In the market for a new DVD player

[3db]

For now Blu ray is still out as my current TV doesn't even except progressive scan.. The 1080p big screen will come after the kids move out.

I'm looking at these two upconverting contenders:

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10100471&catid=

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0926INGFS10099751&catid=25175&PCName=DVD_Samsung&logon=&langid=EN#

Any thoughts?

 

[aberkowitz]

If you're willing to spend just a bit more I'd also recommend checking out an Oppo- there are generally some great deals on ebay. I was able to pick up a 980H for about $110 including shipping. The PQ is better on it than any other brand of upconverting DVD player that I've ever used- I tried out 3 different brands before this one.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

If you have home-made DVD-R or DVD+R, I would get Sony.

If that were my only 2 choices, then I'll pick Samsung.

 

[aberkowitz]

If that were my only 2 choices, then I'll pick Samsung.

Just checked the model numbers on the players again- STAY AWAY FROM THAT SAMSUNG! I had the previous model of that line (the P7) and had nothing but trouble. If you left the player on for too long it would overheat and would not work properly unless unplugged for 24 hours (mine was in a wide open cabinet, and I had two different units b/c I thought the first one was broken). After about 6 months of use the HDMI output literally became "fried"- it would intermittantly stop working, and then all of a sudden ceased to function. I tried 2 different tvs and 4 different HDMI cables but nothing worked- the output just stopped working. Considering I only spent $70 on the thing I didn't cry much when I threw it out, but I highly recommend not going near that line of players from Samsung.

P.S. Not a dig against Samsung products overall, I love their tvs.

 

[jamie2112]

Used Oppo on Ebay is a great bet...

 

[Halon451]

For now Blu ray is still out as my current TV doesn't even except progressive scan.. The 1080p big screen will come after the kids move out.

I'm looking at these two upconverting contenders:

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10100471&catid=

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0926INGFS10099751&catid=25175&PCName=DVD_Samsung&logon=&langid=EN#

Any thoughts?

Funny bit of timing here - having just recently purchased a new 1080p plasma, I decided to head out to Best Buy and look for a decent upconverting DVD player that will hold me over until I pick up a Blu-ray player this December. I ended up choosing the same Samsung model you have linked, and got it hooked up via HDMI upconverted to 1080p. I watched '300' on it yesterday afternoon, and I have to say that I'm a little less than impressed with the pq, it seems that my older non-coverting DVD player actually produced a better image than the Samsung. It seemed a bit too grainy for what is otherwise an excellent reference movie for picture quality IMO. Maybe I need to fidget around with the settings a little more.

Just checked the model numbers on the players again- STAY AWAY FROM THAT SAMSUNG! I had the previous model of that line (the P7) and had nothing but trouble. If you left the player on for too long it would overheat and would not work properly unless unplugged for 24 hours (mine was in a wide open cabinet, and I had two different units b/c I thought the first one was broken). After about 6 months of use the HDMI output literally became "fried"- it would intermittantly stop working, and then all of a sudden ceased to function. I tried 2 different tvs and 4 different HDMI cables but nothing worked- the output just stopped working. Considering I only spent $70 on the thing I didn't cry much when I threw it out, but I highly recommend not going near that line of players from Samsung.

P.S. Not a dig against Samsung products overall, I love their tvs.

Ummmm..... hehe.

 

[aberkowitz]

Halon- I thought the upconverting was decent... but like you I bought the player as a hold-me-over until I got my PS3 a couple months later and then moved the Samsung to the bedroom. As a $70 "rental" for a few months it's not a terrible deal, but if you can get a good deal on a used oppo for $50-60 more I think that's a much better option.

 

[Halon451]

Halon- I thought the upconverting was decent... but like you I bought the player as a hold-me-over until I got my PS3 a couple months later and then moved the Samsung to the bedroom. As a $70 "rental" for a few months it's not a terrible deal, but if you can get a good deal on a used oppo for $50-60 more I think that's a much better option.

Well, I have only watched one movie with it thus far (I got it yesterday), so after a few more DVD's I'll make a better judgment call on its upconverting capability. Nevertheless, like you I'm not too worried about it having only spent a small bit of cash on it, so if it tanks on me, oh well... when was it that you purchased yours? Could have been a bad "batch" at the time?

 

[aberkowitz]

Well, I have only watched one movie with it thus far (I got it yesterday), so after a few more DVD's I'll make a better judgment call on its upconverting capability. Nevertheless, like you I'm not too worried about it having only spent a small bit of cash on it, so if it tanks on me, oh well... when was it that you purchased yours? Could have been a bad "batch" at the time?

I purchased the P7 last August as a 2 month tide-over. After having the overheating problem several times in the first few weeks I returned it to Best Buy and got another one for free. The overheating problem persisited a bit, but I just got very careful about making sure to turn it off immediately after a movie was over.

Not sure if it could be written off to a bad batch, anything is possible, but there were at least 3-4 inventory shipments in between the two units.

 

[Halon451]

Well, either way I think our conversation has probably swiftly swayed 3db away from purchasing one!

