For transcoders if you want the best picture then buy AnyDVD and use recode, best settings are advanced analysis, assign best quality to main movie, and high quality (slow recording).
For movies that need alot of compression you can go into the registry and and set it to max smooth for the best possible picture, but it will take longer to transcode.
I don't know about as far as what's the best Quality transcoder out there but, there's InterVideo DVDCopy4, CloneDVD2, DVDFab Platinum, hell even the famous 321 Studios DVDXCopy all great transcoders along with Shrink and Recode2. I can just take my pick which one I want (although I stopped using DVDXcopy!~). But as far as encoder.... hands down DVDRebuilder Pro w/CCE or ProCoder2! Best ripper..... DVDDecrypter. Best Windows based driver = AnyDVD hands down! Best disks.... Taiyo Yuden, Verbatim.....tied! I use them all for different situations when the need arises and I have great success due to learning everything here..... Afterdawn..... everyone taught me sooooooo much....... and you guys know who you are!!!!! Thanks...... and I'm so happy that I found this place! A place to learn and a place to give back!