Like the title says, does anyone know if the PS3 has a scaler in it? If so, can you turn it off or does it have a "pass through" option?

I plan to use a PS3 for both watching movies and playing games, and I don't want it to do the scaling if I have something better (I.e. the projector) doing the scaling.

Thanks in advance.

Mark

Yes, it does, and it won't output SD DVD at less than 480p (deinterlacing). Ideally, both deinterlacing and scaling should happen outboard if the PJ has the superior processor.

You can set the PS3 up to not scale PS1 or PS2 games, but the resolution you set for PS3 games will also dictate Blu-Ray playback.

This should change. Ideally you could output games at their native 720p, and blu-ray at its native 1080p. Currently that is not possible except for manually changing the resolution every time. :(

Yes, it does, and it won't output SD DVD at less than 480p (deinterlacing). Ideally, both deinterlacing and scaling should happen outboard if the PJ has the superior processor.

Thanks for your reply.

So, if my projector does have superior processing, and I want to use a PS3 as my blu-ray player, am I screwed? Or can you disable the PS3 scaler? Buying a seperate blu-ray player isn't out of the question, but if I can by-pass the PS3's scaler then I won't have to.

Also, does the PS3 just have a scaler, or does it have a processor as well? (maybe their the same thing, I'm still learning). I am having a hell of a time getting my head around how you KNOW which piece in your home theatre is doing the scaling. I keep hearing the low end receivers actually damage the video signal with their noise reduction processing and such. I am just trying to figure out how to make SURE that all the scaling/processing, etc. is happening in the component of choice.

Thanks again,

Mark

Mark,

Please mention the type and make of display you are using.

If you're only concerned with BD playback, scaling should not be an issue on the PS3 side as it can output both 720/1080p. For SD, this is a different story, as the PS3's deinterlacer cannot be defeated, so 480i over HDMI is not possible. This may not be an issue, depending on display type.

Mark,

Please mention the type and make of display you are using.

If you're only concerned with BD playback, scaling should not be an issue on the PS3 side as it can output both 720/1080p. For SD, this is a different story, as the PS3's deinterlacer cannot be defeated, so 480i over HDMI is not possible. This may not be an issue, depending on display type.

We will be using an InFocus IN83 projector for our display. We were going to buy a Sherwood Newcastle 872 receiver until we learned it had average processing capabilities and no way to bypass the scaler. We're looking at the Marantz 7002 and Denon 3808/4308 as alternatives as they have pass-through.

I assume the scaler/processor in the InFocus projector will be better than anything in the PS3 so I wanted to get the projector to do the work. We will be watching DVDs, blu-rays, and HD TV, and want all non 1080P signals to be scaled as closely to 1080P as possible by the best processor in the equipment we will be dealing with. Also I will be playing games on the PS3.

I have a feeling I may be confusing scaling with video processing, and maybe one is not as important as the other.

Thanks again.

Mark,
Scaling is part of video processing, so you should not be confusing many here. If I were you, I would read the reviews on the IN83 to find out if the video processing is good or acceptable to your needs. INHO, I would not buy a receiver to do my switching/video processing. I would get as separate VP (video processor) for that, and a receiver for sound processing.

Mark,
Scaling is part of video processing, so you should not be confusing many here. If I were you, I would read the reviews on the IN83 to find out if the video processing is good or acceptable to your needs. INHO, I would not buy a receiver to do my switching/video processing. I would get as separate VP (video processor) for that, and a receiver for sound processing.


Thanks for your reply. I've looked into the IN83's video processor, and I know that it is a 10 bit Pixel Works DNX however the only information I can find on it anywhere is the pixel works site itself, which of course says all sorts of wonderful things about it. I've also read just about every review on the IN83 and not many of them talk about the processor itself and/or its upconverting capabilities - the exception being HDTV expert saying it does a good job but that is just one opinion.

Another common theme I am finding on the topic of scaling is that a lot of these "cheap" receivers ($1500 or so) do a decent job scaling something that isn't 1080P UP TO 1080P, but if you actually give them a 1080P signal, the processor damages the picture. The bottom line being that you should pass-through your 1080P signals and up-scale everything else. Is that accurate? I know a dedicated processor would be better, but I think I would be satisfied with less as long as it didn't actually damage the picture. We looked at some Anthem stuff but the cost is just too high, as nice as that stuff is. Again, all of the above would be irrelevant if the projector has a nice processor, then we simply just make sure we buy a receiver with pass-through capabilities. Also we need to make sure that the PS3 isn't doing any up-converting, and if it is, I guess that would be the weak link in the system, preventing the projector from doing its job?

Thanks again,

Mark