Standard DVD Playback: HD-DVD or Standard Machine?

I am not ready to spend $400+ on a Blu-Ray player but I want to replace my standard DVD player. I noticed Circuit City has two HD-DVD players at prices equal to or even less than some standard DVD players. (Toshiba HDA3/$80 & HDA30/$130). Without considering these two HD-DVD machines, I would probably purchase the standard DVD Sony DVP-NS77HB for $90.

So, now my question.

With respect to only playing standard DVDs, would either of the two Toshiba HD-DVD machines provide a better picture than the Sony standard DVD player?

My TV is a Sony 52W3000 and provides an outstanding picture with standard DVDs using our existing Sony machine. The only reason I want to replace this machine is to have an HDMI output so I can eliminate the three component video cables and two audio cables and minimize the size of the cable harness hanging from the TV.

 

Find yourself an HD-XA2 player. Excellent for DVD playback. The two models you mentioned have too soft a picture for standard dvds. JMO.

cheezzzz

 

HD-XA2 pricy, about $900 USD

 

Hi,
If you are only looking to play standard dvd's and not any HD-DVD's.
Oppo sells the Best DVD Upscalers beats all the rest.

I would suggest the Oppo DV-981HD upconverter.

But the real question is what kind of TV do you have? Is it a
HD TV with a HDMI input. If your TV does not have a HDMI input
then the Toshiba's and OPPO Players are not for you.

Does your TV have Component Inputs if so the highest resolution you
will get is 480p instead of 480i. Also what size is your TV?

If it has neither all you will get 480i. If that is the case any dvd
player will do.

I myself personally would go to Ebay and look up OPPO DVD Players.
The player I would get there is the OPPO OPDV971H because it comes
with the Faroudja Chip. They do not make this model anymore. But is
one of the best I have ever seen, and you could get a good deal on
Ebay. It upconverts to 480p, 720p, and 1080i. I mean it really puts
out a super picture. You will definetly see the differnce.

Trust me if you are not interested in playing HD DVD movies since
the format is dead. There is nothing better than the Oppo Dvd
Player's.

I have a Toshiba HD-A3 and have many HD DVD Movies and yes it
does upconvert. But I also went on Ebay and got a OPPO player
because it upconverts better than the Toshiba models.

Tell me what you think?

 

Sorry I meant you should get the OPPO OPDV971H Player off
of Ebay. Trust me you will not be disappointed.

 

I say go for the A30. Got mine for $100. HD DVDs are cheaper than DVDs now in some cases, and you get excellent upscaling as well. HD DVD is much better picture quality than DVD and the player comes with 2 free movies to get you started. I believe Bourne Identity and Supremacy. Most other movies are $15... I found King Kong for $4.97 (used of course).

I have both Blu-Ray and HD DVD and there is no difference in terms of quality, although there is something that I personally like more about HD DVD. The movies seem more movie like whereas the BD are almost more CG or fake looking. Probably has more to do with the actual titles than the formats though.

The only reason to go for the Oppo IMO is if you plan on never buying an HD DVD movie. I say, get the HD DVD player and buy some of those HD movies. It will be a long time before you see BD titles for under $25 unless they are utter crap titles and you can find so many titles in the $13 to $18 range. Trust me, they are better looking than anything you can get upscaled by any DVD player.

The only con in buying the HD DVD player is that there will not be any more releases on the format. There are more than enough to keep you happy until Blu-Ray is a justifiable option.

 

Thanks for all the responses:

I have no intention of buying any HD-DVDs. I just am considering the HD-DVD machine because the price is right and it seems that it might have the potential to do a better job with standard DVDs than a standard DVD player(the essence of my question above).

Ofield, My TV is a new 52" Sony 52W3000 with two HDMI inputs. It provides a knock your socks off picture from both standard DVDs and my standard cable although the standard Tivo output sucks (predictably). My existing Sony DVD player does not have an HDMI output so I am using a component signal. Since it does such a good job now my only goal for replacing it is for the HDMI interface. HDMI is a single cable when I need five using a component source. We intend to replace our Tivo with an HD Tivo soon. When I have both replaced, I will trade ten standard 75 ohm coaxial cables for two HDMI cable and significantly reduce the size of the cable harness going to the TV. And, as I said above, maybe even improve the already outstanding quality from standard DVDs.

 

I guess I can mention something else. This is my opinion, but I do not like the way Standard DVDs look when they are upscaled. It puts more noise in the picture and it changes the colors a bit. I bought my first upscale DVD player way back when Sammy released the HD931... It has a Faroudja chip like the Oppo.

Oh and I may be wrong, but I believe the Oppo is DVI meaning you will need a separate cable for the audio. It will not affect picture quality or upscaling, but just an extra $15 or so. I think it came with a DVI-HDMI cable in the box though, so make sure if you get an Oppo, it comes with the cable.

If you never plan on buying an HD-DVD disc, even if you find something like Transformers for $10 (that's how much mine was), King Kong for $4.97, 300 for $8.97, Matrix trilogy for $18.99, etc... then do NOT buy any replacement player.

Like I said, I never use the upscaling on any of my DVD players (I have 5 of them that upscale). I've tried the upscaling on several different TVs that I own: XBR2, XBR5, Sammy 69f & PRO-110FD. I was disappointed with the results...

