Here is a list of things I have hooked into my denon avr-1707:
DVD player via component
Xbox via regular RCA's
Digital cable via s-video/optical

my denon has max out component video

I'd like a cheaper(under $250) scaler that has VGA output to take my various signals and accepts them as component then scales them to at least 780?

can this be done?
and without buying a DVDO $4000 unit?

thanks in advance!!!!

What scaler costs under $250?

theres a bunch on Ebay....

Well there might be some on ebay for sub $250, but I doubt that they do a very good job at anything.

I just don't have $4000 to spend on a scaler, regardless of how good it is.

that would be more then my entire home theater, including my seating is worth new.

and a sub $300 item on Ebay is usually a $600 item in stores...

Price isn't everything, more expensive doesn't always mean better

I see your point, but from what I have seen, the cheaper scalers don't do a very good job with anything.

What is your display device? In many cases, the internal scalers/processors of modern displays do better than any of the inexpensive scalers/vps out there.

I am not meaning to be elitist about this. I just haven't seen any good cheap video processors. If I could find a good cheap one, I could use one for my 2nd and third projectors.

Maybe there is a good deal to be found for an older processor in the classifieds here or audiogon or videogon.

I just don't have $4000 to spend on a scaler, regardless of how good it is.


You can find a decent scaler for standard definition sources for about $1000-2000.

I don't know of any scalers that would do a better job with standard definition DVDs than a Toshiba XA2 DVD player that cost less than $1000, so this might be a player to look into although it is a little more than $250.

If you are looking for something under $1000 to play DVDs you are probably best off with a receiver with scaling or an Oppo or HD-DVD player. I don't know if you will find something with VGA out at this price though.

I just don't have $4000 to spend on a scaler, regardless of how good it is.

that would be more then my entire home theater, including my seating is worth new.

and a sub $300 item on Ebay is usually a $600 item in stores...

Price isn't everything, more expensive doesn't always mean better

You can find really good deals online for a VP30 with ABT102 add-on. I'm talking about a fourth of the $4,000 price tag you mentioned.

I was in the same boat as you and wanted a video processor that was affordable, yet high quality. I decided to stop the madness and got a VP30/ABT102, and it does a marvelous job with my game consoles and DVD player. It may be more difficult for you to justify, however, as your needs seem to be much simpler than mine. You could view the unnecessary features as a form of "future proofing."

I woudl really love to just drop the money on a new VP30 but even a grand is way out in left field for my home theater....I'm on a tight budget.

does anyone have anything to say about DVDO's following:
IScan Ultra
IScan HD
IScan HD+
IScan mm601
IScan Plus V2

I beleive that these are al mostly in teh sub $500 lines when in "used" condition...

thanks

Several iScan HDs sold recently on eBay in the $250 range (I bought one of them). This scaler has VGA, YPbPr, and DVI outputs and will upconvert any standard-definition source.

The bad news is that the built-in audio delay, which is needed for lip sync correction, doesn't work with analog audio sources. An outboard delay or A/D converter is required for those. I use the delay in my home theater receiver.

I woudl really love to just drop the money on a new VP30 but even a grand is way out in left field for my home theater....I'm on a tight budget.

does anyone have anything to say about DVDO's following:
IScan Ultra
IScan HD
IScan HD+
IScan mm601
IScan Plus V2

I beleive that these are al mostly in teh sub $500 lines when in "used" condition...

thanks

I have seen where Gefen has a home theater scaler in the $500 range with a Silicon Optix Reon HQV processor - it may be worth a look.

http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=4298

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS158903+07-Jan-2008+BW20080107

I have seen where Gefen has a home theater scaler in the $500 range with a Silicon Optix Reon HQV processor - it may be worth a look.

http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=4298

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS158903+07-Jan-2008+BW20080107

Does it really have a Reon HQV? I can't find anywhere in the manual that it says that.

You might call me overly skeptical, but the CES bit said it was called "TV Scaler Pro" and this one is called "Home Theater Plus"... =P

I'm really thinking about getting it and wanted to be sure.

I've looked on the website and in the manual, but it doesn't state what technology it's using in the Home Theater Plus ... at all. So maybe this isn't the product or some chip they developed in house?

EDIT: Yeah, I don't think this is the Reon HQV product... this was released a few months ago...

There is a relatively new seller on Ebay selling Key Digital products. He currently has Isync Pro, Isync HD, and HD Leeza processors listed. I believe they are either used or refurbs, but they do come with a 90 day warranty.

The Pro/HD's are going for around 310-320 on average, and the HD Leezas are going around 400. Isync Pro and HD are the same unit (Pro is silver HD is black). Leeza is a slightly older model, but more powerful (SDI input, more output options, etc.). He must have quite a few of them, as every time one sells he lists another. All three have HDCP compliant digital input/output as well as component input/output, so you are covered if you go HDMI in the future. The Pro/HD units are HDMI, the Leeza's take DVI-D or SDI.

All will accept any input up to 1080I, and take it to 720P, 1080I, 1080p (as well as most standard LCD resolutions). Accepting any input is important, because a lot of the VP's you will find in your price range will only handle 480I in. Some will pass HD input directly through, but many will just not work at all. I ran in to this problem with my original VP. My cable feed is HD on certain channels and SD on others. My old VP couldn't deal with the HD input, making the VP useless for the cable input. I had to route the cable feed around the VP and let the cable box upsample the SD channels:(.

I'm not trying to sell for this guy. I just happen to know about these units because I'm in a similar situation to you and I've been researching them. I needed a decent VP because I have a CRT projector, but I don't have the budget to blow thousands one.

I just picked up an Isync Pro from one of his auctions for 310 and so far it works very well for me. It came right away, in the original packaging with the warrant card, so the guy appears legit.

I'm not sure how these would compare to a Realta or Gennum based solution, but the Isync Pro has been compared favorably to the DVDO VP30, and I can't think of any scaler in the 300-400 price range that would do a better job.

There are currently 2 scalers here in the classifieds that might suit you, no affliation,,..,.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/vbclassified.php?do=ad&id=1997

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/vbclassified.php?do=ad&id=2938