Yamaha Announces RX-V2600 Receiver with HDMI Upconversion & Scaling!

[jandawil]

Sounds like a good idea. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Lexx]

jandawil...but this is precisely what Yamaha says it can do, even to the point of upconverting non HDMI connection to HDMI. The question is will it do any processing or scaling?

Well actually the question is not whether it will do scaling. I'm sure it will. If Yamaha say it will, I'm sure it will. Whether that scaling is significantly better than the scaler in my 1080p DLP, now that will be interesting. Unless the Yamaha scaler is significantly better than the scaler built into a 720p or 1080p TVs, what's the point?

However, the main point again, imho, is whether Yamaha can pass an HDMI signal from a cable set top box on to the TV via HDMI. I know Yamaha may say it can, however in this case I think it is important to remember that it is the originating device (the cable or satellite box) that decides if it wants to pass an HDMI signal all the way to the TV. The Yamaha receiver can do nothing about it.

You are at the mercy of your "box provider".

 

[Packk01]

Didn't work

I removed the component out cables from the receiver and then tried to upscale through HDMI but I still can't access the HDMI Upscaling resolutions. I called my sales guy at Tweeter and he is going to call the regional sales rep to see if there is a fix for it or if I am doing something wrong. If worse comes to worse and it is a bad chip...they will replace the unit. He is going to call me back tomorrow. I will update when I hear

 

[Packk01]

Lexx you are partially correct.

I have a Moxi HD-DVR and Adelphia finally turned on the DVI port last month. I first attached the cable box to the receiver with a DVI to HDMI Cable and then the Receiver to the TV with an HDMI-HDMI cable and it passed the digital feed through the receiver without any problem or distortion.

However, there is no need with this unit, to even go HDMI/DVI from the cable box to the receiver. You can simply take component cables from the cable box and put them into the receiver. Then attach an HDMI cable from the Reciever to the TV. After you push the upconversion button in the GUI (as opposed to the "upscaling" button which I haven't been able to make work) and viola..... you have component into the receiver upconverted in the receiver to HDMI from the receiver to the TV. Works great and I could see absolutely no difference between the straight digital (ie dvi to receiver->hdmi to TV) and the analog to digital (ie. component to receiver which is then upconverted to digital HDMI from the reciever to the TV) worked like a charm.

NOW IF I COULD JUST GET THE UPSCALER TO WORK...SHEESH.

 

[bonanny]

Packk01,

I don't have access to the owner's manual but I did find a product brief that illustrates what conversion and scaling the 2600 is capable of.

Check out 2nd page, lower left:

ftp://extra.abtelectronics.com/PDF_Files/RXV2600_bro.pdf


No scaling when HDMI in to HDMI out, simply a switch.

I am interested on the PQ of an analog signal scaled to 720/1080 HDMI on your display and whether or not there is an appreciable difference over simply plugging directy into your display. Thanks for the updates.

 

[jandawil]

I am interested on the PQ of an analog signal scaled to 720/1080 HDMI on your display and whether or not there is an appreciable difference over simply plugging directy into your display. Thanks for the updates.

As am I. I'm just looking for something to be able to take a 480i or 480P image and be able to upscale and upconvert it to HDMI. The DVD player I am looking to buy as well as the DirecTV box are both HDMI out. I don't really need the upconverting, but the upscaling is what I am after. Otherwise I'll save my $$$ and buy the 2500. Heck maybe I'll use that extra $$$ and buy an amp and run my LCR off of it. I really hope this will end up being as breakthrough as we anticipated.

 

[Packk01]

In looking at the manual, I did get that there was no upscaling with

HDMI to HDMI but I have tried to upscale from the component cables. (And yes my Plasma is set to the HDMI function) but I still can't access the upscaling resolutions...DAMN...This really is a great receiver but I want to see what it does with SD.....MY SD sucks from my cable box. Tomorrow I will either get information from the sales rep to tell me how to fix this or get a replacement sometime during the week. I can wait the extra couple of days if necessary as I have lived with crappy SD for a long time now. However, in all other aspects I am really really happy with this receiver. On a different note though, Goodguys at their going out of business sale is selling the 4600 for only a hundred bucks more than the 2600 is selling at Tweeter. Without the upscaling of the 2600 I think I might want to try the 4600 for only a hundred bucks more. So I do have do check out the Upscaling soon.

One thing I really like about the 2600 is that it runs much much cooler when outputting more power then my 5790 did.

 

[Lexx]

I'm just looking for something to be able to take a 480i or 480P image and be able to upscale and upconvert it to HDMI.

Well if good component anologue cables render a picture as good as HDMI, and I'd agree, hard to tell the difference between a cable box 1080i input with either component or HDMI, then why don't you try your scaling of a DVD 480i signal to 1080i and use component all the way.

