DVD Player W/O Decoders & Progressive Scan (1 Viewer)

[Randy Marcoot]

First time poster, long time reader - off and on since the early days of dvd.
I am currently entrapped in an upgrade cycle. I just purchased a Denon AVR 5800 to replace my Yamaha DSP A3090. With that upgrade, I feel I am in pretty good shape (8 Mirage speakers, Electrohome 4100 CRT Projector, IEV Turboscan line doubler). However, my current DVD player is the Sony S7000 (oldie but goodie)and the only complaint I have is that it does not output the DTS bitstream. So I have considered upgrading (right now I am using my SP2 for DTS playback).
I have read all the glowing reports and recommendations for Panasonic RP 91 and it sounds like a great machine. However, I really don't need the scaling feature because I am using either 4:3 or 16:9 mode from my projector.
I also question the need for onboard decoders because I have that capability with my receiver.
Finally, I question the need for progressive scan since I am already getting a doubled (progressive) picture.
Now for the questios (thanks for the patience). Are my assumptions correct. If they are, what DVD would you recommend?
Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[Jonathan Tuck]

Sounds like you have quite the system now. I have seen other questions regarding progressive players and some of the answers have been that a progressive player feeding the signal directly to the tv/projector is a better quality pic than a non-progressive player going thru a line doubler...
I haven't seen any progressive players that don't have onboard decoders...
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[Nicholas A. Gallegos]

Hmmmmm, I'm pretty sure that JVC's new $250 progressive scan player (forget the model number) lacks DD/DTS decoding.
You can get Sony's reference S7700 model, which does output a DTS bitstream, but it's rather costly for an interlaced player. But I would probably try out the Panasonic DVD-RP91. Even though it is progressive (also has excellent features and build quality), compare its direct progressive signal to its interlaced signal going through your line doubler. Most stores have a decent return policy so you can always return the player if you're not satisfied.
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[DanG]

I don't know much about Front Projectors, so forgive some pretty basic sounding questions here.
One of the hits against external line doublers has always been that they have to take a analogue signal, headed to the TV for display, and re-digitize it to do the 3:2 pulldown detection and line doubling, then convert it back to analogue for display (unless you have a DLP). In this conversion process there is usually some loss in the colour PQ. This is one of the advantages of progressive DVD players as the 3:2 pulldown and line doubling is down inside the players firmware while the signal is still digital.
When you play a Widescreen non-anamorphic DVD, say with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, how does your projector scale this to the right anamorphic geometry, or does the Turboscan do the scaling?

 

[Darryl_B]

Randy,
Actually, the IEV Turboscan doesn't employ 3-2 Pulldown Detection for deinterlacing film material. Therefore, the use of the progressive-scan player with 3-2 Pulldown detection should give you better performance with film sources (such as DVD movies).
I highly suggest you check out the new Kenwood Soveriegn series players being released this month (5700M and 5900M). The 5700M is a 5-disc carousel and the 5900M is a 400+3 disc carousel. Both are DVD-Video/DVD-Audio players, use the new Faroudja FLI2200 deinterlacing chips, and employ chroma-bug free mpeg2 decoders. The 5900M also employs the Faroudja DCI video enhancing chip.
I've seen the the 5700M going for preorders for about $800 and the 5900M for about $1000-1100.

 

[John Morris]

Don't want a RP91? OK, check out some other units from Panasonic.
RV31 - Bare bones quality DVD player - $179
CV51 - a Carousel RV31 DVD player - $229
RP56 - Progressive 54/10 video - $229
RP61 - Progressive 54/10 video,192/24 DACs,DVD Audio - $269
Of these, I'd opt for either the RV31 or if you want DVD audio, the RP61.
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Take Care,
merc
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DFAST, 5C, DVI, HDCP, SafeAudio, Macrovision and Lewinski!!!

 

[John-D]

NONE OF THE ABOVE..
Randy my friend, you need to get yourself an HTPC to fully appreciate what your remarkable PJ can display.
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The things we own end up owning us

 

[Randy Marcoot]

Thanks for the replies so far. A lot of food for thought.
I appreciate the different model suggestions. Regardless of which direction I go, it appears as if I may well wind up with some unused capabilities.
It does sound as if I might get some picture improvement by by-passing my line doubler and directly projecting the progressive output from the DVD player.
**Darrl_B** thanks for the info on the IEV Turboscan but I am not sure how I can go about bypassing it with the DVD signal. The IEV does not take direct component connections but uses an RGB input and converts the component inputs. I understand that the IEV will not work as a component to RGB converter. Any suggestions on how to get around this issue?
Thanks again for all the good advice. Any further opinions would also be appreciated.
Randy

 

[DanG]

How about using a KeyDigital Model# KD-CTCA2 Component->RGB transcoder to feed your IEV?