measuring quality loss when running video through your rec

[Pirate]

One of the things my new receiver has that my old one didn’t is the component output and inputs. I can run my PJ into my rec and then run two component wires out to two DVD players. This would save me from having to get a video splitter. Does anyone know if there’s a way to measure how much video quality you're losing by doing this? I have 4 DVD players (2 s-video, 2 component) and I'd love the ease of running it through my rec, but not at the expense of my picture.

-PH

[tomdkat]

I don't know if this has been measured but I haven't read any real complaints about video quality degredation when routing through an A/V receiver. I think the receiver might do a simple "pass-through" even though some do de-interlacing and/or upconversion, but don't quote me on that.

Peace...

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

One of the things my new receiver has that my old one didn’t is the component output and inputs. I can run my PJ into my rec and then run two component wires out to two DVD players. This would save me from having to get a video splitter. Does anyone know if there’s a way to measure how much video quality you're losing by doing this? I have 4 DVD players (2 s-video, 2 component) and I'd love the ease of running it through my rec, but not at the expense of my picture.

-PH

I'm confused....you run your PJ "into" your receiver...and "out" to dvd players? Not the other way around? Help me out fellow Z2'er!

[Pirate]

I'm confused....you run your PJ "into" your receiver...and "out" to dvd players? Not the other way around? Help me out fellow Z2'er!

At the moment, my main DVD player is running right to my PJ, but my new rec gives the ability to run the PJ to the component input on the rec and the rec has two outputs for two component DVD players. Acting as a video splitter.

Or...

DVD 1 & 2 -> Receiever

Receiver -> PJ

does that make sense?

-PH

[videoworx]

but my new rec gives the ability to run the PJ to the component input on the rec

that's just silly...

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

At the moment, my main DVD player is running right to my PJ, but my new rec gives the ability to run the PJ to the component input on the rec and the rec has two outputs for two component DVD players. Acting as a video splitter.

Or...

DVD 1 & 2 -> Receiever

Receiver -> PJ

does that make sense?

-PH

Ok.....may I ask why you need a video splitter and delegated the receiver to this task? 4 DVD players? I'm even more confused! But then...I'm always confused so don't take it personal!

[Dilmo]

Anytime you split a signal you will loose a little quality. How much depends on your hardware.

[I 8 Piglet]

Well technically your not spliting the signal (that would be using one source on two seperate displays), it would be two (or in this case four) seperate signals running into a device that chooses one an routes it to the output device.

From what I understand, theoretically, every time you break the cable (ie instead of one cable from the DVD to the PJ, you have one cable from DVD to switch and one cable from switch to PJ) your signal gets degraded. However, I have heard that there is not nearly enough signal loss to be noticable.

One thing though, I had rec running to my pj via svideo and my playstation running into my rec also via svideo. When I tried add my VCR via composite it wouldnt output any video. Apparently it wouldnt convert the composite signal to svideo.

I have actually been thinking about this alot. I will be replacing my receiver sooner or later. I would really like to be able to route my DVD player and my HD cable box through the receiver, and than route my receivers output to my switch so I will still have the abiliy to output it to both my projector and a direct view set that I have for routine viewing. This way I will be able to hit DVD and have the reciever and dvd player comeone, and have the right source automatically selected. Only thing is that Im not sure if two breaks in the line will produce a noticalbe signal degradation.

[Pirate]

Ok.....may I ask why you need a video splitter and delegated the receiver to this task? 4 DVD players? I'm even more confused! But then...I'm always confused so don't take it personal!

I run trailers on 1 DVD player and the show the feature on another. The splitter allows me to use 2 component dvd players. As you know the PJ only has one RGB input, so you need a splitter to use 2 DVD players.

-PH

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by I 8 Piglet

From what I understand, theoretically, every time you break the cable (ie instead of one cable from the DVD to the PJ, you have one cable from DVD to switch and one cable from switch to PJ) your signal gets degraded. However, I have heard that there is not nearly enough signal loss to be noticable.

So, if I run the component video from my DVD player into my A/V receiver and then run component video from the A/V receiver to the TV if the receiver amplifies the outbound video signal would the compensate for any signal degredation from the "cable break"? I don't know if the receivers boost any outbound video signals or not.

Peace...

[I 8 Piglet]

hm...Im not really sure, Im only reporting what I learned while searching for my component switch. I personally dont think there will be any noticable degridation.

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

I run trailers on 1 DVD player and the show the feature on another. The splitter allows me to use 2 component dvd players. As you know the PJ only has one RGB input, so you need a splitter to use 2 DVD players.

-PH

So to understand this whole goal of yours better, you run trailers and then switch to the main event? How exactly is that done? What manual intervention is required by you to switch from the trailers to the feature? Exactly, what do you have to do?

[Pirate]

ok, here goes...

This is all done with macros on my pronto remote.

1. I hit "TRAILERS" on my remote and the Trailers begin on DVD PLAYER #2 and rec switches to Video 1

2. Trailers finish and I hit "FEATURE" on my remote

3. That makes the rec change to DVD and DVD PLAYER #1 un-pauses and begins the feature film.

Before my new rec, I had to run the trailers with s-video. Now I can run 2 components through the rec, so I dont need the PJ to switch from s-video to component.

Does that make sense?

-PH

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

Does that make sense?

-PH

Yes it does....and that's pretty cool!

And getting back to your original question....have ya simply (I know - rewiring ain't simple) done a direct component to the PJ then switched it to your current setup and checked for video degredation?

[Pirate]

And getting back to your original question....have ya simply (I know - rewiring ain't simple) done a direct component to the PJ then switched it to your current setup and checked for video degredation?

It's confession time. Most of you probably share this disease, but I have major OCD when it comes to video quality, so I think I may be seeing quality loss when there is none. I'm so anal about my picture, that I sit there and switch back and forth, staring for hours like a psycho!

I think theres probably very little loss if any though. I spend so much time mastering trailers so that they look their best and up until now I've had to view them on crappy s-video, so I really want this to work, so I can view them with component video quality.

I'll do some full tests over the weekend when I have more time and report back with my findings.

-PH

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

I'm so anal about my picture, that I sit there and switch back and forth, staring for hours like a psycho!


-PH

It's ok....take a valium and relaxxxxxxx. :p

Seriously, do you think you are alone....huh? NOT!!

[Pirate]

Ok, after many hours of playing, crying, screaming and smacking myself with a bat, I've come to two conclusions:

1. I see no difference in picture quality when I run the video through my rec. If there’s any loss, it's so small that it doesn’t matter.

2. My new receiver kicks f*cking ass!

I hate to be a braggy ass, but it really is one of the nicest pieces of equipment I’ve ever owned. It's, for lack of a better word, sophisticated. And it's design shows that it knows how cool it is. It feels like a "grown up" receiver.

ok, Im done gushing now

-PH