[briansxx]

I'm not sure that too many people care about this issue, but I was calling Optoma tech support about an unrelated issue, and I threw in a question about the HD 70 8-bit/10-bit confusion (the European press release claims dual-channel 10-bit color processing). The answer was a little surprising. Apparently, both units use the same color processing chip, but it's implemented 8-bit for the US market, 10-bit for the European.


Go figure!


Best,


Brian

 

[facsbrat]

That reminds me of the old 386 and 486 PC computer chips where they had two flavors, one with a math co-processor and one without. The chips were all manufactured the same way but the math co-processor was disabled on the cheaper unit.


I think Optoma did that to differentiate the HD70 from the HD72 or HD73 projectors, otherwise the HD70 would really cannibalize the high end sales. Maybe they get a better price on the chip if they only use 8 bit, who knows?


Silly isn't it!

 

[briansxx]

I just had a call from Optoma to say that the HD 70 is 10 bit color and that there was some confusion as a result of pre-release material about the projector. I hope to have a definitive statement from Optoma about this in the next day or two and I will post it when I do.


Best,


Brian

 

[martymoose]

This is interesting, since many HD-70 reviews account for the contouring artifacts as produced by the 8 bit versus 10 bit processing. We look forward to Opt's explanation!

 

[Ryan Peddle]

From what I know and have read the Optoma HD70 is 8-bit via HDMI and 10-bit via component.


I have my Toshiba HD-A2 connected to my HD70 via HDMI and always found the picture outstanding but certain times and certain types of scenes I would notice colour banding. Especially in dark scenes with a light source, like a flashlight. It is most noticable in flesh tones. When somebody has a rosey cheek and the colour has to change from flesh to rose, I usually always notice a hard gradient.

So I started doing some research thinking that the was a resolution issue with my HDDVD player or the software in general. But it turns out that it was the projector and its 8-bit processor when connected via HDMI. So I did a test and changed over to component, which is supposedly a 10-bit processor. Low and behold all the colour banding was gone.


So I urge all users of the HD70 to try switching over to component and see how much more dazzling the PQ is.

 

[gwlaw99]

Most of the problems are actually associated with the truevivid setting. Turning it off helps a lot.

 

[guitarman]



Quote:
Originally Posted by gwlaw99 /forum/post/11759859


Most of the problems are actually associated with the truevivid setting. Turning it off helps a lot.

Good info, True vivid adds contrast seperation of dark to light. Actually it can look very good at times and add the contrast it's meant to do. Also correct that the projector is at 10bit for all analog connections. Will you see something awful with HDMI probably not. When I used the HD70 I used HDMI for HD-DVD and component for HDTV TV, SD TV. Everything looked fine to me. No complaints here.

 

[CMRA]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan Peddle /forum/post/11758357


So I urge all users of the HD70 to try switching over to component and see how much more dazzling the PQ is.

And to think I urged others to try component way back only to be informed HDMI exceeds 8 bit per channel support. Obviously, the display matters.

 

[Ryan Peddle]



Quote:
Originally Posted by gwlaw99 /forum/post/11759859


Most of the problems are actually associated with the truevivid setting. Turning it off helps a lot.

I'll take a look at my settings. I usually try not to use an additional processing provided my the manufacturers. I have always felt that tweaking of the traditional settings can provide you with the same results without all the additional problems.

 

[Ryan Peddle]



Quote:
Originally Posted by CMRA /forum/post/11763364


And to think I urged others to try component way back only to be informed HDMI exceeds 8 bit per channel support. Obviously, the display matters.

It definitely does. I would prefer to use HDMI as that is how all my wiring was set up, but if I cannot get the desired result, it will be back to component permanently for me.

 

[Bud-man]

I use VGA for my HTPC, HDMI for my D1, component for HD Cable and a HD-DVD player.

My Yamaha Reciever only can add 2 component inputs.