UP-Convert Processor in Plasma or LCD ?

John T Smith · 09-26-07, 01:56 PM

Wife has decided Hitachi 57F59 rear projection CRT "box" takes up too much floor space, and wants to replace it with a hang on the wall model

After looking at Plasma (concerned about glare/reflection due to a HUGE window in the main room) and LCD (said to have fewer glare or reflection problems) and talking to a friend who receives Consumer Reports, I have ALMOST decided on the Vizio GV52L model

Except... the Hitachi includes an upconvert processor and the Vizio does not... and 99% of our viewing is from a DirecTV SD source... 480i signal

Are there any flat screen brands/models that DO have an upconvert processor? (of at least 52 inches)

Or... is there some kind of standalone box that will accept a 480i input signal from the DirecTV box (via 3 wire component cable) and do an upconvert to something higher? (I know this would not be "true" HD, but even a simple line doubler should be better than 480i)

nicknomo · 09-26-07, 02:01 PM

All tvs upconvert the image to their native resolution (or closest 4:3 equivalent). Most of them do a very poor job of it. They all have some sort of processing abilities to do this - nevertheless some have more advanced algorithms that do this, while others do not. Unfortunately, you will never find out in stores, as almost all have an HD feed.

The only way I know of to determine SD quality is to simply read the forums, and search for reviews on particular tvs.. Its very hit or miss..

John T Smith · 09-26-07, 02:12 PM

>All tvs upconvert

Actually... no, according to this
http://www.vizio.com/support/discuss...9-13635d8bce86

I am going to do more research, on Plasma with anti-glare screens... and also ones that DO include an upconvert processor

nicknomo · 09-26-07, 02:34 PM

Well I'd hate to contradict the Vizio "guru", but if it didn't scale/upconvert the image, you'd see 640x480 pixels in the center of your 1920x1080 screen with the SD image on it.

Now some manufacturers have scaling hardware good enough to warrant its own name, such as sony's XBR DRC chip... Still, the scaling isn't necessarily better than some other tvs and the scaling without a special name or specific chip, or other marketing gimmick.

Like I said before, not all tvs are created equal in ability to scale an image... but they all scale an image. "Upconversion" is just becoming a buzz word that people are using thanks to the popularity of upconverting DVD players. Undoubtedly, some will advertise special upconverting features or hardware... Unfortunately, you will never find a tv that takes your standard, over-compressed mpeg cable tv signal and turn it into something that looks HD. Also, just because marketing spews out another "feature", doesn't mean that this feature is not present or not working better on another television.

My friend has a Sony XBR 2, with DRC v2.5. SD looks like crap, to no fault of his tv.

People pay for $2000 external video processors just to get better standard definition... and some of those $2k video processors don't get stellar reviews (google the VP20). The cheap $20 chip they throw in the back of the Hitachi isn't going to make or break anything.

So, despite what that master of brilliance from Vizio says, the image is scaled/upconverted on the Vizio. Being that it is a Vizio, I would bet that the quality of SD isn't amazing on it and I would guess the scaling is done rather poorly (but hey, I could be wrong). Still, don't buy into the idea that the Hitachi has some special hardware that will make it any better.

Really, look for some reviews of the tv from forum members or respectable A/V sites. Its the only way to tell.

John T Smith · 09-26-07, 07:54 PM

I sent a Q to Vizio... a 480i signal is going to show with bars on each side

So... the Vizio is out for now (switching DirecTV to HiDef is beyond the current budget)

Now, I'm going to have to go to the Plasma section and see what I can find in a model with anti-glare screen... for no more than $2,000 AND at least 52 Inches

Any recommendations?

tower101 · 09-26-07, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John T Smith

I sent a Q to Vizio... a 480i signal is going to show with bars on each side

So... the Vizio is out for now (switching DirecTV to HiDef is beyond the current budget)

Now, I'm going to have to go to the Plasma section and see what I can find in a model with anti-glare screen... for no more than $2,000 AND at least 52 Inches

Any recommendations?

