How much to spend on a DVD player?

[JOD]

Ive decided to go with a stand alone DVD player to upgrade from my 360. I dont know much about DVD players, but im researching to learn more. As of now, i have a TV that is only capable of 1080i, and my 360 cant do more than 1080i. I am using componet for now. I am hoping of getting a 1080p TV soom time in the future. I guess i might as well get a DVD player that can do 1080p, instead of getting one that can do 1080i for now and buying a new one that can do 1080p later when i get my 1080p TV right?
Since i dont know much about DVD players, could anyone tell me how much do i have to spend to get a "good" quality DVD player thats going to give me a really good picture? Right now i have a price range in mind, around 300-400$, but im not sure if i should spend more. Also what more do you get from a expensive DVD player vs an average DVD player(better picture quality, more features,sound?)? If you have any brand recomendations i would like those as well. Thanks.

 

[j_garcia]

There is no reason to spend that much on an SD (standard definition) DVD player at this point. Either get an Oppo ( www.oppodigital.com ) or a Blu-ray player. The picture quality from the Oppos (980, 981 both 1080i/1080p) is highly praised and they are $169 and $199 respectively. Blu-ray players can be found in your price range and their picture quality is considerably better than SD DVD to my eyes, and they still play SD DVDs.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Ive decided to go with a stand alone DVD player to upgrade from my 360. I dont know much about DVD players, but im researching to learn more. As of now, i have a TV that is only capable of 1080i, and my 360 cant do more than 1080i. I am using componet for now. I am hoping of getting a 1080p TV soom time in the future. I guess i might as well get a DVD player that can do 1080p, instead of getting one that can do 1080i for now and buying a new one that can do 1080p later when i get my 1080p TV right?
Since i dont know much about DVD players, could anyone tell me how much do i have to spend to get a "good" quality DVD player thats going to give me a really good picture? Right now i have a price range in mind, around 300-400$, but im not sure if i should spend more. Also what more do you get from a expensive DVD player vs an average DVD player(better picture quality, more features,sound?)? If you have any brand recomendations i would like those as well. Thanks.

The TV broadcast will not be in 1080p, 720p or 1080i only.
How large of a TV are you planning on getting? It may not be beneficial in getting a 1080p unless you will get close to it and have 1080p program for it.

 

[JOD]

There is no reason to spend that much on an SD (standard definition) DVD player at this point. Either get an Oppo ( www.oppodigital.com ) or a Blu-ray player. The picture quality from the Oppos (980, 981 both 1080i/1080p) is highly praised and they are $169 and $199 respectively. Blu-ray players can be found in your price range and their picture quality is considerably better than SD DVD to my eyes, and they still play SD DVDs.

Im a little confused....
Most DVDs are in 720/1080i right? Blu ray players can read blu ray discs that go up to 1080p is that right? I want to get a dvd player that will be able to play 1080p for when i will eventually get a 1080p TV to replace my 1080i/720p TV. Do
blu ray players play lesser quality DVDs with the same quality as a non blu ray disc thanks.

 

[JOD]

The TV broadcast will not be in 1080p, 720p or 1080i only.
How large of a TV are you planning on getting? It may not be beneficial in getting a 1080p unless you will get close to it and have 1080p program for it.

i am about 6 feet away. Also i dont plan on watching TV shows in HD it is mainly for movies and games. What do you mean by a 1080p program?

 

[mtrycrafts]

i am about 6 feet away. Also i dont plan on watching TV shows in HD it is mainly for movies and games. What do you mean by a 1080p program?

TV programs from any station will not be transmitted at 1080p , only less.

At your distance, it might be worth it and for HD DVDs.

 

[fmw]

Im a little confused....
Most DVDs are in 720/1080i right? Blu ray players can read blu ray discs that go up to 1080p is that right? I want to get a dvd player that will be able to play 1080p for when i will eventually get a 1080p TV to replace my 1080i/720p TV. Do
blu ray players play lesser quality DVDs with the same quality as a non blu ray disc thanks.

No, DVD's are all 480 line resolution. Yes Blu-Ray discs are always 1080p. Yes Blu-Ray players can play regular 480 DVD's as well as CD's an other media.

 

[aberkowitz]

There is no reason to spend that much on an SD (standard definition) DVD player at this point. Either get an Oppo ( www.oppodigital.com ) or a Blu-ray player. The picture quality from the Oppos (980, 981 both 1080i/1080p) is highly praised and they are $169 and $199 respectively. Blu-ray players can be found in your price range and their picture quality is considerably better than SD DVD to my eyes, and they still play SD DVDs.

The other option is to go out and by a less expensive upconverting (not as good as the Oppo obviously) for less than $100 and worry about upgrading your DVD player. LG and Samsung make several decent players that accomplish exactly that for a relatively low price.

Personally, if you are any sort of gamer I'd recommend just splurging on the PS3.

 

[Seth=L]

The other option is to go out and by a less expensive upconverting (not as good as the Oppo obviously) for less than $100 and worry about upgrading your DVD player. LG and Samsung make several decent players that accomplish exactly that for a relatively low price.

Personally, if you are any sort of gamer I'd recommend just splurging on the PS3.

