Need Advice (1 Viewer)

[oldmajor]

Hi, folks,

I need some advice on the purchase of a dvd player. My current equpment is:
Hitachii Ultravision 50" tv(approx. 10 years old)
Yamaha RX-V659
Paradigm Monitor 3s v2
Paradigm CC370 v2
Paradigm Sub PDR 10
Axiom QS 8s v2(side mounted)
Panasonic DMR-EZ47VK(in the mail and basically purchased to transfer old vhs tapes and basic tv recording).

I have a Yamaha DVD-S659 player that I bought with my Yamaha receiver, but never connected. I came across a good buy on a Toshiba HD-A2 player for around $110.00. I don't plan to replace my current tv until it dies, which I hope won't be for a few more years. I will replace it with either LCD or Plasma, but don't think Blue-Ray is in my budget. Therefore, I want to get the best picture possible without HD cable or HD DISH. Good audio is as important to me as the picture. Can I use the A2 or stick with the 659 or other suggestions? Thanks to all.

Ray

 

[chuckg]

You might find it increasingly difficult to get HD movies, now that they have lost the format war. I can't, in good conscience, recommend purchase of an HD player.

 

[oldmajor]

Hi, Chuck and thanks for your reply. I have been shopping for a new player that would improve picture quality with my current tv as well as when the time comes to replace my old Hitachi. I am on DISH and standard cable and will probably not go to the additional expense of HD on either of them. I understand from my research that an upconverting player will enhance the video considerably. I was looking at Oppo's and read on a forum somewhere that an HD player would do the same thing and for less money. The lack of HD movies is not an issue as I also understand that standard dvds would be improved on an HD player. I may be missing something and would again appreciate your input. Thanks. Ray

 

[Al.Anderson]

The HD won't upconvert standard DVD unless you have an HDMI connection. (I believe, but am not positive, that the Opps's will.)

Also, the HD drives are very slow to respond to button clicks. It's not a killer, but can be annoying if you are Type-A like myself. So if you're only playing standards DVDs you're taking a operability hit every time you play a DVD for a minor one-time cost advantage over an Oppo.

So, I'd say if you have access to HD movies, say by renting, then the discounted HD is an okay choice. If you are just going for upconverting, go with the Oppo.

 

[Scooter]

How does the Oppo compare regards upcoversion quality versus what's been seen from HD and BD players?

 

[evan_us56]

Hiii
sorry buddy i cany help you because I have no idea about this .If you want you can search it from yahoo or google..
thanks

 

[John Garcia]

No upscaling player will give you the same quality as actual HD material. The Oppos also will only upscale over HDMI for protected content, meaning anything commercially purchased. I have the Oppo 980 and the HD-A2 and the upscaling is about the same, with the slight edge going to the 980. In terms of ease of use, the Oppo far exceeds the A2. The A2 is a very decent player, so as long as you can live with a few little quirks, I don't see a reason not to keep it.

I do have to say though that $110 for an A2 is not really a good price, since they have been discontinued for over 7 months.