Cheaper Component to S-Video Converter - Page 8

Indeed, that was me. I thought I covered the bases fairly well. I also reviewed a DVI/HDMI adapter, but declined to review a component cable set.

I have discovered a problem with the Audio Authority converter. Sometimes I get a sort of horizontal shear - the picture is slightly offset, above and below a horizontal line. The line may move up or down for a bit. The effect doesn't last long. In trying to dub one movie through the converter, on the first dub, it happened about an hour in, happened a few times in about ten minutes, then didn't happen again. On the second attempt to dub, it happened at about 20 minutes in. A check of the source recording on the DVR showed no problems. These dubs were done from 480i>480p from the DVR, with the AA converter switched to "underscan."

I tried the dub a third time, with the AA converter set to "overscan," and found no problems with the dub. So, I don't really know if the underscan being switched on, or using a 480i source, had anything to do with it, that may just be coincidence. I'll keep an eye on future dubs, and report if I can be more definitive about the cause of the problem.

kjbawc, I don't seem to have that trouble with the Atlona,but is it possible that your converter is having trouble displaying certain aspect ratios? It may be worthwhile to check the AR's of your different recordings to see if there's any correlation. Why not try feeding your converter a 720p signal? Iv'e never had a problem with that resolution,but iv'e never tried 480p cuz iv'e no reason to since (other than TCM) most of my recordings come from HD channels,and i like to watch in HD while recording in SD.I think it's kind of interesting that changing the over/underscan setting makes a difference. I think i'll play around with my converter to see if i can reproduce what your seeing. G.

I'm not certain that changing the overscan/underscan setting to underscan is causing the problem, but I think it might. I've wondered how it could work - does it drop some lines? It's just a converter, not a display, so I don't know how it can reduce the size of a picture. I have set it to overscan, and will look to see if I have the problem again.

Well, anyway, I did remember that one of the first recordings I made had this offset/shear problem, and that was from a 720p output from a HD channel, so I don't think 480p is the problem. I did successfully rerecord that one too. My display is 720p native, so my DVR outputs at 720p, except SD recordings, which I like to output at 480i, if they are letterboxed, so I can zoom them.

Bumped up for AzA...

Shinybow originally was going to release it's converter on 6/30/10 but set the date back to 11/30/10. It wasn't released then either. The last time i visited their website it wasn't shown at all, so i guess it won't be released anytime soon,if ever.

There are other converters though. I bought mine from Atlona Technologies,it has a built in "feature" that is a little annoying,but the PQ is exellent,and has an HD passthru which i like a lot,and use every day.
There is also one from Audio Authority that member "kjbawc" can tell you about. Then there is the el-cheapo Lenkeng converter that you can buy from MP. It doesn't have a passthru,and your PQ may or may not be to your liking,but some people swear by them...others swear AT them,really the only thing it has going for it is that it is CHEAP $45.00+/- but, AFAIK has no manufacturers warranty at all,but MP will return your $$ if you aren't happy with it if it's returned within 30 days and, (if you wait long enough, you might be able to get one free as a prize in a Capt.Crunch cereal box,or a CrackerJacks box!!(just kidding)). There is also the Ambrey converter,dunno anything about it except it only has a 6mo. warranty and has the same built-in "feature" as the Atlona converter,costs $209.00,and has an HD passthru.There is also the Apple tv converter,it accepts 480i,and costs $199.00. Some of these converters will not accept a 480i signal,some will. My Atlona will accept 480p,720p,and 1080i but not 480i,which to me is a non-issue.The Atlona converter carries a 3yr.repair or replace warranty. I bought mine from a reseller at Amazon.If i remember right,it cost me about $212.00+/- incl. shipping. It's normal retail price is $279.00. G.

I find that my Monoprice converter is better than the one I got directly from Lenkeng. The picture is a bit sharper and brighter. It is a bit different build, having, IIRC, a composite/S-Vid switch not on the Lenkeng model.

Pure speculation on my part, but I wonder if Lenkeng didn't tweak the design a bit, and perhaps use a better grade of component parts for the Monoprice units. One thinks that if the failure rate was as high for the Monoprice ones as was reported here for the Lenkeng ones, Monoprice would drop them pretty quick. So, maybe Lenkeng shaped up for prime time.