All HD TV's will show SD with bars on each side. Most/all (including Vizio) have "stretch" modes to fill the screen.

$2,000 52" and anti-glare? Good luck with that, let us know what you find.

09-26-07, 01:56 PM	#1 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a4ac4393' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:30&n=a4ac4393' border='0' alt=''></a>
John T Smith Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 87	UP-Convert Processor in Plasma or LCD ? Wife has decided Hitachi 57F59 rear projection CRT "box" takes up too much floor space, and wants to replace it with a hang on the wall model After looking at Plasma (concerned about glare/reflection due to a HUGE window in the main room) and LCD (said to have fewer glare or reflection problems) and talking to a friend who receives Consumer Reports, I have ALMOST decided on the Vizio GV52L model Except... the Hitachi includes an upconvert processor and the Vizio does not... and 99% of our viewing is from a DirecTV SD source... 480i signal Are there any flat screen brands/models that DO have an upconvert processor? (of at least 52 inches) Or... is there some kind of standalone box that will accept a 480i input signal from the DirecTV box (via 3 wire component cable) and do an upconvert to something higher? (I know this would not be "true" HD, but even a simple line doubler should be better than 480i)

09-26-07, 07:54 PM	#5 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
John T Smith Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 87	I sent a Q to Vizio... a 480i signal is going to show with bars on each side So... the Vizio is out for now (switching DirecTV to HiDef is beyond the current budget) Now, I'm going to have to go to the Plasma section and see what I can find in a model with anti-glare screen... for no more than $2,000 AND at least 52 Inches Any recommendations?

09-26-07, 02:01 PM	#2 \| Link
nicknomo Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 416	All tvs upconvert the image to their native resolution (or closest 4:3 equivalent). Most of them do a very poor job of it. They all have some sort of processing abilities to do this - nevertheless some have more advanced algorithms that do this, while others do not. Unfortunately, you will never find out in stores, as almost all have an HD feed. The only way I know of to determine SD quality is to simply read the forums, and search for reviews on particular tvs.. Its very hit or miss..

09-26-07, 02:12 PM	#3 \| Link
John T Smith Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 87	>All tvs upconvert Actually... no, according to this http://www.vizio.com/support/discuss...9-13635d8bce86 I am going to do more research, on Plasma with anti-glare screens... and also ones that DO include an upconvert processor

09-26-07, 02:34 PM	#4 \| Link
nicknomo Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 416	Well I'd hate to contradict the Vizio "guru", but if it didn't scale/upconvert the image, you'd see 640x480 pixels in the center of your 1920x1080 screen with the SD image on it. Now some manufacturers have scaling hardware good enough to warrant its own name, such as sony's XBR DRC chip... Still, the scaling isn't necessarily better than some other tvs and the scaling without a special name or specific chip, or other marketing gimmick. Like I said before, not all tvs are created equal in ability to scale an image... but they all scale an image. "Upconversion" is just becoming a buzz word that people are using thanks to the popularity of upconverting DVD players. Undoubtedly, some will advertise special upconverting features or hardware... Unfortunately, you will never find a tv that takes your standard, over-compressed mpeg cable tv signal and turn it into something that looks HD. Also, just because marketing spews out another "feature", doesn't mean that this feature is not present or not working better on another television. My friend has a Sony XBR 2, with DRC v2.5. SD looks like crap, to no fault of his tv. People pay for $2000 external video processors just to get better standard definition... and some of those $2k video processors don't get stellar reviews (google the VP20). The cheap $20 chip they throw in the back of the Hitachi isn't going to make or break anything. So, despite what that master of brilliance from Vizio says, the image is scaled/upconverted on the Vizio. Being that it is a Vizio, I would bet that the quality of SD isn't amazing on it and I would guess the scaling is done rather poorly (but hey, I could be wrong). Still, don't buy into the idea that the Hitachi has some special hardware that will make it any better. Really, look for some reviews of the tv from forum members or respectable A/V sites. Its the only way to tell.