How do I know if my DVD player upscales to HD quality?

[Slightdust]

So I recently got a 1080i HDTV, and I was wondering if my DVD player does the so called "upscaling" or "up converting."

I have a Toshiba SD-310V DVD player and a Philips 615 DVD recorder. Does either one upscales to 780p\1080i? Or do I have to purchase a new one?

 

[montypythizzle]

How do you have it hooked up to the TV?
Further research suggests that the Phillips 615 does have progressive scan.
Looks like 480P is the max you are going to get.
Do you have an HDMI port on your TV?

 

[vshah]

if you go to the menu on your TV, or switch back and forth inputs, most TVs will tell you what sort of signal they are receiving. if not that then check the dvd player manual.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: montypythizzle
How do you have it hooked up to the TV?
Further research suggests that the Phillips 615 does have progressive scan.
Looks like 480P is the max you are going to get.
Do you have an HDMI port on your TV?

I looked up the Toshiba http://tacpservice.toshiba.com...1800_sd310v_ownman.pdf

I doesn't look like that's even a progressive player. (480i max)

 

[Slightdust]

My TV does have 2 HDMI ports, but I use component cables to connect the DVD players.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

You might consider jumping on the next HD-DVD player deal. They're supposed to be good upconverters of regular DVDs in addition to giving you the ability to playback true HD discs.

With sale prices getting down to the $200 range, I think that's a good way to go vs. another regular DVD player.

 

[Slightdust]

I think I am getting a Xbox 360 soon, so I guess that's HD DVD?

And the fact that I have a 1080i but not a 1080p TV somewhat hinders my decision to get a HD-DVD player or Blueray player.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Slightdust
I think I am getting a Xbox 360 soon, so I guess that's HD DVD?

And the fact that I have a 1080i but not a 1080p TV somewhat hinders my decision to get a HD-DVD player or Blueray player.

What kind of TV did you get? I wouldn't let the lack of a true 1080p display decide whether or not you should consider getting HD-DVD capability with a new player you purchase if you get a standalone player. They should still look significantly better.

You need to get an HD-DVD drive to get that capability for your 360 I think. I'm not all that into consoles so I'm not entirely sure how they handle things. I don't know if that drive upconverts normal DVDs either.

On another note, I found a much bigger difference in picture quality by getting a calibration disc to get settings corrected on my own and my parents' display vs. the difference an upconverting player made with both cases. Best $17 I've spent on my HT.

 

[Slightdust]

I purchased a Samsung HLT4675S 46" Slim 720p DLP HDTV.

What is the calibration disc you are talking about?

oh, and I would like to know if the normal drive in the 360 upconverts normal DVDs if anyone could answer.

 

[montypythizzle]

The HD-DVD add-on for the 360 plays and upconverts via VGA, which may be a plus for most people.
I also heard it upconverts GREAT.

 

[montypythizzle]

Originally posted by: montypythizzle
The HD-DVD add-on for the 360 plays and upconverts via VGA, which may be a plus for most people.
I also heard it upconverts GREAT.

BUT, I think it is ~200 dollars or something?!?! BUT, you can hook it to your computer if you have a HDCP video card and HDCP display and proper nex-gen DVD software.

There are many different ways of calibrating a display, most common and easiest/cheapest way is to get a AVIA or Digital Video Essentials disc.
They can be found on various sites, and most common I believe is Amazon.com.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I got mine from here http://www.deepdiscount.com/vi...egrabber&extid=df00010

There's also an HD-DVD version

 

[Slightdust]

I ordered the AVIA disk on Amazon because it has great reviews. Thanks guys!

I have few more questions to ask about the HDTV channels. I only subscribed to Comcast's basic analog cable bundle, so before I got my HDTV I only received 60 or so standard definition cable channels, but when I got this new TV with the built-in tuner, I somehow received some HD channels such as the NBC-HD. Is that normal? And I really want the Discovery HD channel, do I have to call them and ask or can I get it like I did with NBC-HD-just through tuning the channels?

 

[montypythizzle]

If your TV does have a QAM tuner (what it sounds like), then you will indeed pickup LOCAL digital (real DIGITAL and if they are showing HD programming it will be HD) channels.
QAM is only for UNencrypted channels (cable companies MUST send out local digital signals UNencrypted) Discovery HD and other premium HD channels are ENcrypted and require a HD receiver to get. Most of the stuff on Discovery is old, but the specials and new series are GREAT!!!
On my TV in my room I never go to the analog tuner

 

[Slightdust]

So public channels such as NBC, ABC, FOX are usually unencrypted and that's why I can receive them, I see.

One last question (i hope): when I'm using the channel search on my TV, it asks what cable signal type do I receive and I can choose STD, HRC, and IRC for either Analog or Digital. I left it on STD. What do they mean?

 

[montypythizzle]

HMM, link to manual or what model of TV do you have?
http://www.remotecentral.com/c...-sat/thread.cgi?2233,1
Post 4
Says some mumbo jumbo about it.
I say try them all out.