New DVD player into Sharp LCD - advice please

[Sir Arthur]

Hi there - first time caller etc.

At the moment my "system" is appalling (an On Digital -remember them?- TV, DVD via my PS2, 5.1 bought at mega discount then found it isn't compatible with a PS2 - all very embarrassing). However, following the sound intermittently cutting out on the TV, the living room gets an upgrade this weekend.

So, I'm buying a Sharp LC-32P50E (HDMi) TV (thanks to reading this site).
I have digital television via an NTL set-top box.
I have a cheap Toshiba 5.1 kit that I'm keeping for the time being.
The PS2 will be used just for gaming.

The missing piece is the DVD player, ideally in the £150 range (though less would be nice). I also am a complete noob when it comes to connections and cabling, so if any kind person could give me tips, that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Sir Arthur]

anyone?

 

[nnicol]

The LCD is the PAL optimised version which has a resolution of 960x540. This will accept a HD signal but will scale it down to the resolution of the screen so it is not really HD ready. I would suggest a decent DVD player with component out. A up-scaling DVD player would just be scaled back down via the screen defeating the object of up-scaling the picture.

 

[PJTX100]

The LCD is the PAL optimised version which has a resolution of 960x540. This will accept a HD signal but will scale it down to the resolution of the screen so it is not really HD ready. I would suggest a decent DVD player with component out. A up-scaling DVD player would just be scaled back down via the screen defeating the object of up-scaling the picture.

What he says!

Try a Pioneer 575 via component if you can find one...PJ

 

[neilmcl]

Try the Pioneer DV-575 via component which has good reviews here. You could also look at the Toshiba SD350 or if you can stretch to it the Denon 1920. As nnicol says there is little point buying an upscaling DVD player as the Sharp will only downscale anyway to fit its own resolution. The only advantage of one is the use of the digital HDMI connection but it's debateable whether this is any better than a good analogue component player.

In fact I wouldn't buy an upscaling DVD player even for a HD Ready screen, I would rather wait to see true HD via a HD-DVD or more likely Blu-Ray player.

 

[neilmcl]

For the record I too have the Sharp LC37P50E and I'm in two minds whether to go for the Pio 575, Tosh 350 or the Denon. Don't need it righ now so I'll probably wait until after xmas and see what the prices are like then.

 

[Sir Arthur]

Thanks chaps. After continuing to read through the forum this afternoon, I'd decided on the 575 as well. I'm getting a LCD with HDMi more for potential NTL changes than for DVD viewing (I think... this is a st-e-e-e-e-p learning curve).

 

[neilmcl]

What would be interesting to know is what would give you a better picture: Outputting a standard DVD at 720p to a 1366x768 display or 576p to the Sharp P50.

 

[timlloyd]

The oppodigital player is able to output a 540p signal, this seems a perfect match to the P50e resolution. Anyone know if the Sharp supports 540p?

I've not come across 540p previoulsy or know if any display supports it?

Player specs are here.

http://www.oppodigital.com/opdv971h.html

 

[Sir Arthur]

Right, I've bought the Pio 575 (£99 at Richer Sounds West End - got the What Hi-Fi deal by saying "I've heard you've got a What Hi-Fi deal, can I have it or do I need to buy the magazine?") and will be buying the Sharp P50 on Saturday.

From what I've read on the forum, the best connection will be component. Richer Sounds waved a pack of cables at me, but I thought I should ask advice on what to get here. First of all - what type of cables and secondly - which brand?

Thanks.

 

[neilmcl]

To get the best from the Pio 575 then you'll definitely need some component cables. You can get some £40 ones from Ixos and Qed or go the the Cables forums Group Buy and look at the Mark Grant cables for around £50, these apparently are the dogs danglies but maybe a bit heavy considering wher they're connected on the Sharp.

 

[Sir Arthur]

How about Bandridge PGV332? They are on sale (£35) at the same place I'm picking the P50 up from. A couple of forum posts have said good things.

 

[danvitale]

Dont forget to get some Phono cables for the left and right audio channels as well as the component. Richer Sounds only sell the video only component cables.

Please let me know what your thoughts are with the P50 and the 575, I have a friend who may be buying the 37" P50 and Im wondering if the 575 is a good player to compliment the screen.

 

[Sir Arthur]

Dan, Neil or any helpful soul... this is the weblink to the store I'm picking the TV up from. Please can you suggest which cables I should then be buying?

http://www.prcdirect.co.uk/PRC/prc....ed89ba2740c0a8018c06ee+EN/catalogpages/1456/1

Ta.

 

[neilmcl]

Personally I would choose from here: http://www.hificables.co.uk/Product... Video/v/6827ca0e-cf20-4793-a1d5-ca9cb2656f11 particularly the QED ones.

 

[Sir Arthur]

I'm needing the cables for Saturday and this will be the only store I'll have time to visit, so the best from PRC's stocklist is what I'll be going for. This is all new to me, so if someone could say which ones will work well, that'll be much appreciated.

 

[Sir Arthur]

well, the weekend has come and gone and now I'm sorted...

From my rather shabby set-up I now have...

Sharp Aquos LC3250P
Connected by Profigold component cables for video and audio to
Pioneer 575
Which is also connected by Monster Digital Coax to
Hitachi SR-10 5.1 Amp and speakers
NTL (RBG Scart)
PS2

The dual audio connection works really well, as the TV has a more than adequate sound for TV DVDs, while I have the option to go 5.1 for films that deserve it. Terminator II was the test disk and sounded bloody amazing. I've wanted proper surround sound for years and am so glad I've finally got round to investing. I was impressed that the 575 outputs audio via component and coax simultaneously, so I don't need to play about with the settings each time.

Only drawback is the fact that the Sharp shows the infamous judder while on progressive scan (but interlaced still gives a great picture). I'll keep watching the forums until Sharp offer new firmware.

All in all not too expensive either. Money spent over the weekend amounted to:
Sharp Aquos - £765 from PRC Direct. No delivery as I collected from their store (and the web price was £335 cheaper than the instore price)
Pio 575 - £100 from Richer Sounds
Profigolds - £75 from PRC
Monster - £20 from Powerhouse.

Total £960

So, thanks to all those who gave advice. I've gone from knowing nothing to being able to build a decent ents system.

 

[Timh]

I am using these
at the moment for switching through my amp, they seem pretty good to me.