Where to find best region-free HDMI DVD-upscaler?

[Mermen79]

I got a Phillips one over the winter break and it works fine but the upscaler isn't very good. It 'says' it goes to 1080P but that setting looks no different from 480p setting. Compared to the PS3, my other region titles look pretty bad with the interlaced lines and bad upscaling. It's starting to annoy me a bit.

If there isn't an 'official' good region free player, is there one that can be cracked with a code? Would you recomend an HD DVD player? I would use it only for playing DVDs. They are on clearance now so I may want to take advantage of that.

I also need a player that can output PAL and NTSC (like being able to choose 60hz so it will work on my ntsc television). Thanks.

I like in REGION ONE by the way.

[Bruuce]

I hear Oppo's are really good. I am thinking of buying one when I get more money, hehe.

There are codes to make them region free. Check AVS for more info on specific models.

[Mermen79]

Originally Posted by Bruuce

I hear Oppo's are really good. I am thinking of buying one when I get more money, hehe.

There are codes to make them region free. Check AVS for more info on specific models.

That's what I seem to be finding as well... they cost a lot for a DVD player. I feel like it was such a waste for me to get the cheaper Phillips one. It does look really bad there. I can region unlock it myself? Can anyone confirm that it can handle PAL discs after I do this?

Thanks...

[Bruuce]

Originally Posted by djepic112

That's what I seem to be finding as well... they cost a lot for a DVD player. I feel like it was such a waste for me to get the cheaper Phillips one. It does look really bad there. I can region unlock it myself? Can anyone confirm that it can handle PAL discs after I do this?

Thanks...

I'm not too sure on this. I did some reading on AVS but I wasn't able to come to a conclusion.

[jomari]

oppo does an amazing job of deinterlacing, and upscaling standard definition movies into a good 1080p image.

heres the website...

http://oppodigital.com/

*edit

Forgot to mention their chart which shows which one is best for your display unit...

http://oppodigital.com/dv981hd/dv981hd_comp.html

*endedit

heres their marketing strategy...instead of talking about it, the specs say it all in the benchmarking test done by a third party...

heres a little explanation, and a hefty list on the top portion of the screen...

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volum...e-10-2000.html

*note: quite a hefty webpage, may load a bit slowly...

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/cgi-b...h&articles=all

my preferred choice is the 970, but thats been replaced by the 980. all of their dvd players can be 'hacked' into for region free viewing, and are capable of PAL as well.

pricey for an upscaling dvd player? at $169 i think its a steal for a long term investment.

the question is, do you really need one tho? most of the times, your display unit can shoot a better image using the 480i signal it recieves. it always depends on both variables. the dvd player and the display monitor. which one has a better de-interlacer.

[Mermen79]

^ thanks for the info. $169? It's over $200 on Amazon. Doesn't the player do more than just interlace though? It has some technology inside it that helps improve the upscaled image (I think).

[Bruuce]

OPPO DV-980H 1080p Up-Converting Universal DVD Player with HDMI and 7.1CH Audio

$169.99

[Mermen79]

Originally Posted by Bruuce

OPPO DV-980H 1080p Up-Converting Universal DVD Player with HDMI and 7.1CH Audio

$169.99

Thanks. I was confused with the 981. This 980 one doesn't support Film Mode Inverse 2:2 Pull Down (PAL movie). What is that? Is it going to affect the quality? I'm getting it mainly for all my PAL Region 2 titles. The 981 does offer the 2:2 pal pulldown.

[Bruuce]

I think the 981 does offer better upconversion. But the 980H is no slouch either from what I understand.

[jomari]

Originally Posted by djepic112

Thanks. I was confused with the 981. This 980 one doesn't support Film Mode Inverse 2:2 Pull Down (PAL movie). What is that? Is it going to affect the quality? I'm getting it mainly for all my PAL Region 2 titles. The 981 does offer the 2:2 pal pulldown.

the 981 does do the inverse 2:2 pulldown, and if you've got bank, im sure you can go beyond with this player.

why need an upscaling dvd player in the first place? why not shell out the money for a blu-ray player since it does upscale your standard dvds anyways. and considering their chipset is much better than an upscaler, why not drop a hundred more to get that blu-ray functionality as well?

to be honest, upscaling dvd players in this price range may seem a bit ridiculous to spend on. considering you can get a barebone blu-ray dvd player for a hundred more...

[Bruuce]

I think it will be years before Blu-ray's library of movies is the size of DVD. There are a few discs I would like that are out now on standard def DVD that will probably won't be out on Blu-ray in the immediate future. Stuff you might not be able to get in region 1. So that is why I would buy one.

[Mermen79]

Originally Posted by jomari

the 981 does do the inverse 2:2 pulldown, and if you've got bank, im sure you can go beyond with this player.

why need an upscaling dvd player in the first place? why not shell out the money for a blu-ray player since it does upscale your standard dvds anyways. and considering their chipset is much better than an upscaler, why not drop a hundred more to get that blu-ray functionality as well?

to be honest, upscaling dvd players in this price range may seem a bit ridiculous to spend on. considering you can get a barebone blu-ray dvd player for a hundred more...

