[pure_geordie]

What d u think guys, I'm thinking about buying a projector
Panasonic PTAE-900, Sanyo Z4 or Hitachi TX200.

Mainly just for DVD Films but also considering playing games.

What would be best an Xbox to play games and watch DVD's

or a HDMI DVD player to just watch Films.

Really the Q is here is an XBox any good at playing Movies/DVD's.
Through a projector or just stick with a DVD player

Your Thoughts please...Thanks

[gingercat]

Depends if you're talking an XBox or an XBox360, although IMHO, they're both pretty poor for watching DVDs. There's always the H(ome)C(inema)PC route?

[inzaman]

I have an xbox and have watched part of one dvd through it. If it was me i would either get a dedicated dvd player or as above use hcpc (which is what i actually use).

[fallwood]

Xbox is a definate no for playing dvd's through a pj, may look ok on a 28" crt but when blown up to a 7ft screen it looks awfull.

HTPC is the best route IMO although its a long process to set one up correctly, if you want to take the simpler approach the oppo dvd player seems to get some good praise so you might want to check one out.

[cyberheater]

I'm going to disagree here.

DVD playback on Xbox 360 via component video cables is really good. Better then my dedicated mid range DVD player and not far short of my HTPC/Nvidia 6600/Purevideo drivers combo.

If you use the VGA lead on the 360 then the DVD playback is horrible. Component is fine.

[cyberheater]

Originally Posted by fallwood

HTPC is the best route IMO although its a long process to set one up correctly, if you want to take the simpler approach the oppo dvd player seems to get some good praise so you might want to check one out.

Yep. I agree with this. HTPC set up properly will give you the best image (although there are folks on this board that would maintain that a good dvd player going thru a 1000 quid scaler gives better results ). Oppo DVD player via hdmi is probably the easiest solution.

[pure_geordie]

Thanks for your input Gents, its a No No then regarding Xbox360 for watching DVD's then....so what type of HD DVD player then for the PTAE-900...which one is best ???

[gingercat]

There are no actual HD DVD players available yet (none that play HD-DVDs), but you can get DVD players that upscale your low-def DVD to a hi-def resolution (in your PJ's case 1280x720). The best of these players that upscale seems to be the Oppo (either search the forums or google it and you'll get a load of hits).

Of course, it may be worth holding off just a little longer and waiting for either a true HD-DVD player, or a Blu-Ray player.

[evolution400]

Originally Posted by fallwood

Xbox is a definate no for playing dvd's through a pj, may look ok on a 28" crt but when blown up to a 7ft screen it looks awfull.

HTPC is the best route IMO although its a long process to set one up correctly, if you want to take the simpler approach the oppo dvd player seems to get some good praise so you might want to check one out.

I find that to be inaccurate I have a 2 meter screen running a Mitsi HC300 720p native and I watch DVDs, SDTV, HDTV divx all using XBMC on my XBOX 1 which upscales the image to 720p and I find the quality very good.

[cyberheater]

Originally Posted by pure_geordie

Thanks for your input Gents, its a No No then regarding Xbox360 for watching DVD's then....so what type of HD DVD player then for the PTAE-900...which one is best ???

Er... no. I'm going to say it again. The 360 via component gives a very good image and is better then my Limit 900se and my Toshiba 340 (both progressive scan dvd players).

It produces a well defined image with no chroma upsampling bugs. '

It should be noted that a lot of folks who have complained about he quality of the 360 dvd playback have been using the VGA lead which forces a 640 x 480 resolution. The component lead allows the full 720 x 576p.

I agree that the 360 playback over component is pretty good but not quiet as good as my 70 quid samsung850 using HDMI on my Z4. Original Xbox sucks with DVD IMO.

Another thing to consider is that the running noise of the 360 is much higher than a dedicated DVD player so if fan noise bugs you go with a dedicated machine but playing G.R.A.W on the big screen is pretty damn sweet.

[cyberheater]

Originally Posted by paul_mowbray

I agree that the 360 playback over component is pretty good but not quiet as good as my 70 quid samsung850 using HDMI on my Z4. Original Xbox sucks with DVD IMO.

Another thing to consider is that the running noise of the 360 is much higher than a dedicated DVD player so if fan noise bugs you go with a dedicated machine but playing G.R.A.W on the big screen is pretty damn sweet.

Yep. The 360 is a loud and i've your looking for a dedicated player then you'll be better served by something like the Oppo or Samsung 850.

