Benefits of Progressive Scan w/ Anamorphic Squeeze Sony Wega?

[Moogz]

I'm about to buy a new DVD player to replace my old Pioneer DV-414 I got back in 1998 (my first player... I'll be sad to see it go, but its lack of being able to play SVCDs, as well as the fact that it's just getting old, are causing me to want a new one). I'm going to buy a Pioneer no matter what anyone says, for a number of reasons, so if you're going to spend your post saying "Don't buy a Pioneer, get this instead", you're wasting your time :) Anyways, I'm looking at the Pioneer DV-444 right now, which has Progressive Scan Output, and the DV-440, which seems to have no difference from the 444 model other than being black instead of silver and not having Progressive Scan Output. My question is, with my Anamorphic Squeeze function on my 36" Sony Wega, am I going to see a noticable difference in picture quality? The price difference between these two systems is $150 - the question I pose to those who use Progressive Scan players today is, should I spend the extra money now, if I plan on buying a new player 3 years down the line when I move into my house at Law School and invest in a widescreen TV? Or will I really notice that much of a difference when using a Progressive Scan Output player on a 36" Sony Wega w/ Anamorphic Squeeze?

Links to the players mentioned above:
DV-440 ($299) -http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/Pioneer/CDA/HomeProducts/HomeProductDetails/0,1422,2390,00.html

DV-444 ($449) -
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/Pioneer/CDA/HomeProducts/HomeProductDetails/0,1422,2349,00.html

Thanks for all the help, I really appreciate the assistance!

[Moogz]

Sorry I didn't search earlier -- I just found a thread noting that the only Sony Wegas that can take advantage of Progressive Scan are the XBR's with Progressive Input.

Now, I'm guessing it wouldn't be worth my money to get a line doubler in addition to a new player that's $150 more expensive just to get Progressive Scan, but I'm wondering... If I do have the necessary extra $300 or so to blow on it, is it worth it? Does anyone with a 36" XBR or a 36" Wega w/ Line Doubler & Progressive Scan DVD player have any comments on how much more impressive the picture can be on that style television?

Thanks again!

[ckolchak]

1) one of the pioneer models they advertised as prog scan ( the 434 last year), was by far the WORST progressive player i tried (out of about 5 different brands). the progressive function on that player, some have said, wasn't even true progressive. i believe they may have been right.
check to see if this isn't just this years model of the 434.
i know pioneer made some decent ones, but those were quite a bit more money.
if this is their base model prog scan player- STAY AWAY. or if you still must have pioneer, just go for the interlaced one.
2) i believe your display might have a function in the service menu that can 'force' the anamorphic function.
i have a wega and i also thought i needed to upgrade to the xbr line to get this. many people have told me otherwise.
i don't have a dvd player hooked up to this set anymore, so i never bothered to see if they were right or not.
3) on my old RP, using the anamorphic function was what really made the picture silky smooth.
progressive is definitely a step up from interlaced, and anamorphic + progressive was a smaller step up from that.
4) if your display isn't digital, you can't use a progressive player and get the progressive benefit from it.

36" might not make a big difference either way.
i used a toshiba 2109 with great results on my 32" wega. it was only when stepping up to a 53" HS10 and finally a front projector where progressive scan wasn't an option , but a necessity.

[Moogz]

Thanks for the information and advice; you've been more help than you can imagine, ckolchak!

[mdX]

Moogz,

if you don't have an XBR wega (which it appears you don't) you can't get progressive scan, because the TV is unable to acccept it.

so, since you said you are only buying pioneer, get the 440. the 444 is just a rehash of last year's disaster the 434, which was completely worthless as a progressive scan player.

if you change your mind on pioneer, let me recommend the JVC S500bk. I was going to get another pioneer to replace my old 343 (which I gave to a friend), but then I saw the JVC, which has the following advantages over the 440:

-better MP3 interface
-progressive scan
-scaling of non-anamorphic LBX discs (this stretches letterboxed discs so you can take advantage of the 16x9 mode on your Wega)
-no chroma bug

the S500bk also plays VCDs and SVCDs flawlessly, which seemed to be important to you

whatever you do, do NOT buy the 444...because all you're getting is a $150 more expensive 440

[JadeTiger]

Hi,
This is my 2cents. We have a 32 inch WEGA tv.
We just bought the Pioneer DV440 this week, it looks great.

You may want to shop around for a better price. The price we paid for the Pioneer DV440 was $150 at Ultimate Electronics (this week). It is in their add this week, however the price on the shelf doesn't reflect the sale price so you have to ask for the sale price.

Hope this helps.

[zargon]

It use to be that XBR's were the only one to be HD/prog scan, but there are some non XBR models that support HD/prog scan. As you have learned, though... anamorphic squeeze has nothing to go with prog scan, but it will sharpen the picture up.

Pioneer players are some solid players, they handle just about anything thrown at them.

If you want the best prog scan player in that price range though, nothing can beat the Panasonic RP56. It uses the faroudja sage chip and you can't beat it for prog scan players near that price range. It may not handle SVCD and what not, but if you are looking for a solid prog scan player, it is the ONLY player to get.

[jflynn]

I do not think a line doubler will be usable by a non-progressive TV, i.e. a TV that cannot accept 480p. A line doubler essentially makes an interlaced signal into a progressive one if I recall correctly.