DVD upconversion questions

[awp]

With the lower price of upconverting DVD players, I wanted to get the most out of my HDTV. However, I only have component and DVI connections.

So I have been looking for players that upconvert over component and found one in the Spectron IQ PD-3000HD. Yes, it's a cheaply made player (hey, it was only $30), but it does do the job for upconverting. Now, I'm not entirely convinced that it's always for the better.

"Casino Royale", for instance, looks stunning and I do see the difference. But take a basic comedy like "Music and Lyrics" and I'd almost say it looks a little worse -- more noise, etc. I think it really has a lot to do with the quality of the DVD transfer. I tried using an HDMI to DVI cable to see if it makes a difference over the component. I think it is a little better, but then I get some bright hot spots (?) in dark CGI scenes (actually the logo at the beginning of New Line Cinema films is a perfect example of where this occurs). Is this normal? Could it be the HDMI to DVI cable? Or is it probably a problem with the player? It does not occur during upconversion over component.

Then I have a more general question. Several other posts on the forum mention that HDTVs can do the upconversion themselves so upconverting players are a waste of money. And, in fact, CNET also said something like "if you have an HDTV, it can upconvert on its own".

I don't know if it's me, but my Mitsubishi WS-48313 doesn't even give me an option to set the resolution. It automatically detects and displays it as it comes into the TV. So that means a progressive scan DVD player will automatically display at 480p (no upconversion to 1080i). Am I missing something? I can't seem to find anything in my TV's menus that would indicate that it can be forced to upconvert to a higher resolution.

[splash1955]

With the lower price of upconverting DVD players, I wanted to get the most out of my HDTV. However, I only have component and DVI connections.

So I have been looking for players that upconvert over component and found one in the Spectron IQ PD-3000HD. Yes, it's a cheaply made player (hey, it was only $30), but it does do the job for upconverting. Now, I'm not entirely convinced that it's always for the better.

"Casino Royale", for instance, looks stunning and I do see the difference. But take a basic comedy like "Music and Lyrics" and I'd almost say it looks a little worse -- more noise, etc. I think it really has a lot to do with the quality of the DVD transfer. I tried using an HDMI to DVI cable to see if it makes a difference over the component. I think it is a little better, but then I get some bright hot spots (?) in dark CGI scenes (actually the logo at the beginning of New Line Cinema films is a perfect example of where this occurs). Is this normal? Could it be the HDMI to DVI cable? Or is it probably a problem with the player? It does not occur during upconversion over component.

Then I have a more general question. Several other posts on the forum mention that HDTVs can do the upconversion themselves so upconverting players are a waste of money. And, in fact, CNET also said something like "if you have an HDTV, it can upconvert on its own".

I don't know if it's me, but my Mitsubishi WS-48313 doesn't even give me an option to set the resolution. It automatically detects and displays it as it comes into the TV. So that means a progressive scan DVD player will automatically display at 480p (no upconversion to 1080i). Am I missing something? I can't seem to find anything in my TV's menus that would indicate that it can be forced to upconvert to a higher resolution.

You seem to be describing "sparkle," a classic problem with long hdmi and dvi cable runs. Are you over 10' net?is that 28 awg (gauge) or heavier? Many people are under the misapprehension that digital cables either work or they don't and this is totally untrue. hdmi signals degrade. adding to the problem some upconverting players have notorious low voltage on their digital outputs. Either can cause sparkle.

On the second part on up converting the reason cnet says this is because many upconverting players do not have better up converting systems than newer displays. My brother in law got an upconverting player and he thinks it is magic. but he had a an older hdtv and his old dvd player was not evern progressive. so (duh!) he saw big a difference.

[awp]

This is a 6 foot, Philips HDMI ---> DVI cable purchased at Wal-Mart. Honestly don't think the packaging had the gauge on it, but it is pretty thick. I do have another cable on order from monoprice that I know is 28 awg.

I am thinking of purchasing a different player just for the purpose of seeing whether it really is the cable (and just to get a general idea of how well the Spectron IQ is doing).

[gshelley61]

Try the Sony DVP-NS75H (DVP-NS71HP). Excellent upscaling player that is reasonably priced. The really cheap upscaling players don't work that well.

Search eBay for either model number (they are identical machines). You should be able to get a very good deal on a used or open box store return unit.

[Krispy Kritter]

Upconversion varies by TV. For instance, LCD sceens have a fixed resolution. Any input is upconverted or downconverted to match the screen resolution. In your case, I believe you have a rear projection CRT ( I have the 55' version), these display the input as is, no conversion takes place.

[awp]

Thanks everyone. I wiggled the DVI cable around and was able to get rid of the "sparkle" effect. I also have a new cable on order from Monoprice so hopefully that will help.

As for the player, however, I took it back. Even with the sparkle gone, I still got occassional macroblocking and the picture was fairly noisy in some dark scenes. I've returned it for a Philips DVP3960. Again, another reasonably priced player, but it seems to be getting better reviews and it looks like its sister player, the 5960, is pretty popular here on videohelp.com (which I really didn't care about the USB port).

The picture quality is much more consistent and it just seems to be a better built machine (that's not saying much). Still some grain in darker scenes (think this again has more to do with the quality of the DVD as there's practically none in "Casino Royale").