HD DVD Players recommendations

[Glen1]

Hi guys,
I'm just looking for some recommendations on high def dvd players able to display up to 720p and 1080i resolutions. Looking for prices as well. I know about momitsu but are there others out there worth getting. I want to use one with a Hitachi PJTX 100 LCD projector.

Thanks

Glen

[scalpel]

Hi guys,
I'm just looking for some recommendations on high def dvd players able to display up to 720p and 1080i resolutions. Looking for prices as well. I know about momitsu but are there others out there worth getting. I want to use one with a Hitachi PJTX 100 LCD projector.

Thanks

Glen

I presume you are looking for upscaling DVD players (true HD DVD players - either Blue-ray or HDDVD are not going to be available for 8+ months).

If so, take a look at this (http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=6899) thread on the DBA forums.

J.

[Italo]

"Glen1" <Glen1.1kow8j@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
news:Glen1.1kow8j@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
>
> Hi guys,
> I'm just looking for some recommendations on high def dvd players able
> to display up to 720p and 1080i resolutions. Looking for prices as
> well. I know about momitsu but are there others out there worth
> getting. I want to use one with a Hitachi PJTX 100 LCD projector.
>
> Thanks

In all reviews the 'upscaling' DVD players are at their best when outputting
480p/576p, so why do you need one at all? Your PJ will upscale to its panel
resolution anyway so I'd look for a very good progressive player, possibly
with HDMI/DVI output.

Keep in mind that in many cheap players the HDMI/DVI connections are not as
good as standard component connections, the fact you mentioned Momitsu
indicates you're looking for a 'cheap' solution something I would not
recommend when dealing with the most important link in your HT.

--
Italo

[Trevor Wilson]

"Glen1" <Glen1.1kow8j@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
news:Glen1.1kow8j@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
>
> Hi guys,
> I'm just looking for some recommendations on high def dvd players able
> to display up to 720p and 1080i resolutions. Looking for prices as
> well. I know about momitsu but are there others out there worth
> getting. I want to use one with a Hitachi PJTX 100 LCD projector.

**There are no commercially available HD DVD players. Yet.


--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au

[Wolf]

I have owned the denon 1910, legend HD 260l, and momitsu v880dx HD players.
All players are at their best when a one to one mapping of the signal is
sent to
your display device. This means the best image you will get with your
projector
is at its native resolution of 1280 x 720, namely a 720p upscaled signal
from your
DVD player.

This eliminates the need for scaling on 2 devices ( your player and the
projector).
With your projector, any signal sent to it is still scaled to max of 1280X
720p.
So although it may accept 1080i or even 1080p signal sent to it(as is the
case with the
HVD208 NeuNeo HD player) it will still be scaled back to a max of 720p.

One to one mapping minimizes the macroblocking bug and provides a cleaner
image.
This was still a problem with the Denon 1910, notorious for macroblocking
bug.

Of the players I have owned/tested, only the momitsu is a second generation
player.
This player was better than the other two I had, it also has the advantage
of custom display
settings to further tweak your image. With constant firmware updates and
good support,
this player is perhaps the best option under 360 bucks.

A note on the legend player, this player provided a nice picture but
enabling HDMI
output immediately disabled 5.1chan surround sound (PCM stereo was the only
option)
Legend is aware of this and expects a firmware update in march. The legends
loader was
also more sensitive to damaged or poorly masted DVDs with some skipping
etc...
Legend has HDMI, while momitsu is DVI.
The momitsu was my choice for slightly better PQ, no sound probs,
custom resolution settings and seemed to have a better loader which was more
tolerant of faulty or improperly mastered DVDs.


Cheers



"Italo" <italotettoni.nospammingallowed@gmx.net> wrote in message
news:4217d178$0$31621$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.a u...
> "Glen1" <Glen1.1kow8j@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
> news:Glen1.1kow8j@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
>>
>> Hi guys,
>> I'm just looking for some recommendations on high def dvd players able
>> to display up to 720p and 1080i resolutions. Looking for prices as
>> well. I know about momitsu but are there others out there worth
>> getting. I want to use one with a Hitachi PJTX 100 LCD projector.
>>
>> Thanks
>
> In all reviews the 'upscaling' DVD players are at their best when
> outputting
> 480p/576p, so why do you need one at all? Your PJ will upscale to its
> panel
> resolution anyway so I'd look for a very good progressive player, possibly
> with HDMI/DVI output.
>
> Keep in mind that in many cheap players the HDMI/DVI connections are not
> as
> good as standard component connections, the fact you mentioned Momitsu
> indicates you're looking for a 'cheap' solution something I would not
> recommend when dealing with the most important link in your HT.
>
> --
> Italo
>
>

[Italo]

"Wolf" <lupin@-removethis-internode.on.net> wrote in message
news:4217ea4e$1@duster.adelaide.on.net...
\
> This eliminates the need for scaling on 2 devices ( your player and the
> projector).

