I recently got a Samsung 26" LCD that has a 768x1366 panel. My video sources are a Comcast DVR and Sony S350 Blu-ray player.

For the Sony S350, I've found that the best output is 1080p, letting the LCD downscale to native 768p. 720p upscaled by the LCD to native 768p looks worse in almost all instances. So I'm set with this.

For the Comcast DVR box, I've set it to 1080i. But I would like to run it through an external processor, since the de-interlacing on the LCD leaves a lot to be desired. Plus an external processor will give me other benefits - switching, aspect ratio control, etc., etc.

Now, here's my question:

Which processor to get? There seem to be 3 contenders. The VP50, the Edge, and the Radiance. I know the VP50 would be best, since it will output 768x1366, which is the LCD's native resolution. However it's very expensive for this TV. I don't know what the Radiance can output, but again seems pricey for this TV. Which leaves the Edge.

The Edge can't output 768x1366, but I was thinking of maybe outputting 1080p. My reasoning? Since the Sony S350 is set to output 1080p (see above), and then the LCD downconverts to 768p looking quite good, then I can have the same analogy with the Edge at 1080p, no? Or am I mistaken?

Rather than run the Comcast 1080i -> LCD 768p, why not Comcast 1080i -> Edge 1080p -> LCD 768p? Would the latter not look better? Maybe not as good as the VP50 which can do 768p, but still better no? Mainly because the de-interlacing in the Edge HAS to be superior to the LCD's, no?

Does this make sense? Will Comcast material look better this way? Thoughts? Should I get the Edge or not? Is there something else better in that price range?

The Edge will most likely output 768p on your display. The Edge supports this resolution as long as it's included in your TV's EDID. We tried this on a 32" Samsung LCD a friends' and it worked fine.

The Edge will most likely output 768p on your display. The Edge supports this resolution as long as it's included in your TV's EDID. We tried this on a 32" Samsung LCD a friends' and it worked fine.

As a slight clarification, 768p would have to be your set's "preferred" resolution within the EDID. You will not be able to select it manually. This would most likely be the case, but does not always hold true.

I have a Westinghouse W4207 and its preferred resolution is 768p--the EDGE works beautifully with it.

So I would set the Edge on AUTO and then hope the Samsung LN26B360 sends it 768p as it's preferred EDID? And I would know how? The Edge would actually then display it's outputting 768p?

But back to my original question. Let's say this EDID doesn't work. Would using 1080p out of the Edge work out well (per what I described in my 1st post above)?

If you are happy the way the Sony S350's 1080p output with a Blu-ray disk looks on your TV you will be happy with the 1080p output from the Edge. In this case (1080p output limitation) what the Edge will give you is better deinterlacing and better scaling of all the other formats. This is assuming that the Comcast has a "native" output that doesn't modify the signal.

Right this is what I figured - if Edge can't (and maybe it can!) do 768p, then the 1080p will still look better since it's a better de-interlacer of 1080i than the Samsung LCD. Now of course cable material varies crazy from channel to channel, but in many cases the Edge will do a good job de-interlacing 1080i. I'll give it a try I suppose! And pray it will do 768p, and if not, I'll be happy with 1080p. The other processors are too much money for this set.

I'm not sure what you meant by this:

This is assuming that the Comcast has a "native" output that doesn't modify the signal.

One thought, did you try forcing your cable box to 720p? Though I think I know what would happen, might be worth a shot first.

The Lumagen Radiance includes a selection for 768p in the output mode list. You can use the internal test patterns to check that the Radiance is driving your display in "pixel perfect" mode. We include specially designed "Lines Vertical" and "Lines Horizontal" test patterns. You can use these test patterns to confirm that scaling is turned off in your display.

Randy Freeman
support@lumagen.com

Radiance is arguably the best VP on the market in its class. But a 26" LCD was probably 1/4 the price of the Radiance as well so a tough pill to swallow in this case. :)

One thought, did you try forcing your cable box to 720p? Though I think I know what would happen, might be worth a shot first.

Sure. But 720p upconverted looks worse to me than 1080i/p downconverted as I was saying above. I think it's easier to downscale 1920 -> 1366 than to upscale 1280 -> 1366. What do you expect to happen? Confused a bit.

The Lumagen Radiance includes a selection for 768p in the output mode list. You can use the internal test patterns to check that the Radiance is driving your display in "pixel perfect" mode. We include specially designed "Lines Vertical" and "Lines Horizontal" test patterns. You can use these test patterns to confirm that scaling is turned off in your display.

Randy Freeman
support@lumagen.com

I know, I looked, but as Jason said, too pricey for this setup.

As a slight clarification, 768p would have to be your set's "preferred" resolution within the EDID. You will not be able to select it manually. This would most likely be the case, but does not always hold true.