I agree. Good points. I do have a blu ray player, I have a PS3. The thing is, I have tons of region 2 titles that WILL not play on the PS3. Even if it was a region free pal disc, it will not work. Even a PAL PS3 will not play the DVD's cos it won't output in 60hz.

The Oppo 81 is quite expensive. Should I just wait? Do you think the price will drop in any reasonable time? Sigh.

[jomari]

personally?

i prefer using my ps3 as a game console and rarely get to use it as a Blu-ray player.

i have a SDVD player to play standard movies. this was my favorite choice...

http://www.amazon.com/review/product...DateDescending

i love it because of its divx capabilities, and does a decent job of upscaling. its not the best out there, but hey, i saved myself $150.

is this the one you have? it can also do pal as well.

[Mermen79]

Originally Posted by jomari

personally?

i prefer using my ps3 as a game console and rarely get to use it as a Blu-ray player.

i have a SDVD player to play standard movies. this was my favorite choice...

http://www.amazon.com/review/product...DateDescending

i love it because of its divx capabilities, and does a decent job of upscaling. its not the best out there, but hey, i saved myself $150.

is this the one you have? it can also do pal as well.

Yep, that is the same one I have (it's region free though). I really don't like the upscaling on it. I compared titles with the PS3 and they looked very bad on the Phillips. Do you not agree? The image looks rather blocky to me.

So, is the recomendation to save and get the Oppo 981? Sigh, it's a lot of money for even a used one on Ebay.

[jomari]

Originally Posted by djepic112

Yep, that is the same one I have (it's region free though). I really don't like the upscaling on it. I compared titles with the PS3 and they looked very bad on the Phillips. Do you not agree? The image looks rather blocky to me.

So, is the recomendation to save and get the Oppo 981? Sigh, it's a lot of money for even a used one on Ebay.

i knew it. its not the best out there, but i also have a secondary HT room to watch 'normal stuff', with the philips in that room, and a oppo 970 in the main room.

where you located at?

[Mermen79]

Originally Posted by jomari

i knew it. its not the best out there, but i also have a secondary HT room to watch 'normal stuff', with the philips in that room, and a oppo 970 in the main room.

where you located at?

I am in Los Angeles at the moment. I'm keeping an eye on some on Ebay. Ideally I would like to pay $145 max for one. Eh...

[mojiman17]

Originally Posted by djepic112

That's what I seem to be finding as well... they cost a lot for a DVD player. I feel like it was such a waste for me to get the cheaper Phillips one. It does look really bad there. I can region unlock it myself? Can anyone confirm that it can handle PAL discs after I do this?

Thanks...

I have an 981. It plays all my PAL discs fine. All the PAL discs I have are all region so I can't test its region free. The picture actually looks really good.

[Mermen79]

Originally Posted by mojiman17

I have an 981. It plays all my PAL discs fine. All the PAL discs I have are all region so I can't test its region free. The picture actually looks really good.

Yeah? I'm happy to hear that. I actually just bought a used one on Ebay for $160shipped. Do you think I overpaid? : /

I'm excited to see my PAL discs on it. The Phillips that I have for one doesn't upconvert DVD's well and PAL films have a strange motion. It doesn't seem to convert the framerate smoothly for playback on a 60hz system.

The 981 is smooth in how it plays PAL? Does the quality look just as good as the NTSC DVD's? How would you guys compare the upconverting to the PS3's?

[jomari]

Originally Posted by djepic112

Yeah? I'm happy to hear that. I actually just bought a used one on Ebay for $160shipped. Do you think I overpaid? : /

I'm excited to see my PAL discs on it. The Phillips that I have for one doesn't upconvert DVD's well and PAL films have a strange motion. It doesn't seem to convert the framerate smoothly for playback on a 60hz system.

The 981 is smooth in how it plays PAL? Does the quality look just as good as the NTSC DVD's? How would you guys compare the upconverting to the PS3's?

sorry friend, im not sure if i can vouch for any PAL movies friend. most of my asian HK dvds are er... region coded, but i dont really check if its PAL or NTSC. then again, it dont matter too much on my end.

for $160 shipped its not a bad price. but id also double check and call up oppo for any of their refurb items. they always have some good ol B stock there. or head over to audiogon if ever. worth a shot. heres their number..

(650) 961-1118

lve always treated most of my HT gear in the first room as investments, thus not wanting to replace em in three years as a goal.

[Mermen79]

The refurb ones from Oppo are $180 plus shipping. Pretty silly cos it comes out being nearly as high as a brand new one. They refuse to negotiate prices.

My deal with the ebayer fell through. She was a stupid woman who REFUSED to post to 'unconfirmed' address. I'm a uni student and so my temp address is not linked to my address on my debit card. Anyways, she didn't want to sell it even after I sent the money.

Shame. I'm watching for a few used ones on Ebay at the moment. I actually don't want to pay more than $150 really. A lot of them are about a year old and used. That should make the value go way down...