Get an upconverting JVC DVD player for $30
(Credit:
JVC)
If you're still watching movies on your junky old DVD player and wondering why they look so rotten on your big, fancy HDTV, here's the answer: Old DVD players don't produce enough pixels to take advantage of that high-resolution screen. Does that mean you have to junk your movie library and step up to Blu-ray? Not necessarily.
Instead, consider a stop-gap solution like the JVC XV-N650B, an upconverting DVD you can grab for just 30 bucks. Without getting overly technical about it, upconverting means the player scales the low-resolution DVD video so it looks better on HDTVs. Not Blu-ray-quality, mind you, but a marked improvement. I've tested a few upconverting players with various HDTVs, and always came away impressed with the results.
The manufacturer-recertified JVC upconverts to 1080i (don't worry if you have a 1080p set) and includes both component-video and HDMI outputs. (Make sure to get a cheap cable if you use the latter.) It also has optical/coax digital audio outputs and support for Divx video. Full specs on the XV-N650B are available on JVC's site.
Until Blu-ray players (which also upconvert) are available for a reasonable price (even the $198 Magnavox from the other day strikes me as too steep), an upconverting model like this is the way to go. It sells new for $79.95, so $30 for a refurb is a killer deal.
Rick Broida, a technology writer for nearly 20 years, is the author of more than a dozen books. In addition to writing CNET's The Cheapskate blog, he oversees BNET's Business Hacks. Rick is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CBS Interactive. Disclosure. Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers. Follow Rick on Twitter at cheapskateblog. 
I did not test this JVC model, but it probably requires HDMI for the upscaling to work.
1. When the unit is turned on, it defaults to 480p. To change to 1080i, one has to go to the unit and push a button to switch from 480 to 720 to 1080. There is no way to do this from the remote, and you cannot do it when a DVD is playing (at least that is what the directions say).
2. This unit has frequently locked up on me to the point where no buttons work, and the only solution is unplugging the unit for a few seconds. Most people don't have their equipment in a place where this is practical.
3. When a DVD is stopped, I haven't found a way to get to the DVD menu. You have to play, wait, and then press the menu button.
4. If you put a DVD in and then walk off, the unit eventually starts playing the DVD instead of stopping on the menu. This is impractical if you like to set everything up in advance, go to get snacks, then come back and press play. Normally by the time I get back the DVD has started without me.
I would not recommend the unit for the reasons stated above. A DVD player should function and function well. The annoyances are not worth the discount.
- by benjaminstraight June 12, 2008 4:21 PM PDT
- Good DVD player, recommend.
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