upscaling question -- ntsc/pal aspects of 720p, 1080i, 1080p

[NewDeep]

I have loads of PAL DVDs and loads of NTSC DVDs. One home theatre setup (SONY FL5D) works perfectly -- both the TV and the DVD player are multisystem autodetect -- and automatically switch to either PAL or NTSC as per the DVD being played.

The second is an HD hometheatre setup (with an LG DV626H player) in which I have an HD-ready TV and an upscaling DVD player. The TV is multisystem --setting it on auto should make it accept incoming signal in the format sent by dvd player. But the DVD player, though both PAL- and NTSC able, requires manually changing the playback to either PAL or NTSC. In both modes, it can upscale -- for PAL, it upscales to 576p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p --- and --- for NTSC, to 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p.

Q1>>> If I set this DVD player to PAL and then to 720p, is it the same setting as setting the player to NTSC and then to 720p? Will both these settings play PAL DVDs the same way? Will both these settings play NTSC DVDs the same way.

Q2>>> If I set this DVD player to PAL and then to 1080i, is it the same setting as setting the player to NTSC and then to 1080i? Will both these settings play PAL DVDs the same way? Will both these settings play NTSC DVDs the same way.

upscaling question -- ntsc/pal aspects of 720p, 1080i, 1080p

[Jim_Mcdonaugh]

Q1>>> If I set this DVD player to PAL and then to 720p, is it the same setting as setting the player to NTSC and then to 720p? Will both these settings play PAL DVDs the same way? Will both these settings play NTSC DVDs the same way.

PAL watch in PAL mode, and NTSC in NTSC mode. Period.
Watching PAL videos in NTSC (and visa versa) mode will significally reduce visual quality, plus skew the picture.
Also remember that NTSC is more reddish then PAL, so decrease COLOR setting.

It takes like 30 minutes to properly set all those video settings like Gamma, Brightness and the rest.
99.9% of people never do that. They watch with default settings which are always crap.

What Blu-Ray player you've got there?

[Nigel_Badnell]

PAL watch in PAL mode, and NTSC in NTSC mode. Period.

I agree with Jim — whoa, I think I need to go and lie down.

[NewDeep]

I agree with what both of you are saying but my question is still unanswered.

If I set my DVD player to upscale to 720p, will it treat PAL and NTSC DVDs the same way at this resolution? In other words, will this setting be now as good as "auto detect" multisystem setting?

I want to set my theatre for my elderly mom who does not want to be bothered with whether the DVD is PAL or NTSC.

[Jim_Mcdonaugh]

Your player should automatically detect and adjust accordingly.
Just set MULTI mode (it can have a different name though).

[NewDeep]

On my second hometheatre setup with an LG DV626H player -- my LG DVD player does not have autodetect -- you can either choose PAL or NTSC. There is no "auto" or "multi" etc. This is the system I want to set up as hassle free for my mother.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... gbzJc7QPCA

[Jim_Mcdonaugh]

On my second hometheatre setup with an LG DV626H player -- my LG DVD player does not have autodetect -- you can either choose PAL or NTSC. There is no "auto" or "multi" etc. This is the system I want to set up as hassle free for my mother.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... gbzJc7QPCA

Well, what region do you prefer, R1 or R2 (except Japan)? I doubt you buy R3 or R6 which are usually in NTSC.

And, yes, you have to set manually every time.
Also keep in mind, it's a very cheap player, so quality won't be great. Especially upscaling...

[NewDeep]

I have DVDs from around the world -- R1 through R5

So what you are saying is,

setting the player to PAL, and then to 720p
is different from
setting the player to for NTSC, and then to 720p
?

But why? The upscaling of both is now to 720p. Would love to understand.

[Jim_Mcdonaugh]

I have DVDs from around the world -- R1 through R5

So what you are saying is,

setting the player to PAL, and then to 720p
is different from
setting the player to for NTSC, and then to 720p
?

But why? The upscaling of both is now to 720p. Would love to understand.

Ok, I've got it. You have a 720p TV. If you gonna watch DVDs, then it's no difference.
But if you watch a DVDrip, then you should know in which system it was encoded.

[NewDeep]

Thanks Jim, but I don't think we are there yet.

(i) setting the player to PAL, and then to 720p -- will this be now playing both NTSC and PAL DVDs at 720p 50Hz

(ii) setting the player to NTSC, and then to 720p -- will this be now playing both NTSC and PAL DVDs at 720p 60Hz

Will (i) and (ii) both play PAL DVDs the same way?

[Jim_Mcdonaugh]

Thanks Jim, but I don't think we are there yet.

(i) setting the player to PAL, and then to 720p -- will this be now playing both NTSC and PAL DVDs at 720p 50Hz

(ii) setting the player to NTSC, and then to 720p -- will this be now playing both NTSC and PAL DVDs at 720p 60Hz

Will (i) and (ii) both play PAL DVDs the same way?

In PAL mode it will convert NTSC material to PAL with serious quality loss. But sure, it'll play just fine.
You can set it to PAL and never change again.

And in future, before buying hardware like a DVD player, always check its features first.
Every player I've ever tested myself, always had MULTI option. You made a bad choice choosing this model.
I suggest you return it, and get some better stuff. LG are no good anyway. Buy Marantz, or Onkyo atleast.
If you are that poor, get some Sony for Philips.

[NewDeep]

no no I am not that poor. Have top of the class home theatre setups -- the LG-setup is a standby setup for mom because LG is very easy to use. I have seen that even Sony, Samsung, and Panasonic DVD players that can upscale -- are all coming without multi/ autoselect option. You can set all these players to either PAL or NTSC!!

[Jim_Mcdonaugh]

Have top of the class home theatre setups

Hi-end setups cost atleast 200.000 US bucks (without TV, of course). And how much did you invest?

the LG-setup is a standby setup for mom because LG is very easy to use.

And Marantz/Sony aren't? I don't even sell LG anymore...

[NewDeep]

Compared to Sony, I have experienced that elderly people in India find LG easier to use. Marantz is not popular in India. My Sony FL5D + Sony KV DR TV cost me Rs. 150000 (equivalent to 2800.00 USD) in 2005 -- excellent setup -- excellent performance -- in fact I am looking to buy the main player unit of FL5D or FL7D as a spare -- would you know who would still be selling?

[Jim_Mcdonaugh]

I have experienced that elderly people in India find LG easier to use.

Well, dunno, but using a DVD player isn't performing a maintance of a nuclear reactor...
But if you believe LG is easier, then so be it. My customers aren't elderly ladies anyway.

My Sony FL5D + Sony KV DR TV cost me Rs. 150000 (equivalent to 2800.00 USD) in 2005 -- excellent setup -- excellent performance

Setups aren't my business. You buy everything separately. But if you enjoy yours, then it's fine with me.
Heh, people prefer 40$ headphones over 3000$, what can I say...

would you know who would still be selling?

In Russia such setups aren't even sold as I recall. Never seen one. So can't help you, sorry.