Hook Up DVD Player to a Flat Screen PC Monitor?

Is it possible to hook up a stand alone dvd player to a flat screen pc
monitor? I notice the plug end which goes into the pc from the monitor
is the typical squarish, multi pinned type. Is there an adaptor out
there which will fit on this end and then input into the typical round
yellow video jack on most dvd players, vcrs and tvs? I ask, because I
created a vcd of a friend's vacation photos and tried playing the video
cd for them on their dvd player (which also plays vcd's). However, I
found the picture quality, though full screen and inputting into their
decent quality Sony 20" TV, to be much, much poorer than when I watched
the photos full screen on my flat screen pc monitor at home (which
unfortunately is attached to a pc tower which I don't want to lug over
to my friend's pc-less place.) OTOH, my small, flat screen Ben-Q
monitor I could easily transport if I could get a hookup for it to
attach to a dvd player. Thanks for any advice.

weft2

weft2 wrote:
> Is it possible to hook up a stand alone dvd player to a flat screen pc
> monitor? I notice the plug end which goes into the pc from the monitor
> is the typical squarish, multi pinned type. Is there an adaptor out
> there which will fit on this end and then input into the typical round
> yellow video jack on most dvd players, vcrs and tvs? I ask, because I
> created a vcd of a friend's vacation photos and tried playing the video
> cd for them on their dvd player (which also plays vcd's). However, I
> found the picture quality, though full screen and inputting into their
> decent quality Sony 20" TV, to be much, much poorer than when I watched
> the photos full screen on my flat screen pc monitor at home (which
> unfortunately is attached to a pc tower which I don't want to lug over
> to my friend's pc-less place.) OTOH, my small, flat screen Ben-Q
> monitor I could easily transport if I could get a hookup for it to
> attach to a dvd player. Thanks for any advice.
>
Most monitors have at least one of the following: VGA (15 pin usu. blue
cable), and DVI (pin number varies by type). Ideally, their DVD player
has the same (or a compatible) DVI interface (for a list:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVI). If their DVD player has VGA out,
that will probably be the easiest (no need to worry about
compatibility). Some monitors also offer composite (yellow cable),
S-Video (4 pin cable), or Component (red, blue, green) in, but chances
are the monitor won't display in a higher resolution with those inputs
(the exception being component).

Nicholas Andrade

"Nicholas Andrade" <> wrote in message
news:dHvFf.52108$ om...
> weft2 wrote:
>> Is it possible to hook up a stand alone dvd player to a flat screen pc
>> monitor? I notice the plug end which goes into the pc from the monitor
>> is the typical squarish, multi pinned type. Is there an adaptor out
>> there which will fit on this end and then input into the typical round
>> yellow video jack on most dvd players, vcrs and tvs? I ask, because I
>> created a vcd of a friend's vacation photos and tried playing the video
>> cd for them on their dvd player (which also plays vcd's). However, I
>> found the picture quality, though full screen and inputting into their
>> decent quality Sony 20" TV, to be much, much poorer than when I watched
>> the photos full screen on my flat screen pc monitor at home (which
>> unfortunately is attached to a pc tower which I don't want to lug over
>> to my friend's pc-less place.) OTOH, my small, flat screen Ben-Q
>> monitor I could easily transport if I could get a hookup for it to
>> attach to a dvd player. Thanks for any advice.
>>
> Most monitors have at least one of the following: VGA (15 pin usu. blue
> cable), and DVI (pin number varies by type). Ideally, their DVD player
> has the same (or a compatible) DVI interface (for a list:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVI). If their DVD player has VGA out, that
> will probably be the easiest (no need to worry about compatibility). Some
> monitors also offer composite (yellow cable), S-Video (4 pin cable), or
> Component (red, blue, green) in, but chances are the monitor won't display
> in a higher resolution with those inputs (the exception being component).

But the vast majority of monitors have only a VGA input (as the OP
describes), and the vast majority of DVD players have only analog video
outputs (component, s-video, composite). So the likelihood is that the OP
will need a scan converter to accomplish his hookup, which means spending
$60 or more and not getting very good results.

The reason for the difference in photo quality the OP noticed is because the
video resolution of a VCD (640x480 maximum) is far lower than that of the
original PC display and display card (at least 1024x768, probably much
higher). Plus, the change in pixel shape converting to NTSC usually makes
photos look like crap unless you (or your software) compensates for it.

