Anamorphic Downconversion (if anybody still cares...) (1 Viewer)

Some of us still watch anamorphic DVDs on 4:3 displays :b so can somebody update me on how various brands of player handle it?

I haven't been in the market for a DVD player since the good ol' days when this was a hot topic, so I'm not sure whether things are still the same (i.e. Sony smooth and film-like but soft; Panasonic sharp but less film-like; Toshiba a jaggies nightmare; etc...)

I'm interested in the following brands:

Sony
Panasonic
Denon (some of which used to be re-badged Panasonics, as I recall, not sure if that's still the case)
Toshiba
Pioneer
Philips (they make a multi-region capable unit I'm interested in)

Thanks in advance!

As of a few years ago, I tested a few on my ISF'd Sony KP-61V80. Toshiba was too sharp with jaggies; Sony was too soft and less detailed; Panasonic was just right..Pioneer was pretty good too.

However, all of this may have changed. Personally, I would check out a Sony.
My brother bought the Sony entry level ($100 or so?) a year ago for his 25". I used Avia on it. Hard to tell if the downconversion has been improved (25" doesnt show many flaws as my 61"), however, the colors were very good and he had a very nice image.

I just bought a new widescreen HDTV so it's all academic to me now.

Dave, I know I'm one of the last of a dying breed.

Thanks for your advice!