Cinemateq Picture Optimizer - are they any good?

[Fudoh]

yes, they're too thin and they don't line up with the actual pixels. SVGA uses a different sync polarity compared to 480p, that's why it works for you.

[emphatic]

Ah, thanks for the information.

[fagin]

As above. If you choose 480p the SLG does not function without modifying the polarity.

[emphatic]

As above. If you choose 480p the SLG does not function without modifying the polarity.

I don't even know how to select 480p. The scaling looks very sharp and awesome though.

[fagin]

You select the output by using the number keys on the remote.

[LEGENOARYNINLIA]

I received a POP+2 yesterday, and I've been trying out something without much success.

It is hooked it up to my Eizo EV2313W via VGA for now, but I will be using a different monitor later once I get my hands on it. (a 4:3 plasma)

So, I'm trying to have a 480p signal from a PS2 to just pass through the scaler, but what I get are two identical squashed windows side by side instead of one clear picture. Am I trying to achieve something that is not possible with this hardware or is it possible to use this scaler as a passthrough for the 480p signal? I can get down to the dirty specifics of my settings once someone who knows about this stuff can tell me if I am in the right direction. Would be greatly appreciated. Maybe it's just my monitor?

[Fudoh]

That doesn't work. The PO2+ only supports 15khz input. There's a seperate passthrough input for 31khz signals though.

[LEGENOARYNINLIA]

That doesn't work. The PO2+ only supports 15khz input. There's a seperate passthrough input for 31khz signals though.

OK, now I get it, I think. I need to connect the component cable with a VGA adapter to the VGA bypass port, right? Are there simple female component to male VGA cables? I had a quick look at Ebay and couldn't find any with female component ends.

[matrigs]

But - keep in mind that the signal passed through is still component. So your TV / monitor will receive a component signal over VGA which i very much doubt will work.

You could try something like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/VGA-Cable-for-P ... 3cd3cfcdce

The only problem with this though, is that as long as you don't switch 480p on in the game / hdxploder / gsm you will be blind.

[Fudoh]

@TheRedKnight: With a PS2 it's not worth using the passthrough. Too complicated and the system always boots up in 15khz. Also, as matrigs stated the Cinemateq won't transcode for you. Easiest way to utilize both (15 and 31khz) from the PS2: get a component splitter, run one line into the Cinemateq's input and one line into a 480p component to HDMI converter (which you directly connect with your display alongside the Cinemateq).

[LEGENOARYNINLIA]

@TheRedKnight: With a PS2 it's not worth using the passthrough. Too complicated and the system always boots up in 15khz. Also, as matrigs stated the Cinemateq won't transcode for you. Easiest way to utilize both (15 and 31khz) from the PS2: get a component splitter, run one line into the Cinemateq's input and one line into a 480p component to HDMI converter (which you directly connect with your display alongside the Cinemateq).

I'm not sure if I follow you. Currently I am using a 1080p capable monitor, but I am going to use this scaler exclusively with a 640x480 native input plasma once it "arrives". Are you saying that there's no way I can connect a PS2 via component to the plasma (it has no component inputs) with the POP+2 or without some other converter?

[Fudoh]

What plasma did you get ? The Pioneers for example do 15khz on their own, just like 31khz, so you don't need a processor.

If you have (or will get) a 31khz-only display, you need the PO2+ for 15khz signals, 31khz you need to convert. If you want to avoid using component, use a sync interface instead. Get a RGB splitter. Go with one RGB line into the PO2+, go with the second line into a sync interface (so the PS2's 31khz SoG RGsB gets converted to RGBHV), then feed the interface's output into the PO2+'s passthrough input and your done.

Are you saying that there's no way I can connect a PS2 via component to the plasma (it has no component inputs) with the POP+2 or without some other converter?

for 31khz output from the PS2, that's right.

[LEGENOARYNINLIA]

What plasma did you get ? The Pioneers for example do 15khz on their own, just like 31khz, so you don't need a processor.

It's a Mitsubishi Leonardo AKA XP-4015C. My number one interest is to play PS2 480p stuff on it.

[Fudoh]

There's nothing the PO2+ can do for you.

If you're lucky the monitor will already RGsB from the PS2 "as is", if you're not, you need that sync interface. Still, since the PS2 boots in 15khz and many titles just don't support 480p, you should do the setup as described above.

[LEGENOARYNINLIA]

I finally got the 4:3 plasma I mentioned to my place (my brother had it in storage for me) and I've been fooling around with the PO2+ hooked up to it by VGA. I'm running the PO2+ in SVGA resolution in RGBHV and VESA. (the Leonardo's native resolution is 640x480, but the PO2+ doesn't offer that.) Because of some picture quality issues I have a few questions if anyone feels like answering. The plasma seems like it has had a rough life, so most of these issues are probably related to that (or cheap cables) and not the PO2+. I can't find the damn manual for the plasma online. I've even tried e-mailing various Mitsubishi offices, but have not received an answer. Anyway, the questions...


