Upconverting DVD Players Outselling High-Def Players

[Ian]

I can't say that I'm too surprised by this.

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6488844.html

Plus, standard-definition upconverting DVD players, still attractively pried below high-def players, are growing faster in overall DVD market share than next-gen players. Upconverting players command 27% of the market on a unit basis, dwarfing high-def’s 5% share.

[CowboySlim]

Hey, that reminds me that I bought a Phillips upconverting DVD player when I bought the Sony HDTV last year.
However, I haven't seen where that upconverting really does anything for me.

Can anybody recommend a particular SD DVD movie that I can rent at Blockbuster that can really show the difference when I click my player from 480p to 720p or 1080i?

Thanks,

Slim

[Grain]

My personal experience with upconverting players has been that DVD's with the least amount of compression show the best results when upconverted. Newer movies that are released as Superbit DVD's show well, ex Spiderman 2. Some others that aren't S'Bit, Ghost Rider, The Host, & Next looked good. Haven't said that, upconversion isn't a huge improvement, it's quite minor compared to the improvement with HD discs.

[CowboySlim]

OK, thanks, Grain.

My grandchildren are staying over Sat night and I told them we'll rent a movie.
If the one that they pick is not a S'bit, I'll find one to rent and watch it later.

[Wesociety]

Cool... I'll have to find a Superbit DVD to give it a try meself.

[CowboySlim]

Superbit.......................

That just goes to show you; it's always something.
If it's not one thing; it's another.
But, it's always something.

[dolphinius_rex]

I've never seen an SD DVD movie that wasn't VERY obviously being upconverted (as in, it looked MUCH better) when it was displayed at 720P vs. 480P. Mind you, that's on a 46" LCD TV so it helps. Going from 720P to 1080i however requires a little more attention for me to notice (although I can still enjoy the difference casually).

[Grain]

I've noticed that upscaling players don't do as nice a job w/ 480p as they do with 720p or 1080i. I have a Yamaha 2500, Denon 2200 and Harmon Kardon DVD25 that don't upscale, but they have a nicer picture at 480p than my OPPO 970HD or Toshiba A2 when all are set at 480p, but when comparing 1080i from the OPPO or Toshiba, they have nicer pictures than the others. Different chipsets in almost all the players, the Yamaha does the best PAL to NTSC conversion with the Genesis chip, the OPPO has the best seamless layer break with it's Renasis chip, the Toshiba has the nicest picture overall, but the OPPO is close, and it has a slightly better audio transport IMO.

[Ian]

I've noticed that upscaling players don't do as nice a job w/ 480p as they do with 720p or 1080i.

I'll have to check that with my Lite-On player. It's looking really good at 1080i right now.

I watched some Revenge of the Sith at 1080i tonite and it looked really good. My son is watching Cars right now and its impressive too. I couldn't imagine what the Superbit discs would look like.