Sharp 1080p LCD HDTV Vs Farodja Upconversion

[jjhunter]

Gentlepeople...

Been lurking around for a few weeks now as I'm looking for a new HD setup and I must say there's some incredibly well informed and august opinion on these threads - I truly am not worthy

But, to the point - I *think* I've (finally) settled on some models - and in the process upped my budget considerably, but "shhhh" don't tell the wife !!

So I am after some advice, really...
I have, I think, settled on the Sony STRDA5200ES and a Sharp LC37XD1E receiver and tv combo.

The reason for this is that I want the deinterlacing and upconversion to luvverleee 1080p which the Sony receiver apparently will give me from all my sources, be they HDMI or some version of analog. I reckon this will allow me to fully appreciate the 1080p capability of the screen and limit the number of conversions in the signal path to just one (in the receiver).

I intend on having a DVI-> HDMI HTPC, Sky HD (probably next year), a PS3 (sometime next millenium )and an XBOX360, with some other stuff like video cameras (I-Link would've been nice).

I am hoping that someone on the XD1E thread will receive and review one of the 37's while I'm away on my Winter sun holiday over the next few weeks so that when I come back I can pull the trigger... I'm currently a little concerned about some reported "banding", "posterisation" and fan noise so we'll see.

But - the question I have is this:

Am I correct in my selection of kit if I don't want the tV to upconvert or upscale anything to it's native panel size, but to leave it to what is, I suspect, likely to be the better hardware for doing so (namely the Sony's faroudja FLI8668) and to just let the telly display the signal... Or is there a better/cheaper way to achieve that goal.

Has anyone got any knowledge about the Faroudja's Vs. the Sharp's relative conversion and deinterlacing capabilities? Or with the sony reciever and sharp for that matter

This is my second question on this board, so I am hoping to get some advice/spark a heated debate....

All input is welcome/appreciated (event tho it'll probably cost me more if reading posts on here is owt to go by)

Also - i've been reading about this amoi straight-to-wok 37" plasma... any views on what the score might be if that was the telly choice?

taeverso

J

[jjhunter]

I should probably add that I'll still have my Sky Digibox for a while (not able to get 2xLNBs from my "roof-of-the-flats" dish )

With the Sony/Sharp Is the Sky SD picture going to look as good as it can be if I upconvert via the Faroudja? (appreciate it'll still look a bit nasty - crapola in and crapola out etc etc)

J

[welwynnick]

J, I think there may be some potential problems with that approach.

Firstly, do you know for sure whether the Sharp can accept 1080p over HDMI. I couldn't find out after a bit of searching. If it's possible, that information should be easy to come by. If it's not possible, you will have to rely on the Sharp's internal processing, and will make external processing redundant.

Secondly, the Sony 5200 will only upscale with analogue video inputs for some reason. You won't be able to connect 1080i over HDMI from SkyHD and have it de-interlaced to 1080p, for example.

Figuring out the relative de-interlacing performance of sources, processors and displays is one of my hobbies, and is very difficult indeed. There is also a new generation of HD video processors come to the market, and it's a bit early to establish much of a form book on the contendors. So far, the HQV, VXP and VRS products appear to lead the field, but so far the faroudja FLI8668 doesn't appear to be living up the reputation of the FLI 2300 family.

Sony were domnstrating the 5200 at the HiFI Show at the weekend, using a DVD, a BD player and a Ruby projector . It didn't make a very good impression. I'm a great fan of HD video, Sony amps and 1080p displays, but I would have a long hard think before committing yourself.

best regards, Nick