I see the Radiance XD is newer than the DVDO VP50 and also cost twice as much. I have never seen any of these products in action, but I don't if the Radiance XD is worth the price. In any case that is out of my price range.

Anyway, all I want is a way to make my SD and my eventual HD sources look as good as possible on a 108 inch screen with the Sony VPL-VW100 1080p front projector.

I am concerned that the VP50 has been out for a while, and was wondering if there is anything newer in the same price range. What other competitors are there for the VP50 besides the VisionHDQ Video Processor and how do these 2 compare? Are there any stores where I can see them in action or reviews I can look at that are not overly technical?

I'd really like to buy one in the next few days, but its extremely confusing to figure out.

Hi Eddie,

I think you need to tell us what your sources are and what sort of material you watch on them....then you'll get some more answers

Gordon

Hi Eddie,

I think you need to tell us what your sources are and what sort of material you watch on them....then you'll get some more answers

Gordon

Right now my sources are coaxial analog cable, a replay tv, ps3, and a laptop. I would like to add digital tv and will look into getting HD through antenna, cable, or satellite. I don't know yet where I should get HD content from.

The main problem is that most channels are not offered in HD, so even if I got HD from whatever source I wouldn't be able to watch most shows and that regular tv looks terrible when blown up that big.

Since this is a large investment and will affect my whole family's viewing, as well as people we have over, I'd like to make sure I get it right.

http://www.lenexpo-electronics.com/DVDO-ISCAN-HD-VIDEO-SCALER-B-STOCK-CRAZY-DEAL-p-17263.html

http://www.lenexpo-electronics.com/DVDO-ISCAN-HD-VIDEO-SCALER-B-STOCK-CRAZY-DEAL-p-17263.html
This unit does not perform inverse telecine or motion adaptive deinterlacing for HD sources. Nor does it offer analog-digital transcoding for HD sources. Not a good choice for a 1080p projector.

I'd go with the Optoma HD3000.

This unit does not perform inverse telecine or motion adaptive deinterlacing for HD sources. Nor does it offer analog-digital transcoding for HD sources. Not a good choice for a 1080p projector.

I'd go with the Optoma HD3000.

Without getting too technical, how does the Optoma hd 3000 compare with the DVDO VP50 or Radiance XD?

Also, what are some good online places to buy a video processor? I did a search and most places I see are more than MSRP.

“Newer” isn’t always a good thing. With that bleeding edge technology you also get all the bugs and owner/beta tester frustrations. I think the VP-50 was out for almost a year before they finally got it to work right with firmware updates. I do not think any of its competitors were much quicker/slower getting their product to work correctly. At least with the VP50, CII, and comparable Lumagen models, they’ve been out for a while, tested by thousands of users and have all grown through firmware updates to where they are all pretty darn reliable.

I’d skip the “new”, look at the “old” models out now and see which one meets your needs. Then upgrade in another year with another year old “old” VP. Let the tech junkies do the beta testing and figure out what’s wrong with it and enjoy your “old”, but bug free VP.

Also, what are some good online places to buy a video processor? I did a search and most places I see are more than MSRP.

How about you contact these guys?
http://www.avscience.com/

Right now my sources are coaxial analog cable, a replay tv, ps3, and a laptop. I would like to add digital tv and will look into getting HD through antenna, cable, or satellite. I don't know yet where I should get HD content from.

The main problem is that most channels are not offered in HD, so even if I got HD from whatever source I wouldn't be able to watch most shows and that regular tv looks terrible when blown up that big.

Since this is a large investment and will affect my whole family's viewing, as well as people we have over, I'd like to make sure I get it right.

I think the one reality check I would offer is that the analog cable and replay tv (assuming it's a SD source) signal would be improved, but it will not make it "HD-like" for a variety of reasons, the most obvious one is that there is not enough detail in the signal or else you would be getting "HD" level broadcasts. It will clean it up and not make it look as blocky and fuzzy, but don't expect it to turn everything into Discovery HDTV. Just to make sure you have the right expectations.