RichC

Rich Clark

On 5 Feb 2006 14:23:16 -0800, "weft2" <> Gave us:

>Is it possible to hook up a stand alone dvd player to a flat screen pc
>monitor? I notice the plug end which goes into the pc from the monitor
>is the typical squarish, multi pinned type. Is there an adaptor out
>there which will fit on this end and then input into the typical round
>yellow video jack on most dvd players, vcrs and tvs? I ask, because I
>created a vcd of a friend's vacation photos and tried playing the video
>cd for them on their dvd player (which also plays vcd's). However, I
>found the picture quality, though full screen and inputting into their
>decent quality Sony 20" TV, to be much, much poorer than when I watched
>the photos full screen on my flat screen pc monitor at home (which
>unfortunately is attached to a pc tower which I don't want to lug over
>to my friend's pc-less place.) OTOH, my small, flat screen Ben-Q
>monitor I could easily transport if I could get a hookup for it to
>attach to a dvd player. Thanks for any advice.


Purchase the ViewSonic video processor. It even accepts progressive
scan input, and pipes it to your PC monitor. It also has a cable
tuner in it!

http://www.viewsonic.com/products/tv...deoprocessors/

Roy L. Fuchs

On Sun, 5 Feb 2006 20:28:39 -0500, "Rich Clark"
<> Gave us:

>
>"Nicholas Andrade" <> wrote in message
>news:dHvFf.52108$. com...
>> weft2 wrote:
>>> Is it possible to hook up a stand alone dvd player to a flat screen pc
>>> monitor? I notice the plug end which goes into the pc from the monitor
>>> is the typical squarish, multi pinned type. Is there an adaptor out
>>> there which will fit on this end and then input into the typical round
>>> yellow video jack on most dvd players, vcrs and tvs? I ask, because I
>>> created a vcd of a friend's vacation photos and tried playing the video
>>> cd for them on their dvd player (which also plays vcd's). However, I
>>> found the picture quality, though full screen and inputting into their
>>> decent quality Sony 20" TV, to be much, much poorer than when I watched
>>> the photos full screen on my flat screen pc monitor at home (which
>>> unfortunately is attached to a pc tower which I don't want to lug over
>>> to my friend's pc-less place.) OTOH, my small, flat screen Ben-Q
>>> monitor I could easily transport if I could get a hookup for it to
>>> attach to a dvd player. Thanks for any advice.
>>>
>> Most monitors have at least one of the following: VGA (15 pin usu. blue
>> cable), and DVI (pin number varies by type). Ideally, their DVD player
>> has the same (or a compatible) DVI interface (for a list:
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVI). If their DVD player has VGA out, that
>> will probably be the easiest (no need to worry about compatibility). Some
>> monitors also offer composite (yellow cable), S-Video (4 pin cable), or
>> Component (red, blue, green) in, but chances are the monitor won't display
>> in a higher resolution with those inputs (the exception being component).
>
>But the vast majority of monitors have only a VGA input (as the OP
>describes), and the vast majority of DVD players have only analog video
>outputs (component, s-video, composite). So the likelihood is that the OP
>will need a scan converter to accomplish his hookup, which means spending
>$60 or more and not getting very good results.

There are plenty of VERY GOOD video processors out there.

http://www.viewsonic.com/products/tv...deoprocessors/
>
>The reason for the difference in photo quality the OP noticed is because the
>video resolution of a VCD (640x480 maximum) is far lower than that of the
>original PC display and display card (at least 1024x768, probably much
>higher). Plus, the change in pixel shape converting to NTSC usually makes
>photos look like crap unless you (or your software) compensates for it.


Hahahaha... this makes no sense. Pixel shape? Sure.... OK.

Roy L. Fuchs

"Roy L. Fuchs" <> wrote in message
news:...
> There are plenty of VERY GOOD video processors out there.

None of which can make NTSC video look like a computer display.

> Hahahaha... this makes no sense. Pixel shape? Sure.... OK.

Analog video has rectangular pixels. Computer displays have square pixels.
"Pixel shape." Get it?

