[simonbones]

Hi,

I hope someone can help me work out how best to arrange the video processing on my (all pioneer) set up. I have the following sources:

• Pioneer LX91 blu-ray player
• Sky HD (comes from a component output - it’s a multi-room, component-only system so no HDMI capability)
• Feeding a Pioneer LX81 receiver (by HDMI and component respectively)
• Through to a Pioneer PDP5090 screen (by either just HDMI or HDMI and component

I would like the most flexible solution that has the best video processing. The constraints I am operating under are:

• The amp video processing takes a component input and outputs an upscaled HDMI connection but will not, for some reason, process 1080i signals – only 720p or below. It also doesn’t do any processing on the component output, only the HDMI
• Sky HD will only output everything in 576, everything in 720p, everything in 1080i (the latter two following its own processing) or do it on ‘automatic’ (where SD comes out in 576 and HD in 1080i)
• I would ideally like as few connections from the amp to the TV

I have identified what seem like two viable options. These are:

Option 1: Use the receiver and Sky for video processing

• The LX91 would output HDMI through to the receiver and from there on to the TV (also by HDMI). There would be no processing on this loop as it isn’t supported on HDMI in/HDMI out
• Sky would go into the amp by component in 720p and from there would be output, unprocessed or converted into 1080i by HDMI.

Using this model I would only need one input for the panel and would be able to switch everything through the amp, making single-remote operation feasible. I could also use HDMI control. Downsides seem to be

• The blu-ray signal is going through the amp (extra pathway)
• The Sky signal is processed by the (cheap electronics in the) Sky box and either has to be 720p or converted 1080i – I can’t use the automatic setting as if I did the amp would be able to upconvert the 576 SD content to 1080p but would give a blank screen for the 1080i, which it won’t handle.

Option 2: Use the TV and source processing wherever possible

• Have the LX91 output sound to the receiver (by HDMI) and picture to Input 1 by (another) HDMI cable
• Have the Sky Box output component into the component input (Input 2) of the panel.

I could also do this second option slightly differently by turning the Sky processing to Automatic, on the assumption (not sure if this is true) that the 5090 will do a better job of dealing with a 576 signal than the Sky box and the 1080i comes out as it is anyway. I could also run the picture from the blu-ray through the receiver and on to the TV rather than using two cables. The upsides of this seem to be:

• I can vary the input parameters for Inputs 1 and 2 to take account of differences between the way the Bluray and Sky look
• I avoid over-processing signals
• I can watch my HD in 1080i rather than being forced to use 720p or upscaled 1080i

However, the downsides are:

• I need to change inputs whenever changing between TV and bluray
• I don’t use the 1080p Faroudja processing that the amp has for my standard definition content, which I assume is not upscaled by the panel.

Does anyone have any suggestions of the best way to wire all this up? I am leaning to Option 2, and using automatic rather than 1080i or 720p settings in Sky but I am properly confused.

Thanks,
Simon

[Barcoing Mad]

Component o/p from Sky suffers the same glithces as the HDMI in terms of producing an interlaced o/p for 576. It reinterlaces a deinterlaced signal, sometimes badly - there's plenty on this topic in the forum.

From the looks of it - use your panel for processing. Reject any route which results in downconversion and minimise the number of times the signal is processed.

[Avi]

What make of SkyHD box to you have ?

If it's a Thomson box you are screwed with component and HDMI outputs due to the fact that interlaced output from these is generated by the box from an already deinterlaced signal as mentioned above that causes field issues. The only way to get an unmolested 576i output from the Thomson box is via SCART or S-Video but these have there own issues i.e. noise, softness etc but can atleast be deinteralaced accurately elsewhere. To solve the problem over HDMI the only solution I've come across that works is a processor, AVR etc that supports ABT's PReP feature that can correct the 576p output.

AVI

[simonbones]

Thanks. Have given up on the receiver for processing and am now putting the component output from Sky directly into the panel. I've found that using the automatic setting on Sky results in the box not selecting 1080i when I go into an HD program from the TV guide so at least in the short term will just go with it set to default on 1080i.

Will have a look at the box and find out what make it is.

cheers,

simon

[Liam @ Prog AV]

I'd have the amp pass-thru to the screen. Use source direct on the Blu-Ray so that you can run seperate 576i and 1080p24 settings on the TV for each. If the Sky goes to it's own component input on the TV then it too can have seperate 576 and 1080i settings on the TV. If it is switched via the AV Amp then DVD and Sky SD will share settings (not always so bad depending on how far you want to calibrate it).

[Avi]

Originally Posted by simonbones

Thanks. Have given up on the receiver for processing and am now putting the component output from Sky directly into the panel. I've found that using the automatic setting on Sky results in the box not selecting 1080i when I go into an HD program from the TV guide so at least in the short term will just go with it set to default on 1080i.

Will have a look at the box and find out what make it is.

cheers,

simon

If you have the mini preview TV setting enables in the EPG it appears to cause an issue with auto resolution output (certainly on the Thomson box). If you disable this feature auto should work as intended for HD/SD material.

AVI