Can any one tell me if a progressive scan dvd play

I'd recommend getting rid of the 5.1 surrounds, amps, and cables and just work on a good solid 2-channel system. Not only will you be able to more easily afford the equipment and sound you desire, but your system will sound probably even better, and your room will look better too.

Seriously, if you configure your 2-channel system with appropriate equipment and setup, you will not miss the surround sound.

2-channel for movies can easily be reproduced very well also. If the movies you are watching are good and your 2-channel system is good, your senses will already be so consumed that you'll never miss the surround affects.

Also, keep the subwoofer or upgrade it with the rest of the money you saved.

-IMO

Stehno & Rick:

1) Stehno is right on the money--I decided not to go for surround and sold my brand new Mirage MBS Bipolars. Matching my Swans's ribbon tweeter would be a feat, too. Incredible dynamics and soundstage!

2) Rick, I have your same DVD player (and a Cambridge D300SE CDP) both hooked to a Soundstream/Krell DAC-1. The DVD is under a 27" SONY WEGA. It sits on four Vibrapods which in turn are on an mdf board with Blue Tack under each corner. I have a little Rat Shack power strip with surge supressor and '30 dB noise filter'. It looks and sounds decent. Now this weekend I purchased a used 3000 W ONEAC isolation transformer with noise filtering (220V in/ 110 V out). Simply stunning! What an amazing little DVD player!
And I read Audioquest(¿?) made a power cord for those types of units! My Tice A/V Solo will eventually end up there plugging TV, DVD and my Proton 600T Preamp/Video Tuner.

Lessons:

(a) optimize what you already own.

(b) proper power conditioning will take you very far.

Regards,

Francisco

Psychic, how'd you type the '¿?'? I just did a cut and paste to put it here. I've never seen this before.

And yes 2-channel makes life much easier and better sounding too.

-John

i disagree. i have separate systems for music and home theater, and i FIRMLY believe in quality 5.1 (or 7.1) film soundtracks, as long as music remains 2 channel. the purpose of a movie soundtrack is to immerse you and make you believe you are there in the middle of everything. so, surround channels work. when you see a live concert, unless you're a musician, you don't hear guitars behind you with the bass in front and the viola slightly behind you to the left, etc. you hear it in front of you. so, 2-channel works for music.

If one has separate audio and HT, one will long for the Audio system's musical performance, unless one has a *lot* of money. No need to make one's life miserable...

As for the original question, Cambridge decided not to put the Progressive Scan feature in their DVD player. Seems it's not better than component out, according to them.

It seems it's the same with video, too. One can get an image that is technically correct with a HDTV, progressive scan, etc., but that will not look 'live'. More 'advanced' is not necessarily better....

I am very satisfied with the results I'm getting with the isolation transformer--the DVD player is delivering better picture and sound. It's like having my own portable dedicated line!