I would recommend the VP50, I've enjoyed the benefits and it sharpens the look of SD channels to make the shows look like they were blown up 2-3x, instead 10x (without vp50).

-Splints

I just went to a local electronics store and the guy there said you can expect to spend another $1,000 on isf calibration or something like that. Would any of these processors be difficult to setup? I'd like to order one and have it shipped to my vacation home as soon as possible so I can use it this trip.

I just went to a local electronics store and the guy there said you can expect to spend another $1,000 on isf calibration or something like that.

That's not true at all. Usually they're in between uh $200-$350 depending on the TV, afaik.

No where near $1,000.

Some ISF calibrators charge per input, though, and I guess that's where the money charge can rack up.

Some TVs will calibrate certain things across all inputs, however.

The final price is dependant on three things. The calibrator, the TV (type and whether or not settings are shared across inputs), and how many inputs you wish to calibrate.

Without getting too technical, how does the Optoma hd 3000 compare with the DVDO VP50 or Radiance XD?

Also, what are some good online places to buy a video processor? I did a search and most places I see are more than MSRP.I won't comment on the Radiance as it has not yet been released. However, it is considerably more expensive than either the VP50 or the Optoma.

Both the Optoma and the VP50 will transcode analog-to-digital SD and HD sources and both perform sophisticated deinterlacing for SD and HD sources. The Optoma has noise reduction and the VP50 does not. The Optoma will also do better color correction than the VP50. However, the VP50 is probably better supported and on reasonably good source material will offer equivalent performance to the Optoma.

Either would be a good choice, though I guess I would lean towards the Optoma. I could easily be convinced the other way. You might also consider the Vantage-HD, which I think probably offers the best HD performance of the bunch, though its fit and finish is a step below either the Optoma or VP50.

AVS is a dealer for all three.

That's not true at all. Usually they're in between uh $200-$350 depending on the TV, afaik.

No where near $1,000.

Some ISF calibrators charge per input, though, and I guess that's where the money charge can rack up.

Some TVs will calibrate certain things across all inputs, however.

The final price is dependant on three things. The calibrator, the TV (type and whether or not settings are shared across inputs), and how many inputs you wish to calibrate.

Ok, because I'm not willing to spend that much to setup this device. It would really help me if someone that knows about these products was able to tell me in basic english why I should choose one processor in the $2,000 price range over another one.

I've tried searching for reviews on the internet and can't find anything, except some references to video processors in some magazines. I was thinking of just going to the bookstore and trying to find a direct comparison of these machines.

I sent an email to Lumagen and the sales rep said I buy the VisionHDQ for its "proprietary non-ring scaling and for the calibration capabilities."

This is frustrating because they could tell me it has a 24hz progressive deinterlacing flux capacitor as opposed to the other model's chromatic flux capacitor and it doesn't mean a darn thing to me.

Other than this forum, I don't know where else to look to educate myself before making this major purchase.

I've tried searching for reviews on the internet and can't find anything, except some references to video processors in some magazines. I was thinking of just going to the bookstore and trying to find a direct comparison of these machines.

Other than this forum, I don't know where else to look to educate myself before making this major purchase.

Lumagen HDQ review (link from the Lumagen home page)
http://www.lumagen.com/docs/hdq_review.pdf

DVDO VP50 review (link from the DVDO reviews page)
http://www.projectorcentral.com/dvdo_iscan_vp50.htm

Ok, because I'm not willing to spend that much to setup this device. It would really help me if someone that knows about these products was able to tell me in basic english why I should choose one processor in the $2,000 price range over another one.

I've tried searching for reviews on the internet and can't find anything, except some references to video processors in some magazines. I was thinking of just going to the bookstore and trying to find a direct comparison of these machines.

I sent an email to Lumagen and the sales rep said I buy the VisionHDQ for its "proprietary non-ring scaling and for the calibration capabilities."