Or it could be,as Wajo noticed,that the MP version is 2amp?,whereas the converters coming directly from Lenkeng were only 1?amp. maybe the extra amperage is helping? Anyway,as far as whether MP continues to sell them or not,only time will tell.I'd expect MP to offer them for quite a while yet,cuz i "think"it takes a while for sales results to show definitive trends and MP hasn't been selling them long enough to tell. G.

A lot of people reported that their Lenkengs didn't work at all. Monoprice has been selling them for a few months. If they had been failing to perform, and coming back in droves, I bet they would have been pulled by now.

Also most people tend to leave reviews if they have problems with a product. The fact that MP only has 2 reviews(mine and Kjbawc's) maybe most people are satisfied? Just a thought.

I think it will all boil down to sales vs. returns. If,as "kjbawc" says,about upgrading their FW/using higher grade parts et al,then HOORAY for Lenkeng, maybe the MP converter
will be a good one,and people will get good value. Hope so!

On another note,it probably won't be tooo much longer til the analog outputs on our Sat./cable stb's can be disabled. From what i read,the new BD players already come with the FW to do this. The disabling is supposedly restricted to new movie releases (HDMI only),but i'm guessing that the disabling of analog outputs will creep into just about everything else we watch, eventually. So my question is: Does anyone think it might be smart to think about getting an HDMI>Component video converter while they can still be easily gotten? You can buy the HDFURY 2&3 at MP. The #2 model sells for $120.00 and #3 sells for $180.00. If/when closing the analog outputs becomes a problem,people will be needing these converters.If that happens,they may become scarce,and the $$$ might skyrocket.They could even be pulled from the market due to legal problems. What do y'all think? Any thoughts? Am i being paranoid? I sure would like to hear some thoughts about this from y'all! G.

Check again. I don't think you can buy them now.

I agree the availability of the HDFury may be limited, kind of like what happened to Sima It probably wouldn't hurt to purchase one if you needed HD component or I guess even composite(in the case of newer BR players lacking such outputs).

edit: as Nocturnal said I don't see that MP sells the HDFury anymore
You can purchase component to HDMI but nothing from HDMI to anything else.....is the analog hole being closed....

My gosh! They were there just a day or two ago,and was kicking around the idea of buying one. I just emailed MP asking about when a new batch might arrive.I hope they'll be getting a new batch. Those buggers must be selling like hotcakes!!! G.

[quote=jjeff;19817437]I agree the availability of the HDFury may be limited, kind of like what happened to Sima It probably wouldn't hurt to purchase one if you needed HD component or I guess even composite(in the case of newer BR players lacking such outputs).

jjeff,with component cables coming from the HDFURY output >component>c/sv converter,then s video cable to rear of dvdr,is my idea for it's use. G.

I thought I saw a version of the HDFury that went straight from HDMI to composite/S-video but maybe I was confused. Your idea would work but if you could get one quality device that did it all, it might give you better picture quality than separate devices.

jjeff,i believe your thinking about the original HDFURY,that was HDMI>RGBHV.

As for one device doing it all...i wouldn't hold my breath for such a thing.Anyway,the Comp.video>c/sv converter would still be necessary for cp issues. As far as PQ is concerned,every user report i have read says that the PQ from the HDFURY is super excellent,NO noticeable degradation of PQ.In fact,iv'e NEVER read a user report that was anything short of "glowing". If all those user reports are right (iv'e read a lot of them) then the weak link will be the Comp.video>c/sv converter. If a person has a marginal converter,then the PQ will certainly be compromised due to the limitations of that particular converter.But if you have a really good converter,then your PQ may not suffer nearly as much.Maybe not at all. You would have the usual loss due to downrezzing from an HD source, but beyond that,no noticeable PQ loss. If your source is SD,then i could probably expect a recording (in SP mode) to look pretty much match the the source in PQ. G.

I was thinking the same thing as you (for a use of the HDfury), but then again if I can't record HD content from the component out there isn't much to gain.
I can just use the 480i out of the bluray player and record it OR am I missing something?

Now matching the HDFury3 with
http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr.html
then recording that file onto a DVD to play in a bluray player might work nicely. OR just save it to a usb hard drive to play on a player that can play those files.