- When running a PS2 via RGB Scart with the PO2+ on the Leonardo I don't get "real" blacks. They're usually grey but something reddish and nasty, full of noise. But if I hook up the PS2 straight to the Leonardo by S-Video I do get much darker "blacks". The downside is that the colours bleed and crawl. I've noticed that there is a noticeable difference between different PS2 RGB Scart cables. Are most of my cables super shitty or is the PO2+ super sensitive? For example Mario Kart 64 is vibrant and pretty, but Doom 64 is a reddish mess and you can barely distinguish anything on the screen. My NTSC N64 has been RGB modded, if that makes a difference. The PS2 boot sequence is also a horrible mess of raster effects, but colourful 2D fighters look pretty and have no issues.

- For a few days I had the PO2+ set to Doubling/RGBHV/VESA. Is SVGA really better than having the vertical number of pixels matching the native resolution even if I am feeding it a widescreen resolution?

- There are thin diagonal lines (please see photo here: http://i.imgur.com/t5XJQMS.jpg ) when running Super Famicom, Gamecube and Saturn via cheap RGB Scart cables, but for example when running the CoreGrafx in Composite there are no such lines. I've noticed that they are most noticeable in certain shades of blue and orange. They're rather still on the Super Famicom but crawling all over the place with the Gamecube. Is the simple solution to just get better cables? I don't have better cables at hand to make comparisons with these systems. With the PS2 the difference was obvious.

- I can't seem to use any of the Input or Output menu controls to stretch the image horizontally. The V and H size controls do nothing. Is this normal? I've had to do with the Leonardo's Clock Phase setting, but I am afraid that causes ever so slight picture quality issues even when there is no noticeable wobble.


Summary: PO2+ hooked up to a Mitsubishi XP-4015C Leonardo in SVGA/RGBHV/VESA. What happens to the blacks when the signal goes through the PO2+? SVGA or XXXX x 480p on a 640 x 480 panel? Are the cables the cause for diagonal interference in some cases of RGB Scart? Why can't I adjust the H or V size with the PO2+?


And as a bonus two questions that are only related to the plasma...

- Next to the VGA and BNC ports are switches that say 75Ω - High. I have them set for 75Ω. High causes the image to look washed out. Is there a case where they should be set to High with my setup?

- Is it possible that I could get a crisper image from the PO2+ if I used the 5 BNC ports instead of VGA port on the Leonardo? My current cable has ferrites and it is thick, so it's not a cheap cable. (it came with my Eizo Flexscan) I ask this because I am unsure if the SLG-3000 is a worthwhile purchase. I don't feel the need to have scanlines on flat panels, but if it sharpens the image...


Thank you for reading. I've never dabbled with upscalers before, so...

[Fudoh]

I'm running the PO2+ in SVGA resolution in RGBHV and VESA.

it's essential that you use the native resolution. The PO2+ does offer 480p. It's called Doubling (iirc).

Are most of my cables super shitty or is the PO2+ super sensitive?

The PS2's signal is noisy, but if you get the blacks right (by adjusting the black level on the PO2+) directly, most it should become invisible.

but Doom 64 is a reddish mess

Doom 64 is unplayable on most digital displays.

For a few days I had the PO2+ set to Doubling/RGBHV/VESA. Is SVGA really better than having the vertical number of pixels matching the native resolution even if I am feeding it a widescreen resolution?

Doubling is better. Is your monitor 480p Widescreen ? 854x480 ? You could set this as a custom resolution output.

There are thin diagonal lines

could be a ground issue....

What happens to the blacks when the signal goes through the PO2+?

might just be a different offset and should be adjustable.

SVGA or XXXX x 480p on a 640 x 480 panel?

480p of course.

Why can't I adjust the H or V size with the PO2+?

With a low resolution like 480p you don't want to resize. You want the whole chain (source, processor, plasma) to preserve the 1:2 line alignment. If you use a 240p test suite, you'll immediately see what I mean.

Next to the VGA and BNC ports are switches that say 75Ω - High. I have them set for 75Ω. High causes the image to look washed out. Is there a case where they should be set to High with my setup?

If the plasma has got loop-through outputs, then you would need to toogle this switch once you use them.

Is it possible that I could get a crisper image from the PO2+ if I used the 5 BNC ports instead of VGA port

unlikely.

I ask this because I am unsure if the SLG-3000 is a worthwhile purchase.

if you do, you have to get the 480p 1:2 line alignment right first. Otherwise the SLG won't work properly.

[LEGENOARYNINLIA]

As I said, the monitor's native resolution is 640 x 480. The 480p mode in PO2+ is 1440 x 480. I guess I will give WVGA (852 x 480) a go then. I'm unsure how to set up a custom resolution of 640 x 480 correctly, so that will have to wait.

How do I adjust the blacks? I've tried everything I can think of but nothing seems to help.

Edit: I switched to Component cables for the PS2, and that fixed most of the issues with the red noise in blacks.