Budget DVD players

[nm2285]

Need some advice on a budget DVD player. My past one just started acting up and so I'm doing some quick searching in case I have to replace it. I;m looking to spend less than $200, dont mind used, dont care about SACD or DVD audio since I only have a stereo setup.

My 2 main concerns are 1) great sound quality on CDs (internal DACs since I run the analog out to my integrated amp) and 2) progressive scan. The second shouldn't be any worry for models that are even close to new.

Please let me know of your recommendations. Again, I'm big on the internal DACs being good.

Thanks

 

[dm_4u]

Yamaha DVD-S550

Without question...Buy the Yamaha DVD-S550...here's why...

Progressive Scanning
NTSC/PAL Conversion
192kHz/24-Bit Audio DAC
108MHz/12-Bit Video DAC
CD Upsampling (2x and 4x)
Fully Adjustable Video Picture Modes
Multiple Zoom in six steps (1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2x, 3x and 4x)

Versatile Format and Disc Compatibility:
JPEG/MP3 Simultaneous Playback for Slide Show
DVD+RW/+R (Video/VR format) and DVD-R/-RW (Video format)
DVDVideo, Video CD, Super Video CD, Picture CD, Audio CD, CD-R/RW
MP3, JPEG, DivX and WMA, (MultiSession), Playback with Navigation Display

Black OR Silver...all for under $200 Canadian

PS...I should add that this new machine has both excellent picture and sound.

 

[nm2285]

after doing a quick search, it seems like thats a euro/canadian model number. happen to know the US equivalent?

EDIT: Found it. Goes for about $150 US...thanks for the suggestion!

 

[dillweed]

nm2285: Would you share what the US model number is and where you found it cheapest?

Thanks

 

[nm2285]

i actually saw it as the 550s. as for cheapest, i wouldnt know. i just did a quick search for it.

 

[shokhead]

What is cd upsampling?

 

[dm_4u]

In a nutshell...it upsamples cd's

Makes them sound better.

Sorta like a Superbit DVD...makes it look better...but not really in the same league as Superbit.

Someone else can tell you technically what is happening...but that's it in a nutshell.

 

[MDS]

Simply put, upsampling is the process of changing the number of samples from the current sampling rate to a higher one. So a 44.1kHz (44,100 samples per second) CD might be upsampled to 88.2kHz or 96Khz or 192kHz. Note that upsampling to an integer multiple (eg., 44.1 -> 88.2) can be as simple as doubling every sample. Upsampling to a non-integer multiple (eg., 44.1 -> 96) requires interpolation; ie, an intelligent 'guessing' algorithm that calculates the new values for samples in between the originals. There are many such algorithms.

Convential wisdom says that upsampling 'improves' the sound, but the reality is the only real benefit is that it makes the design of the reconstruction filter for D-A conversion simpler.

Per the Nyquist theorem, we must sample at twice the highest frequency we want to produce. Thus a 44.1kHz sampling frequency is theoretically perfect for reproducing up to 22,050 Hz (half the sampling rate). But the reconstruction filter is not a brick wall and cannot cut off at exactly 22,050 Hz - some of the frequencies slightly below that will get attenuated and since they are in the audible range, the affect may be audible. By upsampling, the frequency range is now much higher than the audible range, and after the reconstruction filter, any noise introduced should be well above our hearing range - thus the claim that it makes the sound better.

You will be hard pressed to hear any significant difference between a normal 44.1kHz CD and the result of upsampling it to a higher sampling rate.

 

[shokhead]

On my player it says the upsampling is only applicable for the signals from the analog jacks.

 

[MDS]

On my player it says the upsampling is only applicable for the signals from the analog jacks.

The analog signal must be converted to digital before it can be upsampled. After it is upsampled it is converted back to analog to drive your speakers.

 

[rectifier]

Upsampling by Anonymous

Re Anonymous post no.8 on Upsampling - thanks for simple explanation; an example of why I belong to this web forum.