But newer BR players are beginning to not have component or even composite outputs and apparently the older ones that do have those outputs have the ability to be disabled by the BR disc. It called the analog hole and it's being closed, hence the need for something like the HDFury.
Of course DVDs on a DVD player are fine but how much longer do you think new commercial movies will be put on DVD......I'd give it less than 5 years, remember VHS?

If I am not mistaken, the only thing that will happen is you won't be able to watch high resolution HD material except for the hdmi port. The other ports will be open but at a much lower resolution - lower than 720p.
I think DVD and Bluray will die together, the profit margin on DVD is probably fairly high at this point as the discs and machines to make the discs have all been paid for.

Unless you have a big screen tv, there isn't a big difference between DVD and Bluray on PQ in most cases. That wasn't the case with VHS and DVD. The only real advantage for bluray over DVD on most 40" and under sets is the extras on the disc, HD sound (if you have the receiver), and ability to do interactive online. Of course 3D, if that interests you.

Google "selective output control".There is a flag that Hollywood said it will not enable until 2011 or 2012. It's now 2011. And they CAN disable all analog outputs on Sat/cable stb's. I have to read more about this,but what i have read so far says that the FCC has already given Hollywood the green light to enable that "flag". Hollywood says they will only do this on newly released movies,but i am afraid that,that will only be the beginning.A foot in the door,so to speak. There is still time to study this issue though. My pants aren't on fire yet!!! I have read that they can choose to downrez the resolution to 480i from analog ports OR totally disable the analog ports,but i don't know which reasons will be used to do either.What i DO know is, that either way i'll probably still need something like the HDFURY cuz my Comp.vid.>s vid converter won't accept a 480i signal only 480p,720p,or 1080i. G.

Let me ask this, will one of the newer audio receivers (that accept HDMI in), accept HDMI in but let you use the component out to the tv (or recorder)?
And if they do would the CP be gone?
I know they will take a component in and let you use HDMI out.

If so I'd much rather do that than the fury

I"d try it, but my receiver isn't that new - hence the question LOL

AFAIK no AVR is allowed to transcribe HDMI>Component video,so no it won't work,and HDMI>composite video/s video isn't possible. My AVR is only 1&1/2 yrs.old. G.

Well that sucks, what about if you have an older tv yet want the new HD audio and a bluray player?

Is the added expense of the HDFury3 worth it?

Older non-HDMI tv's is the very reason the HDFURY was made.Is it worth it? I guess it is if you want to watch HD programming. G.

But are the differences between the HDFury2 and the HDFury3 worth it? Or will the HDFury2 do everything needed for just a HDMI - tv situation?

Go to www.hdfury.com there you will see the diff.models that they have. Click on the HDFURY2 & HDFURY3 and you can read for yourself what they are all about. All the specs. are there for all the diff.models. They are both HDMI 1.3? compliant,and are FULLY HDCP COMPLIANT and provide the needed "handshake"required to display an image. They're complicated little buggers. I know that there are diff. kinds of of HDMI>component video converters but,after having read lots of user reports (when available) on these diff. converters,the only one i would consider buying is the HDFURY 2 OR 3. Some of the other converters don't work at all,others,barely so. Iv'e also read LOTS of user reports on the HDFURY and EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM has nothing but the highest of praise for them. Also,there are some that will only pass non-encrypted video,so be aware of those makes and models. G.

HDFURY series discontinued,no replacement date set yet. It might be getting harder to get these things,i hope MP comes thru with at least one more batch. G.

Just order direct from hdfury, at least while they are still available.

I must wait a few days before i'll be able to order,but i'll probably get one while the gettin's good. This little device is, i believe, the answer to the eventual closing of the analog "hole." I think that at some point these little buggers may become really scarce,and if you can find one you'll PAY BIG TIME. I could be wrong about future availability of course. Only time will tell.I'm not prescient. When i think about this,i remember what happened to the Sima video filter,and just remembering it is enough to make me want to get one EARLY. But the fact that these converters are fully HDCP compliant may make it quite a bit harder to take them off the market since they do honor and pass copy protection,therefore hollywood won't be able to make a case against them so easily,unlike the Sima or other such devices. G.