Problem with PAL DVDs

[MarcoLanz]

Hello,

I have a region free Denon 2910 DVD player with
an in-built 16 MB PAL-NTSC converter connected via HDMI to a Sony SXRD. The DVD player upconverts to either 720p or 1080i.

Well, NTSC DVDs look fantastic, almost HD quality, but when I watch PAL DVDs and there are diagonal lines in the image(like a rope, a rifle, or the edge of a door), these lines look jagged: they do not look like straight lines, but more like a staircase. I believe the correct term for this artifact would be aliasing.

I have compared with the few DVDs where I also have the NTSC version, and the same scenes look fantastic in NTSC, without this artifact (They Live, Scanners, Prince of Darkness, Zulu...).

So, this seems to be a problem with the player/TV/setup and not with the individual DVDs, and with the SXRD's big screen, these problems are now more visible than before. As I am using the HDMI connection and upconversion to a HD format, I would guess that the Pal-NTSC converter is not even involved in this problem.

Do you know what may be the problem, and how to fix it? Any ideas will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Marco

 

[Pyrrho]

I would contact Denon about this and see what they have to say, after rereading the manual and checking all of the settings in the setup menu (and I would try alternate settings in the setup menu to see what effect they have). I would not be surprised if they simply did not put in satisfactory electronics and/or firmware for processing the PAL signal for a USA player (if that is where you are) when they know most people in the USA will never use it. You might try your other output options and see how well your TV can process various signals. If the player is upconverting the PAL to 720p or 1080i, there is no need for NTSC conversion (as NTSC is 480i). But if the player does a good job of processing NTSC and is capable of converting PAL to NTSC, one would think that it could first convert the PAL to NTSC and then convert that to 720p or 1080i and not have the problem you have (though this would be far from an ideal way of going, as converting from PAL to NTSC would involve throwing away lines of resolution and changing the frame rate). But I am digressing; reread your manual, check your settings in the setup menu, and try alternate settings. If that fails, you may wish to contact Denon and ask them why it would do this, and if they are less than helpful, consider returning the player and buying something else from a different manufacturer.

 

[WeAreSurrounded]

Hi,
I know that the PAL/NTSC converter is the internal part of this player (I have the same in my Denon 2200). But what about this region-free option?
Did you get it as the offical firmware update ? If not - do you think it's possible that it is creating the problems? In this case you would not be able even to complain to Denon Tech. Support.

BTW, Iam interested in putting this region-free option if it's also bug-free Can you write me at my priv ?

 

[Pyrrho]

Hi,
I know that the PAL/NTSC converter is the internal part of this player (I have the same in my Denon 2200). But what about this region-free option?
Did you get it as the offical firmware update ? If not - do you think it's possible that it is creating the problems? In this case you would not be able even to complain to Denon Tech. Support.

BTW, Iam interested in putting this region-free option if it's also bug-free Can you write me at my priv ?

There is supposedly a way to enter a code for his player without any change in firmware:

http://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks.php?dvdplayer=denon+2910&hits=50

If he did that, then he should not be voiding the warranty (of course, I promise nothing), though a firmware change is another matter.

For your player, take a look at:

http://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks.php?dvdplayer=denon+2200&hits=50

You might also want to look at hacks for similar models from Denon, as it may be possible that there is a nonfirmware hack listed for one of them that will work for your player. Naturally, anything you try is at your own risk, and I am not responsible for your actions. However, it should be impossible to harm* a player by pushing buttons on its remote, though, again, I promise nothing.

In my case, I base my DVD player purchases on research I do first to make sure that the player is hackable (as well as other factors), and then only buy if I am reasonably certain that I can hack it via a code. I recently purchased the Yamaha DVD-C750, which is a great SACD and DVD-A player. It, however, is merely a progressive scan DVD player and does not upconvert to anything better than that. It does a good job with the picture, and nicely converts between PAL and NTSC. And it is easy to hack to make it region free by way of a code entered via the remote (see site above, though a different page).

But back to the issue at hand: As you say, the conversion between PAL and NTSC is part of the electronics of the unit, and as such, should be relevant to the warranty, unless they do not mention this capability in any of the materials advertising the product (including printed on the box and owner's manual). But it may be that some of the advanced processing for upconversion applies only to NTSC material, which may be mentioned in the manual. And if that is the case, a new and better player is what is needed.

___________
* One may, of course, by pressing the wrong buttons on a hackable DVD player, change it to a region that will make all or most of one's DVDs unplayable, but it should not actually be harming the player to do so, though, again, I offer no guarantee or warranty.