DVD players that upconvert over component?

[koach]

I know this has been discussed before, but a search returns too many results to even try and filter through. I have a 65 inch RP CRT Toshiba, and I'm looking for a DVD player that will upconvert everything through component, with or without a firmware or remote control hack.

I originally bought a Toshiba 4980, but it was DOA (and I didn't know at the time that it only upconverts over HDMI). Then I bought an LG 511, and it was also dead. I returned it for another one, and it works, but the picture is way too soft. In addition, it only upconverts some DVDs over component, not all.

So what I'm looking for is a DVD player under $200 that upconverts over component (I'm comfortable doing a hack), that produces the best picture in that price range (i.e the picture isn't soft or grainy, no macroblocking, etc.)

Thanks.

[Bud-man]

Well then possibly look at a Kingwell, i was sent one for testing last week and it does up to 1080p and plays HVD disc's that are 720p and the best pq you'll see till HD dvd comes out, this player will play any resolution copywrite free thru component, i'd say PQ thru component is very impressive!!
Do a search on e-bay for 1080p and save $10 or there website, super fast shipping from Shanghai in less than 2 days to east coast USA

Kingwell KW-HD1880 (http://kingwelltech.com/product/dvd/hd1880/feature.asp)

[koach]

[QUOTE=Bud-man]Well then possibly look at a Kingwell, i was sent one for testing last week and it does up to 1080p and plays HVD disc's that are 720p and the best pq you'll see till HD dvd comes out, this player will play any resolution copywrite free thru component, i'd say PQ thru component is very impressive!!
Do a search on e-bay for 1080p and save $10 or there website, super fast shipping from Shanghai in less than 2 days to east coast USA

Kingwell KW-HD1880 (http://kingwelltech.com/product/dvd/hd1880/feature.asp)[/QUOTE]


That player has gotten poor reviews - bad deinterlacing and a soft picture. It seems like right now the Zenith with old firmware may be my best bet.

[Paul Bigelow]

This thread/sticky might help:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=609190

There is a section for upconversion over component.

Paul

[telemike]

www.neodigits.com

They have a component video upconverting player too.

[koach]

[QUOTE=Paul Bigelow]This thread/sticky might help:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=609190

There is a section for upconversion over component.

Paul[/QUOTE]

Thanks, I saw that. However I didn't see anyone provide a comparative review of any of them, stating if one was better than the other. I'm leaning twards the Zenith at this point, but the Samsung seems like a close second.

[Bud-man]

Well you seem to know what you wanted to hear before you posted this thread
You can read all you want from everyone here and until you actually see the player yourself then you'll make a decision.
This thread wasnt needed as you could of asked that question in the above mentioned thread.

[koach]

[QUOTE=Bud-man]Well you seem to know what you wanted to hear before you posted this thread
You can read all you want from everyone here and until you actually see the player yourself then you'll make a decision.
This thread wasnt needed as you could of asked that question in the above mentioned thread.[/QUOTE]

I'm looking for a comparative review, because i don't want to buy 3-5 players, compare them side by side, and return the ones i don't like as much.

[rboster]

[QUOTE=koach]I know this has been discussed before, but a search returns too many results to even try and filter through.
Thanks.[/QUOTE]

Instead wanting someone to spoon feed you the information....you'll get a lot more out of the hobby and this website by doing the legwork yourself. Spending two mintues using the advance search and search within a thread yielded this information of the Zenith vs the Samsung:


BTW, I just received my player from Amazon yesterday also, with a manu date of March 2004. Things work beautifully.

Compared to the Samsung 841 I have (which I will return today), the picture is better with better contrast (expected) and color. The 841, on the other hand, has better pq than the LG-3510 that I had.

I really like the 841's 10 second "replay" and "skip" features however.

I don't know if this was brought up before (I stopped reading this thread after page 125), but the LG logo screen is a good demo for the up-conversion benefits. On my Samsung HLN567W (which is 720p native BTW), this is what I've noticed:

DVI@480p: Not very sharp picture, severe color bleeding (esp yellow).
DVI@720p: Sharp picture, slight color bleeding.
DVI@1080i: Slightly sharper picture, no color bleeding, but slight flickering (esp text).