I have a Westinghouse W4207 and its preferred resolution is 768p--the EDGE works beautifully with it.

Well I hooked up my laptop to it and ran the moninfo.exe utility and it looks like the EDID preferred resolution is 768x1360@60Hz. This is what the laptop was running at. I guess if the Edge can do this that would be great. I guess it's not really 768x1366 but damn close to 1:1. I will get the Edge and hope it does scale to 768x1360. What do you guys think? Looks good? Output below:

Monitor
Model name............... SAMSUNG
Manufacturer............. Samsung
Plug and Play ID......... SAM0504
Serial number............ n/a
Manufacture date......... 2008, ISO week 48
-------------------------
EDID revision............ 1.3
Input signal type........ Analog 0.700,0.000 (0.7V p-p)
Sync input support....... Separate
Display type............. RGB color
Screen size.............. 410 x 260 mm (19.1 in)
Power management......... Active off/sleep
Extension blocs.......... None
-------------------------
DDC/CI................... Not supported

Color characteristics
Default color space...... Non-sRGB
Display gamma............ 2.20
Red chromaticity......... Rx 0.640 - Ry 0.330
Green chromaticity....... Gx 0.300 - Gy 0.600
Blue chromaticity........ Bx 0.150 - By 0.060
White point (default).... Wx 0.313 - Wy 0.329
Additional descriptors... None

Timing characteristics
Horizontal scan range.... 30-61kHz
Vertical scan range...... 60-75Hz
Video bandwidth.......... 100MHz
CVT standard............. Not supported
GTF standard............. Not supported
Additional descriptors... None
Preferred timing......... Yes
Native/preferred timing.. 1360x768p at 60Hz (16:10)
Modeline............... "1360x768" 85.500 1360 1424 1536 1792 768 771 777 795 +hsync +vsync
Detailed timing #1....... 1024x768p at 60Hz (16:10)
Modeline............... "1024x768" 65.000 1024 1048 1184 1344 768 771 777 806 -hsync -vsync

Standard timings supported
720 x 400p at 70Hz - IBM VGA
640 x 480p at 60Hz - IBM VGA
640 x 480p at 67Hz - Apple Mac II
640 x 480p at 72Hz - VESA
640 x 480p at 75Hz - VESA
800 x 600p at 60Hz - VESA
800 x 600p at 72Hz - VESA
800 x 600p at 75Hz - VESA
832 x 624p at 75Hz - Apple Mac II
1024 x 768p at 60Hz - VESA
1024 x 768p at 70Hz - VESA
1024 x 768p at 75Hz - VESA

Report information
Date generated........... 4/3/2009
Software revision........ 2.30.0.797
Operating system......... 5.1.2600.2.Service Pack 2

Raw data
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Sure. But 720p upconverted looks worse to me than 1080i/p downconverted as I was saying above. I think it's easier to downscale 1920 -> 1366 than to upscale 1280 -> 1366. What do you expect to happen? Confused a bit.

You mentioned you tried that for Bluray...I didn't see cable box. I didn't think it would be better anyways.

Sure. But 720p upconverted looks worse to me than 1080i/p downconverted as I was saying above. I think it's easier to downscale 1920 -> 1366 than to upscale 1280 -> 1366. What do you expect to happen? Confused a bit.

You mentioned you tried that for Bluray...I didn't see cable box. I didn't think it would be better anyways.

I see. Yes, it was most obvious using the DVE Blu-ray disc, but I did try the Comcast as well. 1080p downconverted looks superior. Assuming the cable source is 720p and Comcast doesn't mess with it (FOX, ABC, ESPN), then 720p would be better as the output of choice for those channels (provided you have a good video processor like the Edge, since as I said, the TV does a crappy job scaling up). But it's a pain to change and figure out what's what. It would be nice if the Comcast box just passed through whatever the source was - 480i/p, 720p, or 1080i and let the video processor/TV do the de-interlacing/scaling. But that's wishful thinking! At least I have the option to pass through 480i, which the Edge should upconvert/de-interlace much better. I'm pumped now, and am sorry I missed the group buy!

Also, how then does the Edge differ from say the VP50 in supporting 768p? Is it that the VP50 has it as a preset meaning 1366x768 instead of 1360x768? Seems like a tiny detail for almost $2k more...

1360 (not 1366) will be running 1:1 on your display. 3 lines on the left/right will be left blank. The older Samsung LCDs only supported 1360, the newer ones can do both. While 1360 and 1368 are VESA timings, 1366 is not.

Also, how then does the Edge differ from say the VP50 in supporting 768p? Is it that the VP50 has it as a preset meaning 1366x768 instead of 1360x768? Seems like a tiny detail for almost $2k more...

One of the things you pay for with the VP50Pro...it can do about every resolution out there. But, obviously it is a lot more money too.