DVD with upscaler now or BlueRay later ?

[richjthorpe]

Hi all,

I'm wondering when blue ray will be getting to our shores really. I'll be getting a Hi Def LCD later this month with DVI input and wondered whether it was worth getting a DVD player with upscaling to 720p through DVI now or wait until Blue ray players come out. Any ideas ?

Thanks,

Richie.

[Rob20]

Depends. Can you afford to buy a £900 dvd player now and a £1,000-1500 Blu-Ray player in 2006/7? If not, stick with your current dvd player and be patient. That's what I'd do anyway. Unless you're loaded of course, in which case go for it.

Is there any point buying a hi-def lcd set now when there isn't a proper hi-def source to take advantage of it, (Sky's hi-def & Blu-ray won't arrive til 2006/7). At the moment, no lcd offers more than 1 hdmi/dvi connection, and practically none have the full 1920 by 1080p hi-def resolution (Sharp's upcoming 45" lcd being the exception). PQ on lcd's is still not up to crts, prices are too high, and the connections are insufficient. 2 years will see significant improvements in these areas IMO. Again, personally I'd wait. If you do get an lcd tv, make sure it's 'hdcp' compliant. Necessary as Sky's service will include this copy protection system into broadcasts meaning non 'hdcp' sets will not be alowed to display the programmes.

[danvitale]

The Panasonic has an upscailer and HDMI now and thats £200.. Unless Ive got my facts wrong :)

[Henry]

If it's true quality you're looking for then a £200 DVD player won't do it. I'd agree with Rob, if you've got the cash then splash it now as it will be quite some time before Blu-Ray really takes any kind of hold. If not then hang on for a couple of years, the quality of the screens will be better and prices will be more competitive then.

The problem will then be that there's something else on the horizon!

[Rob20]

Also most hi-def panels don't suffer poor signals gladly. Therefore NTL/Sky standard/cuurent pQ will look poor on a hi-def capable set. Worse than on a more forgiving crt set.

[richjthorpe]

I'm going for what they might call a 'lifestyle change'. Basically we moved from a flat with a huge lounge to house with 2 smaller receptions. The sofas only just fit (Through the windows) and the 28" CRT is a little cramped in the corner. We're getting an LCD for the space saving aspect. I know that the PQ isn't fantastic on LCDs at the moment but if someone doesn't buy now, companies would never get funding for future LCD technology. That and the fact I can't wait another 2 years for a flat panel !

I'm not into high end AV but I don't want to buy cheap AV from Currys or Asda. With the set I've chosen I will be able to display 720p from an upscaled image from a DVD player or a HiDef image from a HTPC maybe.

Thanks for the replies, guess I'll be buying the Denon 1910 and wait for Blu-ray to come down in price !

Richie.

[domtheone]

remember theres HD-DVD as well as Blue Ray.....

[CLH]

If it's true quality you're looking for then a £200 DVD player won't do it. !

WhatHifi seem to think that a Denon 1910 will indeed cut it through DVI?

[richjthorpe]

WhatHifi seem to think that a Denon 1910 will indeed cut it through DVI?

This is the review I read also, apparently the analogue signal is average though but if you're using DVI, who cares ?