About DVD Upconversion
DVD Upconversion is the process by which the existing video on a DVD is “upconverted” to the native resolution of your HDTV (720p, 1080i, 1080p), PC, or HTPC. The native resolution of a standard DVD is 480i (where i = interlaced, as opposed to p = progressive). The upconversion process completes the gap between 480i and 720p/1080i/1080p, using hardware known as a “video scaler” and complex software algorithms to render the final video.
So, for instance, if your High Definition Television has a native resolution of 1080p, DVD upconversion is simply the upgrading of the DVD’s native 480i resolution to your High Definition Television’s 1080p resolution. This allows the DVD to be viewed on your High Definition Television’s native resolution (this also applies to viewing DVDs on your PC or HTPC).
The quality of the DVD Upconversion varies greatly according to your hardware; everything from your HDTV (or PC/HTPC), to the upconverting player, and even the DVD itself plays a role in the final viewing experience. This site is dedicated to exploring what hardware (and what firmware) provides the highest quality DVD Upconverted viewing experience.