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DARBEE Cobalt

post #1 of 31
1/8/13 at 7:16am
Thread Starter 
Info from CES 2012. Darbee has released an "economy" Darbee. It appears it is exclusive to Solid Signal...

Quote:
The Cobalt will be a lower-end version of the Darblet, providing enhancement to HDMI 1.3-compliant signals only. That means that 3D images will not be enhanced. On the upside, there's expected to be a lower price point which will translate out to a lot more appeal to the general public.

The Cobalt will work with any HDMI device and provide the same sort of enhancement that the original Darblet did. That means that everything will look better, more dimensional and more interesting, with one push of a button.

We predict great success for the Cobalt, because 3D at home has just not been the success that many people had hoped, so there isn't as much need for enhancement.

Prices for the Cobalt have yet to be announced but we're hoping that, just like the Darblet, we can be first on the scene with a "hands-on" review and first to bring it to you at Solid Signal!


Link:

Solid Signal
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post #2 of 31
1/8/13 at 9:15am
Moore's Law at work? Or is there some step down from the Darblett?
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post #3 of 31
1/8/13 at 12:09pm
Doesn't process 3D like Darblet. I doubt seriously Solid Signal is the only seller but just guessing.
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post #4 of 31
1/8/13 at 1:13pm
Solid Signal is accepting Pre-order of the Darbee Cobalt (D400) at $269 plus Shipping charge. Open box Darbee D500 is $259 (i.e. $10 lower than the D400). I wonder if go for the open box D500 or the new D400.
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post #5 of 31
1/12/13 at 7:57pm
What we need is a higher end Darbee, not lower end.
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post #6 of 31
1/13/13 at 8:04am
I think the D400 Cobalt has the same 2D processing as the D500. The only difference is lack of 3D processing. If do not need 3D processing, no need to buy something not to be used. But Open Box D500 would be a good buy because it is $10 cheaper than the new D400. Unless the Open Box D500 is refurblished one.
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post #7 of 31
1/13/13 at 12:20pm
Regardless, I like the blue plastic cover of the Cobalt over the original Darblet, though smile.gif
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post #8 of 31
1/13/13 at 12:29pm
I just purchased my 2nd Darbee, for my 47 LCD bedroom. Such an amazing product.
I was just thinking ..
... I wonder what would be like if you took one of the new UHD Oled displays..playing native 4k.., AND added the Darbee to it.

[😜
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post #9 of 31
1/13/13 at 5:58pm
Well, the Darbee can't take 4K signal
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post #10 of 31
1/27/13 at 10:35am
Does anyone know if the Cobalt will be field-upgradeable? I believe I read on the Darblet posts that Dr. Darbee said that any future products from Darbee Vision would be field upgradeable. I can't find the specific post where he said that but I found other posts that confirm that is what he said.

I am trying to decide between the Darblet and the Cobalt. If the Cobalt is field upgradeable I would prefer that as I don't intend to use the Darblet in a 3D setup at least initially. If not, I will go with the Darblet.

Scott
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post #11 of 31
1/27/13 at 11:57am
I'm interested to know too.

Also, when the Cobalt is sensing 3D signal, what will it do? just pass through the signal unprocessed? I will need several Cobalt IF the Cobalt will just pass though the 3D signal.
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post #12 of 31
3/3/13 at 3:17pm
I'm kind of excited about this one
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post #13 of 31
4/29/13 at 4:05pm
Not much activity in this thread !!

Anyone have a Cobalt out there??

Maybe Cobalt users are using the main Darbee Darblet thread for this.. I'm interested in getting a Cobalt for my bedroom system.. I have the Darblet for my main HT system and I really like it cool.gif
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post #14 of 31
4/30/13 at 8:33am
Just ordered one for my 80" 632 non-hd Sharp, should get it this weekend.
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post #15 of 31
4/30/13 at 8:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by GGG View Post

Just ordered one for my 80" 632 non-hd Sharp, should get it this weekend.

Nice, you'll love it !

What do you mean by 80" Sharp non-HD ??
The 632U Aquos is a 1080p set from 2011 !
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post #16 of 31
4/30/13 at 6:30pm
Non 3D.....oops
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post #17 of 31
5/4/13 at 11:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by GGG View Post

Non 3D.....oops

Gotcha ! Still nice big tv though !

How's the Cobalt worked out on it, for HD cable if you use that ?
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post #18 of 31
5/4/13 at 12:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by David Susilo View Post


Also, when the Cobalt is sensing 3D signal, what will it do? just pass through the signal unprocessed?


