SiI503 de-interlacer chip - iScan Pro or Progressive Scan DVD player

[lmccauley]

I've been reading up on the de-interlacer chip that the new Arcam DV27 DVD player will use - the Sil503 (http://www.dvdo.com/products/sii503.asp).

This chip is also used in Silicon Image's iScan Pro line doubler (http://www.dvdo.com/products/iscanpro.asp) which has component, s-video and composite inputs.

Would it make more sense to go for a non-PS DVD player (such as the Arcam DV88) and feed its component output, plus the s-video and composite outputs from my AV amp into an iScan Pro, rather than going for a PS DVD player?


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"Do you hear that, Mr. Anderson? That is the sound of inevitability."

[Ludae]

Originally posted by lmccauley:
Would it make more sense to go for a non-PS DVD player (such as the Arcam DV88) and feed its component output, plus the s-video and composite outputs from my AV amp into an iScan Pro, rather than going for a PS DVD player?

The most economical and versatile solution would be to have the iScan Pro. However, there is potential picture quality improvements for the DVD player if the DVDO de-interlacer is integrated into the player.

Doing so will remove the need for an AD and DA stage, the 3:2, 2:2 pulldown processing could be more reliable and there should be less noise and time base errors and potentially better sharpness and contrast.

Also, the prog scan DVD player using the 503 should be able to keep the audio and processed video in sync.

I cannot quantify any of the above without experimenting with the two methods but in theory at least it should be the case.

I would imagine you would get excellent results both ways, but the iScan Pro will bring out the best in your other sources as well if you wish to use then with your projector.

If it were me, I'd go for the Iscan. Even on a progressive player, the image still leaves the mpeg board as an interlaced signal. More details in this months Stereophile guide to home theater about this very subject.
Plus, you can use the iscan for LD, SKY, PLAYSTATION, N64 etc etc etc.

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