Hi Ken,

According to the manual:

■

HDMI Monitor Setting Set to Yes

With the HDMI Monitor setting set to Yes (see

page 46), video input signals flow through the

AV receiver as shown, with composite video,

S-Video, and component video sources all

being upconverted for the HDMI output. Use

this setting if you connect the AV receiver’s

HDMI OUT to your TV.

The composite video, S-Video, and component

video outputs pass through their respective

input signals as they are.

My 7-year-old Sony DVD player is connected to the component in on the 805.

If the 805 will upconvert to 720p this would be an improvement and I will test this once I get my HDMI cable, which may be today. Then I can pass along what I discover to this forum.

I have ordered the Oppo 981H and then I can compare the upconversion PQ between the two players both connected to the 805 outputting through HDMI and then connecting the Oppo directly to the XBR4.

Hi Jack,

This is where I got confused as well. I did some subsequent research on AVS Forums on this.

Onkyo in their infinite wisdom chose to use the words "upconvert to HDMI". IMHO, this is very misleading. Since we are all used to saying things like "Upconverting DVD Player", the expectation is for the word "Upconversion" to include upscaling to a higher resolution. I can verify for a fact that the 805 does not "upscale" any source (sans hdmi) higher than 480p. It does make my VCR and 480i cable shows look a tad better (just a tad). Another thing is it will actually "downscale" my component from 1080i to 720p. For this reason, I have "Y" cables on my cable box, and usually just watch it that way. I have audio hooked up via TosLink.

It will be interesting to see what it does with a 480p over HDMI. I do seem to recall that Onkyo states it is "passthrough", meaning it will do nothing with it. I do know I get 1080p through my blu ray PS3 player, but it is 1080p to start with.

Please do report your findings! Rock on my fellow 805 owner.

Scott

I agree with Scott that the terminology used in general by the industry is not the clearest and often misleading.  Typically when you see "conversion" it means converting from different formats while scaling typically refers to changing resolution and deinterlacing.  But I have found there is no consistency in the industry.  When you get the Oppo, you will have at least 2 locations to do the scaling (the oppo and your sony), it would be interesting to compare the two.

From the feature sheet for the 805:

Component Video Upconversion
Analog to HDMI Upconversion
480i to 480p Processing	(DCDi)
1080i Upscaling	-
1080p Upscaling	-

I agree with both you Ken, and Scott that when reading a manufactures specs there is definitely the mystery component of what they are really saying. If you just go by posted specs you may in fact get hosed.

This is why I like to experiment with electronics so much because I then find out for myself what is fact and what is fiction. I obviously don’t believe everything I read or what someone says without my own research to differentiate fact from fiction.

There are many variables that may result in a wide range of performance specs and terminology can definitely cause ambiguity such as the difference between Flywheel horsepower versus horsepower at the wheels where the inherent loss of power within the drivetrain may vary with the method used.

Forums like this one provide people with real-time, hands-on information about their personal findings open to debate.

I hope that cable comes today so I can add it to my audio/video drivetrain.

Well, I received the HDMI cable and the 805 does up-convert the 480i to 480p through HDMI. This is a noticeable improvement in PQ with my old Sony DVD player. This might not sound like a big deal, but it does look a lot better.

I paused DVD playback and switched between HDMI and component video and there was definitely more clarity with 480p with HDMI as source.

There may well be limitations on what up-conversion can do.

Now, when I have the Oppo with 1080p up-conversion and if it really works as proclaimed I will be able to enjoy my 300 SD DVD’s in HD and not need to go BluRay.

If just going from 480i to 480p makes a notable difference, then I expect much more from the Oppo 981H.

What you have done is switched where the deinterlacing is being performed as well as saved conversion to and back from analog which may be the majority of the picture improvement.  Not sure if your Sony DVD player outputs 480P, but you can test who you thinks does the best job of deinterlacing by having it done in the player, AVR, and your Sony display and see which yeilds the best picture (all with HDMI else it is not an apples to apples comparison).  You can do the sme and add scaling when you get the Oppo (essentially comparing the Oppo to the Sony display).

This article on CNET may be helpful:

Upconverting HDMI DVD players: Fact vs. fiction

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6449_7-6859904-1.html?tag=bubbl_1

Hi Ken,

The Sony DVD player is 7 or 8 years old.

It is connected to the 805 via component and the 805 outputs component to the XBR. When I select component on the XBR the display shows 480i.

When I select HDMI on the XBR the display shows 480p.

