Question about Faroudja video processor

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

I'm looking for a DVD player to use with my Toshiba 26HF84 and am
trying to decide whether to get (for now) a machine in the CDN$100
price range such as a Zenith ZND400 or (for 3x the price) something
like the Samsung HD-841 (dvi) or HD-941 (hdmi) deck with the
Faroudja chip.

These have phenomenal video clarity, if I can believe
the advertising hype, because they supposedly "upgrade"
the dvd video signal to HD quality.

However, there's already circuitry in my TV to upconvert
the input video signal -- is it worth spending 3x the money,
ie, will I notice any difference in video quality?

Sean

ps. I'm also wondering whether I'll notice any difference
in video quality between the cheap RCA component video cables
and a $100 set.

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

"Sean" <no.spam@no.spam> wrote in message news:41602F54.FF3CAE29@no.spam...
> I'm looking for a DVD player to use with my Toshiba 26HF84 and am
> trying to decide whether to get (for now) a machine in the CDN$100
> price range such as a Zenith ZND400 or (for 3x the price) something
> like the Samsung HD-841 (dvi) or HD-941 (hdmi) deck with the
> Faroudja chip.
>
> These have phenomenal video clarity, if I can believe
> the advertising hype, because they supposedly "upgrade"
> the dvd video signal to HD quality.
>
> However, there's already circuitry in my TV to upconvert
> the input video signal -- is it worth spending 3x the money,
> ie, will I notice any difference in video quality?
>
> Sean
>
> ps. I'm also wondering whether I'll notice any difference
> in video quality between the cheap RCA component video cables
> and a $100 set.

Sean,

Given that your set is only 26" I do not think you will see any difference
using an upscaling DVD player unless you sit REALLY close to the set. I
think just a "regular" DVD player that has progressive output will give you
great quality.

As far as cables go you can pick up a decent pair of component video cables
at Walmart. Don't buy $100 Monster cables as that will be overkill.

By the way, the Samsung HD-841 does not use the Faroudja chip. The HD-931
(on the market right now) and the HD-941 (not yet available, numerous
delays) do use the Faroudja chip. The 941 also adds support for DVD-Audio
and Super Audio CD playback.

Brad

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

I can tell you that on my Hitachi 57T600 I did not notice a difference
with the Samsung HD-841, however the Hitachi has raved 1080i
upconverter/scaling technology built in. I returned the Samsung and
decided to keep my existing (non-HD) progressive scan DVD player.

I know a bit about Toshiba's rear-projection sets (I don't know the
specs on on your model). With their rear-projection sets, the "HX"
(Cinema) line is their high-end offerings and these sets feature a
quality 1080i scaler, so you probably won't notice much difference. The
standard "H" series doesn't feature the same quality scaler (I don't
believe they have scaling at all, only line doubling), so there you
should notice a difference.

The other factor here is the DVI cable option. By using this you are
avoiding any loss and quality between the player and the set, if you do
buy this player, be sure and utilize the DVI option.

The primary use of scaling technology is to assist SD content.
Understand that scaling/upconverting (what he Faroudja chip does),
isn't actually giving you true HD quality. It's taking the standard
definition source which is usually 3-4x lesser quality than HD and it's
scaling that to HD 1080i then it applies filters to image (each frame)
to try and soften it up and make it look better, this is the same
technique the local networks apply when they show non-HD content on
their HD channels (when you watch the nightly news or Late Night With
David Letterman). Every HD set should be equipment with a 1080i
upconverter, but these devices aren't cheap and technically you odn't
need one to display SD content.

DVD content is ually 480p (704x480 progressive), it's about twice the
quality of SD TV so applying scaling technology to a DVD image will be
less impressive. It's better to have the scaler built into the
television or to go with a external AV reciver that has the Faroudja
built in so you can apply it to everything.

Lastly, HD-DVD and Blu-Ray devices will be out in 2005. This means,
true HD movies on DVD are just around the corner. I believe the HD-DVD
standard is backwards compatible. I'm sure at least one manufactuer
will build a device that provides scaling technology for non-HD DVD
movies, better to wait and get a device than can display true HD
movies, not just scale up existing ones.