Playing DVDs on Blu-ray player

[PackerBacker]

1080P?

Just set-up a new 47" Sony XBR LCD TV with the Sony BD player this last weekend. I'm running everything through the high-end Yamaha amp with upconverting capabilities. I've already bought 20 Blu-ray movies, but popped in my DVD of MI-III into the BD player to compare quality as the TV supposedly shows what picture quality is being broadcast.

Much to my surprise it indicated 1080P. Can't be, right? My understanding was the only way to get 1080P was by playing a Blu-Ray Disc.

Anyone have any thoughts?

[FilmmakingFiasco]

Does your Yamaha upconvert images to 1080p? If you're running the DVD through the Yamaha, this might be the output signal that goes to the TV.

[PackerBacker]

Yes, my Yamaha upconverts the signal. The manual says...

(1) Analog video to HDMI digital video up-conversion capability for monitor out.

(2) Analog video up-scaling from 480i/576i or 480p/576p to 720p or 1080i.

It doesn't say it will up convert to 1080p...but maybe it will since I have all HDMI connections. My follow-up question if that's the case is...is it necessary for me to replace my existing DVDs and upgrade to BD?

[KenThompson]

During initial setup of the BDP S1 if you set it to play on a 1080P device every time you put your machine on it will say 1080P. On my sxrd when i switch to satallite it then says 1080i. First time I used the bdp I didn't change the output and it said 1080i so what your seeing is just that the player is outputting at that rate. The dvd is being up converted and thats it.

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by PackerBacker

Yes, my Yamaha upconverts the signal. The manual says...

(1) Analog video to HDMI digital video up-conversion capability for monitor out.

(2) Analog video up-scaling from 480i/576i or 480p/576p to 720p or 1080i.

It doesn't say it will up convert to 1080p...but maybe it will since I have all HDMI connections. My follow-up question if that's the case is...is it necessary for me to replace my existing DVDs and upgrade to BD?

But of course! Every single one of them!

No no. I just kid. It's not necessary to upgrade your DVDs if you're happy with them.

But.. I think you're a little confused with what's happening.

Your DVDs are encoded with an image that has 480i x 720 pixels. They have no more info than that. When you upconvert them to 1080 x 1920, they look better because the pixilation (and interlace artifacts) of enlarging 480i x 720 to 1080 x 1920 are removed, with new interpolated pixels smoothing out the image, and maybe the sharpness control bringing back apparent edge-boundary sharpness. But your upconverted 1080 x 1920 DVD image still has the same low resolution 480 x 720 details as it always did.

With a Blu-ray, well at least one that fully uses the quality of 1080p x 1920 pixels, you'll get an image that can have up to 8 times the detail, and true edge sharpness that was not re-created by boosting the sharpness control, like for an upconverted DVD.

The bigger your screen (or the closer you sit) (and the better the transfers, of course) the better you'll see this.


So you don't really need to replace your existing DVDs collection to watch them, but you might want to if you want to see a better, clearer version, one that is closest to what you'd see on a good theater, of a movie you really like.

[PackerBacker]

Thanks for the info. I figured I was just misunderstanding it. That makes sense.

I'm just getting back up to speed on the new technology since getting this new set-up. Used to be cutting edge back in the early 90's, but let myself lapse

Absolutely had to have the Blu-ray when I saw and read about it. Love it. I will now be doing a full HD/Blu-ray set-up in my master bedroom and rec room in addition to my family room.

[dobyblue]

Doesn't that television also upconvert all signals, whether through component, RCA, S-Vid or HDMI to 1080p?