BD 1080i via Component?

[Duffinator]

I'm thinking of buying a Sony S300 BD player now that the prices have dropped and want to confirm that the player will output all movies (so far for the ones released) in 1080i via component? My Denon 3805 and Toshiba 56H80 do not have or switch HDMI and I currently use my Toshiba A2 HD player switched via component through the Denon to the Toshiba and all HD movies have been output in 1080i and some DVD's upconvert to 1080i. I'm aware that I won't be able to upconvert most DVD's and won't get the newer audio formats but that's not a concern at this time. So is anybody using the Sony with component cables and getting 1080i on all movies?

Thanks

 

[cmusic]

I bought a Sammy BD-P1400 instead of the S300 because I liked it better. I have it running component video and coax audio to my 3805 and like it extremely well. I also bought an Toshiba HD-A3 the same day and have it running component into the 3805 as well. So far I am very happy with 1080i from both players. The 3805 works wonderfully well with the 1080i component signals. Remember that regular DVDs will not be upconverted through the component cables, but their 480p signal looks great too. (It will be a few years before I buy a 1080p HDTV and a new receiver.)

 

[Duffinator]

So all of the BD movies you have watched have passed through 1080i? Originally, going back a couple of years, it was reported the players would down convert the video to 480P if it was not output digitally. It appears that never happened although it's software dependant.

So you like the Samsung better than the Sony, what did you like better?

 

[goodman]

Since Jan. 3, I've been outputting 1080i from Blu-ray discs played on a PS3, in to a Denon 5803 via component cables. And yes, I get 1080i on all movies so far. The picture is sharp, although I wonder what it would look like at 1080p. Smoother, perhaps?

 

[Duffinator]

So should one buy the Sony or Samsung and why?

 

[cmusic]

All the BD movies I have (only 4 to date though) have played 1080i through the component cables to my 3805. The BD-P1400 does have the option of selecting the output resolution from 480i, 720p, or 1080i when using component in the video setup menu. When using HDMI the 1080p option is available. Currently I have 1080i selected. (The player has to detect the HDMI return signal from the HDTV in order for it to turn on the 1080p option.)

I choose the BD-P1400 over the S300 because the BD-P1400 has better sound options. It can decode Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD, DTS, and DTS HD. The S300 only has Dolby Digital Plus and DTS decoders.

I think True HD and DTS HD can only be outputted through HDMI to a compatible receiver (which I will get in the future). Currently I am down-mixing True HD and DTS HD to Dolby Digital bitstream and DTS bitstream to play through the digital coax output going to my 3805. The down-mixed signal sounds better than regular Dolby Digital and DTS from regular DVDs.

 

[goodman]

So should one buy the Sony or Samsung and why?

Since you don't have an HDMI input, it would be best if whatever player you select has a 5.1 or 7.1 analog audio output, and also decodes DTHD and DTSMA.

 

[tn001d]

Remember that regular DVDs will not be upconverted through the component cables, but their 480p signal looks great too. (It will be a few years before I buy a 1080p HDTV and a new receiver.)

Actually i compared the 480p signals of these players with component outs since my TV is CRT RPTV. 480p didnt look good at all!! Neither of the players could match my denon 2900 in standard dvd playback. The only HD-player that was just as good was the Toshiba XA2 and the Samsung 1200 since they both used the silicon reon chip.