Darbee vision darblet - Page 169

I understand your point. Maybe I should have tried to connect it directly to the TV but I never thought about that at the time. The Marvell QDEO processing shouldn't affect this, though.

And you are using a DLP projector (which makes total sense) and I believe your LCD/LED Sharp is two years plus old and I know it doesn't have the inherent processing that the Samsung LED/LCD does - - and I'm not trying to be negative or denigrate your TV. It also has to do with where your starting point is - - PQ wise.

Here are a couple pictures of my current TV - via satellite (Directv). It's an older movie (Aliens & a Cowboy flick on Sony) - just an example and the pictures might not transfer well, but I'm pretty happy with the PQ as is. I'm always looking to improve and we'll see what technology comes down the pike in the next couple of years. Thx - Rico.

I purchased one but depending on the answer ( if I don't get one) I'll give it a go when mine arrives and decide from there. Thinking I would get greater benefit from PJ rather than mickey mouse 65" screen.

Wow nice pics.

My system is similar and it works fine. Onkyo receiver > Darbee > Monoprice 1x2 splitter > 2 different projectors.

Well, like I said, my Sharp LCD/LED was the top of the line and very well reviewed. In fact, with the exception of only a few, not many newer models have done better (assuming you run it native, w/o any dynamic contrast---which I hate).

As for processing? If you play a Blu ray, through hdmi to the set (native 1080p), there isn't really any video processing going on, it's pixel mapped. There's no interlacing going on, no scaling, etc.

What specifically about the 'processing' of your Sammy set (when playing a blu ray) makes it superior to my Sharp set? Or my DLP projector?? You seem to be convinced of it's superiority. It's an honest question, 'cos I'm at a loss as to what it is and what it does specifically

Some from my projector---remember, 80" screen here, plus these were taken a while ago, so before the darbee
Taking screenshots is an art form in itself, and I'm not that good at it (just a point and shoot), so take this with a grain of salt (and note that my screen is larger and the pics posted here are larger)
In person it's sharper, more poppy, better blacks and better contrast. Pics here look about 85% of what I see, and that was before the darbee >>






























Edited by fleaman - 12/13/12 at 12:36am

Now that's great news. I appreciate your response. Plus it can save me some coin

Fleaman - pics look fantastic!

Makes me wish I had a large projector but my space is smaller in the man cave to accommodate that theater..

As I said before - - I think the Darblet is a "no brainer" for anyone who has a projector system. Plus, if you have another TV you'd like to use it on AND it's possible (location wise), you can use HDMI switching to really get the bang for your buck.

Nice setup! Quick question - what's the basic cost of a projector system - - and I mean getting enough of a quality picture that you see the teeny hairs on Wolf Blitzer's face? (CNN) Any mounting issues?

P.S. - Just saw the Dark Knight Rises last night. Long film (2:44) but incredibly worth it! Sound effects are a gas. (O.K. - that gives it away. I'm just an older hippie )

Imagine how they would look with the Darblet in place.

I've owned my Darbee for about a month and am very pleased with the value it brings to the table.

As others have commented, the Darbee adds a sharpness to items that seems to separate them from the background; detail in background items; and a clarity that is akin to washing a window.

All 3 effects are very apparent when either the unit is turned on/off, or, the demo mode is engaged.

I noticed that one of the Home Theater magazines has listed the Darbee Darblet as their #1 recommended accessory, with the others on the list costing over $1000 (video processors).

I use my Darbee with an 80" LCD. Contrary to some of the discussion here, I find the effect both noticeable and an improvement over the signal source without the Darbee engaged. It might be more of an effect with DLP or Plasma, I don't know.

My sources are Dish HD, and Blu Ray.

The Darbee Darblet is not a need to have accessory. If you are the type of person that is always looking to squeeze another ounce of performance from your system (most AVS posters) it is probably the most reasonably priced tool to make this happen.

I've had no issues with the Darbee at all. Unboxed, plugged in, turned off the blazing lights on the unit, set at a reasonable level, and forget about it. Tucked out of the way, it just does what it does, without adding any negative aspects to the picture.

I use my Darbee off the output of my AVR, which has no video processing - just pass-through. No sync issues, drop outs, etc.

If you can get a Darbee with a return option, it is well worth the potential loss of a couple of bucks postage to return the unit if you don't like it or it doesn't add what you thought it should. If you can get one for the promotional pricing that has recently been offered by several vendors, even better.

