Should I return my recently purchased HD DVD player and buy a much cheaper DVD upconverter instead?

best dvd players under 100 image

Nick K

Is it worth the money to keep the HD DVD player? Doesn't it do the same function as an upconverter? Please correct me if I am wrong and tell me why it is so much better to have the HD DVD player.

Answer
Depends what you paid for it (and assumes you CAN return it) and what matters to you.

First, consider whether you can really benefit from HD DVD (or Blu-ray which gives identical audio and video quality). Basically you need a moderate to large HDTV .. say 40" or so and preferably 1080p. You also need to watch from a suitable distance (say, 1.5 - 3X screen size. lower number if a 1080p and higher if 720p). You also need an HDMI connection.

As an aside, I have an HD DVD player and don't find a sufficient improvement from HD disks to justify buying them, but I have kept the player for reasons that may become evident as you read on.

There are relatively few HD DVD disks (under 400, and Blu-ray is about the same), and many movies are not available on HD DVD. Disks are more expensive than DVD and previewed disks (i.e. cheap) are not (yet) available. So -- unless you shoot yourself in the foot and refuse to watch a movie unless it is in HD -- you will be watching lots of DVDs even if you have an HD disk player (either or both formats).

An HDTV will deinterlace (if required) and upscale an incoming 480i or 480p DVD video signal. However, some HDTVs don't do a very good job. Enter upscaling DVD players ... which may do a better job. But, only a good upconverting DVD player is worthwhile. Cheap models (certainly anything under at least $100-$125) just won't beat the video processing in most HDTVs (See the article at the link for a discussion).

HD DVD players (and Blu-ray) make good upconverting DVD players, and depending on what you paid it may be the most cost-effective way to improve the picture on all those DVDs you will still be watching for some time to come (years).

You can test this by comparing a DVD on your HD DVD player and on your present DVD player. Is the picture sufficiently improved on the HD DVD player to perceive a benefit?

If you can benefit from an upconverting DVD player, and the HD DVD player you have is about (or maybe slightly higher than) the price of a good upconverting (non-HD) DVD player (e.g. Oppo 981, $229) consider keeping it. It may help to consider the HD DVD player not as an HD DVD player per se, but as an upconverting DVD player that also plays HD DVDs.

So ... there are some factors to consider. Hope they help.

Would you please recommend me a DVD player comparable to the one I owned?

JS

Hello. I owned the following DVD player for several years: Apex digital progressive scan DVD/CD/MP3 player. Model AD-1165. It recently broke. Could you recommend something in the same price range (could be a little more expensive), with the same, if not greater functionality, that is more durable? Thank you.

Answer
Most manufacturer have stopped producing stand alone DVD players. Due to the Blu Ray disc player can also play the DVD movie. The best brand to get is Panasonic, they are the most reliable player in the market today. I own a first generation player from Panasonic model BD-10 which is over 4 years old and have played over 300 blu ray disc movies without one problem. The cost of the blu ray disc player have dropped. You can now purchase a blu ray disc player for under $100. Hope this will help you out.

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Title Post: Should I return my recently purchased HD DVD player and buy a much cheaper DVD upconverter instead?
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