You are running the coax out from your DVD to your pre/pro right? Get a Panasonic RP91 ($400 used). The best picture you can buy from ANY progressive scan DVD player and DVD-Audio should you require it.
If you run the coax out to your pre/pro then the DVD is basically used as the transport for audio stuff and thus your pre/pro is responsible for how it sounds.
If you don't need DVD-Audio ability then get the Panasonic XP30 ($199 from ebay NEW). Same picture without the DVD-Audio. Check out hometheaterhifi.com for the complete DVD shootout.