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Do I really need HD Upconverting in a DVD Player?

kds1

kds1

Suspended
Original poster
Feb 17, 2013
820
324
New York, New York
Looking to purchase an inexpensive DVD player. I've got two choices: one with HD "Upconverting" with an HDMI output and one standard DVD player with component video output. The one with the HDMI and upconverting is $15.00 more in price. Do I really need this? Is it really an advantage?
 
Up converting is a useless feature since almost all TVs will work with the lower DVD resolution. More important is the output type. What suits the rest of your system best, HDMI or component?

Why not spend the extra $15 for a Bluray player?
 
mgipe said:
Up converting is a useless feature since almost all TVs will work with the lower DVD resolution. More important is the output type. What suits the rest of your system best, HDMI or component?

Why not spend the extra $15 for a Bluray player?
Click to expand...

I'm looking to get the DVD player only because I have some DVD's and nothing to play them on, and I won't use it very often. Otherwise, I rent or buy movies through iTunes, or watch Netflix. For me it's all about convenience, so iTunes purchases and rentals to play on my AppleTV is okay with me (I mostly watch foreign and independent cinema, not big special effects movies). I've thought about a Blu-Ray player, but honestly think it would be a waste for me.

HDMI would give a better picture quality then component, wouldn't it? Or since it is SD DVD it wouldn't matter? I read somewhere that upconverting can actually make the picture look worse in some fashion?
 
kds1 said:
I'm looking to get the DVD player only because I have some DVD's and nothing to play them on, and I won't use it very often. Otherwise, I rent or buy movies through iTunes, or watch Netflix. For me it's all about convenience, so iTunes purchases and rentals to play on my AppleTV is okay with me (I mostly watch foreign and independent cinema, not big special effects movies). I've thought about a Blu-Ray player, but honestly think it would be a waste for me.

HDMI would give a better picture quality then component, wouldn't it? Or since it is SD DVD it wouldn't matter? I read somewhere that upconverting can actually make the picture look worse in some fashion?
Click to expand...

Forget the DVD player and just rip your DVDs and load it in itunes to watch on your Apple TV.
 
If you have an Hdtv, just spend a little extra and get a blu ray player. It doesn't matter what type of movie you watch everything looks and sounds much better. Even if you don't think you'll use it much it just doesn't make much sense to spend money in 2014 on Dvd only player. If you still don't want to then get the hdmi DVD player solely for the connectivity ease and compatibility. Some receivers don't even have component anymore. In regards to quality of dvd material component or hdmi are equal. In regard to upconverting, the picture gets upconverted by either the player or your tv. Picture quality just depends on which does it better. A low end DVD player probably will not do any better than a modern hdtv.
 
kds1 said:
I'm looking to get the DVD player only because I have some DVD's and nothing to play them on, and I won't use it very often.
Click to expand...

Like 2010mini says - forget the DVD player. Use Handbrake to rip them, then IDentify or similar to plug the metadata onto the file & import to iTunes. You'll never need the physical discs again.
 
Thanks all for your input and knowledge. I have a couple ripped movies from DVD's I own in my iTunes library, but the computer I am currently using isn't really up to par for that job (I desperately need a new Mac) so, I ended up buying a brand new Toshiba Blu-Ray player for $49.99.

Thanks again!
 
you can buy a 3D smart blu ray player for $100 or less now
why bother with DVD player?

in my experience you rarely notice the difference with anything that's upconverted
 
kds1 said:
Do I really need this? Is it really an advantage?
Click to expand...
Depends on how good the upconversion is. Some devices do better than others. If your HD set does a better job of upconverting then there would be no advantage.
 
kds1 said:
Looking to purchase an inexpensive DVD player. I've got two choices: one with HD "Upconverting" with an HDMI output and one standard DVD player with component video output. The one with the HDMI and upconverting is $15.00 more in price. Do I really need this? Is it really an advantage?
Click to expand...
At this point, I'd go with the BluRay/HDMI model. HDMI cabling costs less then component cabling and not all TVs have component in.

Another advantage of the BluRay model even if you don't buy normally buy disks is that you now have the option of borrowing a disc from the library or a friend. And you might find a movie you really like in the under $10 bin that some stores have.
 
kds1 said:
Thanks all for your input and knowledge. I have a couple ripped movies from DVD's I own in my iTunes library, but the computer I am currently using isn't really up to par for that job (I desperately need a new Mac) so, I ended up buying a brand new Toshiba Blu-Ray player for $49.99.

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

I guess everyone over looked this post :)
 
With a bunch of good movies in the $7.99 bin at Best Buy, I see those movies as amazing deals. Until Apple can at least increase the video bit rate to avoid some artifacts, my 115" screen will only be graced with great blu-rays.

Yeah before some people harp, I know I'm an exception. That said, I do have my home theater wired to boot up properly and all I have to do is just put the disc in.

A blu-ray player will do everything you need. Heck I've started using Netflix on my blu-ray player more than my AppleTV. I watch a lot of TV in streaks, so doesn't hurt that it has auto play built in.
 
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