Quote Originally Posted by Mr Peabody
The Silicon Optix chip does very good DVD playback. The 1200 has separate chips for HD and SD. You should check Amazon.com for the 1200, I bought a refurb for $266.00. The 1200 lacks the newest HD audio decoding and you will need to make sure the firmware is up to date but it's DVD playback is unrivalled in BR players. You might be able to find the CNET review of the 1200. The upscaling and where it is best done is a mystery to me and all I can say is one just has to experiment. I can say that the 1200's I have look excellent in both HD and SD with my Sony tube and Toshiba DLP.

The only chip I'd say be weary of, and this is only for DVD playback, is the Sigma Design. Reviews of all current machines show the Sigma fails many DVD video tests on test discs. The Sigma is a single chip used now that does both HD and SD. The Sigma seems to do very well on BR discs but one reviewer when talking about the DVD playback said, "I've seen better pictures on a sub $99.00 DVD player".

Sir T and I have been debating this DVD playback thing, I maintain BR players should still do good DVD playback, while ST says it's not necessary and ain't going to happen anymore. So are you willing to buy a $399.00 or so BR player and buy a separate DVD player like the Oppo to get good DVD playback? Another consideration for me and I'd think others as well is simple shelf space. In today's multi-media world space is important. I just don't understand why it's such a problem to go back to good DVD playback.

Afraid you're tilting at a windmill.
It seems that the industry has already decided the issue.
it may seem wrong headed now, but a few years down the road, when everything
is blu and dvd has taken the place of other obsolete formats you will wonder what you were fussing about.
I HAVE A CLOSET full of laserdiscs, some costing upwards of 60 bucks each,
thought once that one of those cheap players off of ebay might allow me to enjoy them some, but finally decided to say bye to that format.
Someday my DVD collection will be parked next to it, just a matter of time.
Remember the "HQ" improvements in VCR'S that came out a few years after the vcr came out?
They were incorporated into the format quite seamlessly.
Seems like blu will be the same way, incorporated into the dvd format .
Or maybe be like SVHS, ignored completely.