Comp@480p: very comparable to DVI, no color bleeding, swarming in dark areas.
Comp@720p: very comparable to DVI, no color bleeding, swarming in dark areas.
Comp@1080i: very comparable to DVI, better than 720p DVI or comp, no color bleeding, NO flickering, but swarming in dark areas.

All DVI modes had only the DLP inherent mosquito effect in dark areas, something noticeable up close, but generally not at typical seating distances. However, component introduced additional "mosquito" noise to darker areas in all modes.


Now there are other comparisons by other members, if you want to spend a couple of minutes searching and reading.

Ron

[koach]

[QUOTE=rboster]Instead wanting someone to spoon feed you the information....you'll get a lot more out of the hobby and this website by doing the legwork yourself. Spending two mintues using the advance search and search within a thread yielded this information of the Zenith vs the Samsung:
[/QUOTE]

There's no need to be a dick about it. If you're going to have that attitude, then don't bother replying. I stated in my original message that I had already tried the search feature and there were many results for me to filter through.

[rboster]

[QUOTE=koach]There's no need to be a dick about it. If you're going to have that attitude, then don't bother replying. I stated in my original message that I had already tried the search feature and there were many results for me to filter through.[/QUOTE]


Not being a dick, but my point still stands...that you'll learn more doing the research yourself instead of having others tell you. The reasons are pretty simple, in the process of researching your read about other issues that you hadn't thought of or considered that may factor into your decision. Plus, those that may have the information and have posted it before may not see your thread. Lastly, the idea of narrowing down to a couple of choices, which it sounds like you have and conducting a demo in your system is the best way to determine where your money is best spent.

As far as the filtering process....use advnace searchg, title search only...if a master or long thread comes up....you can search within that thread in the engine located on the first page of that thread. That's what I did to come up with the comparison comments....there were others too comparing the two.

[Alan Gouger]

The last few posts have been reported. Everyone step back and take some fresh air. Were here to help each other. We share the same interests so lets try to keep things on a positive note.

[koach]

[QUOTE=Alan Gouger]The last few posts have been reported. Everyone step back and take some fresh air. Were here to help each other. We share the same interests so lets try to keep things on a positive note.[/QUOTE]

What do you mean by reported? I'm relatively new here so I don't know exactly what you mean.

[Chris Gerhard]

I have several inexpensive players that upscale over component. For 720p, I prefer the Samsung DVD-HD950 and for 1080i the Zenith DVB318. I also have a NeuNeo HVD2081 and I am very pleased with the video quality at both resolutions but build quality is suspect based on complaints I have read here although mine is working fine with light use. The Samsung DVD-HD941 should be fine at 720p, I don't own one, but I have read of reports of picture skewing at 1080i which is what I have observed with some DVDs with my HD950 at 1080i over component.

Chris

[bri1270]

That means you're going to have to go to the Principal's office for a paddlin'

[koach]

[QUOTE=Chris Gerhard]I have several inexpensive players that upscale over component. For 720p, I prefer the Samsung DVD-HD950 and for 1080i the Zenith DVB318. I also have a NeuNeo HVD2081 and I am very pleased with the video quality at both resolutions but build quality is suspect based on complaints I have read here although mine is working fine with light use. The Samsung DVD-HD941 should be fine at 720p, I don't own one, but I have read of reports of picture skewing at 1080i which is what I have observed with some DVDs with my HD950 at 1080i over component.

Chris[/QUOTE]

Thank you! Since this player is for my 1080i RP CRT HDTV, I think I'll go with the Zenith. Best Buy has it for fairly cheap online, and I can return it to the store if I don't like it.

[koach]

[QUOTE=bri1270]That means you're going to have to go to the Principal's office for a paddlin'[/QUOTE]

kinky

[bri1270]

You know...I wasn't going that way...

[rupertoooo]

Koach, why not go with a quality component player. The pq in the price range your looking at will be negligible at best. I have auditioned a wide range of players throughtout the year for my Sony GWIV: Upconversion HDMI Players included: Sony 975, Panasonic S97, Pioneer 59AVi, Denon 2910, 1910, Component upconversion players: Samsung 941, 950 and component players Sony 999ES, Denon 2200 and Sony 700.

