Upscaling DVD player recommendation please

[admin_exported]

Hi,
I'm looking to buy an upscaling DVD player for my Panasonic TH-37PX80B plasma TV. Here's a shortlist that I came up with:

* Philips DVP5980

* Sony DVPNS708

* Toshiba SD580E

* Samsung DVD-1080P8

Which one do you have and would recommend? Anything I missed out on?

Thanks!

 

[aliEnRIK]

I wouldnt actualy recommend an UPSCALING dvd player as the Panasonics inbuilt scaler will invariably do a better job than any of the players and even if you did it has a native resolution of 1366 x 768 which means it would STILL have to upscale or downscale depending on wether you selected 720 or 1080!

Id recommend the Tosh and use in SD mode (None scaling)

 

[Anonymous]

Interesting viewpoint... I reading up in other discussion forums, i.e. another site I was under the impression that an upscaling player will do a better job compared to the built-in upscaling of the TV.

Well, I'll need to get a DVD player anyway and might as well go with the Toshiba as you mentioned. I was also leaning towards it, since it has USB input just like the Phillips, but the Toshiba doesn't look as flimsy as the Philips :-D

Thanks for your advice.

aliEnRIK:

I wouldnt actualy recommend an UPSCALING dvd player as the Panasonics inbuilt scaler will invariably do a better job than any of the players and even if you did it has a native resolution of 1366 x 768 which means it would STILL have to upscale or downscale depending on wether you selected 720 or 1080!

Id recommend the Tosh and use in SD mode (None scaling)

 

[aliEnRIK]

Dont be put off by its inscreen menus (If it has any). They WILL look worse in SD as theyre being upscaled (Whereas 720 or 1080 will actually be produced by the tosh 'at that resolution' maing it sharper. Just compare the picture quality only (And do it over time, I initially thought my Pionner tv looked better when viewed upscaled. But on testing fully its 'clearly' better watching films in SD.

If a tv DOES have a proper hi def native resolution (Be it 720 or 1080) then its really down to which is the better scaler . Invariably though, if the tv was over grand then generally its scaler is going to be first rate

You MIGHT want to wait for this baby though ~

http://www.home-entertainment.toshiba.co.uk/consumer/home.nsf/pages/xd-500_offer?opendocument&linksource=content

Im waiting for reviews of it, but if it does whats its supposed to then dvds could well look awesome on it!

 

[Anonymous]

Toshiba XD-E500 or E300

 

[professorhat]

aliEnRIK:If a tv DOES have a proper hi def native resolution (Be it 720 or 1080) then its really down to which is the better scaler . Invariably though, if the tv was over grand then generally its scaler is going to be first rate
Not always true - my TV was well over £1,000 when I bought it but the £300 PS3 has a much better upscaler in it. Basically, try and see is the order of the day.

 

[Anonymous]

http://whathifi.com/Review/Toshiba-XD-E500/

 

[aliEnRIK]

professorhat:aliEnRIK:If a tv DOES have a proper hi def native resolution (Be it 720 or 1080) then its really down to which is the better scaler . Invariably though, if the tv was over grand then generally its scaler is going to be first rate
Not always true - my TV was well over £1,000 when I bought it but the £300 PS3 has a much better upscaler in it. Basically, try and see is the order of the day.

Seriously Prof. I have a Pioneer tv AND a PS3 and dvds look better in SD I swear. The PS3s onscreen graphics look pap, but the actual picture quality is superior to the PS3 upscaling (bare in mind im talking ONLY dvds here, not games etc obviously)

But yeah sure, try ALL scales out before deciding (Over time though as I too was fooled into believing upscaled looked better at first)

 

[professorhat]

Yup, Pioneer I believe do have very good scalers in them. Panasonics on the other hand (like mine) aren't so good IMO and the PS3 is without question better.

 

[aliEnRIK]

Im actually quite suprised by that. Which model do you have prof?

 

[Gerrardasnails]

aliEnRIK:
I wouldnt actualy recommend an UPSCALING dvd player as the Panasonics inbuilt scaler will invariably do a better job than any of the players and even if you did it has a native resolution of 1366 x 768 which means it would STILL have to upscale or downscale depending on wether you selected 720 or 1080!

Id recommend the Tosh and use in SD mode (None scaling)

I disagree.

The Sony on your list is the only one I have experience of (I have one in my dining room). It's very good for the money. If you can stretch though, I would bag either Denon 1740 (now available at around £99) or even better the 1940 (brilliant player) which you I've seen for £150 - probably get it cheaper still.

 

[professorhat]

aliEnRIK:Im actually quite suprised by that. Which model do you have prof?

TH-42PX600