Help with Upscaling and DVD to Monitor connectivity

[timetohunt]

When I first started to set up my system my primary goal was good sound.
Sound is still and always will be my primary consideration.
I am just getting around to understanding Video and Video connections.
I have a few questions. I still mostly am happy as long as I get a picture but thought I should at least understand my options.

Background: I have two DVD players in my current setup. Both are connected directly to my Monitor (Sylvania Plasma 6842PE) by way of Component Video Connections (The Sylvania does not have HDMI).
Those connections are simply known as Component1 and Component2 to the Sylvania. The DVD players are also connected through various digital and analog connections to my AVR, including HDMI for both.
If you are wondering why I have 2 DVD players, among other things, I have 2 working zones stemming from my AVR. I can watch/listen to a concert DVD downstairs and others can watch a movie upstairs (both with decent sound).

1. Would this statement be true. Since I have no video outs to any TV/Monitor at this time from the AVR, all video options and capabilities on my AVR can be ignored ?

2. What good if any might be achieved by me connecting both Component cables from the DVDs to the AVR and then placing a component connection out to my Monitor from the AVR. There are enough ports on the Pioneer VSX94TXH to do this. I'm just wondering what I would gain. I would have to buy another component video cable.

3. Since my monitor does not have HMDI will that mean that upconversion is not possible?

4. My better DVD player (Marantz DV7600) is equipped with 216MHz/12-bit Video D/A converter and a built-in 10-Bit progressive scan scaler.
Even after I did some research, I still don't know what this gets me. ???

5. That DVD player claims "8x over-sampling to enjoy beautiful video with DVD". Is that the same as Upconversion or Upscaling?
Will this happen with Component Video connections or HDMI only?

Thanks Audioholics. This is the most useful forum on the internet I have ever found.

 

[markw]

When I first started to set up my system my primary goal was good sound.Sound is still and always will be my primary consideration.

I am just getting around to understanding Video and Video connections.
I have a few questions. I still mostly am happy as long as I get a picture but thought I should at least understand my options.

Background: I have two DVD players in my current setup. Both are connected directly to my Monitor (Sylvania Plasma 6842PE) by way of Component Video Connections (The Sylvania does not have HDMI).
Those connections are simply known as Component1 and Component2 to the Sylvania. The DVD players are also connected through various digital and analog connections to my AVR, including HDMI for both.

I can't see where having an HDMI conncection does you a bit of good. All you need is coax or toslink for the audio. From what I've read, the video goes nowhere.

1. Would this statement be true. Since I have no video outs to any TV/Monitor at this time from the AVR, all video options and capabilities on my AVR can be ignored ?

True.

2. What good if any might be achieved by me connecting both Component cables from the DVDs to the AVR and then placing a component connection out to my Monitor from the AVR. There are enough ports on the Pioneer VSX94TXH to do this. I'm just wondering what I would gain. I would have to buy another component video cable.

You would then be able to channel component video through the receiver. If you take away the direct connections from DVD to TV, you will HAVE to select your video source through the receiver. Is that what you want?

3. Since my monitor does not have HMDI will that mean that upconversion is not possible?

Most likely. Most upconverting DVD's require HDMI for an output. What do you want to upconvert, and to what? You're already using component video, the max your TV can handle, andthat ain't too shabby. Without Blu-Ray, you don't need any more than that.

4. My better DVD player (Marantz DV7600) is equipped with 216MHz/12-bit Video D/A converter and a built-in 10-Bit progressive scan scaler. Even after I did some research, I still don't know what this gets me. ???

It's supposed to make you think you've got a whiz-bang piece of haredwars. If the picture is nice, you do.

5. That DVD player claims "8x over-sampling to enjoy beautiful video with DVD". Is that the same as Upconversion or Upscaling?

No, it's neither. See the answer to # 4.

Will this happen with Component Video connections or HDMI only?

Will what happen? IIRC, your TV only maxes out at component video. You can't go above component for your TV and you're already there in as pure a mode as possible.

Thanks Audioholics. This is the most useful forum on the internet I have ever found.

Well, I hope my answers didn't alter that opinion.

 

[timetohunt]

1. Ok. Its sounds like HDMI might not do me a bit of good in my system. Except possibly this. I am already connected via HDMI on those players, I don't think there would be a need to switch to the other digital connections given the HDMI is already intact. And then ofcourse if the next monitor I get is HDMI they will be there.

And I do need more than toslink or coax for audio since I play DVD-As and SACDs. But you did not know that. Plus I have to have stereo analog out from everything because I have a zone 2 (excepts analog signals only in zone 2, which makes sense cuz zone 2 is a 2 speaker setup using my surround back channel as an amp)

2. Thanks for answering that. I don't think I want to have to select the video source through the receiver. I'd rather just use the remote that came with the monitor.

And see this is where I get into a mess. Would the receiver do this upconverting or what if I did change it to going into the AVR first.
I don't think I understand the differnce between upconversion or just connecting in the purest possible way. So if I have component connected from the player and the monitor has component inputs there is no upconversion necessary? I thought it depends on the source.

 

[markw]

So if I have component connected from the player and the monitor has component inputs there is no upconversion necessary? I thought it depends on the source.

Again, upconvert to what? I'd sau it depends at least as much on the target, wouldn't you? No matter what the source, if the TV can't accept the upconverted signal, what good does upconversion do?

The TV doesn't accept HDMI. does it? And, even if it did, you really wouldn't gain anything. The TV does it's own upscaling/upconverting to it's own native format already. Heck, it might even DOWNconvert an upconverted signal into it's native format.

Perhaps a little explanation is in order:

Upconversion deals ith the transmission media. IT can take a composite video and send it out over component video or even HDMI video, or any steps in between. This does not affect the resolution of the picture.

Upscaling deals with kerfutzing with the resolution of the picture. It may take a 480 signal and send out at 720 or even 1080 with varying results. It won't be true "hi-def" but it may be better than it was initially. All HDTV's "upscale" to their native (best) format internally so external upconversion may be redundant.

Does this help clarify things a bit?

 

[timetohunt]

Yea. It does help. I can talk a good conversation and stay well in it with audio. As for TVs and video.....I have zero reference point. I am starting in the dark. That is why my questions may seem a bit conundrous. I know almost nothing about video, and only see the buzz words and advertising.