I'm concerned they not be as good as they say they are. And I don't really want to start paying £16 for a HDDVD and like £100 for the HDDVD player for the Xbox 360... so are those upscalling ones any good?
I would be getting the Samsung one that upscalles them to 720p and 1080i for a 26" Samsung HDTV if that helps...
2006-12-29 12:31:02 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Consumer Electronics ➔ Home Theater
Upscaling players do not really give an HDTV experience with standard DVDs, I'm afraid. The difference in quality I would quanitfy as not much more than like a 5-10% improvement.
Also, because of some obscure rules/laws, up-converting DVD players can't even do that over component outputs. So if your 26" Samsung HDTV doesn't include HDMI or DVI/HDCP inputs, you won't even be able to take advantage of that slight advantage. So be sure to check that first.
Paradoxically, HD-DVD or Blu Ray disc players WILL output true HDTV over both HDMI and Component. This is very counter-intuitive so be aware of it. Even these "real" HD players still will not up-convert regular DVDs to HDTV over a component output. Confused yet?
Bottom line - Blu Ray and HD-DVD players are both ALSO up-converting players for regular DVD, so you don't lose anything by going with them. THE XB360 ADD-ON DVD PLAYER DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY HDMI OUTPUTS however, so it will never be able to legally up-convert a DVD beyond 480p format.
Options are somewhat limited in the UK right now -- the European version of the standalone HD-DVD player is just now arriving, and the PS3 which is the best-value for Blu Ray playback is not yet released in Europe.
My recommendation would be to sit tight and wait for the PS3 to arrive. Blu Ray is most likely going to be the format to "win" the format war so you will be better off protecting your investment and not jump into a potentially dead-end format or a player that does not include the critical HDMI output.
2006-12-30 02:54:56 · answer #1 · answered by nsiinnerloop 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Samsung HD-860 (or equivalent) is a great upscaling DVD player.
DVD's are in a 480p resolution. The upscaling DVD players will basically add picture where none exists, make it 720p, and then send that signal through the HDMI with no picture loss.
As far as not being "as good as they say", well, it takes 480 lines, and uses an algorhythm to fill the picture. It won't be perfect, but 480 lines of resolution displayed on an LCD is pretty awful looking, and the difference between that and an upscaling DVD player is noticably significant.
If you have a significant DVD collection and purchase a HDTV, an upscaling DVD player is a really good idea so you don't have to go out and completely repurchase your collection.
It's also a good "hang piece" while the format war between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray gets worked out. But I highly recommend anyone who buys an HDTV gets an upscaling DVD player.
2006-12-29 17:24:05 · answer #2 · answered by sportscam_guru 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unless you have a 42" screen or bigger, you won't able to see the difference if there's any. You have to remember that normal dvds are mastered at 480p format, so upscaling dvd player can't get the picture any better. You're better off with a progressive player.
2006-12-29 13:07:53 · answer #3 · answered by Ted B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i might get a psthree, despite while you're actually not into video games. It performs DVDs, Blu-Ray, and it is made with the aid of Sony which will work together with the Sony television extremely good, as nicely as aesthetically tournament the television's bezel. The HDTV won't "upscale" the SD DVDs. you in basic terms might desire to make useful that the SD DVDs are in Widescreen format. the image high quality can not be superior with the aid of hardware; it could in basic terms be shown on the favorite wherein it became produced. final analysis, the psthree won't show you how to down, and it is the main inexpensive Blu-Ray participant on the marketplace on the instant, with many extra useful factors than in basic terms a action picture participant. are not getting an HD-DVD participant. they are going to be affordable in case you notice them, yet HD-DVD has been killed off and could on no account be in production any extra. Blu-Ray gained the Blu-Ray/HD-DVD conflict.
2016-11-24 23:56:08 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not for a 26" tv
it won't be too noticable unless you sit really close.
the upconverting dvd players will bring it closer to hi-def, but be sure you hook it up via hdmi. A larger screen is a big +.
2006-12-29 18:07:00 · answer #5 · answered by buddhaboy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unless your getting hddvd's it aint worth it the picture will be no better
2006-12-29 12:34:20 · answer #6 · answered by Gilly 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
if you only have a baby television it wont make a difference, as opposed to our 108" theater!
2006-12-29 14:11:02 · answer #7 · answered by Kendra S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