HDMI upconversion Receiver?

Question

I am looking to purchase an HDMI receiver 7.1 (Sony STR-DG910). It claims to upconvert Component and HDMI inputs to the HDMI output. My question is, does this pretty much replace the need for an upconverting DVD player if I use my XBOX 360 as a dvd player? I think I read somewhere that these receivers that claim to upconvert from component in to HDMI out only upconvert to 720p, but I can't find anything again.

I have a Samsung 1080p DLP television, XBOX 360 (not HDMI out), HDMI Cable Box, Wii.

Answer 1

Consider Onkyo TX-SR605.   I had  a chance to compare the two -  For the same money, you get better video processing.  I like the audio better too - but not as big of a difference as the video.

Answer 2

AGB is Right. More specific to your equipment the Sony STRDG910 has had some fantastic reviews and it has a very good (for the price) upconversion (or more accurately scaling or upscaling.) Only recently has Samsung had a good scaler. They have the DNIe processor and have made improvement in it in the last year or 2 but if it is older than that the scaler really wasn't very good. If you want significant improvement over the STRDG910 you will have to spend 2 times that amount going with Yamaha RXV861 or better.

Answer 3

In theory yes, but it's not quite that simple.

First, it's important to recognize the limitations of video upconversion -- it will match the resolution of the incoming video to that of the display ... but it can't ensure an image that will look like a true HD image. It can only interpolate the existing pixels. It can't put in detail that wasn't there to start with.

Actual results of upconversion comes down to the quality of the video processor used. As with upconverting DVD players there are some good ones and many poor ones. Generally you get what you pay for.

The same is no doubt true of upconverting receivers. Cheaper receivers won't do as good a job as a good upconverting DVD player, but may be about equivalent to a cheap DVD upconverting player. Better receivers might equal the better upconverting DVD players.

That said, if you have a 1080p HDTV it may do as good (or better) job as a receiver in upconverting video.

I don't think there is any validity to a 720p upconversion limitation. I've certainly never heard/read that.

So, in reality there are three options for upconverting DVDs -- and which is better can only be determined by testing -- use the upconversion on the HDTV, use an upconversion circuit in a receiver or use an upconverting DVD player. However, only the first two options are applicable to non-DVD material (i.e. your Wii and XBox).

Your cable box is another story. Upconversion simple can't make SDTV look like HDTV ... there is no substitute for HD programming.

In my view the advantage of a receiver with built in video upconversion (or a stand alone video processor) is the ability to improve video from other than DVD alone. But until proven to work well I'd maintain a bit of skepticism.

Personally, I'd choose a receiver on the basis of all other characteristics before considering video upconversion. If it had it and it works, great, but I wouldn't choose the receiver because of it and I wouldn't pay more than a few $ extra for it.

Hope this provides some useful input.