This client has a GoVideo DVD with progressive scan. An inexpensive JVC TV (AV14F703) has component inputs. When switching the little toggle on the back of the DVD to progressive, the picture blanks out. The TV manual has no mention of its capabilities one way or the other?

Is it the DVD or the TV? Does EVERY television with component in do progressive for a DVD input? My guess would be yes, but perhaps only 480p; not necessarily a higher resolution for HDTV.

Any light shed will be much appreciated.

=Tom

Sorry but no.

Compontent in does not guarentee 480p.

We sell both JVC and Panasonic analog TV's that both have component in, but they're analog, they don't do Progressive scan at all- that's why you're getting the blank screen, cause the TV doesn't know what to do with the signal you're giving it.

Wait, progressive scan = digital? I didn't think that was the case... are you sure?

It's technically still analog, but it's got a higher horizonal frequency than the vast majority of analog TV's support. Component inputs does NOT mean it'll support progressive scan, it just means it supports component 480i. If it supports progressive, it'll advertise the fact.

Usually only HDTV-ready sets do, though I think there were some older models (from Sony?) a few years ago that supported 480p but nothing else HDTV-related.

Daniel,
Analog was my understanding as well. I also understand the higher horizontal rate.

The question is why people then would go out and buy progressive scan DVD players to plug into their ordinary (albeit with component input) JVC, Sony, and other TVs.

Are they all going to flip the switch to PROGRESSIVE and get blank screens, or do they just plug it into the component input and ASSUME that it's now a great picture?

You can get $150 DVDs now with progressive. Those clients aren't going to be taking them home to their HDTV sets. Why are they buying these things then, unless they are being misled into thinking that it's a great improvement?

=Tom

Hey Tom,
I guess I don't understand your question, or point. Yes, people will go out buy a 'Progressive Scan' dvd player because that is "the best" you can buy. It's simply a matter of under-educated consumers purchasing equipment they don't need from under-educated sales people. I just had a good friend tell me his dad went out and bought new home theater equipment, including a prog. scan dvd player. I tried to get him to explain what prog. scan was and he couldn't do it. He just knew it was supposed to be better.

Brad

I had a chain store employee tell my customer that a progressive scan DVD player ment that the "DVD progressivly spun faster thus producing a better picture"

Under educated sales people!

CB1

As has been echoed in this thread, "because they're the best"... and cheap.

However, many people DON'T know that they have no use for it UNTIL they flip the switch, so at that point (after some manual reading) they probably figure that it'll provide some future upgradability, for whenever they decide to get a better TV.

According to a course I took at CEDIA, there isn't even much value to buying a progressive scan DVD player if your display has a good enough line doubler and the interlaced DVD player is fairly good.

Amen to the comment about the good line doubler in the TV

A few month's back, my boss ordered some of Pioneer's $199 prog. scan/DVD audio player(don't remember the model). when we plugged it into the cheapest Mits (WT-42311) in the store, and flipped the prog. scan on and off, we all liked it better when the TV was doing the line doubeling.

My boss' greatest line for selling a good DVD player... " ...you can go to the tire store and by a tire for $19.95, or you can get a tire for $2500.00. What's the difference? They're both round, black and go on your car, right? The difference is longevity, reliability, and performance. Not everyone is trying to race at Daytona, but most people avoid the $59 DVD...uhhh...I mean the $20 re-tread."

Getting back to the original question:

If your TV manual doesn't mention that it supports progressive scan, it probably doesn't. Any easy way to check is to look at the TV's spec sheet. Progressive scan produces 31.5Khz vs. 15.75Khz for non-progressive DVDs. If your TV's horizontal scan frequency isn't rated for 31.5Khz (or, preferably, much higher) it won't display progessive scan.

A bit off topic I know, but just wanted to add a thought to the comments about consumer (and sales staff) knowledge and the power of marketing.

When they first came out here, many people upgraded to Progressive Scan DVD players because it was the latest and greatest technology. Never mind the fact the it only works on NTSC source material, and local software is PAL.

Maybe a couple off them did it for the zone 1 stuff they brought in from the US, but not many.

Thankfully its situations like this that make it so much easier to show clients why they should be paying professionals to design their system.

Zenith makes some wonderful HD sets. They have 2, count 'em 2 component inputs. One is marked 1080i and the other is marked 480i.

This HD set will not accept a progressive scan DVD.