Most AVS discussions eventually ending up evolving around the issue of what is the "best" pq. Camps include the "director intent" devotees; detail lovers; and technology promoters.

My guess is that the Darbee will appeal to the detail lovers most. YMMV.

I've owned the Darbee since September. Love it.

Got a question, though...

So I know that we're supposed to put our Darblet at the end of the chain, though I don't know why. I was wondering...

I'm getting an HD-PVR that's HDMI capable, switching out my one that can only accept component in/out. If I put the Darblet before the PVR in the chain, would that allow me to capture footage with the processing being active in the footage itself? I don't really know if that makes sense or not.

For instance, many people here are having trouble showing before and after tests without taking a picture with their cameras. Can I use a PVR to show the before and after effects, provided that I put the Darblet ahead in the chain?


Here's basically what I would do...

PS3/Cable Box --> (HDMI) --> Receiver --> (HDMI/DVI) --> HDMI/DVI converter box --> (DVI/HDMI) --> Darblet --> (HDMI) --> HD-PVR --> (HDMI) --> HDTV

As opposed to everything being the same but changing the end so it looks like...

--> HD-PVR--> (HDMI) --> Darblet --> (HDMI) --> HDTV


So I guess my two questions are:

1) Would this switch have any adverse side effects by not having the Darblet at the end of the chain?
2) Will I be able to capture the Darblet in action when I capture footage? So like, could I make a YouTube video that would give off the before and after effects with the Darblet?

Thanks in advance.




Oh and for those who are wondering, I need the HDMI/DVI converter box to bypass the HDCP encryption on the PS3 so I can use HDMI to capture footage with the HD-PVR. I my not have my lingo down when I said all of that, but you can look it up and see what I mean.
Edited by muffinmcfluffin - 12/13/12 at 1:22pm

Xbox 360 issues.

Just got a darblet and installed it between a lumagen mini and jvc rs50 fp. All of my sources (oppo 95, directv hddvr) worked well without issues except my Xbox 360 which I believe experienced handshake issues. No trouble initially but while playing for only 30 minutes had 3 episodes of black screen, each lasting a couple of seconds. Any suggestions?

Thanks

It's in a small room. I sit only 9-10ft away, hence the reason I run a smaller screen (than most).

If I only had my 32" LCD/LED, I would Still have bought a darbee. In fact, the darbee is used mostly on the 32" 'cos that is what I watch most. I only power up the PJ for movies. I have only 1 darbee. I use a HDMI switcher > darbee > 1x2 splitter. My receiver has no HDMI capability.

My Mits HC3800 cost about $1000 new, and came with a extra free lamp (special offer at the time). That was about 3 years ago. I ended up with an electric 80" gray screen from focupix, was just under $300 at the time (cheaper now). Didn't need electric, but it was the only choice in the screen size and material I wanted (.9 gain gray). There are of course much cheaper options for screens, including just using your wall

The HC4000 is the newer version and you can still get them a little above $1k new, no new lamp offers though.

Set up certainly takes time, from mounting the PJ, alignment to the screen, screen mounting (if needed), to calibrating the PJ (much more important and needed than a flatscreen)....of course to me it's WAY worth it in the end.

Thing is, we always want to upgrade. As good as my HC3800 PJ is, as sharp as it is (pretty good glass lens for the price, and DLP's tend to be the sharpest), there is always better. High end DLP projectors (like $10k+) have lenses costing $2k-$3k, and they are just a bit sharper/clearer. But when I got the darbee, the difference was like having that high end PJ lens , all for only about $300 And as mentioned many times by myself, even on the 32" LCD, from 10ft, the difference is very very noticeable. I'd have the darbee just for that. In fact, if I couldn't get a 1x2 HDMI splitter to work (so that I could use just 1 darbee), i would have bought ANOTHER darbee just for that 32" LCD/LED !! Yes, I would have paid another $300 just to have it on my 32" tv.

That should tell you something.
Edited by fleaman - 12/13/12 at 10:16am

I purchased the Darbee. Received it yesterday and I have just installed.

Everything seems installed OK. The red light powered on, the blue came on when blu-ray player turned on. There is a flashing yellow/green light inside the Darbee.

A movie and sound are all on and working perfectly.

Now the problem: When pushing the remote the red light flickers BUT nothing else happens. When trying the On/Off, the Up. The Down, the Menu buttons, nothing happens.