In my eyes the (calibrated via DVE) order of preference went Pioneer, by a small margin (the player exhibited the sharpest picture but was a little too soft for my eyes, this is not necessarily a bad thing but I returned the unit), Denon 2200 my player of choice, Sony 999ES, Denon 2910, Sony 975 component, Panasonic S97 component. I did not notice an increase in pq via HDMI in the 975 or the 97 on my display in fact my preference for both of those units was the component connection. All of the mentioned preference units produced excellent pq and would recommend any of them, but I ended up keeping the Denon 2200 for video and the Sony 999ES for SACD.

One thing of note, my display will convert all digital video signals to analog, but I still believe in your case a quality component player will best any of the available component upconversion players.

[BillP]

[QUOTE=koach]What do you mean by reported? I'm relatively new here so I don't know exactly what you mean.[/QUOTE]
After warnings, some members have been banned from posting for awhile when they persisted in personal attacks/arguments with other members. Alan is just nicely asking for all combatants to please stop.

[greeno]

Depending on which model toshiba set you have, you might want to stay away from 480p players, even very good ones. The *H81/*HX81, *H82/*HX82 sets have terrible 480p to 540p internal upconversion. You do much better sending 1080i directly via component. Check the keohtv.com features section for a report by MichaelLTV (I hope I got his name correct - if not may apologies).

Best,
jeff

[koach]

[QUOTE=rupertoooo]Koach, why not go with a quality component player. The pq in the price range your looking at will be negligible at best. I have auditioned a wide range of players throughtout the year for my Sony GWIV: Upconversion HDMI Players included: Sony 975, Panasonic S97, Pioneer 59AVi, Denon 2910, 1910, Component upconversion players: Samsung 941, 950 and component players Sony 999ES, Denon 2200 and Sony 700.

In my eyes the (calibrated via DVE) order of preference went Pioneer, by a small margin (the player exhibited the sharpest picture but was a little too soft for my eyes, this is not necessarily a bad thing but I returned the unit), Denon 2200 my player of choice, Sony 999ES, Denon 2910, Sony 975 component, Panasonic S97 component. I did not notice an increase in pq via HDMI in the 975 or the 97 on my display in fact my preference for both of those units was the component connection. All of the mentioned preference units produced excellent pq and would recommend any of them, but I ended up keeping the Denon 2200 for video and the Sony 999ES for SACD.

One thing of note, my display will convert all digital video signals to analog, but I still believe in your case a quality component player will best any of the available component upconversion players.[/QUOTE]

So you don't see any benefit in the Zenith over a $200 non-upconverting player? Even if it's a small increase in PQ, I'm willing to give it a shot.

[koach]

[QUOTE=greeno]Depending on which model toshiba set you have, you might want to stay away from 480p players, even very good ones. The *H81/*HX81, *H82/*HX82 sets have terrible 480p to 540p internal upconversion. You do much better sending 1080i directly via component. Check the keohtv.com features section for a report by MichaelLTV (I hope I got his name correct - if not may apologies).

Best,
jeff[/QUOTE]

I remember reading that awhile ago, and thankfully I have a H84.

[koach]

[QUOTE=BillP]After warnings, some members have been banned from posting for awhile when they persisted in personal attacks/arguments with other members. Alan is just nicely asking for all combatants to please stop.[/QUOTE]

Gotcha, makes sense.

[greeno]

And just to add to my above post, I have a tosh 50hx81 and a zenith 318 that I've used for over 2 years. It's a nice player and produces a pretty good image with 1080i out. there is some minor macroblocking that occurs so infrequently, that I don't care. Frequency is about 1 scene per 4 dvd's.

jeff

[Juan]

Does the zenith 318 convert 1080i over component out of the box, or is there a hack to get this done?

[BillP]

[QUOTE=Juan]Does the zenith 318 convert 1080i over component out of the box, or is there a hack to get this done?[/QUOTE]
You need to load older firmware to do that (a search should help you find out how).

[Juan]

[QUOTE=BillP]You need to load older firmware to do that (a search should help you find out how).[/QUOTE]

How did I know you were going to say that. :) Anyway, I used the search and found everything I need to do this, I might be getting this player tonight. Thanks.