HD-DVD is sometimes 1080, sometimes 480??

[rolyasm]

Hey,
I have an HD-DVD. When I put in HD-DVD it plays 1080i on my TV, which is a 1080i TV. When I put in a regular DVD it will only output it to 480p. What is up with that?
Also, I am running it all through my Onkyo 806 that I have set to output at 1080i. Why wouldn't my Onkyo upconvert to 1080i, and why the difference between DVD and hd-dvd output. ugh. I thought the reason to buy an upconverting reciever was so that everything upconverted to the higher resolution. So confused and frustrated.
Roly

 

[Adam]

Hi. Are you using an HDMI connection between the receiver and TV? Only the HDMI output on the receiver will be upscaled.

Do you have the output resolution on the receiver set at 1080i (page 94 of the manual)?

 

[rolyasm]

thanks for the reply. I looked at page 94. When I go to setup, the only upconversion option I see is for HDMI. I am using a component connection between my receiver and TV. I set the receiver to 1080i, but it appears to only be talking about HDMI upconversion.

Maybe a light just went off. In the manual it talks about component upconversion, but I think now that it only upconverts s-video and composite. It seems weird with that it could upconvert these signals to 1080i but it passes through component at 480p. I guess I just don't understand how the whole conversion process works.

 

[Adam]

I'm on a different computer, but I believe that the upscaling table is shown on page 122. It lists the input and output resolutions that are available for each type of connection. The HDMI output is the only one that will be upscaled.

So, my next question is - can you upscale in the HD-DVD player? If you let us know which model you have, I'll be happy to see if I can find that out for you.

 

[Davemcc]

It could be that the receiver will not re-interlace a progressive scan signal, i.e. 480p to 1080i. If your TV can take 720p, try that setting and see if it works. I've found that 720p often looks better than 1080i anyway.

Or output in 480i and see if the receiver will scale it to 1080i.

 

[Adam]

It could be that the receiver will not re-interlace a progressive scan signal, i.e. 480p to 1080i.

The receiver won't upscale when the component video output is used.

 

[rolyasm]

My HD DVD player is the Toshiba HD-D3. So after reading it over again, I agree that the receiver won't upconvert any component signal. But, I still don't understand why the HD DVD player plays HD-DVD's at 1080i and my reg. DVD's at 480P. Any ideas?

 

[Adam]

Regular DVDs are encoded at 480, so something needs to upscale them if you want higher than that. Your HD-D3 player will upscale to 1080i if you use the HDMI output, but not (according to what I'm finding) if you use the component video output.

 

[Trezl]

Most machines that do scaling will not scale on component because it is not "protected" like HDMI. Movie companies don't want you copying the upscaled video, so the hardware guys won't send an upscaled analog signal.

I have the same issue with my PS3, and have to use HDMI.

 

[BMXTRIX]

It is illegal, at least in the USA, to upconvert DVDs above 480p resolution and output them over a non-copy protected analog output such as component video.

HD DVD/Blu-ray are both HD native sources, and while they are native 1080p signals most of the time, they may only be output at 1080i or lower resolution over component video.

For 1080p (if possible) from your player, or for 1080i of all sources, you must use HDMI.

Why are you NOT using HDMI is really the question? That's what I would just do by default unless there was some obvious reason not to.

 

[rolyasm]

My TV is older and only has Component inputs. That is why I have not been using HDMI. I know, I suck. BUT, been working on my dedicated HT with 110" screen, so my old Mitsu 65" is not my main priority.

 

[BMXTRIX]

I know, I suck.

Not at all! As I said, if you have some obvious reason NOT to use HDMI then it makes sense not to do so. You have a very obvous reason.

The downside of component is now a bit more clear to you - you can't upconvert DVD to 720p/1080i/1080p without going HDMI or getting a hacked DVD player.

There are also things like the HD Fury which will take HDMI input and output component video, but I have never tried one personally.

I run all my stuff over component video in my home. I have a distributed video head end and a matrix HDMI switcher starts at over $5,000. Not exactly money I'm willing to spend quite yet.