Hello I have Hitachi PD425300 plasma and a Pioneer Dvd DV-575 connected with a QED Sqart 2110, but not happy with the picture quality and was thinking of getting a Marantz DV-6400 dvd player - am I making the right decision? please help

Hi Nozrul. Before you upgrade to the Marantz DV-6400, have you tried using a component connection (if the Hitachi & Pioneer have this option)? That'll almost certainly yield a better picture...

Hi Olly, thanks for that-I'll try using components connection but i'm also really tempted to get that marantz Dvd player

Don't blame you, it looks a real beauty! Have you read all the good reviews it's been getting?

I have just bought the marantz DV6400 but have not connected it yet, i've got Qed Qunex P-CV1 component or Qed AV2110 Sqart what would be the best option to get the picture from the 42" plasma?

Wow, that was quick work!! ;) I'd say the component would give you a better picture on the plasma. Have you tried comparing the picture when using scart against component?

I've just been playing with the dvd player and reckon the components connection gives a much better and sharper picture than the rgb scart connection. The dealer told me if the dvd player has components facility then it will have progressive scan too but i've gone through the manual several times and still cant find how to set the Marantz DV6400 to progressive scan - can anyone help me please?

Nozrul, I recently read a review of the DV6400 on the web (looks a really neat player :) ) and it talked about a switch on the back of the player that changes it to progressive scan mode. Maybe have a look there?...

Sorry for asking what's probably a **REALLY** obvious question (hey, i'm an AV novice!!) but how does progressive scan improve the picture? Does it refresh the screen at a faster rate or something??

Ok Dan here's a fairly detailed explanation borrowed from http://www.homecinemachoice.com

"In order to explain progressive scanning, we first need to discuss interlaced scanning. This is the usual method of displaying TV images, and was introduced in the 1930s to suit the best display technology available at the time - the cathode ray tube (CRT).

In a CRT display, a stream of electrons is generated by a gun, and is scanned across the face of the tube in scan lines, left to right and top to bottom. The face is coated in phosphors, which glow when hit by the electron stream. A method of scanning was required that would reduce the transmitted TV picture's bandwidth and work in accordance with the electricity supply frequency (50Hz in the UK and Europe and 60Hz in the US). The result was interlaced scanning.

The method involves splitting each TV frame into two parts, called 'fields'. Each field contains half of the scan lines of a frame. The first field consists of the odd lines, and the second is made up of even lines. The even lines are interlaced between the odd ones to 'fill in the gaps'. In the 50Hz PAL system, each TV frame lasts 1/25sec, with the electron gun scanning each field in 1/50sec.

Although interlaced scanning produces perfectly good pictures, there are some inherent problems with the system, many of which can be exaggerated on larger displays. The main drawbacks are visible line structure and flickering caused by rapid switching between the two fields. Another drawback is 'combing' (also called 'staggering' or 'jaggies'), which occurs during camera movement when objects are in a different position from field to field, lending them a staggered appearance.

With progressive scanning the frames are not split into two fields of odd and even lines. Instead, all of the image scan lines are drawn in one go from top to bottom. This method is sometimes referred to as 'sequential scanning' or 'non-interlaced'. The fact that frames are shown as a whole makes it similar in principle to the way film is shown at the cinema."

Hope that clears things up!

Nick, I can't find no switch on the back of the dvd player for it be on rogressive scan

Wow, cheers for that Rodney!

Hmm, well I guess you could try contacting Marantz about it? They should really have made it clearer on how to get progressive scan. Is there a phone no. in the manual or something?

Maybe the manual is available online

I've returned the marantz DV6400 cause it was faulty. Still have the pioneer 575 but I'm looking for a New Dvd player

*Must be under £550
*with the best possible picture from a components connection not bothered whether it has HDML or DVI as my plasma has not got that facility.
*I'm solely using it for DVD playback and nothing else so I don't want to pay extra for features such as SACD etc.
*Must have progressive scan

Thinking of Marantz DV6500 or Dennon 1910 or 2910

can anyone help