 

[j_garcia]

What connection type are we talking about here? I would not go with one of the Oppos if you aren't going to use HDMI. IIRC, the 980 does not upscale protected content to 1080p over component; you would need to go back to one of the older models, the 971 I believe to get one that does this. It is rare that I wouldn't recommend an Oppo, but in this case you might be better off with a Panasonic or Sony for the lowest price you can get. However, if you will be upgrading to progressive/HDMI in a short time not a long time, then go for one of the Oppos

 

[davidtwotrees]

I'm liking my Pioneer DV48A from Vann's for $99 delivered. All the Elite gear I have owned (xx09 receiver, dv45a, 567dvd and now this one) have all been nice pieces with no issues and were easy to use in my humble opinion.......although I think it only upconverts to 1080i or 720P, (I have a 720P panny) The pq is stunning, to me, and, although I don't use it, this can output sacd over hdmi.........

 

[jostenmeat]

For now Blu ray is still out as my current TV doesn't even except progressive scan.. The 1080p big screen will come after the kids move out.

I'm looking at these two upconverting contenders:

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10100471&catid=

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0926INGFS10099751&catid=25175&PCName=DVD_Samsung&logon=&langid=EN#

Any thoughts?

Thanks to the current universal player thread, ADTG, and gus6464, I came upon this Denon 1920 as b-stock, $90, 1 yr warranty.

Without knowing anything about your gear, 3db, outside of some of your speakers, the most interesting thing about the unit is SACD w/ DSD-discrete DACs. At least according to gus, who got excited enough to think about getting one. So excited, Im thinking of getting one.

I have no idea how it compares to Oppo's video, nor audio, but Denon isn't all too shabby.

edit: I just threw it in the cart. $27 shipping. I am still tempted.

 

[3db]

Thanks for all your replies.

Since its going to be a "tie me over" machine, I'll rule out teh Oppo since I won't be in Blu Ray anytime soon and from what I'm hearing this particular model of LG is the one to stay away from. I guess Samsung is the one to go with. Thanks again.

 

[The Dali]

For now Blu ray is still out as my current TV doesn't even except progressive scan.. The 1080p big screen will come after the kids move out.

I'm looking at these two upconverting contenders:

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10100471&catid=

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0926INGFS10099751&catid=25175&PCName=DVD_Samsung&logon=&langid=EN#

Any thoughts?

Might be a noobie question, but if your TV doesn't even accept progressive scan what good is an upconverting DVD player going to do?

 

[BMXTRIX]

Might be a noobie question, but if your TV doesn't even accept progressive scan what good is an upconverting DVD player going to do?

That is the VERY first thing I thought!

Why is everyone talking picture quality?

This member has a TV that accepts 480i video only. He shouldn't be talking about upconverting players, but simply a cheap reliable player.

At the end of the day, I'm hard pressed to wonder why he wouldn't get a $20 Coby player or something similar when the most he can hope for is 480i.

This is what you should get:
http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0926INGFS10100847&catid=20208&PCName=DVD_under_50&logon=&langid=EN&test_cookie=1

It's inexpensive, from a quality manufacturer, and provides all that your TV needs. If you want upconverting because the kids are about to move out and you will buy HD very soon, then get a HD player now in Blu-ray and enjoy the improvements you will get now, as subtle as they will be - remembering that Blu-ray players have no issues playing your DVDs as well.

 

[3db]

That is the VERY first thing I thought!

Why is everyone talking picture quality?

This member has a TV that accepts 480i video only. He shouldn't be talking about upconverting players, but simply a cheap reliable player.

At the end of the day, I'm hard pressed to wonder why he wouldn't get a $20 Coby player or something similar when the most he can hope for is 480i.

This is what you should get:
http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0926INGFS10100847&catid=20208&PCName=DVD_under_50&logon=&langid=EN&test_cookie=1

It's inexpensive, from a quality manufacturer, and provides all that your TV needs. If you want upconverting because the kids are about to move out and you will buy HD very soon, then get a HD player now in Blu-ray and enjoy the improvements you will get now, as subtle as they will be - remembering that Blu-ray players have no issues playing your DVDs as well.

To answer your question.. I don't trust Coby or those other Walmartish type brands in terms of quality. I wanted to go with something a little more reliable. That was my main reason.

I chose the Samsung over a Walmart brand because I'm hoping that the laser and read mechanism is of better quality. My old DVD player used to skip on a few DVDs that I owned which really ruined the "moment" while watching a movie.

I'm pleased with sound from this player and the picture quality is what I expected, about the same as my old player because I only have 480i at my disposal for now.

I ended up buying the Samsung and have it connected already. I discovered much to my delight that the analog outputs and the digital outputs are always on. This may not seem to be such a big deal but I'll have way less progranmming steps to perform for my harmony remote to play CDs with the Samsung then I did when I had my previous CD player. With the previous player, I had to program teh remote to walk thru the input menu, turn off the digital outputs and turn on the analog outputs.

I realize I payed for some features that I'm unable to take advantage of but its for quality reasons for the things I do need that I did went this route.

BTW, the Toshiba you suggested would not have worked with my setup as I only have optical digital inputs. Thanks for your interest.