?

10/23/2007 2:50:59 PM

so i just found out that PS3 came in a 20GB version, like right when it was launched.

they are discontinued. the only thing is, lke the 40GB, they cant play other PS1 or 2 games.

i mainly want it for movies. so i figured i could probably use the gaming system once in a while.

on ebay they are selling what looks to be kinda cheap.

best buy has the 40GB for $399.... (coming soon).

i will not play enough games to need a lot of hard drive space.
how much space does one game take? and its only for saving game info right?

10/23/2007 3:06:08 PM

Quote :

"on ebay they are selling what looks to be kinda cheap. "

is that where you see them for $250ish? Is that new or used? I'd probably get one for that

10/23/2007 3:26:03 PM

some are used. some are new.

looks like the new ones are going for over $300...

and the used ones for just barely $300.

someone said gamestop has them for $380 (20GB)..
or you can pay $20 more and get the 40GB.

i will def. be looking at ebay to get one though


edit: from the bluray VS hd-dvd thread

Quote :

"Either way, a 20GB PS3 for that price would be a great deal, but if you're getting one for movies, I'd wait for for the 40GB PS3 with Spider-man 3 on November 2. They run cooler, quieter, consume less power and have WiFi built in. Plus you'll get the 5 free movies and whatever other bundle deals I'm sure various retailers will throw into the pot once it's released."

[Edited on October 23, 2007 at 3:37 PM. Reason : ]

10/23/2007 3:35:01 PM

so I just bought the denon avr-1708 receiver.
I'm pretty sure dvd would be better, but how do you think receiver upscaling would compare to upscaling done directly on the dvd player? funny thing is that I haven't found any menu that allows me to select output resolution once upconverted.
Also, anyone else had problems using time warner and hdmi? my box says hdcp auth fail, does that mean my receiver is rejecting it?

10/28/2007 11:03:33 PM