I have recently bought a Sony KDL40W2000 LCD TV and am longing to see it operating at its full potential. I cant afford a HD DVD player (yet) so am thinking about a upscaler DVD player (Denon 1730 or 1930). Has anyone actually got one of these, or similar and are they any good?

In upscaling, you really do get what you pay for; cheap processors will deliver a performance that - in many ways - is inferior to the unsullied DVD output. As you go up the price ladder, so the picture begins to live up to the hype.

You have a very good TV set, why skimp on the DVD player? The difference between the 1730, 1930 and the 2930 will be clearly noticeable, especially in upscaled mode, on your set. So go for the best one... it will be a few years yet before HD DVD has anything like the catalogue of DVD.

I personaly have a Denon 1920 and I think the upscaling looks great. There is a difference compared to the standard progressive input via component.
If I were in your situation purchasing a Dvd player right now, an HD DVD player would be my choice. Here in Canada the 1930 is $400 and I think and you can get an HD DVD player for $600 and it upscales DVD's just as good as a 1930 from what my dealer has told me. Along with the upscaling you get the HDDVD picture and sound which just blows away DVD's.

Alan, I was under the impression that one of the main benefits of upscaling DVD players is the HDMI output, thus allowing the signal to remain in digital form through the entire chain from disc to telly, never going through a D-A/A-D conversion as it has to when going via component connectors?

Jonathan, the only real downside to HD-DVD of course is BluRay.... :)

Dunc