DVD 1080i up-convert?

[tothemax]

I heard there are dvd players out there that will upconvert from 480p to 720p or 1080i. Is this true? :confused:

[Mark Strube]

Yes, they are the DVD players with DVI output. The results of this are marginal and very subjective... it's essentially blowing up the picture with some extended clarity algorithms, just like when you watch analog cable on your HDTV tuner. Unless you need to free up some component ports for something, I wouldn't waste my money and wait for actual HD-DVD players later this year.

[tothemax]

You essentially answered my question. Will you need special dvd's that are in HD or what??

[Skipjack]

The benefit to an upconverting DVD player is that the signal remains digital throughout the whole process.

It really depends on your set's ability to upconvert a signal from standard DVD in the first place. That'd determine whether you'll notice a significant difference in picture quality.  I've heard some people say they've noticed a huge difference while others notice very little.

They play standard DVD's, BTW.

Additionally, your DVI input must be HDCP capable, I believe (most are, I think)... check your manual.

[StarvingForHDTV]

If it was anything more than an advertising gimmick there would be no need for true high defenition.....

[SNO N YET]

We just purchased a SONY DVD player with the upconverting technology.  I can see a difference.  I think ours had an MSRP of $299.  I don't know what the HD-DVD players coming out at the end of the year are going to start out price wise.

Just keep that in mind too.

[SNO N YET]

You essentially answered my question. Will you need special dvd's that are in HD or what??

Same question here...will the HD-DVD player convert all of the movies I have now, or will I have to buy new movies in the HD format???

[TPK]

From what I understand, today's DVDs were not really made to contain high definition content...  At 11 or so Gigabytes of data, there just isn't enough storage capacity on standard DVDs to deliver a 2 hour movie in HD (without compressing it all to hell)....

Enter the next-generation of DVD....  High Definition DVDs....  

Unfortunately for everybody, we are going to have a format-war with these DVD types....   HD-DVD and Blu-Ray DVD....    From what I understand, Blu-Ray is far superior to HD-DVD, but I guess the HD-DVD camp is saying that it will be more expensive to produce Blu-Ray media and players, etc....

I guess the Sony Playstation 3 will come equipped with a Blu-Ray DVD player, so hopefully that will solve the format-war right there...  But I guess we will have to see...

So, yes....  You are probably going to have to re-purchase all your movies again for the HD (I bet the movie studios are just drooling over this)....

You can read more about Blu-Ray and HD-DVD here:

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-8900_7-5600201-1.html

[Skipjack]

If it was anything more than an advertising gimmick there would be no need for true high defenition.....

Not necessarily true.  With a standard DVD player the video signal is converted from a digital one on the disk, to an analog signal sent through the component cable, and possibly back to a digital one for display.    

With an upconverting DVD player, the digital signal is sent directly from the DVD to the screen.  So there is less chance of image degradation.  It all hinges on the quality of all the parts involved in the standard description above how much of a difference you will see with an upconverting player.  For example, if your set is not very good at upconverting an analog signal.

Since HDTV's upconvert a 480p signal, the end result is the same in both scenarios: you'll still be looking at a 1080i (or 720p) picture.  

I think there's some confusion here.  Upconverting DVD players do not make your DVD's "High Definition".   They merely avoid the digital to analog to digital conversion.   Upconverting players aren't blu-ray or HD-DVD compatable, they play standard DVD's only.

[Mark Strube]

I REALLY don't see the point in going out and purchasing an upconverting DVD player when HD-DVD will be available later this year, unless your HDTV is hainess at upconverting 480p, which I'd say is rare.

[tothemax]

well put meatwad.

Mastershake and Frylok say hello

[StarvingForHDTV]

My display allows me to watch 480p or 1080i.  Maybe some of the other ones convert everything to one resolution.  I can see why some people would want to try and avoid analog conversion.  I suppose if your set can't display 480p as 480p, it might make sense to get a upconverting DVD player.  Especially if you set has a low quality scaler and/or deinterlacer.

[HDefinicktion]

The only problem with waiting for HD-DVD is the turn around time to get any movie in that format.  Think about how long it took the general public to change over from the VHS to the DVD.  There is going to be the same delay.  There are people out there, strangely, that are just getting around to getting their first DVD player.  What are the chances that within the first 6 months of the debut player that there is going to be any movies that are worth watching.  

In regards to an upconversion, I recently changed over from a non-progressive scan to the Denon 1910 which has the capibility to output in 1080i, 720p, and 480p.  There is a significant difference between this player, and the Denon 910 which I tested briefy before getting into the new player.  All in all, spending the $250 on one of these players is worth it if you tend to watch many movies...

[Scott Zsori]

I have a home theater PC set up that uses ffdshow to upconvert every DVD to 1080i.
A few points...

Upconversion does not necessarily mean that it's completely digital.  Mine does upconversion of DVD content in the PC, which is then sent to my TV via the ATI component dongle.  Obviously using component cables means it's analog.  I COULD use DVI if my TV had that option, but there's also debate in the HTPC crowd over how big of a difference DVI makes.

Upconversion is noticable, but probably not worth spending hundreds of dollars on.  My HTPC would cost the same without doing the upconversion, so it was a no-brainer for me to set up.  As someone else noted, it's completely subjective.  In ffdshow, there are a LOT of different settings and algorithms you can use to convert the signal, and nobody claims to have the "perfect" settings.  Any tutorial will explain that you should start with the values they give and play around with it until it looks good to you, since every TV and viewer is different.

Upconversion does NOT make a movie look as good as true HD content, meaning that HD-DVD's will be an improvement when they come along (whatever format they decide on).  It's definitely worth it to try upconversion now, though, if you have money to throw around or find a really cheap solution.

Look here for some examples on the tutorial I used for my setup:
http://htpcnews.com/main.php?id=ffdshowdvd_5

[PJFW8]

I have a first generation Mits, Model 65903.  It is a 1080i player it will not display 480p without going into the service menu and then as RGB-HV.  My Zenith ZVB-318 with a transcoder Mits part RGV-CV10 looks fabulous at 1080i.  My brother's 480p dvd player looks even better on his newer Mits.  Hope this helps