I've heard about this; is the EDGE the standalone noise reduction device that plugs in between devices or is this something else completely?
It is a stand alone video processor. It can deinterlace, scale, and apply NR/EE, to your various sources. It is not the end all, but a rather more affordable VP, as the nice VPs you see are extremely expensive (at least those with CMS).
I am uncertain if Onkyo receivers have the EDGE processor, but I wouldn't leave NR duties to my AVR anyway; I prefer to have it in the source deck.
The EDGE is brand name, but the "ISF" Onkyo receivers have these tools.
I understand what you're saying here, and I have heard negative things about Gladiator's Blu-ray transfer, hence why I didn't replace my Signature Selection DVD with it, but you have to admit there are SOME DVD transfers that can just benefit from SOME kind of artifact reducing or something to calm down aggressively noisy/grainy transfers...
Of course I agree. I didn't see you state that specifically before. What you said was that you were
". . . impressed with this level of honesty, if not put off by the fact that I should have probably gone with a different brand of Blu-ray player because I NEEDED the aggressive noise reduction for my tastes."
I know that, and again, I'm not looking for BD-like magic from upconversion, as many novices first getting into the game are...I just think some DVDs can look better upscaled to 1080p, BASED ON the "upconversion hype" companies like Oppo and Toshiba (via their XDE player) enjoy.
I'll take your word for it, even if your previous posts do not seem to indicate it that way to me, and I'd bet to others as well. OTOH, I simply can't keep up with your numerous inquiries, but I do find time to chime in here and there. Yes, but I agree, there IS hype, and not a few AHers bought it due to this, at least some small extent. Perhaps it could be interpreted instead as brand loyalty.
I mean there were posters who held out on BD for years, yes, years, just for the Oppo. I mean, that's nuts if you ask me, especially because the two players I've bought are still less money combined than the Oppo(s), and to boot, there were so many promotions going on with BDP sales (I think I got 7 free titles or something).
Do you really think a display upgrade would be more benefitial than expecting more from a source player's processing guts?
Yes, I think that's what I said. After all, better displays have better video processors too. That's why some people, or pros like bandphan, simply prefer to have his Signature Kuro do all VP duties. Some displays might have Gennum. In fact, if you asked me (and I have no evidence at all outside of subjective side by side viewing), I think the most immediately noticeable thing with Pana plasmas of yesteryear, between model lines, was indeed the VP. Regardless, I am familiar with SXRD RPTVs, having seen 2000, 2020, 3000, XBR, etc, and while a smoother look than DLP RPTVs, they still don't touch plasmas for contrast, black detail, viewing angle, etc.
Oh, and finally, I subjectively believe plasmas do the very best with standard def. They look waaaaay better to me with SD than LCD, that's for sure, and somewhat significantly better than RPTVs, but don't hold me to that, decide for yourself.