DVD Player recommendations: Discuss DVD player recommendations here

[MRSMITH]

Originally Posted by MRSMITH

A better option now than before IMO: with the very good but disappointing HD-DVD and Blu-Ray machines(problem may be in the transfer rates of those disks now available), the upconverting players look even better now than before on a 'bang for the buck' basis. Using the B/R version of 'The Fifth Element', and its SuperBit standard DVD as a comparison on the same Samsung machine and display, the difference in image(the Samsung upconverts standard DVDs) is so small as to be hardly worth mentioning. The majority of the nation's professional electronics writers came to the same conclusion with HD-DVD, labeling the image as "unimpressive".

So ----- get yourself a good upcon player now at a fraction of the cost of HD-DVD or Blu-Ray and enjoy virtual hi-def. If you have a display with HDMI/DVI you'll have a wide range of machines to choose from, including those with the latest Faroujda chips. If your display only has component, there are fewer to choose from, but an outstanding image anyway. While the chip may be a little dated(Sigma EM8500), the Momitsu V880 series still produces a knock-out upcon picture for somewhere around $300(the V880N is perhaps still the most sophisticated upcon player on the market in terms of features, but the V880s are hard to come by with many outlets on back-order after some three years on the market). While I have not seen ithem in action, the NeoDigits players apparently do an acceptable job via component as well.

Whichever you choose, make sure you have a good return policy from place of purchase just in case the match-up between player and display does not satisfy your eyes.

Enjoy!

Milt R. Smith
mrsmith2002@yahoo.com

In the intervening months has been the independent Oppo study which confirmed most viewers could not tell difference between upcon and native. Toshiba gave Paramount/Dreamworks 150-million reasons earlier to go HD-DVD exclusive, Sony allegedly gave Warner Bros 500-million reasons to fo BluRay only, and hi-speed movie downloads are coming later this year. Net result? Sony won nothing but bragging rights, and Joe Sixpack had little or no input into which format won, having been decided by a very mundane pay-to-play arrangement. Business as usual. My guess is, if genuinely competitive, hi-speed downloads will just eliminate on-disk distribution, sooner rather than later. Makes sense both from a convenience and economic standpoint.

Milt R. Smith

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by MRSMITH

My guess is, if genuinely competitive, hi-speed downloads will just eliminate on-disk distribution, sooner rather than later. Makes sense both from a convenience and economic standpoint.

Milt R. Smith

How could it possibly be sooner rather than later? I am ten times higher tech than my circle of J6P friends. I don't see myself downloading movies for some time and therefore envision my J6P friends waiting even longer. Not saying it wont happen, but I feel it's going to be far longer than you elude to even with 'genuine competiveness'.

Convenience? What is required for that? True convenience that is.

How ya been by the way?

[videoworx]

Originally Posted by Iguana Boy

I am ten times higher tech than my circle of J6P friends.

This cannot possibly be true...

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by videodick

This cannot possibly be true...

You don't know my friends. Hehehehe....

[MRSMITH]

Originally Posted by Iguana Man

How could it possibly be sooner rather than later? I am ten times higher tech than my circle of J6P friends. I don't see myself downloading movies for some time and therefore envision my J6P friends waiting even longer. Not saying it wont happen, but I feel it's going to be far longer than you elude to even with 'genuine competiveness'.

Convenience? What is required for that? True convenience that is.

How ya been by the way?

Been enjoying the ride, and enjoying 'business as usual' with the movie studios. Toshiba gave Paramount/Dreamworks earlier 150-million reasons to go with HD-DVD, and more recently Sony allegedly gave Warner Bros 500-million reasons to go with BluRay. So, instead of a purely technical decision on BluRay vs HD-DVD, we have a rather mundane pay-to-play deal no different from any other industry.

A sign of the digital era: L.A. Times front page story 4/4/08: "Apple Inc. has surpassed WalMart to become America's No. 1 music store, the first time that a seller of digital downloads has ever beaten the big CD retailers. Apple sold more albums in January and February than any other U.S. retailer, market research firm NPD group said Thursday, underscoring how the music industry is on the front edge of a digital media shift that is upending businesses as diverse as bookstores and video game makers." The packaged media industry is in a FRENZY to stop this from happening with video, but it's coming anyway.

