DVD "upconverts" -- are they ever worth it?

[Zalis116]

So, I'm always on the lookout for DVD raws for my re-releasing operation [/shameless plug]. And I've noticed what I see as a disturbing trend by raw providers of releasing "upconverts" of native 480p video encoded at 576p or 720p. Probably the most lulz-worthy example is the Infinite Ryvius 1280x720 release by Zero-Raws that not only upscales 480p -> 720p, but also changes 4:3 content to 16:9. I guess 576p isn't that bad, but 720p is pushing it, and I'd rather not damage things further by re-encoding to downscale back to 480p.

EDIT: The Zero-Raws release is actually 960x720, despite what the files say. So at least they didn't distort the AR.

 Is there ever any real advantage from doing this? If a source is 480p, I don't see how resizing it at the encoder level will add any additional details/sharpness/quality that wasn't in the source to begin with. I'd think the same results would be achieved by simply playing a 480p rip and letting the media player upscale it to the desired resolution. But I can't help thinking that maybe these raw encoders in Japan and elsewhere know something I don't, which is why I bring up the question here.

[x5ga]

Well, filtering something that has more pixels is better than filtering something that has less I have no idea whether this is the reason why they resize 480p->720p, but I can say that (at least mathematically) most filters yield better quality results if they are used on higher resolution material (or at least with more pixels).
The only problem here is that taking a crappy source, upscaling it and filtering it usually leads to a crappy thing. You have to know what you're doing.

[Aadieu]

480p >> 720p = MAYBE.

...480 >> 576?? Hellno. IMHO, 1.25x is just too crooked a multiplier, especially if you've got so little pixels to work with for filters.

[Tatsujin]

So, I'm always on the lookout for DVD raws for my re-releasing operation [/shameless plug]. And I've noticed what I see as a disturbing trend by raw providers of releasing "upconverts" of native 480p video encoded at 576p or 720p. Probably the most lulz-worthy example is the Infinite Ryvius 1280x720 release by Zero-Raws that not only upscales 480p -> 720p, but also changes 4:3 content to 16:9. I guess 576p isn't that bad, but 720p is pushing it, and I'd rather not damage things further by re-encoding to downscale back to 480p.

EDIT: The Zero-Raws release is actually 960x720, despite what the files say. So at least they didn't distort the AR.

 Is there ever any real advantage from doing this? If a source is 480p, I don't see how resizing it at the encoder level will add any additional details/sharpness/quality that wasn't in the source to begin with. I'd think the same results would be achieved by simply playing a 480p rip and letting the media player upscale it to the desired resolution. But I can't help thinking that maybe these raw encoders in Japan and elsewhere know something I don't, which is why I bring up the question here.

So far the only anime files I have is Toradora! which is a 720p (plus DVD files) and the 720p has better quality than the DVD version. I just opened one of the files and skimmed through it. There is no TV station water mark on them so more than likely they are an upscale of the DVD version.

Thou' I usually get the DVD versions more than any DVD or TV upscales if Blu-rays weren't released. If it's a series I favor a lot, I download anything higher than the DVD and start comparing (Toradora! was an example).

[Pentium100]

480p >> 720p = MAYBE.

...480 >> 576?? Hellno. IMHO, 1.25x is just too crooked a multiplier, especially if you've got so little pixels to work with for filters.

576 is useful when your DVD player or TV does not support NTSC, but the conversion should include 30fps -> 25fps to make the signal compatible with PAL/SECAM.