DVD Player Died

drobbins · 02-03-2007, 06:17 PM

I havent been keeping up much on DVD players or the HD DVD wars. I currently have a 1 year old 4805 projector that I don't plan on upgrading until the bulb burns out. I guess these are my options:

Get a cheap DVD player that will get me through until I upgrade the projector.
My son is trying to talk me into a PS3
Get a HD DVD player

Are there many HD DVDs out yet? Does BlockBuster carry any? (I have never looked / noticed any) Do they cost more than normal DVDs? What are your thoughts?

Thanks,

Steve...O · 02-03-2007, 07:54 PM

I don't intend to buy into the format war until it is settled so no HD DVD or Blu-Ray for me. There are a growing number of titles out but few of interest to me and software is pricier.

If it was me, I'd probably look into an upconverting player (assuming your projector has HDMI inputs) that would give you a good picture via the projector. They are much cheaper than HD players and you will be suckered into a format war.

ChrisClearman · 02-03-2007, 09:41 PM

Blockbuster online carries about 150 each of the HD and Blueray.

For $70 you can get the Panasonic S52 that does upconverting through HDMI. Does progressive (which is terrible) and 480i through component and HDMI.

next step up is the Sony 75 upconvert for $120 and then the Oppop 970 for $150.

Or you can just jump to The Toshiba HD. You can still find the A1 for as low as $325 new or under $300 refurb. The A2 is just under $400.

I'm still deciding what to do myself. Leaning towards the A2...or maybe the A1.

Only issue with the HD-DVD is that Universal doesn't have a lot of new releases. Many more will be from their catalog, which is vast, but still, it's buying old movies. Both are GREAT upconverters though. They will handle SD discs better than any of these other cheap players.

GloriaJeans · 02-06-2007, 12:36 PM

I believe that anything over $150 for a DVD player is a waste. As of yet, nobody knows what is to come in way of HD so I would recommend sticking to any DVD player in the range of $100-150. That range will basically guarantee you a great quality reliable piece of equipment, regardless of brand.

At first I thought I would get my DVD player separately too, but then decided to go with a Pioneer home theater system. Their DVD players are awesome and it's a better deal for what you pay.

ChrisClearman · 02-06-2007, 01:05 PM

Well, if you go cheap and don't need Divx and multi region playback (Oppo), I would get the Pannasonic S52. Once calibrated it looked every bit as good as the Sony 75, and it doesn't put black bars around the outside like the Sony and Oppo do.

I went with the A2. Even better SD DVD upconversion and HD DVD playback (for as long as it lasts) for a couple hundred more.

**HTF Ads**

drobbins · 02-06-2007, 06:46 PM

Thanks for all your input. I went with option #1 and picked up a $47 RCA player. It was she cheapest one with progressive scan & the Toslink I need. When my bulb burns out, I will re-evaluate the whole system.

ChrisWiggles · 02-07-2007, 06:55 PM

I would have suggested the PS3 or XBOX360+addon. Both will do regular DVDs, and you also have the advantage of a gaming system and HD capabilities.



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