Is the HD-A30 worth it if I only want to use it for upconverting normal DVDs?

[TheNinja]

I was at Best Buy and can get a A30 with the 2 DVDs inside for the $130 price (or open box for $110). I could get the 5 DVDs via mail in rebate but I wouldn't count on it or use it for a reason for buying.

My main question. I just want to upconvert my normal DVDs. Would I notice a huge difference on this? Is it worth it just for that fact alone? Would it upconvert a ~800mb AVI file that I converted (convertxtodvd) and burned onto a DVD as well?

Also, do all TVs upconvert then, if set to that setting? I have a Vizio 47" LCD HDTV. Perhaps I wouldn't even notice any difference with a HD-A30

Thanks!

 

[Shawn]

The TV's own scaler will determine how much of a benefit you will get. The Vizio's have pretty poor scalers so you would definitely see a noticeable improvement.

 

[Captante]

Its debatable ... theres no doubt that the A30 is a good quality upconverter for SD-DVD's & in fact I own one myself, however at this point if I didn't already own any HD-DVD movies I'd seriously consider going with somthing like the Pioneer DV400V-K currently on sale for $79 at BB instead. It has very close to the same quality upconversion, is less trouble-prone as a fully mature product plus is much faster responding to control inputs.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Captante
Its debatable ... theres no doubt that the A30 is a good quality upconverter for SD-DVD's & in fact I own one myself, however at this point if I didn't already own any HD-DVD movies I'd seriously consider going with somthing like the Pioneer DV400V-K currently on sale for $79 at BB instead. It has very close to the same quality upconversion, is less trouble-prone as a fully mature product plus is much faster responding to control inputs.

Text

$69.88 at Walmart.com w/free to store shipping.

In the retail world, ending in .88 = being discontinued.

 

[pennylane]

Does the A3 only scale to 1080i?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: fanerman91
Does the A3 only scale to 1080i?

Yes

 

[TheNinja]

Thanks everyone for the feedback so far. My primary goal is to just upconvert. However I sure wouldn't mind 300 and Transformers in full HD-DVD. That alone might be worth it .

Does anyone know how these things do at upconverting a DVD that was created from a .AVI file that started at roughly 800mb? Would there be any difference at all?

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: Captante
Its debatable ... theres no doubt that the A30 is a good quality upconverter for SD-DVD's & in fact I own one myself, however at this point if I didn't already own any HD-DVD movies I'd seriously consider going with somthing like the Pioneer DV400V-K currently on sale for $79 at BB instead. It has very close to the same quality upconversion, is less trouble-prone as a fully mature product plus is much faster responding to control inputs.

Text

$69.88 at Walmart.com w/free to store shipping.

In the retail world, ending in .88 = being discontinued.

If you don't mind waiting the week or so it'll take to arrive, even better!

 

[erwos]

I've heard the A30's boot time is a bit anemic. That alone is probably a good reason to think twice about using it for plain old DVD upscaling. If you're planning on getting some close-out HD-DVD movies, though, it's probably pretty reasonable.

 

[TheNinja]

I grabbed a boxed A30 for $140 out the door. Not a super deal but I still get the 2 movies inside, and 5 more via rebate (if they ever come). I'm going to take a 2 disc set and play the same DVD on my current player and the new one. If I can't tell a huge difference I'll just take it back. Who knows, I may catch some killer deals on HD-DVDs coming up too as all the places try to liquidate them.

 

[dainthomas]

Originally posted by: TheNinja
I grabbed a boxed A30 for $140 out the door. Not a super deal but I still get the 2 movies inside, and 5 more via rebate (if they ever come). I'm going to take a 2 disc set and play the same DVD on my current player and the new one. If I can't tell a huge difference I'll just take it back. Who knows, I may catch some killer deals on HD-DVDs coming up too as all the places try to liquidate them.

Just got an A3 from Fry's for $80. Would've gotten the A30 for $99 but they were gone. It'll work for a backup unit.