Hi Fudoh,
Do you still recommended the Optoma HD3000 as the hands down "best" progressive up-scaling machine? I am talking PS1/PS2/PS3/360 240p/480p/720p@59.94 to 1080p gaming stuff (based on your scaler review page, 240p PS1 games will work if played on a PS2 - only downside is you will have analog component v.s pure digital HDMI if you say used a PS3). And am I correct that the HD3000 does not support input/output of embedded HDMI audio? If so, does the HD3000 cause delay when upscaling that would cause desync of audio/video if the source split (one hdmi cable for video one hdmi cable for audio into a T.V for etc?). I don't think I could find a Optoma HD3000 for around 300 EU, but around $1000 and that is aright if it is the best video game upscaler out there.
Thanks
Progressive Upscaling (Fudoh)
Re: Progressive Upscaling (Fudoh)
The last HD3000 here on ebay went for 130 EUR (last week).
I wouldn't call the Optoma the best upscaling MACHINE (since it's quite buggy), but the machine with the BEST upscaling. That's a difference. I love the HD3000 upscaling to death, otherwise I wouldn't keep it in my setup along a DVDO, a Lumagen, a Videon and a XRGB. I would not recommend using the HD3000 with 15khz signals, neither from a PS1 (because the HD3000 can't really handle 240p and treats is as 480i), nor from a PS2 (since the HD3000 has a bug with PS2 480i signals, causing jaggies on some games).
On already progressive signals the HD3000 is rather fast with a processing delay of about 1 frame.
If I didn't already have a HD3000 I would add one to my setup AFTER getting other processors. The HD3000 offers the best upscaling for native 480p material, but this said, most people are happy with what their TVs are doing with this directly. The Lumagen units are very close to the HD3000's performance (basically the same scaling with a little more bleeding on reds) and I've seen used Radiance XD units for less than $1000*, so that's a no brainer, since the Radiance is overall the much better processor. I've also seen VP50Pro units for about $800.
My advice: just decide if you really need actual processing (=scaling) for 480p and 720p material. If 480p component looks mediocre on your TV, a transcoder from YUV to VGA helps in most cases. If you're using lots of 240p material, don't hesitate and get a XRGB. For 480i you can get various processors for little money. If you want to actually spend to $1000, get a Radiance.
I also expect the XRGB-mini to perform closely to the HD3000 in terms of scaling (based on what I've seen from the Marvell processors so far).
Conclusion: don't buy a HD3000 for such a high price. You can get a HD3000 for the last amount of tweaking when you already have everything else....
(* Videogon listing from May 31st)
I wouldn't call the Optoma the best upscaling MACHINE (since it's quite buggy), but the machine with the BEST upscaling. That's a difference. I love the HD3000 upscaling to death, otherwise I wouldn't keep it in my setup along a DVDO, a Lumagen, a Videon and a XRGB. I would not recommend using the HD3000 with 15khz signals, neither from a PS1 (because the HD3000 can't really handle 240p and treats is as 480i), nor from a PS2 (since the HD3000 has a bug with PS2 480i signals, causing jaggies on some games).
On already progressive signals the HD3000 is rather fast with a processing delay of about 1 frame.
If I didn't already have a HD3000 I would add one to my setup AFTER getting other processors. The HD3000 offers the best upscaling for native 480p material, but this said, most people are happy with what their TVs are doing with this directly. The Lumagen units are very close to the HD3000's performance (basically the same scaling with a little more bleeding on reds) and I've seen used Radiance XD units for less than $1000*, so that's a no brainer, since the Radiance is overall the much better processor. I've also seen VP50Pro units for about $800.
My advice: just decide if you really need actual processing (=scaling) for 480p and 720p material. If 480p component looks mediocre on your TV, a transcoder from YUV to VGA helps in most cases. If you're using lots of 240p material, don't hesitate and get a XRGB. For 480i you can get various processors for little money. If you want to actually spend to $1000, get a Radiance.
I also expect the XRGB-mini to perform closely to the HD3000 in terms of scaling (based on what I've seen from the Marvell processors so far).
Conclusion: don't buy a HD3000 for such a high price. You can get a HD3000 for the last amount of tweaking when you already have everything else....
(* Videogon listing from May 31st)
Re: Progressive Upscaling (Fudoh)
Funny how they are so cheap over there and so much over here. I take you up on that and wait for the XRGB-Mini.
Re: Progressive Upscaling (Fudoh)
Just bought a HD3000 from eBay for £199.
Let's see how good this baby is with 480p material when it arrives.
Let's see how good this baby is with 480p material when it arrives.