Looking for 1080p upconverting receiver

[jdoggg12]

I'm looking for a good overall receiver for my bedroom. I have a Westinghouse 1080p TV that's great for HD content but SD is (notoriously) awful on it. I'd like to get a receiver that does a good job of up-conversion so the tv doesn't have to do the conversion and should (hopefully) drastically improve the picture quality.

What are your recommendations? Sources are DishNetwork satellite (i miss cox cable), xbox360 for DVDs, and occasionally my PC for shows/movies.

Thanks AT!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I'm trying to decide whether or not to get a refurbished Onkyo 876 that would end up being a little over $800 for you.

Reon video processing should do a good job with SD.

 

[jdoggg12]

Hmm... i'm not finding it for the price range i'm interested in. Are there any other models that can provide similar video quality for less? I don't need a ton of bells and whistles, just good video conversion and audio quality.

 

[s44]

No, there's a big dropoff from the 876 to anything cheaper. It was $900 new at the Egg last week, but people must have bought most of them -- it's now a lot more. Accessories4less still has refurbs under $900 though.

In fact, you have to spend about $2500 or more to get comparable video processing from a non-Onkyo unit. The Faroudja chips on some slightly cheaper AVRs may be better than what you have now, but they're not in the same league.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Semi-crazy idea:

Do you already have a receiver that works except for the video processing?

You could buy a DVDO Edge for video conversion for under your budget. If video conversion is all you're after, that would do the trick.

Most of the receivers in your pricerange will do a decent job of converting SD content to HD resolutions though. If your TV really is terrible at it, then even decent video processing from a receiver should be an improvement.

 

[Tegeril]

I would wager an Onkyo 876 is quite significant overkill for a bedroom. Why not a 706 or 806 (at most). Both can upconvert to 1080p and aren't bad at it.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: Tegeril
I would wager an Onkyo 876 is quite significant overkill for a bedroom. Why not a 706 or 806 (at most). Both can upconvert to 1080p and aren't bad at it.

If he wants HDMI source upconversion, he needs the 876. The other ones only upconvert analog sources, and use a lesser scaling chip.

 

[Tegeril]

He did not mention HDMI upconversion anywhere in his post, and both the Xbox and Dish can go out over analog sources. That's why I suggest something less expensive...since he's finding the 876 out of range and doesn't need nearly as many features.

I'm all for high end receivers, but this is going in a bedroom with the goal of upconverting SD content. I think it's pretty unreasonable to expect "drastic" PQ improvement simply by upscaling, but taking the work away from the TV should help.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: Tegeril
I'm all for high end receivers, but this is going in a bedroom with the goal of upconverting SD content. I think it's pretty unreasonable to expect "drastic" PQ improvement simply by upscaling, but taking the work away from the TV should help.

It strikes me that if his main goal is upscaling SD content, he should want as good a scaler as he can get. The scaler in the 876 is pretty good. While it's not going to make 480p sources look like true HD sources, it will go pretty far in making them tolerable.

But, then again, it might also be more economical to buy a used DVDO solution (VP20, VP30, or Edge) and a cheaper receiver (Onkyo 605/606/607). That would allow for reuse of the video processor even if you upgraded your receiver, and it's rather unlikely you're going to find receivers with better video processing than those devices...

 

[Tegeril]

I like your more economical solution There's just so much in the 876 that he's not going to touch in a bedroom...

 

[jdoggg12]

Originally posted by: Tegeril
I like your more economical solution There's just so much in the 876 that he's not going to touch in a bedroom...

Yea, that's true. Although I treat my room like a studio... to an extent. I'm shopping for the center and surrounds to match my RF3 tower speakers.

Here's the setup as-is. bedroom setup

 

[Tegeril]

Not quite what I was picturing in my head

 

[s44]

LOL! With that sort of setup, get the 876 -- you'll want the best Audyssey correction money can buy.

