[ollie501]

Hi,

I'm currently using a Pioneer DVD-575 player, connected via component to a Hitachi 7200 plasma, which overall gives very nice results indeed.

Basically, is it worth upgrading the player to one with HDMI or DVI, and upscaling capability? Are we talking "picture looks a little better" or "bugger me, that's nearly as good as HD"?
I've seen a few around the £150 mark, including this Samsung, which Richer Sounds claim can do HD? I take it from that, they mean can upscale, not that it can play HD-DVD, which they seem to imply? I also rather like the look of the Denon 1920, if I can find it at a decent price?

If it is worth doing, what players would people recommend, as a good upgrade from my 575, without going above £200 ideally.

I've also noticed a few people comment on HDMI shift problems? What is it, how do I avoid it, or is it nothing of note to worry about?

DivX playback is essential, as is DVD-R (etc), DVD-A preferable, though not critical, and couldn't care less about SACD as I have a dedicated player for that.

Alternatively, assuming the Samsung doesn't (as I strongly suspect) handle HD-DVD, am I better off hanging on for an HD-DVD player?

Are there any pitfalls to watch out for, should I opt for a player that can upscale, "buggy" players to avoid etc.. Am I likely to encounter any problems or signal degradation if I use an HDMI to DVI converter, as I would prefer to use HDMI for Sky HD (when it's been installed). None of my DVD audio playback is done through the TV; it all goes to the amp, so the lack of sound on DVI is not an issue.

Finally, it MUST be multi-region, or handset hackable. Argos have a Samsung 850, which might be a possibilty, particuarly as I get discount, although it doesn't appear to handle DVD-A.

The whole HD & upscaling side of A/V are completely new territory for me, so any advice is very gratefully received.

Cheers!!

Ollie

[woodyo]

The Pioneer DVD-696av player sounds good but its not out yet.

HDMI output with Video Scaler (720p/1080i)
Playback Formats, DVD-Video/SVCD/VCD/CD/DVD-Audio/SACD/JPEG/JPEG + MP3/WMA Simultaneous/DivX Ultra
108mhz/12-bit Video DAC
Pure Cinema Progressive
I/P Simultaneous output
Video Adjust menu
Bass Management & Delay Adjust
DTS/Dolby Digital onboard decoders
PAL/NTSC Dual system
192khz/24-bit Audio DAC
Virtual Surround
Dialogue enhancer
Terminals - HDMI, Component, RGB Scart, Coaxial & Optical Digital outputs, 5.1 audio output, Composite out, S-Video out, RCA audio out
WxHxD: 420 x 49.5 x 215.5

and more..
Pioneer make fantastic gear, but will have to wait a bit longer to see.

amazon Pioneer DV-696AV-S DVD Video/Audio Player with HDMI Connectivity - Silver) £119

[skk3]

I am also waiting to find out about the Pioneer 696. Staff at AVLand in Wellingborough are waiting to buy themselves. I wish I had purchased a 575A when Richers did them for £99.00.

I am a bit disappointed with all the 'new' technology with all their bugs et al.

[woodyo]

Your hitachi 7200 plasma does not have hdmi, but does have dvi so you will need an hdmi to dvi lead.

Your screen should do a good job of upscaling,but realy you cant tell,you need to try it first and see which is best, the dvd or the screen.You should also match the dvd output with the native screen res of your panel,your screen will only have to down scale it again if you upscale it to fare,that is when you will start to see problems with the pq.

I have had samsung 850 and had problems with it and had to send it back but the pq was very good.This dvd player is hackable with the remote.

I dont now if you will get hdmi shift or not but the new pioneer looks good.
Hdmi shift is down to the panel and can give you larger black bars top and bottom of the screen on hdmi only,Its not a problem on all screens.

The new pioneer range can support Divx but is not HD.The mr hack will probable be possible abit later.

There has been alot of reports about the denon 1920 having lip sync problems
on hdmi connections

i hope this helps.

[ollie501]

Originally Posted by woodyo

Your hitachi 7200 plasma does not have hdmi, but does have dvi so you will need an hdmi to dvi lead.

Your screen should do a good job of upscaling,but realy you cant tell,you need to try it first and see which is best, the dvd or the screen.You should also match the dvd output with the native screen res of your panel,your screen will only have to down scale it again if you upscale it to fare,that is when you will start to see problems with the pq.

I have had samsung 850 and had problems with it and had to send it back but the pq was very good.This dvd player is hackable with the remote.

I dont now if you will get hdmi shift or not but the new pioneer looks good.
Hdmi shift is down to the panel and can give you larger black bars top and bottom of the screen on hdmi only,Its not a problem on all screens.

The new pioneer range can support Divx but is not HD.The mr hack will probable be possible abit later.

There has been alot of reports about the denon 1920 having lip sync problems
on hdmi connections

i hope this helps.

Thanks. The Hitachi most definately does have HDMI and DVI (one of each). Not quite sure where you got that from?

[oldskoolforever]

i had to do a bit of research on this as well. I heard of a few problems with the Samsung 860 & the Toshiba 360e, so in the end i bought the HD-950 from Richer Sounds as people i spoke to said it was very good. As it turns out, its avery fine unit... and does the upscaling no problem 720p/768p/1080i via the HDMI. Easy Remote hack as well for all regions. Couldn't tell you if your picture will be better... you need to try it on your own setup. It doesn't handle HD-DVD as you correctly suspected. I'm going to wait another 2 years anyway for that when its affordable for all. In the meantime, £120 was a really good deal for this player & it plays DivX/MP3/SACD and all the other shizzle you'd expect.

HTH

[PJTX100]

Keep the 575, save your money for true HiDef.

[woodyo]

sorry about that ollie i did a search on your model and found 1 that did not have hdmi
i did not have the complete model number

[Barzo]

I'd keep the 575 if you are happy with the pq. I bought a Panny S97 over a year ago, but the latest upgrade of the firmware (v542) brought all the macro-blocking that people were always talking about to the fore, so I sold it. Was a cracking player, with some discs looking superb upscaled, but, in all honesty, not a million miles away from the 575, but without the distracting jaggies on diagonals (which I now understand might be a PAL 2:2 cadence problem with the prog scan Mediatek solution on the 575). I also had a Denon 1920 for less than 24hrs, as it had even more severe macroblocking than the Panny. I currently have a Samsung 950 connected HDMI and component, and switching between the two shows HDMI to be cleaner, but that's all.

Hope this helps - all does seem screen dependent, though, as some people apparently don't get mb with the Faroudja Genesis solution that is in both the Panny S97 and the Denon 1920.