Denon are good, but can they make your existing DVDs better than HD?

"Denon have continued to push "old" technology by releasing two new DVD players with upscaling technology that they claim can provide a picture as good as, if not better than, high-def format.

The DVD-2930 and DVD-3930 apparently use technology first used on CRUISE missile guidance systems to improve the image quality. Denon are definitely keen to squeeze as much out of the existing format as possible before becoming embroiled in next-gen fighting.

It's good to see a company pushing technology where other manufacturers have accelerated onto new formats, but I'm a little sceptical that quality can be improved to beyond HD quality. It does depend on what the benchmarks are. Taking a DVD in Enhanced Definition and upscaling to a point at better quality than a 720p signal is most believable. I'm not sure I can see it being better than a true 1080p movie, but the fact is that the players and content are only just getting to 1080p.

These are no budget machines, though, coming in at £650 and £1100 respectively, but if you're a videophile with a large DVD collection it could be a decent investment. Available in September."

http://www.hdtvuk.tv/dvd_players/index.html


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Whoa, what is this all about? If this is true then it is certainly not good news for either HD-DVD or BD. I would have to see this to believe it as I dont see how you can make something that isn't there look better than something thing that is there in reference to detail which is what this is claiming to be able to do. Its like upscaling a photograph in photoshop, you can upscale all day long but it will never be as good as a proper scan at the appropriate resolution. I will be very interested in seeing what this thing can do. Has anyone heard anything about these players?

I can see some definite improvements being made in upscaling technology which obviously these machines have made but again it is just impossible to create detail that isn't there to begin with and the SD DVD transfers just dont have the detail in the transfer that the HD versions do. Its not like the detail is on the DVD disc but its unable to somehow bring that out on regular DVDs and TV's. Denon is not one for false advertising and they are as competent of a A/V company as you can really get but again what they are claiming is simply not possible.

PS...

It's just Denon's way of justifying charging $3,500 for a feature that the Toshiba offers for $500.

The 1930 is about $350, from what I have read the 2930 is not much better.

Sorry people, but if you start with less information, there is not possible way you can get a better picture. You can enhance it all you want, but you still have less detail because there is less information. I am not saying they will not churn out a great picture but saying it is better than HD-DVD or BD is BS. Now if they would put this much effort into a BD or HD-DVD player, think of what they could do.

Denon is lying.

I love my 2910, but you can't make a 480i image look as good as a 1080p image.
Denon is the best upscalling player I have seen, but it can not match true HD discs.

Taking a page out of the Sony playbook.

But yeah, as others have said, this is complete crap.

In other news, Denon's automotive unit just put out a new line of muffler fluid that only needs to be changed every 3000 miles.

While Denon is using better scalers than anyone else, and some that were only found in $70K scalers once upon a time, this is really just hyperbole. But that comment about DVD being ED is an outright lie, that is the egregious part of the article. Although I suppose that was just meaningless commentary from the article author, not Denon's comments. Maybe he doesn't understand it.