If you use a 'regular' DVD player and send a 480/576 signal to your PJ and
the PJ upscales it to its panel resolution it is only doing the processing
once. Just like if the DVD player upscales internally and then sends it to
the PJ.


> One to one mapping minimizes the macroblocking bug and provides a cleaner
> image.
> This was still a problem with the Denon 1910, notorious for macroblocking
> bug.


It affects pretty much the entire Denon line


> Of the players I have owned/tested, only the momitsu is a second
generation
> player.
> This player was better than the other two I had, it also has the
advantage
> of custom display
> settings to further tweak your image. With constant firmware updates and
> good support,
> this player is perhaps the best option under 360 bucks.

The Momitsu's video frequency response is shocking, picture quality must be
soft as hell:
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/cgi-bin/shootout.cgi?function=search&articles=118#MomitsuV-880%20Component%20(480P\720P)

--
Italo

[Trevor S]

"Wolf" <lupin@-removethis-internode.on.net> wrote in
news:4217ea4e$1@duster.adelaide.on.net:

> I have owned the denon 1910, legend HD 260l, and momitsu v880dx HD
> players. All players are at their best when a one to one mapping of
> the signal is sent to
> your display device. This means the best image you will get with your
> projector
> is at its native resolution of 1280 x 720, namely a 720p upscaled
> signal from your
> DVD player.

This depends on a whole swag of things. Not the least of which is the
quality of the scaler in your display device, the type of display device
(eg analogue or digital) the quality of the scaler in your source device
and the method of interconnect.

All things being equal <cough> and assuming a digital projector,
480p/576p from your DVD player via DVI/HDMI to your projector and then
scale, would be my prefered method.

That being said individual equipment may prove to be better at one thing
or another (eg the proj you have chosen may have a shitty scaler and the
scaling may be better done on the DVD player)

A note to the original OP to avoid confusing what you are after is not HD
DVD* player but a DVD player with an internal scaler.


* I don't think they have released any and Blu Ray is only available in
Japan AFAIK
--
Trevor S


"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth."
-Albert Einstein

[Wolf]

"Trevor S" <bill@gates.com> wrote in message
news:Xns96037D70C28ABbillgatescom@130.133.1.4...
> "Wolf" <lupin@-removethis-internode.on.net> wrote in
> news:4217ea4e$1@duster.adelaide.on.net:
>
>> I have owned the denon 1910, legend HD 260l, and momitsu v880dx HD
>> players. All players are at their best when a one to one mapping of
>> the signal is sent to
>> your display device. This means the best image you will get with your
>> projector
>> is at its native resolution of 1280 x 720, namely a 720p upscaled
>> signal from your
>> DVD player.
>
> This depends on a whole swag of things. Not the least of which is the
> quality of the scaler in your display device, the type of display device
> (eg analogue or digital) the quality of the scaler in your source device
> and the method of interconnect.
>


This comment was specific to his projector (Hitachi PJTX )

[Wolf]

to the best of my knowledge , the Hitachi PJTX scaler can't "upscale"
a signal, it can only downscale... hence the value of an upsacling dvd
player.


"Italo" <italotettoni.nospammingallowed@gmx.net> wrote in message
news:4217eeee$0$5188$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au ...
> "Wolf" <lupin@-removethis-internode.on.net> wrote in message
> news:4217ea4e$1@duster.adelaide.on.net...
> \
>> This eliminates the need for scaling on 2 devices ( your player and the
>> projector).
>
> If you use a 'regular' DVD player and send a 480/576 signal to your PJ and
> the PJ upscales it to its panel resolution it is only doing the processing
> once. Just like if the DVD player upscales internally and then sends it to
> the PJ.
>
>
>> One to one mapping minimizes the macroblocking bug and provides a cleaner
>> image.
>> This was still a problem with the Denon 1910, notorious for macroblocking
>> bug.
>
>
> It affects pretty much the entire Denon line
>
>
>> Of the players I have owned/tested, only the momitsu is a second
> generation
>> player.
>> This player was better than the other two I had, it also has the
> advantage
>> of custom display
>> settings to further tweak your image. With constant firmware updates and
>> good support,
>> this player is perhaps the best option under 360 bucks.
>
> The Momitsu's video frequency response is shocking, picture quality must
> be
> soft as hell:
> http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/cgi-bin/shootout.cgi?function=search&articles=118#MomitsuV-880%20Component%20(480P\720P)
>
> --
> Italo
>
>

