...However, I am very very happy to now believe the macroblocking I've seen on certain DVDs is simply recorded on the discs (as some have suggested). But I needed to be certain. I've watched some older DVDs via HDMI that look just great - barely any to none of the macroblocking I've described. I tested my friend's Denon DVD2910 (my old player) at the 2 min 0 sec mark of The Polar Express, and the artifacts were even WORSE. So, that pretty much allowed me to conclude my player is fine. Cheers...