Ask HD Beat: DVD upconverting over component?
HD Beat reader Mark writes in with a common question:"I really have no idea who else to ask about this: Given that most of the new HD-DVD and Blu-Ray players will be at least theoretically capable of outputting an HD signal over component cables, it seems odd to me that all the upconverting DVD players only offer the upconversion over HDMI. Are there any that offer upconverting over component?
Hell, maybe they all do, and I'm just misreading the specs... but if so, I blame the specs."
If you can get high definition formats to output at 1080i or 720p via analog connectors, why not existing DVDs? One word: DRM.
Thanks to CSS, the predecessor to the AACS used on Blu-ray and HD DVD, output of protected content at higher than 480p is restricted to protected digital outputs (DVI and HDMI w/ HDCP). Otherwise they could output standard DVDs upconverted via analog, but they won't.
As we all know CSS was cracked so it may be possible to play unprotected content at higher resolutions, but the player would still have to support it. This is one of the things we touched upon previously in noting that AACS is arguably better than CSS for consumers, with or without ICT. Of course, ICT could prevent you from getting the extra resolution you paid for, instead of just enhancing what is on the disc, which your TV or an external scaler can probably do anyway.
Update: The HVD2085 reviewed here can upconvert even protected content to 1080p via anolog, as well as a couple other players (most requiring hacks). Apparently some Chinese manufacturers have gotten around the CSS restriction, but I haven't ben able to find out specifics yet.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mike S @ Jun 20th 2006 1:35PM
There are a few upconverting dvd players that will do up to 1080p over component. NueNeo is one and there are a few others as well.
NNTPgrip @ Jun 20th 2006 1:38PM
NeoDigits or Oppo - one of those or possibly both.
ChicagoOne @ Jun 20th 2006 2:00PM
my samsung does it over comp. You have to turn it on manually, though, by a hidden code.
EKiN @ Jun 20th 2006 3:16PM
my zenith DVB318 can do it too...and it was available stock that way when I got it from Amazon.com.
In fact you can switch between 480p/720p/1080i.
Neal Saferstein @ Jun 20th 2006 3:47PM
is there a list of upconverting dvd players available on the net ?
Neal Saferstein
Hector @ Jun 20th 2006 4:04PM
The xbox 360 upconverts over component cables.
BG @ Jun 20th 2006 4:15PM
ChicagoOne,
Do you have more info about that? I have a Samsung upconverting player, but my Mitsubishi big screen is older, doesn't have DVI.
Derrick @ Jun 20th 2006 4:31PM
check videohelp.com for hacks.
Jellodyne @ Jun 20th 2006 4:47PM
There is no _techincal_ reason any player capable of upconverting over HDMI couldn't do the same over component. To say CSS is the reason is stupid. DVD players decode CSS, or they wouldn't be able to play any DVDs, and they do it before any upconversion takes place. BUT to get DVD Forum certification to manufacture the hardware, your players are not permitted to upsample protected content out the component ports, and must be region locked and can't remove macrovision. For non-css encrypted DVDs you can do whatever. Obviously the chinese manufacturers are somewhat less interested in strict compliance.
Jellodyne @ Jun 20th 2006 4:48PM
*rereadeds* ...which is of course what the article said...
Dan @ Jun 20th 2006 7:48PM
I use my modded xbox 1 with XBMC to upconvert DVDs over component :)
Peter @ Jun 20th 2006 10:46PM
I am not really a tech whizz kid, on the contrary, but perhaps i can add a few things, how about upconvert
based on 2 channel stereo DTS-Connect i think its called made by ADI , Realtek, and C Media
EVD has LSI, ON2 Mpeg and i think the sacd was build in
the cd-dvd rom, SACD i have seen in HDMI cables build in. the analog / digital ba bla becomes more and more a non issue, all sorts of software, better dac's and a fight, you have never seen before.is FVD from Taiwan
not somehow interesting ?
GhostDoggy @ Jun 21st 2006 8:18AM
I think the Hollywood Propaganda Machine has been working overtime these past few years. Their claims about the piracy hole of analog is crazy. Anyone that knows anything will easily recognize the paranoia-issued fear they present is without solid ground in argument.
Anyone try to capture uncompressed 1080 or 1080P analog video (Component or RGBHV)? Anyone try to capture it AND encode it (MPEG-2/4/VC1) is real-time? Which best buy store can I run down to and get an encoder card capable of this for
Jboy001 @ Jun 21st 2006 10:06AM
the 360 does not upconvert over component
unless it was added with the latest dashboard update, last time i played a dvd on the 360 my tv changed resolutions to 480p :(
Tim @ Jul 7th 2006 2:19PM
I just got the Helios HVD2085 up-convert DVD player. I have an Optima EP716 projector and hooked the HVD2085 up to it using the composite connectors (which put out up to 1080p) to one of the VGA inputs on the projector and set it up to display at 1080i. With the movie Pearl Harbor playing on the HVD2085 the resolution is awesome, the picture is crisp and it is as good as the HD TV shows I get over the air. Then I put in the superbit DVD of Patriot, the colors, sharpness and clarity were way better than with my old JVC DVD player and just as good as the HDTV picture I get with my SIR-T150.
I have my projector back about 21 feet from the wall and the screen size is 118” x 67”. With this size screen it had better be clear.
Thanks for the great product. Now I don't have to replace my 400+ DVDs or replace my projector to get HD DVD resolution.