1080 Upconvert DVD Players

Although Blu-ray players are coming down in price, the high-definition devices are still far more expensive than a DVD player. If you are shopping for a new player you may have noticed some marked "upconvert." These players do not actually play high-definition video, but are made to improve the quality of your DVD movies. Standard DVD movies actually have a higher resolution than standard DVD players support and upconvert DVD players take advantage of the increased resolution to improve the image of the video. Two of the different upconvert formats are 1080p and 1080i.

Progressive vs. Interlaced

The "P" in the 1080p stands for "progressive," while the "I" in the 1080i stands for "interlaced." While in the interlaced format, a single video frame is actually made up of two different images. Each image is made up of every other line of resolution, so when the two frames are flashed together quickly, the picture looks like one complete image.

For example, if there are 10 lines of resolution in a single frame, the first image is made up of lines 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9, while the second image is made up of lines 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. When slowed down and you look at only one image, you can see the blank lines in between, however when the two images are flashed together quickly, this creates the illusion of a solid frame.

With the progressive format, each line of resolution appears one after another (top to bottom). This reduces the jaggedness you see on a fast-moving object such as a car or individual running.

Image Resolution

Both DVD players provide the same resolution, which is 1080 (lines of horizontal resolution). This means there is no real difference in picture quality when watching most DVD movies. You can only see the difference between the 1080p and 1080i during fast-moving images. The progressive upconvert DVD player provides a smoother image for this.

Output

Because the DVD players do not actually play high-definition content, no HDMI port is available for a video connection (true HD devices use an HDMI connection to stream video). However, the next best available connection is component cables. A component connection, although similar to the three RCA audio/video connects in shape and size, are made up of three video connection cables and two audio cables. You want a component connection on the upconvert DVD player you purchase, otherwise the image resolution decreases with either S-video or RCA connectors.

Video Frame Rate

The video frame rate is slightly different depending on what area of the world you are in, so you want to make sure your upconvert DVD player can support the movies you own. If you purchase most of your DVDs from the United States, Canada or Japan, you want a upconvert DVD player that supports the NTSC (National Television System Committee) format--24 frames per second. If you live in the rest of the world, you want a DVD player that can play the PAL (Phase Alternating Line) format--25 frames per second. Although the difference is small, one DVD player cannot play the other format. Both 1080p and 1080i DVD players are offered in both formats.

DVD Region

Find a 1080p or 1080i with a region of either 1 or 0 (if you live in the United States). A region 1 DVD plays all region-free DVDs or DVDs made in the United States, while a region 0 DVD is a region-free DVD player, meaning it can play movies from any location around the world (as long as it is in the correct NTSC or PAL format). The information regarding the region of the upconvert DVD player is printed on the side packaging.