Sehnzeleid's HT

[Sehnzeleid]

Yeah, no pictures.

Basically one of my long wishlist items has been a good digital camera, but I keep buying A/V equipment instead.

So here's some text!

Display: 50" Samsung HL-P5085W 720p DLP (52" Samsung LN52A650 1080p LCD at the Mom's and Pop's)
HD DVD player: Toshiba HD-A35 (ver. 1.3)
Blu-ray player: PS3 60GB (ver. 2.10)
DVD player: Denon 2910 (region free)
LD player: Pioneer CLD-D503
HD Cable: Motorola DCT6208
SD Cable/LD Scaler: DVDO iScan Plus
CD player: NAD C521
CD changer: Onkyo CX-D390 6-CD

Pre-amp: Harman Kardon AVR-235
Amp: Outlaw Model 7200
Mains: Boston Acoustic VR3
Center: Boston Acoustic VRC
Surrounds & Back Surrounds: Boston Acoustic Micro130x
Sub: Hsu VTF 2 MK2

Power: APC 1500VA UPS / PS Audio UPC-200HB
A/V Rack: Omnimount G202
Cables: Acoustic Research Pro II, Blue Jeans Cable, Better Cables, Monoprice.
Remote: Logitech Harmony 520

Here's my DVD collection, yeah, I'm a Horror freak.

[Sehnzeleid]

No pics still, too cheap to buy a digtal camera, but I just bought a brand-new pair of Boston Acoustics Micro130x satellite speakers for $200 total from a Magnolia clearance, effectively saving $300 off the MSRP for them.

These will replace my Polk surrounds.

I just can't understand why BA calls them "micro", the size of them is obviously larger than the Polks, and makes Bose's "cubes" mini-mini-mini-micro.

[firestorm]

Great setup! I really like your choice of components. I briefly looked at the BA VR series myself, but the A/V shops around here seem to have dropped BA. My uncles T-830 floorstanders always impressed me though, and I have a pair of used HD-8 bookshelves for surrounds.

BTW, I'm a techy person and I don't have a digital camera either; still holding out for a fast SLR ($800-$1000). We continue to use our 35mm point-n-shoot, and pay the extra $1 or so for the kodak CD. The kodak software pisses me off (always wants to install software and automatically copy, etc...), but otherwise it works great for us. Well, the lab techs often get the scans upside down!

[Iguana Man]

How the hell did you get that NAD C521 for $12 !?!?!

[Sehnzeleid]

Thanks firestorm!

Funny you say BA was dropped because that's why I saved about $600 off the two VR3 mains and VRCenter since they were on clearance.

Also a few weeks ago I bought a pair of BA Micro130x bookshelf speakers (to replace my Polk rears) for $200 total (usually $250 each) on clearance.

Also I guess my new Xbox 360 could be added to the list.

Originally Posted by Iguana Man

How the hell did you get that NAD C521 for $12 !?!?!

Sooner or later, everything comes to Dundalk, Maryland.

[Sehnzeleid]

I added a DVDO iScan Plus Line Doubler.

I'm unsure about the settings of my DLP's Faroudja DCDi analog processing. When I select 480i on my cable box Comcast's menus have noticably thick, edge enhanced text and obvious overscan. NFL Networks logo reads as "NF" and 24/7 news network's "bugs" come dangerously close to being cut off the screen. Yes, I have all the DLP's "enhancement" features off and the Sharpness at 0.

Via 480p with the cable box handling the video (Broadcomm chip), the analog/digital SD channels have a lot less overscan and the menu text look a lot less harsh. The actual SD video looks acceptable either way though.

I'm just wondering if my display is doing the same things to the 480i from LaserDisc. So I deceided to try this relatively inexpensive option and go Composite to VGA directly (see if I can get 1:1 pixel mapping) or VGA to Component. I could also test out the SD channels via the IScan's S-Video. Plus there's always VHS.

I bought it from eBay for $60, I just hope it works fine when I get it. Always worried about electronics from eBay...

[Sehnzeleid]

Well, it shipped out this morning.

Also, I investigated my DLP's service menu, and the DCDi's (FLI-2310 chip) Noise Reduction option was set to "Off", so that was good. I also tuned the internal Gamma from 2 to 0.

I also discovered my display can achieve 1:1 pixel mapping if I set my sources to 720p and select the "Expand" picture mode in the user menu. I must say the image from my Denon 2910 (DVI) and Toshiba HD-A1 (HDMI) looks more "smoother" and pleasing in this mode. It actually seems to help temper the 2910's known macroblocking issue...actually liking the 2910's DVD performance over the A1 now...

I'll respond again once I get the DVDO.

[Sehnzeleid]

I just figured out my DLP can treat 720p like a PC resolution, so using DVE's resolution test pattern I now have ZERO image overscan over DVI and HDMI!

It's odd, via the user menu you cannot shift or expand the image in "Wide PC" mode, but if you use the Picture Mode button on the remote it gives you horizontal shift, vertical shift, and four corner expansion options!

I know no one cares but I've had the set for almost three years now and I never realized this!

I just gotta tell someone!