RichC

Rich Clark

On Sun, 5 Feb 2006 21:56:17 -0500, "Rich Clark"
<> Gave us:

>
>"Roy L. Fuchs" <> wrote in message
>news:.. .
>> There are plenty of VERY GOOD video processors out there.
>
>None of which can make NTSC video look like a computer display.

Bullshit. They are up to NS-5 now, and even my NS-2 puts out NTSC as
well as HDTV inputs to my PC monitor at 1280x1024 just fine.
Flawlessly in fact.
>
>> Hahahaha... this makes no sense. Pixel shape? Sure.... OK.
>
>Analog video has rectangular pixels. Computer displays have square pixels.
>"Pixel shape." Get it?

Yes, except it has nothing to do with signal content. The pixels
are fired by the electron gun and managed by the shadow mask, or
aperture grill(e).
Period.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aperture_grille
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_mask

You are outside your realm of knowledge apparently, or you are making
something more complex than it is. Either way, your opinion seems to
be tainted by an experience with OLD technology.

Do you have a cite that describes anything about the signal managing
pixel shape? No, you cannot. Why? They manage scan lines and scan
line count... period. The signal content has NOTHING to do with pixel
shape.

You should refrain from making remarks based on a very old
technology with which you are familiar with, ie "scan converters". It
is not related to the modern version. Also, your knowledge of the
subject itself seems outdated. Reminds me of the old video cards that
could not put out to an HDTV monitor, despite having a DVI output.
You claim scan converters suck because you haven't even looked at one
since the crappy version you apparently experienced some years ago.
You need to look at them again, because they are fairly flawless these
days.

The viewsonic device I have here is MADE to put out to a VGA
monitor. It accepts several forms of input up to and including
progressive scan HDTV signaling. It converts them all just fine, and
does so quite precisely. It even has a cable tuner in it, so I think
it handles NTSC just fine.

Try again.

Roy L. Fuchs

"Roy L. Fuchs" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On Sun, 5 Feb 2006 21:56:17 -0500, "Rich Clark"
> <> Gave us:
>
>>
>>"Roy L. Fuchs" <> wrote in message
>>news:. ..
>>> There are plenty of VERY GOOD video processors out there.
>>
>>None of which can make NTSC video look like a computer display.
>
> Bullshit. They are up to NS-5 now, and even my NS-2 puts out NTSC as
> well as HDTV inputs to my PC monitor at 1280x1024 just fine.
> Flawlessly in fact.

The OP's source is a VCD. Nothing a scan converter can do to change that.
>>
>>> Hahahaha... this makes no sense. Pixel shape? Sure.... OK.
>>
>>Analog video has rectangular pixels. Computer displays have square pixels.
>>"Pixel shape." Get it?
>
> Yes, except it has nothing to do with signal content. The pixels
> are fired by the electron gun and managed by the shadow mask, or
> aperture grill(e).
> Period.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aperture_grille
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_mask
>
> You are outside your realm of knowledge apparently, or you are making
> something more complex than it is. Either way, your opinion seems to
> be tainted by an experience with OLD technology.
>
> Do you have a cite that describes anything about the signal managing
> pixel shape? No, you cannot. Why? They manage scan lines and scan
> line count... period. The signal content has NOTHING to do with pixel
> shape.
>
> You should refrain from making remarks based on a very old
> technology with which you are familiar with, ie "scan converters". It
> is not related to the modern version. Also, your knowledge of the
> subject itself seems outdated. Reminds me of the old video cards that
> could not put out to an HDTV monitor, despite having a DVI output.
> You claim scan converters suck because you haven't even looked at one
> since the crappy version you apparently experienced some years ago.
> You need to look at them again, because they are fairly flawless these
> days.
>
> The viewsonic device I have here is MADE to put out to a VGA
> monitor. It accepts several forms of input up to and including
> progressive scan HDTV signaling. It converts them all just fine, and
> does so quite precisely. It even has a cable tuner in it, so I think
> it handles NTSC just fine.

I love you guys who spew all your advanced knowledge without trying to solve
the OP's problem. He wants to know why his VCD's look like crap on his TV,
and whether connecting his DVD player to an LCD monitor would help. It
won't, and you know it. Tell him to buy a scan converter if you want to. It
won't make his VCDs look any better than they do on an analog TV.