[Italo]

"Wolf" <lupin@-removethis-internode.on.net> wrote in message
news:4217f690$1@duster.adelaide.on.net...
> to the best of my knowledge , the Hitachi PJTX scaler can't "upscale"
> a signal, it can only downscale... hence the value of an upsacling dvd
> player.

All fixed resolution panel devices (plasmas, lcds, projectors) have onboard
video scalers, it is the nature of the technology. The only question is
whether the onboard scaler of your plasma/lcd/projector is better than the
scaler in these new 'upscaling' DVD players. Most critical reviews of these
'upscaling' dvd players, even the high end units, point to best results
being achieved using 480/576 signal rather than any of the upscaling
resolutions.
--
Italo

[Wolf]

I was unaware scalers in plasmas/lcd tvs etc.. can "upscale" a signal.
On my pioneer 50" the PQ was considerably better using momitsu
and custom settings upscaled to 720p over DVI than it was with
any of the following players:

Sony dvpns415 (Component)
omni 3310 (Component)
denon 1910 (DVI)
Legend 260i (HDMI)
Zensonic 330 (Component)

I don't profess to know much about upscaling HD players.
It was an afterthought when I was looking for a DVD player
that was well supported and had better than average picture quality.
The momitsu fit this profile and at a good price.
Anything over 500 bucks and I'd have been looking at building
a barebones HTPC
I now have a Panasonic 700AE projector and the picture with momitsu
is the best I've seen with any setup I have had, admittedly I have not used
any other player with the projector but I am blissfully happy with it.



Cheers




"Italo" <italotettoni.nospammingallowed@gmx.net> wrote in message
news:4218014b$0$6163$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au ...
> "Wolf" <lupin@-removethis-internode.on.net> wrote in message
> news:4217f690$1@duster.adelaide.on.net...
>> to the best of my knowledge , the Hitachi PJTX scaler can't "upscale"
>> a signal, it can only downscale... hence the value of an upsacling dvd
>> player.
>
> All fixed resolution panel devices (plasmas, lcds, projectors) have
> onboard
> video scalers, it is the nature of the technology. The only question is
> whether the onboard scaler of your plasma/lcd/projector is better than the
> scaler in these new 'upscaling' DVD players. Most critical reviews of
> these
> 'upscaling' dvd players, even the high end units, point to best results
> being achieved using 480/576 signal rather than any of the upscaling
> resolutions.
> --
> Italo
>
>

[Italo]

"Wolf" <lupin@-removethis-internode.on.net> wrote in message
news:421808ef$1@duster.adelaide.on.net...
> I was unaware scalers in plasmas/lcd tvs etc.. can "upscale" a signal.

Your Plasma/PJ/LCD etc... will automatically scale any signal to its panel
resolution, unless you feed it a signal that bypasses its internal scaler
i.e. a signal already at its panel resolution.

> On my pioneer 50" the PQ was considerably better using momitsu
> and custom settings upscaled to 720p over DVI than it was with
> any of the following players:
> Sony dvpns415 (Component)
> omni 3310 (Component)
> denon 1910 (DVI)
> Legend 260i (HDMI)
> Zensonic 330 (Component)

Sounds as if you've done your homework, but all of those are rather
inexpensive, entry level players. With a PJ like the Panasonic 700AE I'd be
looking at a better level of player simply to make the best of it, purely
personal opinion of course.

--
Italo

[Trevor S]

"Wolf" <lupin@-removethis-internode.on.net> wrote in
news:421808ef$1@duster.adelaide.on.net:

<snip>

> I was unaware scalers in plasmas/lcd tvs etc.. can "upscale" a signal.

How do you think it "fills the screen" if fed a 480/576 signal ?

--
Trevor S


"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth."
-Albert Einstein