The DVD players I own that upscale are: DVD-5910 (only good thing that came out of my previous relationship), Sammy HD931, Sammy HD841 & Bravo-D2. Also the A30 upscales... I wonder if the PS3 upscales as well... In all the cases, I do not like the upscaling. It is definitely NOT High Definition. It is just a noisier SDVD with a little more contrast, and much more black in the picture (not a good thing). The only benefit I see is that the HD931 might deinterlace better with the DVI than with the component.

 

Their is only one Hd DVD Player that upconverts better than the
OPPO, and that is the HD-XA2 wich is still very expensive.

I own 2 HD DVD Players, boht HD-A3, but I also own the OPPO I mentioned above. I use it for all my regular dvd's. Beats HD DVD Hands down.

And for needing to get seperate audio cables, so what. If you have a
pair of Composite Cables laying around. Yellow, Red, White. Just use
them and leave the Yellow Video Plug Unplugged.

Also HD DVD Players do not come with HDMI Cables you Have to buy that
seperately . Hd DVD Players also take forever to load.

My advice go to Ebay look up Oppo Players. Find the one I mentioned
and you should definetly be able to get one for less than a HD DVD.
And yes they are sold with cables, which solves that problem.

Buying a Dead Format to watch some old HD Dvd'd before they stop
making them at all, seems pointless to me....

 

Hi,
Also you said "My existing Sony DVD player does not have an HDMI output so I am using a component signal."

When you use component with regular, store bought, rented, etc.
The highest output you can obtain is 480p instead of regular 480i.
A upscaler with HDMI will convert to 480p, 720p, 1080i. The one I
mentioned you should get upconverts to 480p, 720p ans 1080i, but not
1080p. All the cheap HD DVD Upconverters also do not convert past
1080i.

I get that OPPO off of Ebay and then somewhere down the road get
Blue Ray when it is more Affordable.

 

Why would you want to use a set of RCA cables on anything? If you are diving into HD DVD/Blu-ray or an upconverting DVD player, go toslink/5.1 analogs/or HDMI for audio.

So buying an HD DVD that cost 9 dollars when the SD version is 19.99, seems pointless?


So I wonder what the guy ended up buying?

 

First of all we all know the limited amount of HD-DVD's vs
the Unlimited amount of DVD's. And because of the rules I know
nobody is mentioning the hush hush method, which is basically free.
Basically Free vs $9.99

What do you think about that?????????

 

And you know Exactly what I am talking about when I say
Hush, Hush method use to be talked about on this Website all
the time, but now we cannot because of the rules.

 

LMAO! You are talking about pirating movies. And you sound like you've been drinking way too many beers or eating one too many Xanax again. Actually, now that I've gone back and read your original post again, that doesn't make much sense to me either.

When I first read that, I assumed you meant buying them was a waste of money. To me, it's not a waste of money when you can get the HD DVD version cheaper then the SD version. If I don't own either version of a movie, SD DVD/HD DVD, then yes the only logical answer would be to buy the HD DVD version. I wouldn't call 500 + HD DVDs a limited number.

So now you are saying don't buy movies at all? Just pirate them?

FYI, not all upconverters are limited to upscaling over HDMI. It's possible to use a set of component cables.

 

Name one that will upconvert a store bought DVD
over Component Higher than 480p ?

 

Zenith DVB 318
LG LDA-511
HELIOS H4000 HD
Samsung HD-841
LG LDA-831

I can list more, but there's no need, I made my point. As for the quality of those players, probably not the best.

 

Hi,
Your TV is a very good one here is a link to a review.

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/sony-kdl-52w3000/4505-6482_7-32467918.html

If you ask anyone about Standard Upconverting Dvd Player's I
believe the majority will tell you that OPPO is the best. It has it
own Menu that allows you to adjust Sharpness, Brightness, etc, True
Life, etc. It has many features, and firmware updates. Some come
with USB Ports and Memory Card Readers.

Definetly the Best way to go. Just my opinion and own personal
experience.

 

I'd pick up an HD DVD player. HDMI is just a new way of controlling the masses....

Soon, this is what we will all look like after converting to HDMI.



"Give me HDMI..it's the only way I can watch all my high-def movies...gnar, gnar, gnar..." "Their eating my brains, hahahahughguh auhahahah..give them all the Monster HDMI cables they want, hell give them anything they ask for!"

GNAR GNAR GNAR...

That pic was taken outside a Best Buy, 4 years from now. How did I happen to get this picture you ask? I used my trusty time warp machine and traveled into the future to get a glimpse at the chaos and havoc.

Here's screen shot of the device...




I'm starting to think ofield is a zombie..or maybe a bot...

 

Goodswipe,
What is exactly your problem with me? I am starting to get Very
Annoied with you. The person Stated That they do Not Want A HD Player.
And are not interested in Watching HD Movies.

So give the subject a Rest. Because no One on this Thread is interested in it... And stop wasting Space with your Useless Posts......

 

Also No one Else cares what you would do in
regard to HD DVD. You must be disabled, maybe retarted,
and have way too much time on your hands.
That is why you are a Senior Member because you have nothing
better to do than sit on the computer all day and make posts.
Which means sadly you must have no life. I feel sorry for you....