upconverting DVD player

My JVC is starting to crap out, so I'm looking for a good deal on an upconverting DVD player. I don't want to go to blue-ray, so just a decent upconverting DVD player rec would be ideal.

The last standard DVD player I bought that did upconversion was an Oppo, I really like their stuff so I can recommend them. However that's been several years ago -- the last several I've bought have been HD-DVD and Blu-Ray players that also u/c standard DVD.

I'm assuming you have HDTV since you're asking about an upconverting player. If so, and your budget allows, why not get a BR? Even the cheap ones do an adequate job of upconverting DVD's, and you'll have the benefit of BR too. If you can spend $250 (sometimes less on sale) I'd recommend the Samsung BD-1600. If you can drop $60-$100 more, then I'd recommend the LG BD-390. Both will stream Netflix as well as a bunch of other stuff. I love my BD-390! It streams all of my rips from my media server too. Nice to have a huge library to choose from at your fingertips. For a bare-bones budget, Wal-Mart carries Magnavox BR players for $148, often putting them on sale $125 or so. Not state of the art but the price point is a good one for BR. OTOH you can probably get a functional u/c DVD player for $40 if you're dead-set against BR. The Oppo I mentioned will cost you as much as a BR player.

I would go blu-ray...ps3. Worth it just for the dvd upconverting

[quote51a94fa8d5="manOFice"]I would go blu-ray...ps3. Worth it just for the dvd upconverting[/quote51a94fa8d5]

You can get an Oppo for ~$90...I know the PS3 is more affordable at $300 than it was back at $600, but DVD upconversion alone does not come anywhere near justifying the price tag

Edit Adjusted price

Here's a link though

http//www.amazon.com/OPPO-OPDV971H-Digital-HD-Ready-Up-Converting/dp/B00078GLJY/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1251208790&sr=8-7[]http//www.amazon.com/OPPO-OPDV971H-Digital-HD-Ready-Up-Converting/dp/B00078GLJY/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1251208790&sr=8-7

Thanks for the advice. I do have an HDTV, the Panasonic TH-42PX75U.

I don't own any Blu-Ray discs, and for that matter, don't really plan to buy any in the near future. If I did, I would get a PS3, and especially a used slim one, once they come down in price. But, as Keith suggested, I would prefer to spend $80 now, and then maybe spend $300 on the PS3, if I decide to go that route.

Are there any specific Oppos that are recommended?

I have the 971 model that Keith linked too, however it's their original model, limited to 1080i, and has since been discontinued, so what you find is liable to be used or refurbs. Still if you only need 1080i I don't think you'll find a better u/c for $90. The current non-BR Oppo model is the 980, which sells for about $170 I think, which is the low-end of BR pricing.

Agreed on the PS3 as being one of the best BR players for the money, especially with the new price drop. I have one downstairs that I also use for BR playback, although I usually use my Toshiba HD-DVD player for u/c regular DVDs. I considered another PS3 for the bedroom, but that's where the wife watches the most TV/movies and the PS3 isn't quite as user friendly for her like a dedicated player is. Plus the LG streams Netflix natively, something the PS3 still can't do. Downstairs I have a Roku box for Netflix so it's not an issue.

Thanks - I just realized that my TV is 720P, so I suppose I don't really need 1080p. Though, buying for what I have currently seems kind of silly, as I will upgrade to a 1080p TV someday.

[quote2d09c4e1d8="doylnea"]Thanks - I just realized that my TV is 720P, so I suppose I don't really need 1080p. Though, buying for what I have currently seems kind of silly, as I will upgrade to a 1080p TV someday.[/quote2d09c4e1d8]
That's true. But when you do get a 1080p TV, with a 1080p panel you won't lose anything from a 1080i source -- they both carry exactly the same information. Modern panels will deinterlace 1080i source to 1080p, without losing anything, so it's really a non-issue.

That said, I agree that if you're going to spend 2/3 of what state-of-the-art costs anyway, then buying the latest is a better investment.

[quote2a7fe6727f="doylnea"]Thanks for the advice. I do have an HDTV, the Panasonic TH-42PX75U.

I don't own any Blu-Ray discs, and for that matter, don't really plan to buy any in the near future. If I did, I would get a PS3, and especially a used slim one, once they come down in price. But, as Keith suggested, I would prefer to spend $80 now, and then maybe spend $300 on the PS3, if I decide to go that route.

Are there any specific Oppos that are recommended?[/quote2a7fe6727f]

Heh, from ideal? I have the same one up stairs, believe me... an upconverted dvd doesn't look much better on this tv