Anyway, what I plan to do is set up and configure the Oppo through HDMI input first to the XBR directly on HDMI 3. The Sony will go through the 805’s 480p HDMI to the XBR’s HDMI 1.

I have two Open Range DVD’s. I will try to sync playback between the two players. I can then switch between the XBR’s HDMI 1 and 3. After I get those results if positive in favor of Oppo, I will then connect the Oppo to the 805 and switch between inputs of the 805 to display the two players through HDMI on the XBR.

I read your link. Thanks.

I am not expecting upconversion to be as good as BluRay. But, if I can see the difference between 480i and 480p and if the Oppo can improve on PQ from what the 805 does with SD DVD’s and if I don’t need to make adjustments from DVD to DVD, I will be happy.

Yeah, a lot of if’s, but I like to explore.

Thanks for your help

Well, I made a copy of Open Range a while back that would not play on the Sony but it does play on the Oppo. I am using both players synced together fairly close. I don’t know how good my copy of Open Range is but I cannot switch DVD’s between players.

One thing I notice about the Sony playing through HDMI of the 805 is a slight vertical jitter noticeable when within 3 feet of the XBR. The Oppo has none.

The Sony is upconverted to 480p by the 805 with component as the source. I did not notice the vertical jitter until I switched between the Sony on DVD in and the Oppo on VCR/DVR in.

The Oppo does a better job of maintaining aspect ratio and filling the screen with minimal distortion where the moon may appear to be oval and not round. IMO the Oppo brings out a bit more detail and the colors are more vivid while using the same settings on the XBR.

I don’t see pixelation or artifacts or lost information with either input like I do watching SDTV on some channels where there just is not enough data to fill the screen where you may see ribbons of false information displayed on the XBR to fill the screen.

In conclusion after just one full day of experimentation I will keep the Oppo. I have not even changed the Oppo from default settings but it will work well running through the 805. I will continue to experiment with various settings to achieve the best PQ.

Just a further update for those that may be interested in an upconverting DVD player.

I am quite impressed with the Oppo DV-981HD when playing back SD DVD’s. Some of the DVD’s are definitely better than others as far as PQ when upconverted. Medicine Man was horrible although it was a copy.

I am watching a copy of The Quick and The Dead ( Sharron Stone, Gene Hackman, Russell Crowe and Leonardo DICaprio). This is the best SD upconversion I have seen so far, but I have just started to do critical watching of my library.

3:10 to Yuma is as impressive as The Quick and the Dead but has more color saturation and definition with the Oppo.

3:10 to Yuma -1080i.

The Quick and the Dead -1080i.

The Mummy, and the Mummy Returns -1080i.

Terminator 1-3- 1080i.

Mighty Joe Young 1080i

Jack Bull looks near- 720p.

Twister 480p – 720p

Appoclypse Now showed fill in artifacts maybe- 480p.

Medicine Man - 480i at best but did not look good at all.

For a Few Dollars More- 480i at best.

The above comparisons relate to comparable HD channels on cable.

The 981HD really does give this movie a new feel, color, texture, and depth.

The varying quality of SD DVD’s may not become apparent until you watch them on HDTV.

With the Oppo and XBR I get a really great HT movie experience.

Glad to see your new Oppo is working out well for you. 

 
Mike 

Hi Mike,

I am watching Fox news right now on standard cable. On the XBR4 it looks bad unless I stand back at least 15 feet.

Even the worst upconverted DVD looks better in 16x9 on the XBR.

I must say that I am not sure which contributes the most, My KDL-46XBR4 or the Oppo DV-981HD. Together they provide a great picture and this all running through my Onkyo TX-SR805 which passes through up to 1080p as converted by the Oppo.

I tried the Oppo direct to the XBR via HDMI but could not detect any PQ loss when running through the 805 HDMI in and out to the XBR. This simplifies operation since I can use the same HDMI selection on the XBR when using the Oppo or my older Sony DVD as DVD playback.

For me the Oppo DV-981HD works great in my setup.

My electronic equipment to date and hopefully completed.

Aperion:

Two 422 Rear Surrounds

Two 532 secondary front mains

Two 534-SS Side Surrounds

One 532 Center

Two 632 Front Mains

One S-10 Sub

Onkyo:

AVR    TX-SR805

Sony:

TV       KDL-46XBR4 1080p

VCR    SLV-789HF

DVD    DVP-C650D

CD       CDP-C345

AVR    STR-DE997

I would recommend the 981 for those that want to upconvert SD DVD’s on HDTV. Some may think that upconversion is a myth but I can say that in my experience, it works and works well.

Jack