[Delacroix]

Stupid question, probably, but here goes. After obtaining my first new TV in over a decade, a nice Panasonic plasma gift for the family (it says here), I confess to being a little underwhelmed by the DVD performance from my relegated to video-duty six years or older Denon 2900 DVD player. TV reception is mixed, from ok to very good, which I put down to my cable provider ( I don't have HD box, yet), but after connecting the Denon via a component cable set (it has no HDMI out), I think the picture from the few DVDs I own, mostly music but also the Star Wars boxed set,  is no great improvement over the old CRT TV I owned, and the larger screen tends to show the defects more clearly. I wonder if I just won't get much more out of the screen until I get at least a newer, if cheaper, player. I've checked the player's settings but nothing seems to have major impact and have tweaked the screen's settings for minor improvements only. Is this just a case of techno-progress, my needing a more modern Blu-Ray or HDMI-compatible player to reveal improvements, or should I call in an expert to help tweak the pairing I have? I confess, as a two-channel audio guy, anything TV related leaves me somewhat disinterested but I am sure I can get more out of this screen. Suggestions welcome.

Thanks

[Phil A]

Congrats on the TV purchase.  The Denon 2900 is kind of long in the tooth (so am I ).  What is it 8 yrs. old?  I am a 2-channel person but have 3 home theaters and have good video in all of them.  The main system has got a 100 inch screen and the secondary basement system has an 88 inch.  So poor picture quality is easy to see.  I'd recommend something newer.  Naturally it depends on your budget and goals.

[srb]

You might want to check and make sure that your Denon has Progressive Scan enabled in it's setup menu, which will impact picture quality if it is not enabled.  I have an older Yamaha DVD player connected via Component video and my Home Theatre PC connected via HDMI to my 1080p plasma set.
 
I see little difference in picture quality between the two.  Viewing ATSC off-the-air digital broadcast however, looks better than the DVD, as one might expect.  The DVD is 480p max resolution, and the digital ATSC is 720p or 1080i.
 
I think if you simply get an inexpensive new upscaling HDMI player, you probably won't get much of an improvement.  Blu-ray will make a larger difference, if you're willing to pay the extra cost for the media.
 
Steve

[Delacroix]

Thanks both. I do have the progressive scan enabled so I am maxing out the Denon, which I agree is like several of us, a bit older in the teeth than we prefer to admit I also think that the problem might be the media more than my connection. Am happy to drop a few bucks on a SOTA player; am less willing, I suppose, to accept without question the 'new formats are better' argument on the media. Been there, done that with CD v. Vinyl, SACD v CD etc. when a clean LP can seemingly sound great on my turntable regardless of how long I've owned it or how 'obsolete' it may be as a format. Still, the price of half-decent new DVD players does make an upgrade tempting, if only for the experiment. Someone really needs to write the video technology guide for audiophiles....if only to assuage our worries.

Happy New Year

Delacroix

[mjosef]

Just pick up an inexpensive upscaling player with HDMI output (50-75$), you will be surprised by the supplied image.
I went from a component-player to a cheap Phillips HDMI player ($49.)and the image took a big leap. You will be surprised just how good an image just the HDMI connection will yield.
Been there done that successfully.
Next for me would be (grudgingly) BluRay with live streaming.

[srb]

Am happy to drop a few bucks on a SOTA player;...

If that's the case, and you wouldn't mind having a universal player, I haven't run into anyone yet who was not very satisfied with the OPPO BDP-83.
 
Steve

[Delacroix]

Thanks Steve.

That Oppo BD-83 appears to be a swiss-army knife with SACD capability too. Looks great but I already have two SACD players and the Denon is pretty decent as a back up universal so my willingness to drop some cash on this is tempered a little by my desire to solve only a video problem. Not sure what I might gain with the VIERA link from a Panasonic player, basic Blu-Ray versions of which seem to be available around $120. That said, any excuse to sneak another hi quality audio item (which I presume the Oppo BD83 would be) into the house should never be missed, I suppose

[Phil A]

Oppo is I believe going to make an announcement as CES regarding their Blu-Ray transport.  I believe the Oppo 980 ($170) universal has be discontinued and I would expect the new Oppo to be around that price point give or take a little.  I would expect it (the new player) won't do SACD or DVD-A.

[srb]

Thanks Steve.

That Oppo BD-83 appears to be a swiss-army knife with SACD capability too. Looks great but I already have two SACD players and the Denon is pretty decent as a back up universal so my willingness to drop some cash on this is tempered a little by my desire to solve only a video problem. Not sure what I might gain with the VIERA link from a Panasonic player, basic Blu-Ray versions of which seem to be available around $120. That said, any excuse to sneak another hi quality audio item (which I presume the Oppo BD83 would be) into the house should never be missed, I suppose

Well, if you do decide to get an "inexpensive" HDMI player, I will be interested in your observations, as it is certainly possible that my HDMI connected HTPC is not performing as well as a stand-alone player.
 
Steve