From yesterday's Verizon full page ad in the L.A. Times: "Experts call it near flawless - CNET. Get Verizon FIOS TV, internet and phone and get the most amazing TV picture quality. Period. Version FIOS TV makes HD and non-HD channels look better than anything you've seen before, including 10,000 titles available instantly On Demand." To me, if true, this is the very definition of 'convenience'. The problem is the PRICE. In this case, the bundled cost is $104.99 a month for FIOS TV, internet and unlimited calling. So to my way of thinking if not available unbundled, that is NOT competitive. As to the claims of FIOS, they'll have to deal with the issue of advertising liability if their claims are untrue, and that could cost 'em way more than the revenues. We'll see as this all starts to play out over the next year or so. My guess is, it's just a matter of time.

All together now, SAY BYE-BYE TO BLU-RAY & HD-DVD !!!

[Sehnzeleid]

What the hell does that have to do with recommending DVD players?

[MRSMITH]

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

What the hell does that have to do with recommending DVD players?

Read between the lines as well. This has EVERYTHING to do with recommending DVD players. Specifically, Netflix in its hi-speed download announcement stated that one or more of its models would include a built-in BluRay/HD-DVD player from LG. Current DVRs, like the one I have(the non-HD version) from a satellite provider specifically provides instruction on how to download from the box to VHS or disk for those who just GOTS to have a disk. My post is trying to tell the individual inquiring to wait til later this year and find out what may be needed to connect specifically to one of these boxes, which in turn may have a major bearing on what kind of player/burner you want. We're betwixt and between eras right now, and the Verizon Fios ad in yesterday's L.A. times(if accurate) as an example will have a major bearing on all of this. One thing's for damn sure, as far as trudging down to the store to rent or buy movies on disk, we can all confidentlly SAY BYE-BYE TO BLU-RAY & HD-DVD !!!

[Wirehed]

Originally Posted by MRSMITH

One thing's for damn sure, as far as trudging down to the store to rent or buy movies on disk, we can all confidentlly SAY BYE-BYE TO BLU-RAY & HD-DVD !!!

Um, no. No we can't "confidently" say that. Not at all.

There are better places to discuss this, including the thread you were pointed to just a few minutes ago for doing this in another thread.

[limacharliewhiskey]

Anybody got any good recommendations for upconverting DVD players? Since I foresee myself waiting at least a year before getting into Blu-Ray (due to high player prices and lack of interesting titles that I'd buy), I'd like to get an upconverter as an interim player.

Don't need a recorder. Judging from reviews I've read on Amazon and Buy.com, I'm leaning towards a Sony or Philips or Pioneer at this point. Toshibas seem to be getting mediocre reviews. Probably won't get a Panasonic, as I have a Panasonic, and don't want remotes activating both players at once. Read many bad reviews of Coby and Samsung.

I've read great things about the Oppo, but as I have a Samsung HDTV, I've read of some incompatibility issues with the Oppo and my particular TV, so I can't consider it.

Any recommendations, or links to sites with good reviews, would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Sehnzeleid]

Originally Posted by limacharliewhiskey

I've read great things about the Oppo, but as I have a Samsung HDTV, I've read of some incompatibility issues with the Oppo and my particular TV, so I can't consider it.

What incompatibility problems?

[limacharliewhiskey]

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

What incompatibility problems?

Some issues with the Faroudja chip and some processor on the Samsungs that caused excessive macroblocking in video images. I read about it on AVSForum. I couldn't quite figure out if it was with all Samsungs or just particular ones, like DLPs or plasmas or LCDs.

Given the higher cost of Oppos, I've kind of ruled them out.

[Sehnzeleid]

The $170 980H doesn't have the Faroudja DCDi chip so it won't have the macroblocking error. The player's performance with film-based material beats the hell out of cheaper players and players costing much more.