Improving HT by new DVD player or Blu ray player

[scubafink]

Hi all,

My system consists of:

Plasma TV: Pioneer PDP-427XG - XGA Resolution (1024 X 768) with 2 x HDMI

DVD player: Pioneer DV-696AV - (video out HDMI conversion to 720P/1080i).

CD player: Cambridge Audio Azur 640C

AV receiver - Cambridge Audio Azur 640R

Speaker: Sonus Faber Domus Concerto fronts x 2, Sonus Faber Domus Centre x 1, Sonus Faber Domus Concertino rears x 2, and Sub -M&K V-125.

Speaker cable - Belden 10-gauge 5T00UP

Interconnects - Blue Jeans Cable LC-1

HDMI - BJC Belden Series-F2

Coaxial - Belden 1694A

My issue is plotting an upgrade path for improved HT as I'm currently disappointed with the video/surround performance. I'm thinking that the DVD player is the weak link as the upscaling is jagged and the surround field lack low/mid-volume presence. I was thinking of getting the Marantz DV7001, but am confused as to whether to go straight for Blu ray (Sony BDP-550) and run 5.1 analog to my CA receiver. Would the Sony Blu ray be a better upscaler than the Marantz DVD player?

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

 

[Cpt.America]

You're TV is only 1024 X 768? I could be wrong, but that might be part of the problem? Its not 480, its not 720, and its not 1080. I always heard for the best picture quality, running a display who's native rez is the same as the source, is teh best way to go. i.e, a blu-ray source at 1080, and a tv who's native rez is also 1080. Is that a computer monitor?

Others need to chime in...