[fallwood]

Originally Posted by evolution400

I find that to be inaccurate I have a 2 meter screen running a Mitsi HC300 720p native and I watch DVDs, SDTV, HDTV divx all using XBMC on my XBOX 1 which upscales the image to 720p and I find the quality very good.

And what have you compared it to , there is absolutley no comparison between an xbox and a HTPC , if you've never seen a really good source then you cant make a comparison. As long as your happy with it thats all that matters at the end of the day.

[evolution400]

Originally Posted by fallwood

And what have you compared it to , there is absolutley no comparison between an xbox and a HTPC , if you've never seen a really good source then you cant make a comparison. As long as your happy with it thats all that matters at the end of the day.

"Xbox is a definate no for playing dvd's through a pj, may look ok on a 28" crt but when blown up to a 7ft screen it looks awfull" that was my main point you posting inaccurate information regarding an xbox the big screen i have compared this with my HCPC. I am not saying that the Xbox is better than a HCPC I agree the best picture can be obtained from a HCPC but the xbox is far better than a stand alone and to call it awful on the big screen well thats just uterly false fact not opinion.
The order in quality of the various systems IMO is HCPC, Xbox, Stand Alone DVD.

[fallwood]

Are we talking about an xbox or an xbox 360, Ive not seen a 360 yet so cant comment.

[cyberheater]

Originally Posted by fallwood

Are we talking about an xbox or an xbox 360, Ive not seen a 360 yet so cant comment.

When you tried a Xbox (original) what connection did you use. Scart?
Because even the original Xbox can produce a very good picture when using a mod chip, output set to progressive scan / ntsc and using component video leads.

[fallwood]

Originally Posted by cyberheater

When you tried a Xbox (original) what connection did you use. Scart?
Because even the original Xbox can produce a very good picture when using a mod chip, output set to progressive scan / ntsc and using component video leads.

I used a component lead with the xbox set to progressive through xbmc, I found that the image suffered from jaggies and stepping probably due to the scaling, I also found the image was quite noisy , I could have had it set up wrong but everyone I know thats tried the xbox for dvd playback has said it isnt anywhere near as good as their dvd player or htpc.

Compared to a £30 dvd player it might look as good or better but when compared to something in the £250-£350 price range it does look significantly worse. Maybe saying it looks awfull was a bit harsh but that was based on me comparing it to my HTPC and my panasonic dvd recorder/player , it certainly doesnt look good enough for me to use as my main dvd player.

If your strapped for cash and cant currently afford a good player/htpc then yes the xbox will do a reasonable job till you can get something better, I would not recommend that its suitable for permanent use as the main player in a home theater setup .

[pure_geordie]

OK Guys, I think we have come to the outcome that the XBox 360 is not a good idea for playing DVD's on a projector.....

So what would be the best kind of DVD player to play through a projector.
My suggestion is that you would use an HDMI O/P from DVD to HDMI I/P
on a projector ????

[fallwood]

Originally Posted by pure_geordie

OK Guys, I think we have come to the outcome that the XBox 360 is not a good idea for playing DVD's on a projector.....

So what would be the best kind of DVD player to play through a projector.
My suggestion is that you would use an HDMI O/P from DVD to HDMI I/P
on a projector ????

Well not really, Im saying that the original Xbox is no good for DVD, Cyberheater says that the 360 is a good dvd player and I have no reason to doubt him.

I think that there is some confusion as to which Xbox we are talking about.

[inzaman]

Originally Posted by fallwood

I used a component lead with the xbox set to progressive through xbmc, I found that the image suffered from jaggies and stepping probably due to the scaling, I also found the image was quite noisy

Exactly the same problem i had and hence have not used it for dvd playback since.

Originally Posted by fallwood

I think that there is some confusion as to which Xbox we are talking about.

I think that we are definitely now talking about the 360
In relation to that it does appear that cyberheater thinks that it is okay for dvd playback. I myself have not seen one playing a dvd so cannot comment on its ability as a player.

Once you get your pj or 360 whichever it is you are waiting for you could give it a try and see what you think before spending on a dvd player as well.

[cyberheater]

Originally Posted by pure_geordie

OK Guys, I think we have come to the outcome that the XBox 360 is not a good idea for playing DVD's on a projector.....

So what would be the best kind of DVD player to play through a projector.
My suggestion is that you would use an HDMI O/P from DVD to HDMI I/P
on a projector ????

Given the confusion. I'd go for a Oppo dvd player via hdmi. A highly rated dvd player.

[pure_geordie]

Agreed & Concluded!!!....I will Purchase a DVD with HDMI O/P