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: jdoggg12

Originally posted by: Tegeril
I like your more economical solution There's just so much in the 876 that he's not going to touch in a bedroom...

Yea, that's true. Although I treat my room like a studio... to an extent. I'm shopping for the center and surrounds to match my RF3 tower speakers.

Here's the setup as-is. bedroom setup

Seriously, spend the money on getting laid - stat!

Sorry, I couldn't help myself

 

[swbsam]

Also, how much was your westinghouse tv? They're ok sets but usually pretty affordable. Seems silly to spend $800 to fix an issue with a tv that probably didn't cost that much.

What are your SD sources that you need upscaled? Unless I'm mistaken, it should only be your satellite... Maybe a good blu-ray player that'll upscale the dvds and upgrade your dish receiver?

 

[jdoggg12]

Originally posted by: swbsam
Also, how much was your westinghouse tv? They're ok sets but usually pretty affordable. Seems silly to spend $800 to fix an issue with a tv that probably didn't cost that much.

What are your SD sources that you need upscaled? Unless I'm mistaken, it should only be your satellite... Maybe a good blu-ray player that'll upscale the dvds and upgrade your dish receiver?

I'm looking to upscale everything to 1080p so the TV can run at native resolution. It is well known that this particular Westinghouse has superb (for TVs under $1500) HD picture quality. It has horrible SD picture quality though, which kind of sucks considering there's a decent amount of things I'd like to watch that aren't in 720p+ resolution.

Originally posted by: swbsam
Seriously, spend the money on getting laid - stat!

Sorry, I couldn't help myself

My gf likes my setup We like to watch movies on it.

 

[Tegeril]

Can't even say "pics or it didn't happen" because you beat me to it

 

[mshan]

There is a lightly used DVDO Edge here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb...fied.php?do=ad&id=9940

Don't know anything about seller, so can't vouch for him.

And still leaves almost $300 to buy say used, last generation AVR that has good sonics, but not latest video connections and upsampling hardware in it.

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: jdoggg12

Originally posted by: swbsam
Also, how much was your westinghouse tv? They're ok sets but usually pretty affordable. Seems silly to spend $800 to fix an issue with a tv that probably didn't cost that much.

What are your SD sources that you need upscaled? Unless I'm mistaken, it should only be your satellite... Maybe a good blu-ray player that'll upscale the dvds and upgrade your dish receiver?

I'm looking to upscale everything to 1080p so the TV can run at native resolution. It is well known that this particular Westinghouse has superb (for TVs under $1500) HD picture quality. It has horrible SD picture quality though, which kind of sucks considering there's a decent amount of things I'd like to watch that aren't in 720p+ resolution.

Originally posted by: swbsam
Seriously, spend the money on getting laid - stat!

Sorry, I couldn't help myself

My gf likes my setup We like to watch movies on it.

Sorry, the samurai swords screamed "bachelor that needs to get out more!"

So your Cable box is the only thing that looks cruddy, right?


would this help: http://www.amazon.com/Philips-...bmissionDateDescending

 

[jdoggg12]

Originally posted by: swbsam
Sorry, the samurai swords screamed "bachelor that needs to get out more!"

So your Cable box is the only thing that looks cruddy, right?


would this help: http://www.amazon.com/Philips-...bmissionDateDescending

Haha, so I've heard (regarding the swords). The katana was a gift for being the best man in my friends wedding. The ninja sword (straight sword) I bought b/c I see katana's/swords as works of art. I'd rather have one of these mounted on a wall than a picture or cheap poster/painting. They're great conversation starters. Here's a little review of the ninja sword... http://www.sword-buyers-guide.com/best-ninja-sword.html It's funny b/c i get crap on all sides... I ride motorcycles and my "cool" bike friends make fun of me for loving gaming... i come on here and get made fun of for having a bare room with swords and lots of gadgets... I can't win :laugh: I just do the things I enjoy and try not to let other people's opinions affect me too much. That and I like showing off my beautiful gf when I get called out :laugh: She's pretty awesome - she's a gymnast that loves video games... how can you go wrong?!