RichC

Rich Clark

On Mon, 6 Feb 2006 00:16:49 -0500, "Rich Clark"
<> Gave us:

>
>"Roy L. Fuchs" <> wrote in message
>news:.. .
>> On Sun, 5 Feb 2006 21:56:17 -0500, "Rich Clark"
>> <> Gave us:
>>
>>>
>>>"Roy L. Fuchs" <> wrote in message
>>>news: ...
>>>> There are plenty of VERY GOOD video processors out there.
>>>
>>>None of which can make NTSC video look like a computer display.
>>
>> Bullshit. They are up to NS-5 now, and even my NS-2 puts out NTSC as
>> well as HDTV inputs to my PC monitor at 1280x1024 just fine.
>> Flawlessly in fact.
>
>The OP's source is a VCD. Nothing a scan converter can do to change that.

That still does NOT preclude the fact that a video processor is the
best way to get DVD output onto a PC monitor.
>>>
>>>> Hahahaha... this makes no sense. Pixel shape? Sure.... OK.
>>>
>>>Analog video has rectangular pixels. Computer displays have square pixels.
>>>"Pixel shape." Get it?
>>
>> Yes, except it has nothing to do with signal content. The pixels
>> are fired by the electron gun and managed by the shadow mask, or
>> aperture grill(e).
>> Period.
>>
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aperture_grille
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_mask
>>
>> You are outside your realm of knowledge apparently, or you are making
>> something more complex than it is. Either way, your opinion seems to
>> be tainted by an experience with OLD technology.
>>
>> Do you have a cite that describes anything about the signal managing
>> pixel shape? No, you cannot. Why? They manage scan lines and scan
>> line count... period. The signal content has NOTHING to do with pixel
>> shape.
>>
>> You should refrain from making remarks based on a very old
>> technology with which you are familiar with, ie "scan converters". It
>> is not related to the modern version. Also, your knowledge of the
>> subject itself seems outdated. Reminds me of the old video cards that
>> could not put out to an HDTV monitor, despite having a DVI output.
>> You claim scan converters suck because you haven't even looked at one
>> since the crappy version you apparently experienced some years ago.
>> You need to look at them again, because they are fairly flawless these
>> days.
>>
>> The viewsonic device I have here is MADE to put out to a VGA
>> monitor. It accepts several forms of input up to and including
>> progressive scan HDTV signaling. It converts them all just fine, and
>> does so quite precisely. It even has a cable tuner in it, so I think
>> it handles NTSC just fine.
>
>I love you guys who spew all your advanced knowledge without trying to solve
>the OP's problem.

I answered the question asked in the topic quite precisely, dumbass.

> He wants to know why his VCD's look like crap on his TV,

VCDs look like crap on anything except a tiny 320x200 or 640x480
window on your PC monitor's higher res screen.

>and whether connecting his DVD player to an LCD monitor would help.

I never once said that it would.

> It
>won't, and you know it.

See above. I never said it would.

> Tell him to buy a scan converter if you want to.

That answers the question he posed in the topic header.

> It
>won't make his VCDs look any better than they do on an analog TV.

I never said it would. I also didn't notice you giving him any
links to a cite regarding lossy compression.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lossy_compression

Roy L. Fuchs

On 5 Feb 2006 14:23:16 -0800, "weft2" <> Gave us:

>Is it possible to hook up a stand alone dvd player to a flat screen pc
>monitor? I notice the plug end which goes into the pc from the monitor
>is the typical squarish, multi pinned type. Is there an adaptor out
>there which will fit on this end and then input into the typical round
>yellow video jack on most dvd players, vcrs and tvs? I ask, because I
>created a vcd of a friend's vacation photos and tried playing the video
>cd for them on their dvd player (which also plays vcd's). However, I
>found the picture quality, though full screen and inputting into their
>decent quality Sony 20" TV, to be much, much poorer than when I watched
>the photos full screen on my flat screen pc monitor at home (which
>unfortunately is attached to a pc tower which I don't want to lug over
>to my friend's pc-less place.) OTOH, my small, flat screen Ben-Q
>monitor I could easily transport if I could get a hookup for it to
>attach to a dvd player. Thanks for any advice.


You need to re-scan them at a higher resolution with a lossless
method. Look into the manner that Kodak uses as their products do not
appear the way you describe on larger TV monitors.

Roy L. Fuchs