Upconverting DVD vs. BlueRay (???)

Norm Apter

First, I am a total neophyte when it comes to DVD players.

A little background: I am in the middle of building an HT system. I've drawn from the RtiA series (5s as fronts, CSIA6 as center, and 1s as rears) for my speakers and just picked up a Denon AVR (2808CI) and thus am looking to make an upgrade in the DVD player department. Currently, I have a simple Sony standard DVD player.

Hence I'm faced with a choice of whether to go with a BlueRay Player or an Upconverting DVD player. While my budget is not set in stone, I would like to try to keep it in the ballpark of $300 or lower. I have a collection of Standard DVDs which I do not intend to replace with BlueRay discs. In fact, given the prices of BlueRay discs at present I don't see myself picking up any for a while. In additon, the DVDs which I borrow from the library appear to all be in standard format. To sum up, irrespective of which type of player I choose, I'll most likely be viewing Standard DVDs for the time being and perhaps well into the future, BUT I would consider making an investment in the future by purchasing a BlueRay player IF it also would allow for the upconverting of Standard DVDs in the same way that an upconverting DVD player does. (I read in the comments on the Upconverting DVD player linked below might get you 60%-70% of what one would get with a HiDef player -- not sure how he arrived at this figure). Would a BlueRay player do this?

http://www.amazon.com/OPPO-DV-980H-Up-Converting-Universal-Player/dp/B000UIA6YM/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1232216636&sr=8-1

Any thoughts on which route to go?

Norm

Toolfan66

Norm Apter wrote: »

First, I am a total neophyte when it comes to DVD players.

A little background: I am in the middle of building an HT system. I've drawn from the RtiA series (5s as fronts, CSIA6 as center, and 1s as rears) for my speakers and just picked up a Denon AVR (2808CI) and thus am looking to make an upgrade in the DVD player department. Currently, I have a simple Sony standard DVD player.

Hence I'm faced with a choice of whether to go with a BlueRay Player or an Upconverting DVD player. While my budget is not set in stone, I would like to try to keep it in the ballpark of $300 or lower. I have a collection of Standard DVDs which I do not intend to replace with BlueRay discs. In fact, given the prices of BlueRay discs at present I don't see myself picking up any for a while. In additon, the DVDs which I borrow from the library appear to all be in standard format. To sum up, irrespective of which type of player I choose, I'll most likely be viewing Standard DVDs for the time being and perhaps well into the future, BUT I would consider making an investment in the future by purchasing a BlueRay player IF it also would allow for the upconverting of Standard DVDs in the same way that an upconverting DVD player does. (I read in the comments on the Upconverting DVD player linked below might get you 60%-70% of what one would get with a HiDef player -- not sure how he arrived at this figure). Would a BlueRay player do this?

http://www.amazon.com/OPPO-DV-980H-Up-Converting-Universal-Player/dp/B000UIA6YM/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1232216636&sr=8-1

Any thoughts on which route to go?

Norm

a blu ray player will Upconvert your DVD's

leroyjr1

Definately go blu-ray. For $300-$400 you can get a Sony that upconverts and you'll be ready when your collection switches over to blu-ray

cnh

Blu-ray prices are falling by the day. Most have fantastic upconversion, better than any upconverting DVD-player. Newer players with 2.0 allow you to link up to the web for special features and downloads available online in conjunction with blu-rays.

I, myself, don't have a blu-ray yet, but I use a Toshiba HD-DVD player as an upconverting DVD unit and the quality is spectacular. If I were to buy a Blu-ray today, I'd go with the new Samsung 2500 if I wanted low end, a Sony PS3 (which has the fastest load time of any Blu-ray unit today--gaming and internet connectivity and streaming plus a built in hard drive for 400 or more?). Or a more upscale Pioneer--there are some nice new units out.

If you only want to play blu-ray at a great price try to find the older Samsung 1500 for 199. There are still some around.

I have a Denon AVR 2807 that I run with a couple of Vintage JBL Studio Monitors up front. My other system is a newer Onkyo with 5.1 Polk M Series (M70, CS2, M30s)--a starter system.

Happy Hunting.

Yours,
cnh

sdcfan18

+1 for BluRay. Really is an awesome improvement over DVD and like others have said, most BluRay players will upconvert.

PSOVLSK

Agree with the others, go with a Blu-ray player. I have two Panasonic players that I'm very happy with and I paid less than $200 for them combined. Check amazon.com, pricegrabber.com, etc.

wutadumsn23

Yet another vote for Blu-Ray, I have a PS3 like cnh said and it is IMO one of the best BD players out there. Not to mention it is a gaming console, internet browser, media center, and mass storage device all in one. It will also upconvert all you standard def. DVD's, although it is a little out of your budget at around $450 plus tax. I have a Sony upconverting DVD player that I bought before I had a PS3 and while there is a noticable difference in quality, it won't help you in your transition to Blu-Ray. I haven't used my Sony upconverter in forever now since I play everything through my PS3, regular DVD's and Blu-Ray's.

comfortablycurt

Go for the Blu-ray. Blu-ray players will all upconvert your DVD's, and it's always good to be ready for future expansion.

Conradicles

I would disagree and get a top of the line Oppo DVD Player. It will up-convert your DVD's better than the best blue-ray players on the market.

Then, in the future go BR when the prices are cheap like DVD players now.

Don't get me wrong, I love blue and have one, but the Oppo players are better for SD DVD's according to all of the experts.

dkg999

My Cambridge Audio 540v2 DVD upconverts SD DVD's better than any of the BD players I have tried out or own (which is the Pany 35/55 and Sony 350/550 and own the Sony 550). The CD 540v2 also has better audio output for SD audio than any of the BD players referenced.

So if you really want to stick with pure up-conversion, there are other good choices besides a BD player.

With that said, BD rentals are pretty reasonable, so you might want to get a BD player so you also have that option.

SEH

Conradicles wrote: »

I would disagree and get a top of the line Oppo DVD Player. It will up-convert your DVD's better than the best blue-ray players on the market.

In my experience the Oppo is somewhere between 0% and 5% better than the upconversion my TVs (SXRD and Pioneer plasma) do on their own.

Then, in the future go BR when the prices are cheap like DVD players now.

I paid $30 more for my Panasonic 35 than that Oppo is selling for at Amazon. I don't care how tight your budget is, $30 is nothing for the difference between DVD and Bluray.