As for the up-conversion, yes the cable box is the biggest culprit of crappy quality. But also my xbox360 as my dvd player doesn't upscale (at least not very well AFAIK).

Anyone use one of the DVDO devices? How happy are you with them?

 

[jdoggg12]

Damnit.... i shouldn't have gone to that website!! I bought another sword :laugh: :laugh:

I ended up buying this from this review. Man these swords are beautiful. It's not like I'll ever use them, but they sure do make gorgeous decorations that stir up a lot of conversation!

Yea, I'm a dork, I know. But at least I admit it! haha

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: jdoggg12

Originally posted by: swbsam
Sorry, the samurai swords screamed "bachelor that needs to get out more!"

So your Cable box is the only thing that looks cruddy, right?


would this help: http://www.amazon.com/Philips-...bmissionDateDescending

Haha, so I've heard (regarding the swords). The katana was a gift for being the best man in my friends wedding. The ninja sword (straight sword) I bought b/c I see katana's/swords as works of art. I'd rather have one of these mounted on a wall than a picture or cheap poster/painting. They're great conversation starters. Here's a little review of the ninja sword... http://www.sword-buyers-guide.com/best-ninja-sword.html It's funny b/c i get crap on all sides... I ride motorcycles and my "cool" bike friends make fun of me for loving gaming... i come on here and get made fun of for having a bare room with swords and lots of gadgets... I can't win :laugh: I just do the things I enjoy and try not to let other people's opinions affect me too much. That and I like showing off my beautiful gf when I get called out :laugh: She's pretty awesome - she's a gymnast that loves video games... how can you go wrong?!

As for the up-conversion, yes the cable box is the biggest culprit of crappy quality. But also my xbox360 as my dvd player doesn't upscale (at least not very well AFAIK).

Anyone use one of the DVDO devices? How happy are you with them?

My wife wasn't a gamer when we met but now she games far more than I do, and I've finally got her admitting that the wii she was excited about sucks compared to our xbox.

I really think you're looking at this problem the wrong way - $800 is a lot to spend, especially since we'll eventually phase out SD channels. Why is your xbox's output cruddy? Do you use hdmi, component, or (gag) composite out? Also, a $89 pioneer stand alone dvd player does a great job upscaling, an Oppo does even better. Lastly, is your cable box set up properly? Are you using HDMI or component? Oddly, my cable box looks cruddy hooked up to my TV via HDMI but looks pretty great via COMPONENT. Try using both and comparing the PQ - heck, hook em both up at the same time and just swap inputs.

How big is your TV?

in this day and age it's best to be like me - as cheap as possible. Forum people will tell you to get all these gadgets and such but try to figure out how you can work with what you have.

 

[jdoggg12]

Good on you for having a wife that likes to game. It's a real selling point in a woman IMO

Thx for the input. It's not that anything is putting out crappy quality, it's that the TV does a crappy job of displaying SD/DVD quality video. Everything is setup correctly using only VGA (for 1080p from the 360), HDMI and composite inputs. The box is set to 720p (which i like more than 1080i). The TV is 37"

I have a couple of friends with receivers that upscale just about all sources to 1080p. It's amazing. The thing makes DVDs and SD TV stations look like 720p stuff from the cable box. It makes 720p stations look noticeably better too. I'll try to get some sample video of whats going on when I get off work today.

It could be time for a new TV. It's only 2 years old - I got it for $1000. i love it b/c it works so well as a PC monitor. I sit 3 ft away and theres no noticeable pixelation, which is pretty damn good from a 37" 1080p monitor from 3" away

 

[swbsam]

I'd get this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16889253161

Sell your tv, upgrade to a 40" or a 42"

 

[swbsam]

http://shop1.frys.com/product/5743792