Upscaling DVD Players - Are They Worth It?

[beefqueen]

Just a very quick query:

I have a 23" HD LCD TV (DVI input) and an upscaling DVD Recorder (HDMI output) which has to be returned as it doesn't work! I'm very pleased with the quality of the images when playing DVDs, but was considering, as it's going back, replacing it with a DVD Recorder with hard drive.

However, I can't find a recorder with hard drive which also upscales and is within my budget. I saw the Thomson DTH8550E, which seems to tick almost all the boxes, but doesn't upscale. What I was wondering was whether I would notice a difference in quality between an upscaling player and a non-upscaling player.

I have seen reference to the fact that HD TVs upscale themselves, but couldn't quite understand it!

Thanks,

BeefQueen

 

[Costas]

This point has been covered extensively in this forum and the plasma forum. Do a search on upscaling and you will find a lot. Take a few minutes and read this recent thread... for example

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=298337

 

[beefqueen]

Thanks for the link but, as I said, I couldn't really follow it - I'm not really that technical - sorry!

My TV's a Samsung LE23T51B. I'm just very briefly wondering if an upscaling DVD player makes any difference.

 

[smallmanongn]

Thanks for the link but, as I said, I couldn't really follow it - I'm not really that technical - sorry!

My TV's a Samsung LE23T51B. I'm just very briefly wondering if an upscaling DVD player makes any difference.

Personally,I ain't technical and I would say no,it isn't worth it.
I've got a Sony 910 and I cant see any real difference using it with my LG.

 

[Costas]

beefqueen,

I will try to explain. As general rules scaling operations should be kept to a minimum, hopefully just one operation. The problem with upscaling DVD players is that most screens like plasmas they already employ scalers that will scale to their native resolution. So it is not really effective upscaling the DVD from the player and then the screen upscales again. You should upscale through the DVD player or the screen only. The TV you have has a resolution that accepts signals up to 1366 x 768. However I am not sure sure it contains a scaler being 23" only. Still, based on the relatively small size of screen, you will not see any real difference by using an upscaling DVD player.

Your screen is HD ready so it will work perfectly with forthcoming HD DVD / Blue Ray players.