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

I know no one cares but I've had the set for almost three years now and I never realized this!

Hey man, I go thru the same thing...finding a tweak you never knew of or thought of trying before...yep...it's like you just upgraded your setup and it's like new again!

Good for you dude!

[Sehnzeleid]

Bleeeeeargh!

I got the DVDO today and the included a universal power supply obviously isn't correct, it's from Bell Phones.

Now, I'm no electrical wiz, so I need some help.

The unit displays a POWER light, but doesn't do anything else.

It says it requires a 100-240VAC 50/60Hz power supply, the one that it's supposed to have is 3 pronged as well. That's all the manual states.

Is it easy to buy these?

The Bell Phones supply has these ratings (it also got warm as hell only after an hour):

Class 2
Input: 120VAC 60Hz 8W
Output: 9VDC 300mA

Now, the DVDO unit is in perfect shape, it doesn't smell burnt at all, and when I slid the processing card out of its casing I didn't see any burnt circuits (top and bottom of card) or ash on the steel casing. Of course, that doesn't mean it isn't fried, but there doesn't seem to be any obvious signs.

Any help guys?

[Sehnzeleid]

Well, I found out what adaptor needed, went to ol' RatShack and grabbed a 6V/800mA adaptor, and it works!

Laserdisc looks alittle better, but on a whim I hooked up my cable box via S-Video (and VGA to my DLP, using "Expand" mode) to see how the SD channels look.

Wow.

This thing kicks both my cable box and my TV's ass at SD processing. Switching back between the DVDO and my TV processing over Component, there's no contest. Of course, shitty looking channels still generally look bad, but on good ones it looks awesome over the DVDO, especially the digital ones. For some reason the Home Shopping Network is one of the best looking.

One thing I see with the TV is a lot of small artifacting on many of the channels with motion, but on the DVDO it's either greatly reduced or gone. Also on the TV everything is very edge enhanced (even the Comcast menus), on the DVDO the harshness of lines is gone. Another thing is overscan, on the TV there has to be nearly an inch cut off the bottom, but all four sides suffer. The DVDO must have nearly none to zero overscan. The DVDO is just generally more "naturally" sharper and colorful (even when matching the TV's picture settings)

For $60 this thing kicks ass. The only problem is if I really look, I can be soft hum bars rolling up the screen, but I can live with it given the noticable improvement. Of course, it's still crappy ol' broadcast SD, but I never figured it could look this good.

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

The only problem is if I really look, I can be soft hum bars rolling up the screen, but I can live with it given the noticable improvement.

Any chance you can snag a pic of this?

[Sehnzeleid]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT7Ho0apEwY

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT7Ho0apEwY

[Sehnzeleid]

But do you see the softer "rectangles" slowly moving up the screen?

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

But do you see the softer "rectangles" slowly moving up the screen?

Wait a minute...you were serious?

[Sehnzeleid]

Yep

Here's another example I found:

http://www.truetolight.com/post/interference.mpg

[Iguana Man]

You definately have some kind of electrical thing or grounding issue going on me thinks. Hell it could be a faulty video cable too for that matter.

Is there a 'good' power strip you can use or borrow? I'm not up on electical stuff so I won't be much help but I would start with a newer power strip and maybe a different outlet.

[Sehnzeleid]

Bunch of new additions.

I'm looking into a Monoprice 4x1 HDMI Switcher next, so I can run my Toshiba, Denon, and HD cable box through HDMI and get 1:1 pixel mapping and little overscan. Plus to cut down the cable clutter compared to my current "chain": Toshiba (HDMI), Denon (DVI), and HD cable (Component)...

[Sehnzeleid]

Finally, an incredibly shitty picture of it!

[Pirate]

Very nice! You, sir, need a new camera to show off your new toys.

[Sehnzeleid]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

Very nice! You, sir, need a new camera to show off your new toys.

Yeah, the above image was provided by T-Mobile.

[Iguana Man]

I think John Rambo would approve.

[ganthc]

I like your TV. Very nice!! Is your receiver able to do LPCM?

[Sehnzeleid]

Originally Posted by ganthc

I like your TV. Very nice!! Is your receiver able to do LPCM?

Only via it's 7.1 analog-ins.

Sadly no HDMI, though I'm waiting for a HDMI 1.3 processor.

If I get a BD player, I'm probably going to switch the HD DVD player to coaxial so I can get BD PCM from the analogs.

[sub780lime]

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

Only via it's 7.1 analog-ins.

Sadly no HDMI, though I'm waiting for a HDMI 1.3 processor.

If I get a BD player, I'm probably going to switch the HD DVD player to coaxial so I can get BD PCM from the analogs.

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

Basically one of my long wishlist items has been a good digital camera, but I keep buying A/V equipment instead.

Looking at this image, I think it might actually be time to invest in one.

[ganthc]

Nice color coding of your wires there. Yeah, the hdmi receiver should be a future purchase for you. It will help in managing the number of wires going into and out of your receiver.

For some reason, I thought you already had a bd player. Hmm...

[sub780lime]

Originally Posted by ganthc

For some reason, I thought you already had a bd player. Hmm...

You sure its not that you just want everyone to have one?