New Upscaling DVD Player? Opinions please!

[Stinky985]

i have recently got a Samsung R37 LCD TV and i have an old (ish) Denon 2200 DVD player. i have it connected via component and was wondering if a cheapish Upscaling DVD with a HDMI connection would be worthwhile?
The other alternative i am considering is the new Toshiba EP30 HD-DVD player when it eventually comes out. Especially if it entitles you to/comes with 7 HD-DVD films!

[LV426]

Your TV is already upscaling, and "component video"* is almost indistinguishable in overall quality from HDMI - all other things being equal. A "cheapish" DVD machine is unlikely to make a better job of scaling than your TV.


* Just in case the obvious has been missed; "component" consists of three cables for picture only plus audio separately. (Some people confuse the similarly-named "composite video" which is nowhere near as good and which uses a single cable for video, plus audio separately - or the same connections via SCART).

[Stinky985]

ok thanks, but will the tv be upscaling if the dvd is chucking out a 476p (or whatever it is via component) signal and that is accepted by the tv?

[LV426]

Yes, always, whenever it's not receiving something that EXACTLY matches the pixel structure of the screen. And your existing Denon is probably a very good player. So, use Component, set the Denon to "progressive scan" and you'll struggle to do better.

Of course, you may be able to improve matters further by tweaking the user controls on the TV. Contrast and brightness need to be set right (best done with a calibration disc - or failing that, the THX Optimiser found on all THX certified DVDs) and you should turn off, or down, or to their "null" values (i.e. so they are effectively disabled) all sharpness and detail enhancers, and noise reduction features.

[Stinky985]

ok thanks very much! i think i'll stay with waht i have then. now i have to decide about a HD-DVD player or not!!! ta!!

[TommyVecetti]

Do you feel the picture could be improved, is there soemthing you don't like about it?

[newbie1980]

prolly a stoopid question but what is 'component' what does the cable look like?

[TommyVecetti]

Originally Posted by newbie1980

prolly a stoopid question but what is 'component' what does the cable look like?

Google.

[newbie1980]

Originally Posted by TommyVecetti

Google.

just done it!

but what then is the difference/advantage of hdmi over component?

edit: hdmi os both visula and audio, component is visual only?

[Stinky985]

Originally Posted by TommyVecetti

Do you feel the picture could be improved, is there soemthing you don't like about it?

i was expecting a bit more of a leap from RGB scart on my old crt! i have ahad a little play with the tv settings and i am a bit more impressed. i may try some better leads as i'm using a £10 jvc lead from currys.

[LV426]

Component uses three cables to carry picture only; audio is separate. Usual socketry is RCA phono coloured red, green and blue (although this isn't "RGB").

Component differs from other analogue protocols in that it CAN be used to carry higher resolutions than standard and CAN be used to carry progressive signals. For that reason, it is the best analogue protocol available for these purposes.

HDMI as has already been said, is digital. It might reasonably be assumed that it's therefore better, and it probably is - but the real-world difference is insignificant*

HDMI isn't therefore a good reason on its own to embark on an otherwise unnecessary equipment upgrade, if you already have component. And neither is upscaling in the source*.

* (assuming the equipment is equally capable and equally well adjusted for each).

[TommyVecetti]

Originally Posted by LV426

HDMI as has already been said, is digital. It might reasonably be assumed that it's therefore better, and it probably is - but the real-world difference is insignificant*

The real world difference depends on what your display likes better to be fair. Displays are largely optimised for HDMI use as it's becoming more common place now. Of course I don't think one can give a definitive answer on the issue because not all displays are the same. Ultimately your display is going to rescale the image, so it may make more sense to keep things in the digital domain to avoid as much degradation as possible. That's certainly what I have found.

[LV426]

Originally Posted by TommyVecetti

The real world difference depends on what your display likes better to be fair.....

Yes. Hence my footnote above, viz:
* (assuming the equipment is equally capable and equally well adjusted for each).

[newbie1980]

thank you to all of you for the answers

[Stinky985]

well i decided to gamble and try a better quality component cable and ordered one from cable universe with favourable reviews. hopefully that will improve things. Especially as it appears hd-dvd's may not play properly on my tv so may have to hold off on that!