It will create a giant black hole in the middle of the Pacific Ocean wink.gif
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post #19 of 31
5/7/13 at 5:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by KBMAN View Post

It will create a giant black hole in the middle of the Pacific Ocean wink.gif

Boom - there it is
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post #20 of 31
5/7/13 at 5:20pm
Quote:
What we need is a higher end Darbee, not lower end.
The latest Lumagen Radiance 2021 might fit the bill integrating DVP with numerous other video processing capabilities.
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post #21 of 31
5/12/13 at 4:34pm
After 5 days of use, my general observations on the Cobalt with my Sharp 80"632:

Significant improvement in details & pop on sports content especially hockey, much harder to figure out settings on movies & general content tv shows.

All in all a bargain at $220, just hope it lasts, the 90 day warranty is pathetic, Darbee are you listening? Need to step up that warranty to a year.
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post #22 of 31
5/14/13 at 12:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by GGG View Post

After 5 days of use, my general observations on the Cobalt with my Sharp 80"632:

Significant improvement in details & pop on sports content especially hockey, much harder to figure out settings on movies & general content tv shows.

All in all a bargain at $220, just hope it lasts, the 90 day warranty is pathetic, Darbee are you listening? Need to step up that warranty to a year.

Nice, I knew you'd like it ! cool.gif

Not sure what to say about the warranty except that I don't think Darbee is in the end-consumer business for the long run. Imo they would prefer to license their IP in form of a chip or similar to go into other devices (projectors, AVRs etc.). I believe that's the long term plan imo.

BTW, I use Hi Def mode exclusively, between 40% and 60% depending on quality of content. For very clean BDs, I can even go up to 70-75% sometimes biggrin.gif
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post #23 of 31
5/21/13 at 7:30am
Any more user updates of the Darbee cobalt?
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post #24 of 31
5/24/13 at 5:53pm
Just got Cobalt for my non 3d TV. Everything is identical to the darblet except 3D and no fine adjustment. Adjustments in cobalt move +/- 5.
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post #25 of 31
5/25/13 at 3:53pm
Nakergy, does the corbalt's video quality match the Darblet's even the corbalt has limited adjustment?
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post #26 of 31
5/26/13 at 3:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nakenergy View Post

Just got Cobalt for my non 3d TV. Everything is identical to the darblet except 3D and no fine adjustment. Adjustments in cobalt move +/- 5.

Quote:
Originally Posted by kwok lau View Post

Nakergy, does the corbalt's video quality match the Darblet's even the corbalt has limited adjustment?



The processing in the Darblet and Cobalt is the same as the algorithms are the same in both components. The only difference is that the Darblet has HDMI 1.4 (3D) whereas the Cobalt has HDMI 1.3 (non-3D capable).

The question of fine adjustments (1%) vs. the standard 5% is a non-issue imo, the adjustment scale goes up to 120% or even 130% (don't quite remember which one), so making adjustments of 1% or 5% (not really % since the scale doesn't stop at 100, kinda misleading if you assume it ends at 100, because it sure doesn't) won't really make a difference at all. I would challenge anyone to try and see a difference in Darblet settings only 5% apart.. would be really hard to discern a noticeable difference in PQ.

If you don't use 3D, AND don't plan on using it in the future, then the Cobalt is the way to go considering the price difference between the two... processing and PQ will be exactly the same between the two. cool.gif
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post #27 of 31
5/26/13 at 3:35pm
^^^

And... the Cobalt casing is BLUE, much nicer that the grey on the Darblet imo. biggrin.gifcool.gif
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post #28 of 31
5/27/13 at 8:43am
Blue_one, thank for your advice. Have a safe Memorial day.
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post #29 of 31
5/27/13 at 8:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kwok lau View Post

Blue_one, thank for your advice. Have a safe Memorial day.

No problem, thx, same to you !
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post #30 of 31
5/28/13 at 6:57am
Quote:
The processing in the Darblet and Cobalt is the same as the algorithms are the same in both components. The only difference is that the Darblet has HDMI 1.4 (3D) whereas the Cobalt has HDMI 1.3 (non-3D capable).

The question of fine adjustments (1%) vs. the standard 5% is a non-issue imo, the adjustment scale goes up to 120% or even 130% (don't quite remember which one), so making adjustments of 1% or 5% (not really % since the scale doesn't stop at 100, kinda misleading if you assume it ends at 100, because it sure doesn't) won't really make a difference at all. I would challenge anyone to try and see a difference in Darblet settings only 5% apart.. would be really hard to discern a noticeable difference in PQ.

If you don't use 3D, AND don't plan on using it in the future, then the Cobalt is the way to go considering the price difference between the two... processing and PQ will be exactly the same between the two.

I agree. No difference between the Darblet and the Cobalt on the Darbee effect.
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