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Is there any reason to buy Moome's input card and Mike Parker's transcoder?

449 Views 2 Replies 3 Participants Last post by mp20748, Dec 21, 2005

Jeff Smith

Discussion Starter · Dec 21, 2005

I have a 9500LC with Mike's mods. I want to add a DirecTivo HD recorder and am undecided between keeping my HTPC vs an upgrading DVD player.

Mike suggested I get his transcoder, but that I also get the Moome card because it is not that expensive.

Will these work together, or do they always use seperate PJ inputs? Moome's becomes one of the inputs...doesn't it?

I understand Moome's may help protect me from HDCP issues if DirecTV has to downgrade their HD content. If this is correct, I want it, but then do I need Mike's?

The main reason to buy Mike's was to get the DirecTivo HD into my PJs RGBHV, but if I have to run the Tivo through Moome's anyway, and I'm happy with my HTPC, have I wasted Mike's, since it only outputs RGBHV (I think)?

Mark Haflich likes Mike's because he says it doesn't just transcode, it improves the image. I know everything Mike has done for me has been worth it, but I don't want to spend $700 and then discover I can't use the transcoder a year down the road.

I do not want to spend the money for a scaler...to much to afford at today's prices.

Also, Will Moome's card take 2 inputs (DVD player and Tivo)?

I don't want to scale the Tivo HD, just run it as is.

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Person99

· #2 · Dec 21, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Smith
Will these work together, or do they always use seperate PJ inputs? Moome's becomes one of the inputs...doesn't it?

Moome's card will become one of the inputs. Mike's transcoder will feed your RGBHV input.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Smith
I understand Moome's may help protect me from HDCP issues if DirecTV has to downgrade their HD content. If this is correct, I want it, but then do I need Mike's?

Moome's and others let you hook up HDCP protected digital connections to your PJ. Moome's also has a component input side. Mike's is a component to RGBHV transcoder. You could use Moome's component side instead of Mike's, or you could use Mike's. The main reason to have Mike's in addition to Moome's would be if you feel the component transcoding is superior to Moome's (and superior enough that you can see the difference).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Smith
Mark Haflich likes Mike's because he says it doesn't just transcode, it improves the image. I know everything Mike has done for me has been worth it, but I don't want to spend $700 and then discover I can't use the transcoder a year down the road.

No one can say that HD component output will not be available in the future. We know the industry wants to move that way. However, today there are a number of component HD sources including STBs and D-VHS along with just a few upscaling DVD players. There are of course more DVI/HDMI HD sources available and coming, but also, no guarantee Moome's device will work in the future.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Smith
I do not want to spend the money for a scaler...to much to afford at today's prices.

Although a scaler is a good thing, a scaler will not help you get HDCP DVI/HDMI sources to your PJ.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Smith
Also, Will Moome's card take 2 inputs (DVD player and Tivo)?

Moome's card will take two inputs:

1 x DVI-D

1 x Component

If you need more DVI-D/HDMI or component inputs, you will have to switch external to the card. Mike's supports 2 component inputs.

Hope this helps.

Dave

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mp20748

· #3 · Dec 21, 2005

Jeff,

I made that recommedation based on what both Clarence and I witnessed at his house the last time I was there. With the MP-5 and Moome's DVI unit, you could possibly have the best of both worlds:

-------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clarence
We compared moome's IFB's component input vs MP's MP5 and the MP5 still wears the crown.

But I got the moome for the DVI input, not for component. Since the MP5 doesn't do DVI, the moome clearly wins there.

I ordered a 20' DVI cable, so once it comes in, I'll be able to do a full suite of A/B/C comparisons.

Once it's calibrated after Thanksgiving, I'll have another open house and have everyone see the differences and post their impressions.

I've finally got the cabling configured for my wife. I even used a label maker to label the buttons on the G90 remote and on the audio system...

- Input A: Snazzio for hidef files from the HTPC and upscaled DVDs

- Input B: DVHS

- Input C: HD cable DVR

For instant comparisons at the open house, it works really well to toggle with the remote between A/B. My HD cable DVR has both component and DVI outputs, so I can feed the same signal into any transcoder and into one of the DVI converters (moome or dtrovision) at the same time, and then repeatedly switch between the two in a split second.

This technique leaves nothing to memory... seeing the differences in the transcoders and converters is easy.

So I'll be able to instantly toggle between:

- MP5 component vs moome DVI

- MP5 component vs dtrovision DVI

And I've also got a mechanical component switcher, so we'll be able to instantly switch between 4 transcoders at a time:

- the G90's internal transcoder

- Mike's MP5

- my moome transcoder

- vdigi transcoder

- I have Cliff's Petr transcoder

- and I'm sure Bill Belcher will bring his KD transcoder again

And now that I finally have a wireless remote, Mike and I were able to do a decent convergence. And Mike helped me with a decent optical and EM focus today.

I think it's time for some new screenshots...

The good news is that all of these inputs looks sweet on this G90. (yeah, I know... I suck

)

Get the Moome for now. The MP-5's will not be available until February. I'll need January to start back with the Marquee mods and 1292 fix.

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