[p1pete]

Hello everyone,

Am new to all this stuff and have spent some time looking through loads of threads and searching tinternet. But would really appreciate your valuable advice. Unfortunately I dont not understand a lot of the techy stuff so here goes.....

I am looking to buy my first HD setup and based on reviews etc wanted to get a Pioneer KRP-500A but I can't find one anywhere. So have opted for the PDP-LX5090 with an Oppo BDP-83.

I want to mount this on the wall and would really like only one cable going to the TV, but along with the Blu ray player I also want to connect a Sky HD box and possibly video recorder, prehistoric I know :-) and eventually a games console, not sure which one yet.

Am not looking for a HD amp yet so do I need to get a switch/splitter?

If so would the Pioneer PDAV100HD do the job? Have also seen references here to the DVDO HS4 but cannot find these for sale on the web, lots of places list them through google but when going to a specific web site am shown lots of other crap but no DVDO HS4 .

Is there anything else available around the same price as the PDAV100HD that does the job better? Have read you guys talking about upscaling etc which I dont really understand but really just want the best picture quality possible from all the devices.

If possible, would this manage the audio output to my amp via optical.

Please help........

Cheers

[Joe Fernand]

Hello p1pete

DVDO S4 - was really a re-badge job. The OEM being Radiient Technologies. I have one here

Where you have multiple Sources and a single Sync device (your Display) you require a Switch.

If you require to integrate both Analogue (Composite, S-Video and Component video) along with Digital (HDMI and DVI) with the HDMI Input on your Display you require more than a 'standard' HDMI switch will offer you.

SKY HD, the Blu-ray and most modern Consoles will work fine via a Switch - its the VCR that's going to cause a problem.

You may be better off investing in a DVD-R with HDMI Out and simply play the VCR through the DVD-R - otherwise you can add in a 'to HDMI' converter to the VCR (approx. 60.00 GBP) or look for a Switch that offers video processing for legacy kit.

The PDAV100HD is worth considering.

Joe

PS You may struggle with finding a KRP-LX5090 - not many around these days; you may want to consider a Panasonic Display instead!

[Jamie]

Personally I'd rethink the single HDMI cable idea. If you are wall mounting such an expensive TV its surely worth doing it properly and chasing in the cables. If you are going to chase in the cables when you wall mount then its just as easy to run extra cables. The added benefit is you can then calibrate each input seperately for ultimate PQ. Ideally at the chasing stage I'd use some sort of conduit or pipe which will then allow any extra cables in the future. (leaving a couple of runs of cat5 to pull new cables through is a good plan)

Also how often do you really think you will use your VCR, might be a good opportunity to get rid and get either a PVR or DVD recorder.

[p1pete]

Thanks guys.

Never thought about the ability to calibrate each input seperately. And I take it this is something that needs to be done at the TV and not the PDAV100HD box. Does the TV remember the picture settings for each HDMI port then?

And your quite right, the VCR isn't really used. Good excuse to dump it and update the movie collection in HD.......that will please the wife

Joe, you mention a Panasonic if I can't find a Pioneer, are these as good? The only reason I went for the Pioneer is it seems to be the best.

[Joe Fernand]

Hello p1pete

A Panasonic Series 11 or the upcoming Series 12* Display will produce excellent video images - I wouldn't worry that it wasn't a KURO!

*Off to see those at the Start of Dec!

You can even go a bit OTT and consider the VX100 'Installer' series model.

Ultimately with Calibration you are looking for the ability to Calibrate (configure) Per Input and Per Signal type on that Input - for example for DVD you would want to be able to store optimal settings for both 50Hz (R2) and 60Hz (R1) disc playback.

The above assumes you don't pre homogenise your video signals using a universal player set to a single output resolution/frequency.

Joe

[p1pete]

Thanks again Joe.

One question though, are you saying that in order to tune the TV to R1 AND R2 signals individually I need two BD players? Or does the Oppo (or Panasonic LX71) and TV know what type of signal is being sent/received and selects a pre-determined configuration?

Sorry, am new too all this and really do not understand. I just want to make sure if I am spending £3 - 3.5K I get the best possible solution.

[Joe Fernand]

Hello p1pete

Displays that are aimed at the Pro/Pro Consumer market will hopefully include multiple memories per input and the Display will automatically load up the correct memory depending on what signal it sees arriving on the Input socket.

It gets a bit tricky if you 'upscale' everything at the Source as then the Display only sees a common signal type and few (if any) sources give you the ability to make automatic adjustments depending on the source file type.

Where possible the Pro's will simply set the Source to 'read' a disc and send that to the Display (or to a suitable Video Processor) and undertake any processing in the Video Processor or Display.

With today's current scramble to offer more and more features on every bit of AV kit than folk know what to do with it can end up that you have so many layers of 'processing' that you end up with more problems than solutions!

For the installer/calibrator the 'key' feature on a lot of bits of kit is the ability to disable or bypass most of the unwanted processing on intermediate devices.

At most you will require 1 x DVD player plus 1 x BD player or 1 x universal player and the ability to output the 'native' file unmolested by the Source.

Joe

[p1pete]

Cheers Joe,

So when looking at the spec of say a BD player, what do I look for that tells me I can turn off all the pre-processing the player does and pass the native signal to the TV?

[Joe Fernand]

For BD you want 1080p24 Output to a Display that can handle 1080p24 Input.

If its a Universal player you want to be able to output either 576i50/480i60 or 576p50/480p60 for R2 and R1 DVD playback.

With any player ensure you can disable every video 'enhancement' feature on the player - you'll have to dig through on-line User Manuals to confirm those details.

Joe

[Jamie]

Joe

I think you must be following me and providing really well written in depth answers, often confirming my answers but with way more style and knowledge. Thanks man I feel educated