Best Value For Component Connection. Still Want Faroudja If Not Upscaling?

[jamieo]

I am looking to purchase a DVD player and will not be utilizing HDMI. It will be a component video connection over really nice cables to a 720p HD Plasma.

Do I still want (if I can afford) Faroudja DCDI if I will not be upscaling to say 720p or higher or is the Faeoudja a waste at that point.

I guess I am leaning towards the Yamaha S1700 but that is really more than I wanted to spend and I just dont know if the Faroudja makes sense with no upscaling.

Thanks

 

[billy p]

I would say give the oppo products a serious look. www.oppodigital.com

 

[j_garcia]

We've already been down that road, they don't upconvert via component, at least as far as I can tell. I asked friends who have them to verify.

 

[jamieo]

i am not going to upscale j g but thanks

 

[j_garcia]

And that was why I mentioned that, because the Oppos, at least the 971H, are supposed to look pretty average via component.

 

[billy p]

Sorry

I didn't know about your situation and cables been buried behind a wall. Just read your other thread . I will say this, most dvd player won't upscale via comp anymore due to HDCP and there will come a time you may need hdmi!

 

[jamieo]

Really appreciate everyone's help.

At this point I am going to go with a component connection for the time being. I wonder if anyone knows if I still can get an improvement with the Faroudja DCDI if I wont be upconverting via HDMI. Just component (high quality component) all the way from DVD to AVR to HDTV. Big price diff if you get Faroudja on your DVD but does it only help those upconverting to 720 or 1080?

Thanks much for the help to all.

 

[MDS]

DCDi deals with deinterlacing and problems with the mastering of the DVD and supposedly is a cut above other similar implementations. It may very well improve the picture and would be worth it the price difference isn't too steep.

I don't believe DCDi has anything to do with scaling though:
http://www.gnss.com/tch_dcdi_overview.phtml

 

[jamieo]

Thanks for the excellent info MDS. I am really leaning towards the Yamaha S1700.

TC

 

[billy p]

Thanks for the excellent info MDS. I am really leaning towards the Yamaha S1700.

TC

Not that this unit isn't a good component!! I'm not sure it would benefit you using component? It cost more then the oppo and will not delivers a better P/Q and uses hdmi.

Anyways good luck with your toy when you decide

 

[jamieo]

Thanks billy

I spoke with 2 manufacturers and did some research as well as received some good info here. I am not an expert but my best interpretation of all it is as follows.

Even without HDMI, you will receive the benefits of higher end Video D/A converters and processing chipsets (Faroudja). Oppo says right on their website that the 971 and 981 (both Faroudja) are better PQ while the 970 is better adapted for hooking up to anything(they call it universal). Problem with Oppo for me is that only the 970 has good component output (971 has component but not same type and is really made for DVI (that is from the horse's mouth)). 981 is HDMI.

The Yamaha S1700 appears to have quality component out with the Faroudja chipset and very high end D/A converters (12 bit 216Mhz which is higher than anything under $400 that I have seen).

That all being said. Will I notice a difference for my extra $200? After a few cold ones, probably not. But I did the research and isn't that half the fun.

TC All. Really enjoy the forums.

BTW I am not an expert and what I posted above is my best guess at what is going on. Choose wisely.

 

[j_garcia]

Just got off the phone with Oppo. The 971 definitely does not do upconversion via component, however the 970 DOES, straight from the horses mouth. That would be my choice.

216mhz DAC isn't entirely a selling point IMO, as some of the best players have DACs lower rated than that. It is isn't the DAC alone that gives you a good picture, it is the whole package; which mpeg decoder is used, which deinterlacer, etc... If you are just looking for 480p, I would spring for the Denon 1930CI personaly.

 

[bongobob]

Oppo's site say that the 970 will only upconvert non-css protected discs over component.
I believe Helios (NeoDigits) does not have this restriction. Or if they do, they're not saying so. - B

 

[j_garcia]

I saw that on the site, which is why we called them. They didn't mention anything about that, but I'm sure that is the case.

 

[jamieo]

Truly appreciate the insight.

Found a great deal and bought the Denon DVD757. Faroudja and high end component out. HDMI for down the road. It is the retail version of the 1930CI (which is the installer version). 95% the same, 757 has a few different formats but same "insides".

$349 at the biggie stores. Found it from a NY retailer I had bought from in the past for $265 + $9 for shipping. Can't find the Yamaha S1700 for under $399.

BTW bongobob I still have my Paradigm tower speakers from my Michigan State days in the late 80's. I keep them in an unheated garage in Michigan year round. On a nice summer day they still sound unbelievable. Wish I could have afforded Paradigm for the basement HT but it was not in the cards.

TC