Denon Up-Scaling with Pioneer PDP-503 plasma

[Kenmilton]

A little bird has suggested to me that my Pioneer PDP-503 HDE plasma - which has been little used - is quite capable of handling up-scaled pictures from my Denon A1-XV DVD player. Because this plasma model lacks a HDMI input, all that I require is a HDMI - to - component convertor such as the Keene CP262H2.

The little bird goes on to say that until the HD-DVD/Blu-ray format war is resolved, I would be well-advised to save my money and not invest now in a new HD-ready plasma and HD-DVD or Blu-ray player, but enjoy my large, current DVD collection via up-scaling from the Denon player (particularly as I am not yet interested in the limited offering from HD TV).

I can get no sensible advice from Pioneer on this matter, as they seem more interested in selling their newer models than in outlining the untapped capabilities of the PDP-503!

Is there anyone out there prepared to confirm - or challenge - my little bird's views, or is he, in fact, a turkey?

[Barend]

I am no fan of video upscaling, because of the risk getting artefacts (green patterns flickering in black etc.).
In fact, I'm no fan of audio upsampling either, you'll need a very sophisticated player to prevent audio artefacts (yes, these exist, creating sounds that never were in the first place).
My VP30 runs pixel exact through VGA to my TH42PWD6EX display (852x480) and this looks mighty clean & crisp; better than through hdmi.
Especially pics from my Linn Unidisk 1.1 or Marantz DV-9600 (both in 576i) through the scaler (with the ABT102D deinterlace board inside) look fabulous.
Try it!

[mjpeters]

The Pioneer 503 works great with HD but you must first throw away the tuner box and use a scaler such as the iscan hd+.Connect the scaler directly to the plasma with DVI. Hope this helps Mike.

[pilbeam_mp62]

I too, have a PDP-503 plasma and am interested in getter a better picture from my current collection of DVD's.

What about the new Denon DVD-3930 player ? - it has component outputs -
if that was connected to the component inputs on my media box, would I immediately get a spectacular improvement in my picture from DVD's ?

Thank you very much.
Regards

Kelvin

[mjpeters]

The benefit is marginal using componentover RGB scart. Furthermore the 503 wont accept pal progressive scan.Consider buying a scaler which improves everything. Using instead of the tuner box will also let you view sky hd. Mike

[Liam @ Prog AV]

AS said above, the 503HDE won't actually work with 50Hz progressive signals. But the panel on it's own with the media box removed will... However it is not HDCP compliant so you would need a VP in between running at XGA and to run interlaced component from the DVD to the VP, for the VP to deinterlace and send to the screen. Any HDMI type link will not work.

[mjpeters]

i use the 503 with an iscan hd no problems with HDCP .Its connected with HDMI out from the SKY box DVI into the plasma and works brilliantly.Mike

[Liam @ Prog AV]

I had originally thought it was HDCP but I asked a chap on av-talk to check and he couldn't get his 868 to show an image from HDMI. Didn't really look that much into it though