I agree with aberkowitz here. In the $300-400 the PS3 is your best bet (all fan-boyism aside). Not only is it a gaming machine, but it plays Blu-rays, DVDs, and CDs. It can also do a multitude of other things.

Blu-ray is a new format that is superior to DVD. DVD is 480i which is standard definition. Blu-ray is 1080p and HD DVD is 1080p (Blu-ray and HD DVD are competing formats that are attempting to replace DVD).

An important note, just because Blu-ray is 1080p and your display is 1080i that does not mean you can not view a Blu-ray's content on your display.

 

[JOD]

Which one is better blu ray or HD DVD? and can a HD DVD player play blu ray discs and visa versa?

 

[allargon]

Which one is better blu ray or HD DVD? and can a HD DVD player play blu ray discs and visa versa?

Honestly, both deliver the same PQ and AQ depending on the disc. Combo players that cost more than a Blu Ray and HD DVD player combined can play both discs. It is more economically feasible to buy two players than one unless you are space constrained or lack ports on your receiver/TV/etc.

Blu-Ray players cost more and are still getting features added to them that allow them to play interactive content. The PS3 is an exception to this. All players will play the main movie. However, not all players will play special interactive features on all discs. Blu-Ray has about 70% of all Hollywood studios backing it exclusively.

HD DVD players are interactive feature complete and cost as little as $100. All players will play all features. HD DVD has about 30% of all Hollywood studios backing it exclusively. HD DVD is cheaper to publish so it is currently preferred by independent studios and porn producers.

 

[j_garcia]

HD DVD is all but dead. It won't last the year, so definitely not a good choice; that is why I did not even mention it. It is still kicking at the moment, but not optimisitc.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

Ive decided to go with a stand alone DVD player to upgrade from my 360. I dont know much about DVD players, but im researching to learn more. As of now, i have a TV that is only capable of 1080i, and my 360 cant do more than 1080i. I am using componet for now. I am hoping of getting a 1080p TV soom time in the future. I guess i might as well get a DVD player that can do 1080p, instead of getting one that can do 1080i for now and buying a new one that can do 1080p later when i get my 1080p TV right?
Since i dont know much about DVD players, could anyone tell me how much do i have to spend to get a "good" quality DVD player thats going to give me a really good picture? Right now i have a price range in mind, around 300-400$, but im not sure if i should spend more.

There are a few blu-ray players in your price range. If you want to fully utilize your televisions HD-capability, you would be silly to buy anything else. Say good buy to ugly low-definition movies

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

No, DVD's are all 480 line resolution. Yes Blu-Ray discs are always 1080p. Yes Blu-Ray players can play regular 480 DVD's as well as CD's an other media.

While it is true that blu-ray players do upscale std-dvd's, the other part isn't entirely true.

BD players can be setup to output whatever is your TV's native resolution whether it be 1080p, 1080i, or 720p.

And yes....... upgrading at this point to anything less than high definition would be a silly.

 

[JOD]

So basicly i am thinking of either getting a OPPO DVD player that Up converts to 480i 1080p, or getting a blu ray player. Im not sure which one to get.........Does upconverted standard DVDs look almost as good as a Blu ray disc on a BD player? How big of a diffrence? WHICH ONE SHOULD I GET, BLU RAY OR AN OPPO DVD UP CONVERTER?

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

Does upconverted standard DVDs look almost as good as a Blu ray disc on a BD player? How big of a diffrence? WHICH ONE SHOULD I GET, BLU RAY OR AN OPPO DVD UP CONVERTER?

The term 'upscaling' is a misnomer, because no player can add detail that was never in the original source material in the first place.

Low-def movies, upscaled or not, will always display a vastly inferior picture quality compared to high definition.

 

[j_garcia]

Get a Blu-ray player - they upscale also, though most probably won't upscale as well as the Oppos in that price range, they should do well enough. I said this previously - NO upscaling player can make SD DVD look as good as HD.

Upconverting would be a misnomer - Upscaling is a more correct term IMHO.

 

[allargon]

The term 'upscaling' is a misnomer, because no player can add detail that was never in the original source material in the first place.

Low-def movies, upscaled or not, will always display a vastly inferior picture quality compared to high definition.

Vastly is a bit strong. On a 32" or smaller 720p display from more than 8 feet away I doubt most people could tell the difference between a Blu-Ray, HD DVD or well-upconverted SD DVD. On a 110" screen, yes.

Personally, I think you're selling SD DVD a bit short. Low def would be the Apple Ipod Touch, video Ipod stuff.

What is missing from high definition when upscaling SD DVD is the sound upgrade of lossless and not-quite multichannel lossless audio with PCM, TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD and DTS-MA. After all, this is audioholics.

 

[j_garcia]

I have a 34" screen and there is absolutely a difference between Blu-ray and upscaled.

 

[mtrycrafts]

HD DVD is all but dead. It won't last the year,.

Not sure, we certainly will see.
But, access to film library to print HD or Blu has an interesting twist:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=982323

Not sure which are dual format companies that may alter the balance more.
Also, if note

Fox/Sony/Buena Vista/Disney all account for less than 2000 movies. That's not even half of Universal's back catalog.