Nimbus

I'll be getting a new HD Ready TV in the next month or so and was looking at getting either a Blu-Ray or DVD Up-scaler to use with it, but I have a problem.

All the Blu-Ray players I've seen reviewed play great Blu-Ray, but seen mediocre at DVD up-scaling.

A dedicated DVD Up-scaler should give me a better picture for my DVD collection, but would I be wasting money since I'll want to buy a Blu-ray player at a later date?

I don't want to spend more that 200 quid, and for a dedicated up-scaler DVD player, it's got to show a better pic then I'll get out of a normal DVD player, or I may as well go with a Blu-Ray. Are there any Blu-ray players that also do good up-scaling? It's also got to play xvid/divx.

Thanks

urban

iTrader: (1)

What about a PS3?

Considered that?

I've played blue ray on there - fantastic picture - on a full HD 1080p 42" tv.

I've played normal DVD's and with upscaling its equally a superb picture.
Downloaded stuff like lost in 720p - noticible difference.

Now got sky HD

I downloaded a JAVA PS3 media server, so I can also play music through it.
I also have a home cinema kit and its conencted to the TV via an optical cable - so I also get full everything in 5.1 surround sound

Shaun

Iain Young

I use a Sony BDPS350 (around £170 from Amazon). Does an excellent job of blu-ray playback and upscales dvds very nicely. It can also be made multi region (for dvds) via a simple sequence of button presses on a remote. The picture quality, speed etc are much better than the PS3, and it's cheaper as well (the PS3 simply does not make sense if you are just going to use it for blu-ray)

JPF

iTrader: (1)

PS3 is the best bet, a very good upscaler and bluray player especially for the money and u get a cracking console too(GT5 Looks great on my plasma), bargain

JPF

iTrader: (1)

Have you used a PS3? its still one of the quickest players around.

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

'nother vote for the PS3 - the continual firmware updates have improved it again and again

JPF

iTrader: (1)

Wow just read a review on that player, looks like a bargain player if the op doesn't want to play games.

GC8

I see that the PS3 fanbois are out in force. The PS3 IS NOT a 'brilliant' Blu-Ray player!

Nimbus

PS3 looks like it's more than I want to spend at the moment (sub 200), although I agree it could do the job.

I can't see where the BDPS350 play's xvid/divx. Can anyone advise if it does?

T5OLF

iTrader: (4)

Just sold my PS3 and bought this player. It was Iain who suggested this player to me a while back. I never use my PS3 for gaming so it's a waste of money really and not the best Bluray player.

finalzero

I got the new PS3 80GB version at the weekend as I had heard good things. Previously my original 60GB version melted and the next few I got were a disaster which put me off.

After a software update I am happy with it, gives me a decent gaming machine and a Blueray Player in one.

If I had the money I would probably get a decent AV system built with a dedicated Blueray player

Wurzel

iTrader: (1)

I have a Samsung BD-P1500 Blu Ray DVD player which is 1080p

It plays divx after a firmware upgrade which is carried out over the web by the lan port on the back or via rs232

It also plays dvd movies as well as my DVD player.

Nimbus

Thanks for the comments so far. I'm sure there are lots of good Blu-ray players out there, but do any of the do good upscale of DVD and play xvid/divx and can be had for less than 200 quid?

Ant

Another Sony 350 vote picture alot better then a ps3 whcuh I sold to replace with this.

Doesn't do xvid or divx playback.

But can keep up with firmware updates with the Ethernet port on the back.

Also another reason I got just so I could get true hd and dts hd light up my amp because the ps3 encodes it to linear pcm first (samething though)

speedking

Amazon discussion is your friend. Sadly the answer is no

JPF

iTrader: (1)

? u taking the pee?...by saying something good about a ps3 makes u a fanboy?.....for my needs its a fine player and it is fast, for the op its a waist of money if they dont want to play games tho.