This is frustrating because they could tell me it has a 24hz progressive deinterlacing flux capacitor as opposed to the other model's chromatic flux capacitor and it doesn't mean a darn thing to me.

Other than this forum, I don't know where else to look to educate myself before making this major purchase.


Here is my vote...I OWN a Lumagen VisionHDP and I have a friend who wons a DVDO VP50...we have performed many tests on each of our systems and we BOTH prefer the Lumagen VisionHDP -- in fact, my friend is moving from his DVDO VP50 to a LumagenHDQ...for us, end of story!

Here is my vote...I OWN a Lumagen VisionHDP and I have a friend who wons a DVDO VP50...we have performed many tests on each of our systems and we BOTH prefer the Lumagen VisionHDP -- in fact, my friend is moving from his DVDO VP50 to a LumagenHDQ...for us, end of story!Could you be more specific about these "tests?" On standard benchmark discs, such as the HQV, the VP50 performs much better than the Lumagen, at least on SD material.

Could you be more specific about these "tests?" On standard benchmark discs, such as the HQV, the VP50 performs much better than the Lumagen, at least on SD material.

While your comment is correct the preference for the Lumagen over the VP-50 was based on a number of items includng the following:

-- Better color calibration capability
-- Better gray scale calibration capability
-- Better scaling, particularly with their no ring technology and motion adaptive deinterlacing of 1090i sources
-- More detailed picture; at least on our setups and our disks
-- More flexibility with their per input/per resolution/per aspect ratio design

Then there is the whole support issue -- easier to get a competent lve person on the phone, less buggy and more response software updates, etc.

HTH.

Ok, I'm going to get the Lumagen. It seems like some people prefer the lumagen, and some people prefer DVDO. I haven't been able to find a local store that carries either of them, let alone one that carries both and lets me compare them. The Lumagen is cheaper, and the repuation seems to be that the lumagen has better tech support.

I have only been able to find one store online, which is here:

http://800stereohometheater.stores.yahoo.net/luvi.html

Anyone know any other places that could sell to someone in Colorado? I tried ebay as well as all the normal search engine like nextag, pricewatch, mysimon, etc. Where else can I look?

I also saw from their website you can customize the inputs. How does that process work?

You are better off buying it from AVS. They have better price for HDQ with a 30 day return policy.

Is that the same as:

http://www.avscience.com/

I don't see any prices on the website, but I'll give them a call tomorrow. I forgot that someone else posted about it before.

I settled for a Key Digital HD Leeza. It is discontinued but can be had for $750 at digital connection (open box). I will have it this week and look forward to getting it up and going. I believe they have 3 or 4 left. It may lack a few features of the Lumagen (I am sure others will know more what those are) but offers a good value for those not wanting to go up to 2k for a scaler. It has a nice combination of analog/digital inputs, HDCP 1.3, and will output analog over HDMI. Also will do the scaling for 2.35 CIH setup as well...--Darin

HD Leeza at Digital Connection (https://www.digitalconnection.com/store/Product_Details.asp?ProductCode=KDHD1080PO)

I agree with Joelc. I owned a VP50 and sold it to get a Lumagen HDQ. I prefer the HDQ over the VP50 for the same reasons he stated. It just plain works great. The only vp I'll replace my HDQ with will be the Lumagen Radiance, and then only due to the promised primary color controls.

Your HDQ has primary color controls. Saturation and tint for each primary.

Menu> In>Config>Adj>Color

Then:
Color and Hue for Blue
ColRed and HueRed
ClGrn and HueGrn

Get decent test patterns - SMPTE only works for Blue - and set them up. Color to match the Gray background and Hue to balance the primary content in the secondaries.

Does the LumagenHDQ offer HDMI now? I went to website and saw all those DVI connections!! :o

Another vote for getting one through AV Science. They have good service and very good prices.

As you are just getting into this, you want to buy from somebody that can give you good support both from the sales end and from the technical company support end.

The DVDO and Lumagen both have good support and are good products. I prefer the Lumagens, but the DVDOs are good too.