Sim2 Ht200

[alcarmichael]

I'm not really sure what I need but want to improve the picture of my projector, I'm soon to buy a new DVD player when I've decided if I want the Denon 2900, Marantz 7600, Arcam 88+, Pioneer 868 or Toshiba 900E. Would a processor/scaler be a good investment? If so which one?

[alcarmichael]

I'll try and be more specific with my questions as I'm getting increasingly deperate (items on auctions are coming to an end). If I had the Denon 2900 (PAL progressive) would I benefit from connecting it to the Iscan pro then onto my projector? The projectors native resolution is 800x600 and accepts progressive scan input.

[Liam @ Prog AV]

2900 direct to display I would hazard a guess would be better than with an iScan Pro.

2900 has a much better progressive component output than the 868.

Of the list though, the Arcam would be my pick so long as it was the progressive version. Same SiI504 deinterlacing as the Denon, slightly better component output, definitely better cd audio. However the Denon does do SACD and DVD-A as well

[alcarmichael]

Aaaarggghhhh! Thanks for the reply but too late, I went for the Denon. All I wanted was the best picture quality so I guess the Arcam would've been the best choice, never mind. Or should I sell on and go for the Arcam?

[Liam @ Prog AV]

The Arcam would have had to be the "P" model (DV88p plus IIRC) to have the progressive scan board installed. At which point it would have the same processor as the Denon but with probably a slightly sharper component output response. I've owned the 2900 before and installed probably 30 of them - absolutely the best deck sub £1k Denon ever built. Arcam's major advantage over the Denon would be CD audio performance, but then the Denon can spin SACD and DVD-A, and do it well. All in all certainly not an upgrade to regret, nobody has ever been unhappy with a 2900. It's not possible.