Quote:
Originally Posted by
Clark Burk 
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JazzGuyy
You may well see improvements with DVDs depending on how your system is configured. Panasonics from that range were notoriously poor at de-interlacing and the 103 would do much better job unless you are currently already outputting everything from your devices at 720p or 1080p and thereby avoiding any upscaling being done by the Panny. What the 103 would give you is the ability to plug your DVR and XBox into it and use it for video processing. If your current receiver is doing your video processing and you are happy with it, then the previous advice about sticking with what you have would apply.
He's using a DMP-BDT500 which is their latest high end blu ray player. Very good SD playback. True about the DVR and XBox into the HDMI inputs. I would save up for an upgrade on the TV or AVR. The new VT50's are big step up from his current plasma. Sorry about the side track. Back to discussion of the awesome 103!!
Thank you both, Clark & Jazz. Appreciate your replies. As the Pio SC05 was 2nd highest AVR at its time, that is staying for awhile. The plasma may someday get replaced, if or when I can get a real job again, and top priority. I don't use it for any scaling, everything sent to it is via HDMI out of the SC05, which in turn does no processing on the HDMI signals coming into it from the DVR or Xbox, which is already sent as 1080i (DVR) and 1080p (Xbox).
What my true questions should really be:
1) would I see a huge ($200 worth) difference in DVD upscaling benefit buying the 103 over the Panny 500?
2) would I see any major PQ difference with the HDMI signals passing through my SC05 (for HDMI switching) to the 103 via the AVR's HDMI out, and then from the 103 to the tv? Wondering if the QDEO chip would even touch those signals, as they are already in the 1080 range? Maybe the DVR's 1080i made into 1080p perhaps? Or maybe setting both to the 480 range, and let the 103 do the upscaling?
3) does the QDEO chip do any processing on the streaming output like NetFlix, VuDu, or others?
To put it somewhat into perspective - awhile back during the HD DVD vs BD days, I had an LG combo player. It had a QDEO chip in it. The PQ was mind blowing, jaw dropping. Instant love. But that player was junk, buggy as hell, so sadly dumped it. No other player had the QDEO chip in it, and only when I got the Pio Elite 23fd did the PQ come close. But now that stopped being able to play a lot of the latest released BD movies (still plays all my older ones though). I used my PS3 for awhile, but wanted better. Trouble is, I want the 103, but alas, am more at the Panny 500 budget at the moment. And if there is no huge benefits for that extra $200 price difference, then will stay where I am for now. Just have to say that in the past, that QDEO chip was amazing, and why I like your 103's.
