Best (current) DVD Upconverter? & Blu-ray Player

What is the best dvd upconverter on the market now or soon to be. And how do they differ from blu-ray upconverters.

For example, which is better at upconverting dvd's, this one:
http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926INGFS10110110&catid=25175 (Toshiba XDE)

or one of these:
http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926INGFS10112318&catid=25174 (Panasonic DMPBD55)

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926INGFS10113919&catid=25174 (Sony BDPS550)

And another question I have is out of those 2 blu-ray players, which one plays blu-rays better?(best picture quality)

Any feedback would be great, Thanks.

 

Forget the Toshiba.

 

i am looking for cheap blu ray player for my lcd, which do you recommend?

 

Not cheap, just great.

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMP...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1229249560&sr=8-1

 

Do you have an A/V receiver, you'll be running the audio through?
New or older receiver? Model number?

I ask, so we'll know if you need the analog outputs, for the HD audio tracks.

 

MysticE, I was going to get the Toshiba XDE 500 for a friend of mine for Christmas. Why do you suggest I do not ?
I would appreciate your knowledgeable imput on this matter.


Thank you and Merry Christmas !

Jo

 

In the latest Home Theater Magazine (12-2008) they reviewed it. It would be best to see if can read a copy.

Some highlights:

- No resume play if you shut the machine off.
- No option to pillar box 4:3 material
- Enhancements only available thru HDMI
- Flimsy build quality

The review was kinda hard to figure out. On a smaller screens the enhancements work better, but they mention artifacts, ringing and halos.. Then again they said the picture was crisper than the Oppo DV-980H, but they liked the Oppo's picture better.

But at Amazon these folks seem to like it.

http://www.amazon.com/review/produc...cm_cr_acr_txt?_encoding=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

 

MysticE, Thank You !1


Jo

 

Thanks, for the replys guys. I've picked up the Sony 550.

 

do DVD upconverters really work? I mean, well, enough to see a noticeable difference between a regular dvd that has been upconverted and an actual blueray or hd dvd? Plus is there one that play divx or avi files?