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[Splinter]

Would I be right in assuming that the picture on the telly will only be as good as the media/resolution it's recorded to/with?
I know this is a dumb question, but since getting this lovely full HD LG LCD last year, I can only think of a handful of occasions when we've seen anything in half decent resolution.
The DirecTV satellite picture is bog standard ie crap, although I wonder if it needs realigning (the dish). HD is available here but damn expensive.
We watch a fair few films off the mini PC which is connected via VGA and DVD's with the player connected via 3 rgb cables.
For example, I've got the original LOTR film set on DVD from when it first came out, but it just doesn't look right.
Alternatively, I watched Shutter Island off the PC (3Gb file) and it looked great.
Maybe I've just answered my own question

[Wooster]

Aye mate, it's only as good as the broadcast/source resolution.
Most TV's will do a bit of processing to upscale and clean up SD images, but you need an HD source in order to get the full benefit.
Most broadcast HD is 1080i/720p, which is pretty good tbh, but it really pops at 1080p.

From a 'Yarr!' perspective, the files you should be looking for are generally in x264 format at around 8GB for decent 1080p rips.

[corroded]

Yeah, the 1080p 8gb ones I've seen in the past have been pretty decent. Amazing considering the sources are close to 25gb.

On the non yarr route, you won't be able to use Bluray with your current connections. You'll need something with HDMI or DVI (and something that supports HDCP over DVI... most GFX cards support it). PS3 upscales DVD, as does the Xbox 360 (though only via VGA I hear?) and most PC DVD softwares will upscale also. It helps get a bit more quality, but realistically I wouldn't expect much from an upscale.

[Thermalsig]

Upscaling was nice several years ago, but now it pales in comparison. One thing you might check Splint is if your TV is processing the video correctly. I know that if I turn off auto detect on my LG,  720p comes across as blocky or a little sketchy in fast moving video. My Hd cable box puts out 720p(I refuse to pay an extra 25 dollars a month for 1080p that's already on the line) and my TV does a great job of processing it, but sometimes glitches out on 1080p24fps(BD) if I leave auto detect on. I would check your tv settings.

[corroded]

You have to pay more for 1080p?

[Thermalsig]

I misquoted the price, but yes it's 15$ more. All HD is free @ 720. Part of the premium is the much larger hd for the dvr. 1080 put comes with a 1tb and the ability to stream to every room off of the dvr. I have a media server for that.. So, it's more of a bundled service.


Sent from my DROIDX

[Splinter]

Thanks for all the suggestions!
It appears I'm not feeding it enough HD stuff as I haven't actually got any
The model is this one:
http://www.lg.com/hk/tv-audio-video/television/LG-lcd-tv-32LH30FR.jsp
and it's a good TV 1080p etc.
The dvd player is a 5 year old bog standard Philips (all we could afford) which doesn't upscale or have many options at all really.
The TV doesn't have an auto detect on/off and I,m assuming therefore that it's simply built in to the TV.
I think it's time to upgrade what I feed it.

Some good articles here:
http://hometheater.about.com/od/hometheatervideobasics/qt/dvdvidupscale.htm
http://reviews.cnet.com/hdtv-resolution/
http://www.tvblink.com/index.html

Thanks once again

[Splinter]

This is weird................
Finally took the plunge and bought a modern DVD player (couldn't afford BLUray) with HDMI/USB and upscaling to HD. Pioneer DV-220KV-K.
I did some research here and elsewhere before committing myself and asked the salesman at least 5 times if it was region free. (region 4 here)
Or should I say that when I asked to see some machines, I said that it would need to be multi region as I have about 60 region 2 DVD's and he showed me this Pioneer assuring me that it was the only one there that was region free.
I vaguely remember when we bought the other one 5 years ago, the salesman saying 'don't worry about the region 4 on the box, it's only there for the authorities...' and he was right as it played all dvd's from any region.
Anyway, the odd things is that it will play some region 2 dvd's, but not all. All my dvd's are original and store bought.
I have 5 days to return the unit, but I don't understand why it plays some and not others
Naturally, I've googled for tricks, but am hanging back from tampering until i can get a definitive answer.
Another trip to the store...........................

[Jerseygirl]

I bought the Hangover 3 times on dvd and not one of them would play on the dvd in the living room (2 went back for exchanges).  Each copy played on Aileen's dvd, on the dvd in Becca's room and gave Pamela it to watch the other week there but the bloody thing refuses to play on my machine 

[Wooster]

HDMI/USB and upscaling to HD.

It's still not really HD though. 

Here's a good way to compare.
http://www.cornbread.org/FOTRCompare/index.html

Just mouse over the images to see the difference.

[BarrieB]

HDMI/USB and upscaling to HD.

It's still not really HD though. 

Here's a good way to compare.
http://www.cornbread.org/FOTRCompare/index.html

Just mouse over the images to see the difference.

Keep mousing back & forwards & watch the hobbits dance.

[Splinter]

Yeah, I know it's not HD mate, but it's streets ahead of what i was seeing on the old player.
Since I have so many dvd's in reg 2, it would be nice to watch them on this nice telly in something approaching a decent picture.
Sorry about your DVD's JG.
I'm wondering about the quality of some of these discs actually, since the new player isn't picking up the coding on all of them

Gladiator and Full Metal Jacket play OK, but not LOTR........I'm going to test all of them. It's got me puzzled.

[Wooster]

The physical media might change (the stuff the discs are coated in), so some older players might need updating to support them (never done this and it might not be possible on a lot of standalone players).
Blu-Ray players need updating occasionally as well, that was another reason I went with a PS3 since Sony will push out the updates for those no problem.

How far away from your TV is your PC?

You could have the option of fitting a blu-ray drive in that and hooking the PC up to the TV via HDMI (or DVI). Either should be good for around 7m before resorting to more expensive cables, or (as in Stevies recent post) media converters.

[Thermalsig]

The physical media might change (the stuff the discs are coated in), so some older players might need updating to support them (never done this and it might not be possible on a lot of standalone players).
Blu-Ray players need updating occasionally as well, that was another reason I went with a PS3 since Sony will push out the updates for those no problem.

How far away from your TV is your PC?

You could have the option of fitting a blu-ray drive in that and hooking the PC up to the TV via HDMI (or DVI). Either should be good for around 7m before resorting to more expensive cables, or (as in Stevies recent post) media converters.

Wow, that's a good idea. Splint's 5770 will handle it with ease, especially if you're using a surround sound receiver with hdmi in for audio. TrueHD audio is awesome. I hear stuff I never even knew was there do to the clarity of the audio with TrueHD.

[keasy]

I thought with the standard of Profile 2.0 being the norm now that it wasn't so much a worry.

Plus, I thought that early machines could still play current releases, only minus the new features that Profile 2.0 etc offers (ironically features that HD DVD offered off the bat). The FW updates are more or less in order to play new secondary features, it's more less a Java update.