I'm considering the purchase of a new up converting DVD. (Can't wait for the Blueray HD wars to sort themselves out) Also don't intend to convert my current DVD collection to a new format.) The DVD player OPPO981 does not have component outputs. As well, my Yamaha rcvr does not have hdmi in puts. Can I connect the player from it's HDMI out put directly to my Samsung 46 LCD TV? What is the best way to get 5.1 sound from the player to the receiver? Thanks in advance for any advice.

simply connect to your reciever via the optical or coaxial (imo optical is prefered) digital sound outputs on the back of the oppo.

FYI you could get the Toshiba A-30 HD-DVD player for around the same price which also upscales your Standard dvd's. or for $400 get the PS3 as a Bluray player which also upscales. or get both, thats what i did, as it doesnt seem the war will end anytime soon.

Thanks Stealth. The OPPO sells here for $229 comes with a HDMI cable and can be hacked to all regions. Getting great reviews.

I'll second the HD-DVD Toshiba, but not necessarily the A-30. You didn't provide a model # for your Samsung..they do have a 720p LCD, so if you're just looking for a great up-scaling dvd player the first gen HD-A1 is selling for around a $100. Uses the same processing as the Denon up-scaling SD-DVD players, (consider the best SD players by many). Now the A1 is considered extremely slow when starting up, so my personal pic would be (at the minimum) the A2...$100 to $150. Keep in mind, both the A1 and A2 will max out at 720p/1080i. Meaning no 1080p resolution. Otherwise, and most likely, Stealth's suggestion would be the best bet.

Pioneer DV-400A $80 at most places and it up-converts to 1080P. Plus it can play files from it's USB input from an external hard drive or a USB stick. It also is hackable to be region free.

So what's the benefit of region free? Is it that it will play DVD's from all over the world? If so, what other benefits from region-free?

Dave

i think thats it dave. my feeling is this is more important to gents from o/s, so they can get any north american release. i have only ONCE come across a movie i wanted that was whatever region they are o/s, and not our own.

Region free players can also usually play back PAL to NTSC or vice versa, which can be useful for some folks.

Yes region free will allow discs to be played from any region in the world and most have the option of skipping the FBI and other warnings at the beginning of the playback.

Hey, do European Discs have Interpol warnings in fifteen languages? That'd be a program in itself!