You might want to consider that, these days, nearly all of the most recent generation of quality DVD players (which, as far as I'm concerned, includes those approaching $1k and above) will be built with progressive scan. In order to get a good one without progressive scan, you'll have to get last generation technology (such as the formerly reference-grade Pioneers).
My question is whether the newer DVD players are better than the older ones, ignoring the progressive option. For example, I've got my eye on a TV with internal progressive scan that is a lot of trouble to bypass. So, I figure, don't need progressive output on the DVD player. In the end, it comes down to the Pioneer Elite DV-37 (latest generation, progressive) or the DV-09 (last generation, formerly reference level, non-progressive). Both can be had for about the same price (new v. used). In the end I went with the DV-37 (which has switchable progressive output from the component video outs, so user's choice). I did anguish over this choice, though. Is the DV-09 (at less than half of original list price) a better machine than the DV-37 new (at the same price as a used DV-09)? In other words, are the older ones a huge bargain because they don't have progressive scan or are they in some way inferior to the new ones for more reasons than their progressive capabilities? (anyone who can make sense of this question deserves a prize -- the cold medication has gutted my ability to form coherent thoughts. mil disculpas.)
My question is whether the newer DVD players are better than the older ones, ignoring the progressive option. For example, I've got my eye on a TV with internal progressive scan that is a lot of trouble to bypass. So, I figure, don't need progressive output on the DVD player. In the end, it comes down to the Pioneer Elite DV-37 (latest generation, progressive) or the DV-09 (last generation, formerly reference level, non-progressive). Both can be had for about the same price (new v. used). In the end I went with the DV-37 (which has switchable progressive output from the component video outs, so user's choice). I did anguish over this choice, though. Is the DV-09 (at less than half of original list price) a better machine than the DV-37 new (at the same price as a used DV-09)? In other words, are the older ones a huge bargain because they don't have progressive scan or are they in some way inferior to the new ones for more reasons than their progressive capabilities? (anyone who can make sense of this question deserves a prize -- the cold medication has gutted my ability to form coherent thoughts. mil disculpas.)