Would I need a new DVD player?

[Joe Schmoe]

I have a total of $800 in tax returns coming this year. Since I have seen some name-brand (Panasonic, Hitachi) 42" plasmas as low as $900, I may go ahead and pull the trigger on one.
I had originally thought of getting a new upconverting DVD player with HDMI, but I have read a few opinions to the effect that the TV will upconvert to match its native resolution. Does this mean that there would be no benefit from a new (SD) DVD player?
(If I get Blu-Ray, those discs would only be a tiny fraction of my collection, and might make all the others look bad. That is why I am hesitant to go that route.)

 

[markw]

Personally, I don't see a tremendous improvement using an upscaling DVD player. All I've seen require you to use an HDMI cable form the DVD to the TV but, honestly, by using a component cable with my current DVD player and letting the TV do the dirty work, I can't tell much of a difference, if any.

I suggest you try your current DVD player first. Then try one of the new upscaling players, but keep your return options open.

FWIW, my "gold standard" is the big blue guy's fur in Monster's Inc.

Of course, if you're thinking of one of the HD formats, that's another story.

 

[bluejay]

I just bought a Toshiba HD DVD 1080p player for $200 with 7 free movies. It will upconvert better than most.