Do I need a special DVD player to view High Definition?

[SuperCyrix]

My dvd player has a component output using monster cables, but the pictures on the HDTV still looks regular.
Help me out here please.

 

[kalster]

Progressive Scan DVD players are supposed to be better for HDTV i think

 

[SuperCyrix]

the dvd players is progressive scan and we're using a component output, but the image doesn't
look any better than regular non high def

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: SuperCyrix
the dvd players is progressive scan and we're using a component output, but the image doesn't
look any better than regular non high def

Are you sure you have Progressive output activated on the DVD player. Some units you have to change the output of the unit via the remote.

 

[BigSmooth]

Sadly, that's a limitation of the DVD format. The resolution is simply not as high as your HDTV is capable of displaying.

It should still look better on an HDTV with prog. scan enabled than a regular TV, though.

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
Sadly, that's a limitation of the DVD format. The resolution is simply not as high as your HDTV is capable of displaying.

IT should still look much better than a non-hd signal (al la DTV)

Maybe the input of your tv has to be setup to what resolution it will allow?

 

[Doggiedog]

You need a progressive scan DVD player to get a better pic on an HDTV.

My prog scan DVD player is strange in that you need to enable prog scan in 2 different menus to activate it. You might want to check and see if that is your problem.

 

[StageLeft]

seXbox doesn't do P-scan does it?

 

[GRIFFIN1]

Never admit that you actually own monster cables. If anyone sees them at your house, just say they were a gift and you couldn't return them.

 

[GRIFFIN1]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
seXbox doesn't do P-scan does it?

It can if a mod chip is installed and the progpatcher program is run on it. Even then, most people still prefer a cheap Prog scan DVD player over the xbox.

 

[Saulbadguy]

The differnces are subtle, and hard to tell with the naked eye. You won't see a huge difference in picture quality, but with progressive scan you will see much less artifacting.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

We can be more helpful if you tell us the make and model of the player and HDTV.

 

[Tetsuo]

Originally posted by: GRIFFIN1
Never admit that you actually own monster cables. If anyone sees them at your house, just say they were a gift and you couldn't return them.

mmk

 

[Dulanic]

Originally posted by: GRIFFIN1

Originally posted by: Skoorb
seXbox doesn't do P-scan does it?

It can if a mod chip is installed and the progpatcher program is run on it. Even then, most people still prefer a cheap Prog scan DVD player over the xbox.

Ya your better off with a Progressive Scan DVD player, however the new X-Box games that support 720p and 1080i HD look AWSOME!

 

[Xuttah]

If you get a DVD player that up-converts the resolution to some form of HD, you'll begin to see a difference. I have a Samsung HD-931, which can up-convert DVD signal to 720p or 1080i. I think Toshiba may have a a similar DVD unit, but I don't know of any others.

Can't wait for DVD with the HD-DVD spec. Should be incredible!

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

Originally posted by: Xuttah
If you get a DVD player that up-converts the resolution to some form of HD, you'll begin to see a difference. I have a Samsung HD-931, which can up-convert DVD signal to 720p or 1080i. I think Toshiba may have a a similar DVD unit, but I don't know of any others.

The other upconverting players that I've heard about are the Bravo D1 and the Momitsu 880.

 

[TGregg]

As many know, I have been struggling with the purchase of a whole new HT system. To the best of my knowledge, here is what I have discovered. It may be faulty, and I honestly hope that folks in the know will correct me.

Just about all DVD players are gonna put out analog 480 video at best. That means 480 horizontal lines. Some players (3k and up) may produce better, but I have no evidence of that, and it's out of my price range anyway. 480 ain't all that great, IMO, but paying a fortune for EQ is worse. So then you have a discussion about 480i or 480p. Which is an overrated discussion, IMO - but then I don't have a p TV yet. I=Interlaced. That means it works half as hard. It displays the even lines first and the odd lines second. P=Progressive, that shows one line after the other. Theoretically, this reduces to less flicker "even if you don't notice it" according to one site I visted. That site claimed that one would experience less eye strain watching a P set over an I set.

Anyway, to get the truest data xfer from DVD player to TV, you will need component connections on both. And (sad to say), you'll need some Better-than-freebie cables. I originally thought that 480p was digital (based on some errant sites and a confused Sony Tech), but that has proven to be incorrect, so my theory of El Cheapo cables failed.

Hope this helps.

 

[ElFenix]

i need an hdtv... then my setup will be complete

 

[Dulanic]

Originally posted by: TGregg
As many know, I have been struggling with the purchase of a whole new HT system. To the best of my knowledge, here is what I have discovered. It may be faulty, and I honestly hope that folks in the know will correct me.

Just about all DVD players are gonna put out analog 480 video at best. That means 480 horizontal lines. Some players (3k and up) may produce better, but I have no evidence of that, and it's out of my price range anyway. 480 ain't all that great, IMO, but paying a fortune for EQ is worse. So then you have a discussion about 480i or 480p. Which is an overrated discussion, IMO - but then I don't have a p TV yet. I=Interlaced. That means it works half as hard. It displays the even lines first and the odd lines second. P=Progressive, that shows one line after the other. Theoretically, this reduces to less flicker "even if you don't notice it" according to one site I visted. That site claimed that one would experience less eye strain watching a P set over an I set.

Anyway, to get the truest data xfer from DVD player to TV, you will need component connections on both. And (sad to say), you'll need some Better-than-freebie cables. I originally thought that 480p was digital (based on some errant sites and a confused Sony Tech), but that has proven to be incorrect, so my theory of El Cheapo cables failed.

Hope this helps.

Right component video is still analog going across the cable, only using DVI is it digital all the way... but honestly, I don't see why anyone would use DVI on a DVD player, since almost all HDTV's have only one DVI port, I think it is best saved for a HD box like sattalite etc... I'd much rather have the full use of DVI on a 1080 or 720 signal over a 480 signal. Samsung makes a pretty resonably priced DVI DVD player that uses the Farouja (spelled wrong I think) chip that upconverts it to 1080... but it's still DVD and you really won't notice much of a difference IMO.

 

[SuperCyrix]

thanks for all your help guys, really appreciate it.
this forum is wonderful

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: Dulanic
Right component video is still analog going across the cable, only using DVI is it digital all the way... but honestly, I don't see why anyone would use DVI on a DVD player, since almost all HDTV's have only one DVI port, I think it is best saved for a HD box like sattalite etc... I'd much rather have the full use of DVI on a 1080 or 720 signal over a 480 signal. Samsung makes a pretty resonably priced DVI DVD player that uses the Farouja (spelled wrong I think) chip that upconverts it to 1080... but it's still DVD and you really won't notice much of a difference IMO.

Um, because DVI switches are cheap? Picking up a 2x1 or even 4x1 DVI switch doesn't cost all that much.

The players that scale tend to be better for 3 reasons:

1. The scaling is done out of the DVI port, and DVI tends to you better quality.
2. The scaler in the DVD player (Faroudja FLI2300 in the Samsung DVD-HD931, Sigma Designs EM8500 in the Bravo D1, Momitsu V880, etc) is probably better than the one in your TV
3. Scaling is done better right after the mpeg decoder instead of after everything is transfered to the analog domain.

All this being said, DVI/Scaling players tend to make a bigger difference on digital (fixed pixel) displays than analog (CRT based).