I unplugged the Darbee to see if that would reset the device. The red, flickering and the blue lights came on but as before, nothing else works. I manually pushed the buttons on the Darbee and nothing

I e-mailed Darbee but who knows when they will reply.

You have any thoughts?

Do you see the Darbee Icon and present setting on the screen? When you first turn it on it's set to "POP" mode at 100%. (Or 120 can't remember) And the Icon stays on the screen. All that can be changed in settings, but you should see it out of the box.
Also, is it going directly from the bluray player to the TV, and the TV has the correct input selected. (I know you can see and hear the picture, but depending on people's set-up you might see a device like a blu-ray from more than one input)

People have problems with it put in HDMI 1 (the ARC input). Try it with something else like HDMI 2.

No Darbee Icon

From the Blu to the TV

Movie is playing, audio is on

My Blu is connected to HDMI2

Darbee is going to change it out.

They have just sent me a FedEx return label, But I have asked them if I could stop by and do an exchange. I am about 20 miles from them.

I am waiting their answer

could be an issue with the hdmi cable from the xbox. how long is it?

Hopefully soon. I really am waiting in anticipation:eek:. will it be that good. Then I read Kris Deerings review and if anything this guy doesn't pull punches. I felt calmed;)

Hey Jim - you got my unit! Boy, that was quick.

Is your TV the Sharp Pro Elite LCD/LED? Are you running it through your receiver (any video processing?) I had the exact same problem you had. But from one poster, here, it looks like it doesn't work with the "ARC" HDMI input - - which is what I have with my Sammy set (HDMI 2 is my "ARC").

It would have been nice to know that prior to installation.

Good luck - - I hope it works for you.

With the Darbee, you'd now be able more detailing of hair, lashes, etc. Pictures look great, but could look Greater!

After first installing, it did not work

I unplugged Darbee and then started it back up hoping that it would re-set, nothing.

I shut down my entire system: TV, receiver, AVR, everything. I then turned all back on, still no Darbee.

Darbee (the company said that I could physically return the unit at their office in Santa Ana (50 miles from my home). I started to disconnect the Darbee to return it tomorrow but before I did, I turned everything on one more time. And all of a sudden, Darbee started working. Haven't a clue as to why but it is now working.

No I haven't ordered the Elite yet. I have a 55" Samsung 8000.

My Blu's video runs direct to the TV plugged into Samsung's HDMI2. Audio runs from the player to the AVR. The Darbee is between the player and the TV.

A mystery??????


m

All right everyone.. I'm interested. I recently purchased a Panny 65" VT50 that I am very happy with. The one thing that I notice is that some content/channels don't seem very clear or sharp and some channels are as "crisp" as can be, (there seems to be different qualities of HD). I have read that this is fairly characteristic of the VT50 paired with the DirecTV. My previous TV was a "entry level" Samsung Plasma that seemed more consistent with the picture quality. I have heard that Samsungs have better built in video processors, it might also be a symptom of going from 58" to 65" as well. It sounds like the Darblet might bring a universal crispness back to my TV. I also considering getting a new AVR with a VP in it. Thoughts on a Darblet vs a Onkyo NR818? I realize the prices are way different but my current receiver(Onkyo 607) is not 3D so I will eventually have to upgrade my receiver anyway. The TV is getting a "pro" calibration from Best Buy next week for free since I am a Premier Silver member there.

A couple logistics questions. My DTV receiver and Receiver are in a different room, I assume the remote is IR and I wont be able to adjust it while watching the TV, correct?

I run all my video sources(DTV, PS3, Apple TV) through my Onkyo and the Onkyo HDMI to my TV, will this be an issue? I guess the optimal place to put the Darblet would be between the Onkyo and TV?

I appreciate any insight you guys give me here. Also where did most people purchase theirs? Where did the infamous "black friday" sale take place? I will ask them to honor their BF price, never hurts to ask!

Thanks again, look forward to getting answers on this.

You need to find the thread for your panny and live there for awhile.

First thing to ask is should you get the cal from BB.

Then duck.

I did ask, most people said that it wasn't the best but it would be a good start. I have actually found a local guy that I am prepared to pay to get a more complete calibration.

I have been on the VT50 thread quite a bit. Haven't seem much of a mention if the Darblet there.

I asked the same questions there as well.

That's good, you're keeping yourself informed.

Thanks for your input.

I guess I'll ask the question I had before but much, much briefer...

Is there anything against putting the Darblet before my HD-PVR in the chain? Will it simply not work, or can I do it without a problem?