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DVD Upconversion Questions

#1
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12/18/07 at 9:21am
  • Joined: August 2001
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Hi folks! Have some newbie 1080P questions...I have a Sony KDS 50A3000 and Samsung 1400 Bluray Player:

1. Is the upconversion on the Samsung considered good? It looks great on some DVDs but not as great on others.

2. Should I look for one with the HQV chip? I have 30 days to return the Samsung. Best Buy managers (2) told me this chip was included but the video forums tell me otherwise.

3. Would you recommend another upconverting BluRay player?

4. Should I just stay with this and get an Oppo? Is their upconversion tops?

Viewing: Sony KDSXBR150, Samsung 1400, DirectTV
Listening: Sony SCD777ES, Oppo980H, VPI Scoutmaster, Audio Research Electronics, Magnepan 1.6s

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#2
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12/18/07 at 5:54pm
  • Joined: August 2001
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Re: DVD Upconversion Questions

Anyone???

Viewing: Sony KDSXBR150, Samsung 1400, DirectTV
Listening: Sony SCD777ES, Oppo980H, VPI Scoutmaster, Audio Research Electronics, Magnepan 1.6s

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#3
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12/18/07 at 7:14pm
  • Joined: December 1969
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Re: DVD Upconversion Questions

1) How do you have the two connected? Depending on the connection, either the TV or the DVD player may be doing the upconversion.

2) "Up conversion" (we called it "line multiplying" in the old laserdisc days is, of course, really a bit of an illusion. Neither a player nor a TV can add detail that isn't there in the source material. One or both can de-interlace an interlaced signal and then apply complicated algorithms to guess what the "missing" lines and pixels would contain - based on adjacent pixels - and try to fill them in as best it can. How good a job it can do with this is based, in part, on how good the source material is.

I have a Sony DVD player that upconverts over component but not over HDMI, and a (720p) JVC LCoS that scales all inputs to its native resolution if necessary. I have both component cables and HDMI connecting the two, and I can't see a difference between the set's built-in scaler and the player's upconversion. I can see a big difference in how different DVDs look. (Just as I can see big differences in how standard def TV program material looks depending on the source material.) Some of my newer anamorphic widescreen DVDs look stunning. (I've been watching a lot of CSI lately and the boxed sets look almost as good as the HD broadcasts.) Older stuff from poorer quality masters just looks OK. (OTOH a non-anamorphic, but well-mastered disc like Streets of Fire looks better than it has any right to.)

I don't think I'd trade in either the TV or the player based on some discs not looking good. I would play with the different connections to see which upconversion (if any) is better.

Regards,

Joe
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#4
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12/18/07 at 7:32pm
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Re: DVD Upconversion Questions

I'm using an HDMI cable between the Samsung and the Sony RPTV.

Viewing: Sony KDSXBR150, Samsung 1400, DirectTV
Listening: Sony SCD777ES, Oppo980H, VPI Scoutmaster, Audio Research Electronics, Magnepan 1.6s

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#5
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12/19/07 at 8:01am
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Re: DVD Upconversion Questions

Try connecting with component as well, check to see which connection upconverts from the player, and then see if there's a difference. Check both a "good" disc and a "bad" disc. Depending on what you find, you'll know which piece of equipment (if any) to replace.

Regards,

Joe
My Home Theater

My DVD Collection

My niece, "Miss Goofy Face"
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#6
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12/19/07 at 3:00pm
  • Joined: August 2001
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Re: DVD Upconversion Questions

Thanks Joe for the help.

Viewing: Sony KDSXBR150, Samsung 1400, DirectTV
Listening: Sony SCD777ES, Oppo980H, VPI Scoutmaster, Audio Research Electronics, Magnepan 1.6s

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#7
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12/19/07 at 6:51pm
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Re: DVD Upconversion Questions

Let me know what you find out - I'm curious.

Joe
My Home Theater

My DVD Collection

My niece, "Miss Goofy Face"
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#8
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1/8/08 at 9:54am
  • Joined: January 2008
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Re: DVD Upconversion Questions

I have a question that maybe someone on here can answer. I have a Sony XRD 55 inch that is 1080p capable. I dont really now a lot about DVD players and which ones are best used with certain products. I guess my question is if anyone has any suggestions on which DVD upconversion would best work with my TV? I know that any blu-ray or HD dvd player would probably be the best, but iam actually not ready to fork out the dollars for something I dont know for sure is going to stick around.

Thank you,

Jason
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#9
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1/8/08 at 1:00pm
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Re: DVD Upconversion Questions

If you are not willing to go HDM, then I would suggest an Oppo as they consistently rate highly for upconversion and they are reasonably priced (they also include hi-res audio capability, though that may not be a primary concern for you). If I were looking for an SD player right now, they would be on the top of my list.

Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes time, and it annoys the pig.

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#10
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1/8/08 at 2:34pm
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Re: DVD Upconversion Questions

Thats exactly what most ppl have been telling me...

Thank you
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#11
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1/9/08 at 7:51pm
  • Joined: July 2001
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Re: DVD Upconversion Questions

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lee Scoggins
3. Would you recommend another upconverting BluRay player?

Hey Lee,

I don't have any experience with your Samsung BR player, but I can easily recommend the PS3 as an excellent standalone BR player as well as a DVD upconverting player. For $400, it's a steal in my book. I just wish they would have included the BR remote with it.

"Music is a magic carpet loaded with oils and other soothing potions, it's just what you need when you don't know what you need, when you've got more questions than answers." - Bob Lefsetz

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