CED VideoDisc and Player Discussion

[61cubby]

Hey guys, I picked up a DVDO iScan plus V2, which is a line doubling upconverter. Excellent condition, doesn't look like it's ever been used. All the cords etc in factory ziploc type bags. Well anyway, I hooked it up using my SKT400...passing throught the iScan and directly into a Mits 73835 using component video. My standard setup is running all video through a Pioneer Elite VSX03-TXH receiver and to te Mits via HDMI.

So far, I think running it through the Pioneer gives a better picture...? Not sure yet, gonna have to run a bunch of discs through and do more A/B. The iScan seems to give a picture with a wider dynamic range but at the same time puts CED's shortcomings more to the front. Anybody else have experience with this unit or similar?
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SKT-400
SJT-400

[SelectaVision420]

it this mainly geared for todays large flat panel televisions?
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Sears 274 & 934(80150,10&11350),sft100,sgt250,sjt090,100,101,200,300,400,vp550, VP4000!
caddy.daddy.fleetwood@gmail.com

[61cubby]

Yes, and no. It accepts composite or S-video in and outputs component or RGB for projection via a 15 pin vga connector. It upscales to 480P. I've been watching it now for a few hours and am getting to like it.
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SKT-400
SJT-400

[61cubby]

Yes, and no. It accepts composite or S-video in and outputs component or RGB for projection via a 15 pin vga connector. It upscales to 480P. I've been watching it now for a few hours and am getting to like it.
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SKT-400
SJT-400

[Rixrex]

Yes I have had experience with many models of DVDO units, including yours. That model was first made in the mid to late 90s from Silicon Image aka DVDO aka Iscan, with the first versions basically just "line doublers" and very little in the way of other options.

The one you have should also have a switch for aspect ratio so you can view 4:3 images on widescreen, with option of gray or black sidebars. They were basically made for CRT sets, direct view or rear projection, and do superbly on those types of sets. On other types of sets, like your DLP, the results vary. Since you set is rather large, the CED image quality may not seem too great.

The nice thing about the unit is that you can hook it up to TVs or PC monitors via a 15 pin serial cable and switch it to RGB setting for that use. They basically take your analog signal, turn it digital, de-interlace it and then recombine it into a progressive scan signal.

The next model up, the DVDO Iscan Ultra, has more features and more aspect ratio variety, For example, it will transform letterboxed material into an anamorphic squeeze similar to most widescreen DVDs so, for laserdisc fans, that one is a better choice. It also goes up to 480 progressive, and has digital DVI output

The models after that one have even more features and have a great variety of output options, VGA, SVGA, 720p, 1080i, 1080p, etc, plus convert PAL as well as NTSC. What I find the DVDO is best at is reducing the flicker and video dropout that CEDs tend to have on modern sets, and of course removing the visible scan lines. The picture improvement is enough to make them a good thing to have.

[61cubby]

This afternoon I hooked the unit up to an LDS1 and CLD97 and was fairly surprised at the result. The picture quality was increased to a degree that you can really notice. This was true for both b&w and color. The unit also senses video/film/graphics and adjust accordingly. I have not tried it with a vcr yet but is it possible that it will do better with laser because it is a more "stable" signal when compared to CED or VCR signals?

The picture quality of the CED when run through the Pioneer receiver and then to the Mits was very watchable even with the large screen size. Our viewing distance is about 14 feet so that helps alot. You can notice alot of ugly stuff going on if you get really close to the screen...lol
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SKT-400
SJT-400

[Rixrex]

That's right, the stability of the CED image is much less than LD, especially with the LD players you have. Pioneer unit probably has more advanced enhancement technology than the DVDO unit which is at least 10-12 years old. The later DVDO units will improve the image even more, but is it worth it to you, since they aren't cheap.

The TV I use mostly is a Pioneer Elite CRT rear projector 64", and I actually connected the CED player up to the analog RF input for best picture. The DVDO unit, which is the more advance HD+ unit, actually tends to have flicker when playing the CED through it, whereas the TV set directly does not. The RF image tends to be better than a video input because Pioneer has several anhancements to the RF circuitry to improve image quality built into the set.

One of these is a progressive scan generator that they call PureCinema, which is much better than the older DVDO technology. If you are familiar with Pioneer Elite products, and I assume you are, you know they tend to have the most advanced and best image technology available. This is their promo wording on the process:

When playing back film-originated sources, Pioneer's advanced scanning technology makes use of the data and inserts additional frames accurately. This allows the viewer to enjoy natural, film-like images. Pictures are smooth and sharp, with high resolution, free of bothersome
artifacts like jagged edges on moving objects.

Of course, this is company hype, but it tends to be true with Pioneer. The idea was, at the time the CRT projector was built, that most people use the analog channel 3 RF input for typical TV viewing, either through a cable, satellite or antenna, so Pioneer wanted that RF image to look as best as it could. I don't know how the RF image on your Mitsubishi would compare to any other input.

[SelectaVision420]

wow i had no idea there was stuff like this
_________________
Sears 274 & 934(80150,10&11350),sft100,sgt250,sjt090,100,101,200,300,400,vp550, VP4000!
caddy.daddy.fleetwood@gmail.com

[Rixrex]

Yep, and deciding what's best to use depends a lot upon the TV set you are using.

If you use a modern set, LCD LED or Plasma, you won't find any of the older enhancers to be of particularly better image quality than your set already has. I always suggest that folks who view CEDs on their TVs try both a video input and the RF channel 3/4 input to see which one looks better on the set. If your CED player has both, and the RF looks better, you can still hook up the audio outs to a receiver anyway.

Same thing with older CRT sets in the case of CEDs and tapes. For LDs, the composite vidoe out is the better of all outputs on such sets, and newer ones too. On CRTs, especially if you have an HD model like Sony wega or Pioneer elite, the older DVDO units are great for laserdisc and fine for VHS, but typically not a lot better for CEDs than the regular inputs. I suggest the Ultra for 480 progressive sets or the HD and HD plus models for 720/1080 sets, in such a case.

If you have trouble on a newer set with CEDs and/or tapes having audio/video dropouts in the form of either blue scren flashes or plain old unstable/glitchy images and sound, then you need a device that breaks the analog signal into digital form and outputs it on an HDMI cable. These devices include later model DVDO products and certain Hitachi AVC units, and they make a great difference if this is a problem you have.