Leave the HDMI out for the moment until you figure out the scaling business.

Just a thought.

 

[MarkH]

For anybody interested in the manual for the 2600, you can get it here:-

http://www.coldkilla.co.uk/maps/RXV2600MAN.PDF

 

[Packk01]

Well I finally exchanged the receiver

and I have the HDMI upscaling working FINALLY!!!!!....Anyway....It is an improvement over the TV upscaler both with upscaled DVD from Component and SD from the cable box. I would give it about a 25-30% increase in resolution compared to the upscaler in the Samsung Plasma. It is noticeable enough that my wife, who seems to hear much better than she sees..LOL, noticed the change in SD picture. Will it be enough of a change for others out there, I don't know. It is good enough of change, when taking into account the much better sound compared to my 5790 that I am now very very happy with this receiver. Let me know if anyone else has any questions. I know it is not an expert review but I hope it helps some.

 

[GlocksRock]

I just got my RX-V1600 up and running, and so far I'm very impressed with it. Lots of nice features, and tons of power.

 

[jandawil]

Hey Packk,

Congrats on getting it up and running!! So it it upscaling from HDMI to HDMI or do you have to use component from your cable box to the receiver for it to upscale and upconvert to HDMI?? Do you already have a HD box or do you just get SD?? My concern is that for my HD box which will use HDMI, if I run HDMI into the receiver it will just pass through to the HDMI out and I will not be able to get the SD channels upscaled. I'm afraid I will need two boxes, one for HD which will use HDMI, and one for SD which will use component to get upscaled to 720P and upconverted to HDMI. Does that make sence??

 

[Packk01]

No it doesn't seem to upscale an HDMI signal

It appears that it only upscales analog signals and passes through a digital signal (HDMI-->HDMI) rather than upscaling. (It does seem to deinterlace a 480i signal to 480p regardless of whether it is analog or digital though). It also appears that it won't upscale an analog signal that has already been upscaled such as a signal from an upscaling DVD player.

For what it's worth, the SD picture from my HD cable box was significantly better when upscaled through the component portion of the 2600 then it has been when upscaled by my TV alone. I think that how much of a difference the 2600 scaler makes depends upon the scaler in your TV...if it is already very good the 2600 might make things worse.

I have a Moxi HD Dvr from Adelphia. I think most, if not all HD Cable boxes will let you use both HDMI/DVI and Component out at the same time. The Moxi has both Component and DVI simultaneously activated so I can output from either of the outputs.

 

[onorlin]

Did you not see this:

BR

/O

 

[Packk01]

A black and white version of that illustration is at P. 22 of the manual

also. The problem for me has been trying to figure all this stuff out. The manual does not show the component to component deinterlacing for example but rather just pass through of component to component. Your illustration, however, shows component to component deinterlacing. I am on information overload.

 

[AFJumper03]

So does that mean it would be advantagous to hook up your cable box to the reciever using analog even if it has a digital out? It seams that if I used the HDMI out I wont be able to upconvert the SD to 1080i.

 

[Packk01]

I use both

Actually with my TV I get a better picture with component because I can modify the color saturation and tint with Component but not with DVI/HDMI. But since there is a DVI port on the Moxi that finally works, I feel like I also just have to have it hooked up...Don't ask me why but if it's there I've got to use it...yes I'm a bit nuts...LOL

 

[theguy]

Yamaha 2600, 4600 or Denon 3806?

I thought that HDMI upconversion was going to be important. I have recently purchased a fabulous HDTV, SONY SXRD 50 inch. It is quite smart in that you can save video settings for each input. My thoughts are that Cable is different than DVD is different than VCR is different than satellite etc. By pushing all inputs through the AV receiver and out the HDMI, one loses the benefit and flexibility of fine tuning your video on the TV. What you gain of course is input switching convenience on the receiver. I am thinking that maintaining the highest video quality by fine tuning the inputs is more important than doing all of your switching on the AV remote. If my hypothesis holds water, which receiver would be the best? I'm thinking the 4600 since it appears to be the "heaviest duty" and has HD radio. What are your thoughts please and thank you?

 

[Packk01]

Actually I really thought and thought about the 4600 vs 2600

Goodguys going out of business had the 4600 new in box for only 70 more than the 2600 at Tweeter. I love the sound of the 2600 though and the upscaled picture is enough of a change on my TV that I am going to keep the 2600. The 4600 adds HD radio and I-link (Firewire) that the 2600 doesn't have. Both, to my ears sound great so it is what you think is best for you.

 

[Grubert]

Has anyone tried 720p via component in and HDMI out? This would be useful, for example, if you are going to buy an X360, which doesn't have HDMI or DVI out, and don't want to run component cables to the display.