What is the optimum setting for deep color?

[The Chukker]

Not sure which of selection to choose here as the manual is not real clear.
Under HDMI setup for my Denon 3808 CI the first submenu is for "i/p Scaler".
I understand the concept behind interlacing and progressive. What puzzles me is the choices given and how they affect the output to the tv.
Choices in this submenu are A to H, A to H & H to H, and OFF.
The manual notes: "Deep color (10 bit/12 bit) signals are converted into 8 bit signals" and "The i/p scaler function does not work if xvYCC or computer's resolution signals are output".
I have a rough idea of how deep color reduces color banding, I just don't know which choice to make here.
My components are Pioneer Elite BD player, Denon 3808 CI, and a Samsung HL-T 6189S LED DLP tv, all connected via HDMI.
Thank you for any insight you might provide.

 

[MDS]

It doesn't sound related to deep color and the warning that scaling doesn't work if the input signal uses deep color is irrelevant because we have yet to see any discs mastered using deep color nor any devices that can output it.

Regardless, I think the scaling options are thus:
- A to H: Analog to HDMI. Any analog (component video) signal can be scaled and output over HDMI. Due to the next option, this implies that any signal coming in over HDMI will not be scaled but rather passed through in its original resolution.

- A to H & H to H: As above analog signals are scaled and output over HDMI. HDMI input signals are scaled and output over HDMI. This would seem to be the best choice if you have a mix of analog and HDMI inputs and are using HDMI output to the display.

- Off: self explanatory (no scaling at all) but would also imply that incoming analog signals would only be output over the analog outs and incoming HDMI signals would only be output over HDMI. So basically no scaling but also no transcoding between analog and digital outputs.

 

[The Chukker]

Thank you MDS. As always a thorough, concise, and easy to understand explanation.
Cheers.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Thank you MDS. As always a thorough, concise, and easy to understand explanation.
Cheers.

Also, I believe the DVD itself must be authored in Deep Color to take advantage of this benefit. This will be in the future as I doubt any are today.

 

[The Chukker]

Also, I believe the DVD itself must be authored in Deep Color to take advantage of this benefit. This will be in the future as I doubt any are today.

I'm confused, I thought most movies filmed in the "modern" era are shot in 1080p native and should therefore be theoretically per pixel perfect when released on BD/HD DVD. What exactly is "Deep Color" a quantification of?

 

[MDS]

There is a difference between the resolution of the display (like 1080p) and the range of colors it can display. A 1080p display would have 1920 x 1080 pixels ('dots' if you will) on the screen. Actually each pixel is three dots - one for red, blue, and green.

Each of those dots can be any color and the range of colors is determined by the bit depth. An 8 bit display (really 24 because remember there are really three dots per pixel) has a max range of 2^24 = ~16 million different colors per pixel.

Deep Color expands that range by using larger bit depths like 32 or 48 bits per pixel. That's theoretically awesome but I'm skeptical as to the real need. Granted the eye can supposedly discern billions of slight differences in color but how much is enough? Who knows but some day when discs are actually mastered to use the new standard it may well be an improvement.

 

[avliner]

I've heard someone saying that in order to really see the full benefits of the "so-called" Deep Color, you'd first need to have a brand new pair of HD eyes, as no human being on Planet Earth is able to discern such improvements.

Whether or not it's true, I don't know, but I tend to believe that the above holds true and the Deep Color thing is just something else the manufacturers have created, just to bring more confusion to the table, as usual

Regards, Chuck