The new trend in DVD players today is upconverting DVD players that feed today's modern HDTVs and projectors a high definition image matched to the native resolution of the particular display device (normally 720p or 1080i). Because the upconversion is processed by the player in direct sequence with the MPEG decoding then passed digitally to the display device, the results can be astonishing and far better than can be achieved by using the onboard scalers used by today's HDTVs. HDTVs can either accept HD images via component, DVI, or HDMI. Older sets use component, which is analogue, and may not support the new digital input technologies (DVI and HDMI). Most new HDTVs purchased in or after the second half of 2004 have HDMI input. HDMI is basically similar to DVI in that both pass digital video signals, except that it includes additional support for sound and also a separate "info" channel which will allow for a number of uses including auto calibration between display devices and A/V sources. When it comes to upscaling DVD players, the best players for the money aren't the name brand players. It has been small firms that have driven the technology and market behind upconverting players. The three below players are our most popular upscaling players and they come from brands you might not have heard of before. All of these players are all-region and will convert PAL to NTSC, as well as NTSC to PAL and will operate on 110-220 volts. Our best selling upconverting player, and the one we recommend as the best player for most people, is the Oppo OPDV981HD. This is a DVI/HDMI only unit, so if your HDTV only supports component input, you don't want this player. The Oppo OPDV981HD uses the same Faroudja deinterlacer/scaler found in high-end Denon players costing thousands of dollars. Secrets Of Home Theater And High Fidelity rated the OPDV981HD as their highest scoring player ever (98 points out of a possible 100) using a proven test procedure involving 22 individually measured criteria. The 981HD upconverts all the way up to 1080p, but supports all standard HD resolutions such as 720p and 1080i. To top it all off, the Oppo is easy to set up, is the most reliable player we've ever sold, and is backed by the best customer support we've ever seen. It's the best bargain we know about among region free upscaling DVD players. Along with the Helios H4000 discussed below, the 981HD permits you to skip commercials, FBI warnings, etc., that other players make you sit through. This player has a HDMI output, and unlike all other mainstream DVD players, comes with a full coverage one-year warranty (as opposed to 90-days labor). The NeuNeo H4000 is probably the most versatile player we've ever carried. Not only does the H4000 output an upconverted image through component, VGA, DVI or HDMI (through a DVI to HDMI adapter), but it will upconvert all the way to 1080p. Along with the above Oppo 981HD, this player offers you the rare ability to fast forward through EVERYTHING. You will no longer be forced to sit through FBI warnings and commercials. Unfortunately the H4000 does not have 3:2 pulldown, which improves image quality. We recommend this player if you don't have a digital HDTV, and need to use the component input. The Momitsu DVD-V880dx was one of the very first upconverting players ever made. It probably allows for the most precise settings through DVI, which can potentially yield the best HD image among all three machines in this section. However, this precise setup is extremely complex and involves first hooking your display up to your computer to get the exact parameters, then plugging those numbers into the V880. This isn't required to use the player in most instances, and most of our customers do not do this. However, we tend to recommend this machine to people who are technically proficient and don't expect a "plug and play" machine. The Momitsu DVD-V880dx has the fairly unique ability to be "VCR/DVD Recorder Friendly and also does not have HDCP, which is useful if you want to hook your player up to a DVD recorder or a HD display that does not support HDCP. We also carry a complete assortment of upconverting players from major brands. In general, we feel that these players are not suited for most people. The lower end players from major brands that do upconversion are still about 50% more expensive than the players in the section above, yet generally do not offer better performance, reliability, or features. However, we do recommend, without hesitation, all Denon players if you can afford the high price. The Panasonic DVDS77S offers upconversion through HDMI. However, it does not offer PAL to NTSC conversion, so this player will not work for anyone who wants a truly universal DVD player. The Pioneer DV490 is an excellent entry level HD upconverting player from a major brand. If you want a major brand DVD player without having to spend a fortune, take a look at this model.. The Pioneer DV-79AVi ELITE is an extremely high-end player that support upconversion through HDMI. However it does not convert PAL to NTSC. It will output PAL as PAL, which makes it ideal for many people who have multi-format plasma screens. We carry both the Denon DVD-2910 and DVD-3910 models. The 2910 has been popular with our customers because of its relatively low price (for a high-end machine) and features, which include PAL to NTSC conversion. Both utilize top-of-the-line Faroudja scalers for upconversion through HDMI. The Philips DVP5140 and DVP5960 models have been extremely popular as reasonably priced name-brand region-free players.