Reply With Quotejay0heavenly (10-21-2009), mytime (08-07-2010), Tome3 (10-21-2009)
DVDO ISCAN DUO Video Processor Report
Video Processors are quickly becoming a tough sale. Nowadays since many receivers and even displays do a decent job of scaling they need to offer more. I remember the days when I believed in them and considered myself at the top of the pic Q game as long as I had one. From the Center Stage (CS-HD) by Focus Enhancements to the new DVDO Iscan DUO I have had my fair share of VPs in my various set ups. Some of those included a Crystalio II, Lumagen HDQ, DVDO 50pro and Edge to name a few. The DUO uses ABT's Video Reference Series (VRS) ABT 2010 chip. It also does Progressive Reprocessing (PreP) which will undo and redo any source that is not correctly doing 480p, 576p and 1080p. Let's not forget to mention the 10 bit motion, edge and source adaptive deinterlacing for 480i, 576i and 1080i. So what does the DUO offer that makes me want to keep it in my set up and not use my Onkyo REON or Faroudja chip for scaling?
In this DUO report I am providing plenty of set up screen menu shots. I think those will help show what the DUO is capable of feature wise (for now). Like the Edge the DUO uses the same easy set up wizard. I like how it pretty much does the thinking for the owner. Being able to label inputs makes it easier for family members to operate. I currently have two DirecTV HD DVRs, LG BD390, Security Camera System, Karaoke System, XBOX 360, Wii and a PS3 connected to it. The DUO does a great job of seamless input switching and adapting to each different resolution coming in. Since I have been reviewing the latest JVC pjs the DUO has been a breath of fresh air. The JVCs use the REON chip and do not do very well with some slow pans. The DUO sending in 1080p makes it look much better and is much more easier on the eyes. For more details check out my JVC DLA-HD950 review. Sending in DirecTV 1080i yielded good to great results. The close ups are very detailed and never disappoint. Football (pics below) were able to benefit with the Mosquito NR on Low. Especially the score and info lines during the games. They look sharper and have no evidence of noise around the letters and numbers. Speaking of picture controls the DUO also offers Brightness, Contrast, Color Saturation, Hue (tint) and my favorites Detail and Edge Enhancements. I like the Detail because it seems to do as advertised and sharpen the image without hurting it. The Edge Enhancement will sharpen the edges but buyer beware, if turned up to high you will see a thin white line on the insides of the black bars during 2.35:1 movies. I highly suggest either leaving it at the default setting or only setting it up a couple notches. So where have we seen all this before? Yes, the Edge VP. The DUO's GUI is very much like it. Of course the DUO's is red and blue and reminds me of the 50pro's.
The DUO has two HDMI 1.3 video outputs and one HDMI audio (also an Optical) output. It also has an astounding eight (that is not a typeO) HDMI 1.3 inputs. And of course you get a couple component and composite inputs which come in handy for the Wii, Security Camera System and for Karaoke. There is plenty of room between each HDMI input so no worries there. I use the HDMI Audio output to send the sound to my receiver. I have never once had a single audio dropout using DirecTV Dolby Digital or Blu ray Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD soundtracks. Even better is the AV sync. Perfect! And if it was not you can easily adjust it using the DUO's GUI.
The Remote... I know it is small and most will most likey use a Universal (like my Harmony 1100) but it does serve a purpose. Of course it is not as fancy as the Edge's lighted monster. Still, it has Test Pattern commands (pics below), direct Input selections, Zoom, Aspect Ratio (to name a few) and my favorite- the Info button. The Info command tells you everything! What is coming in resolution wise, color space, Aspect Ratio, Prep (on or off), Game Mode (or or off) and what the Audio Source is (Dolby or DTS)... Speaking of Aspect Ratio you also have the option to set it to Auto (on or off). This is helpful when sending in 480i/4:3 material like SD dvds or DirecTV programming. Then you can look at the output and see what you are sending to your display. You can choose from many different video outputs. There is something for every display known to man! Also there is 1:1 Frame Rate, Colorimetry, Frame Lock and Underscan controls. You also get to see what your settings are for the Picture Controls in the Info section. Very thorough! Speaking of color space you also get to decide which level of Deep Color (upconverted color) you want to send out. Also when using a Blu ray player you can see which level is coming in. Select 36 bit (if your display accepts it) and maximize smoother color gradations which will minimize color banding artifacts. Even with sources like DirecTV. Very cool!
So what does the DUO bring to the table besides superior input switching? How about absolute control over everything! How about smooth scaling and the ability to know every little thing that is going on. The image is absolutely stunning and reminds me of how I felt when I had the 50pro in my set up. I like being able to set the DUO in computer level for football of course. Then switch it back to video for movies and regular viewing. Watching football (using Computer level which expands the dynamic range of image information with 36 bit Deep Color/upconverted-my sweet spot) is pure eye candy madness and I know now I will always NEED a video processor like the DUO. My movie watching has been clean and free of non movie related artifact. Regular DirecTV viewing (like Supernatural and Dexter) have also benefited from going thru the DUO. Those that have the Edge will ask why the DUO? My answer is the little things. Like being able to go up and down and over the GUI. The wake up features work perfectly. The more control in the Configuration menu. The even easier to update firmware procedure which allows you to do it by looking at your set up screen after connecting your USB. And more important to me is the looks. I never really was a big fan of the way the Edge looked. I like the more classy look the DUO brings to my set up. It is like they mated a 50pro and Edge and out "popped" a DUO. The best of both worlds are here. The looks and image quality of the 50pro and the friendly GUI of the Edge (with many of its inputs).
Blu ray... Playing Blu ray titles yeilded excellent results sending 1080p/24 in and having it come out. I chose the Deep Color 36 bit (upconverted) option to optimize my viewing. I left all the picture adjustments at the default and only would slightly tweak my display. The Audio was fine no matter what title going into my receiver. Again the Info command is very useful here because it enables you to make sure you are using 1080p/24 both in and out and allows you to have perfect AV sync. Aspect Ratio can be optimized as well. For SD dvds sending in 480p (depends on the player you are using-results will vary) and then letting the DUO use Prep (mentioned above) worked nicely. I would almost argue that it was just as good or better than sending in 480i (from your player). Either way you truly can't go wrong The DUO makes the viewing experience for both Blu ray and SD dvds an enjoyable experience which is easy on the eyes.
EDID Master... For those that do not know it is Extended Display Identification Data. EDID contains basic information about a monitor or display and its capabilities, including vendor info, maximum image size, color characteristics, factory timings, frequency range limits and character strings. The DUO (like the Edge) will tell you your model number of your display you have connected the first time you power them up together. I was fortunate to spend time this past Summer with Jeff Boccaaccio President and HDMI guru of DPL (Digital Performance Level) Labs and learned plenty from him about HDMI. Each time a new component is connected via HDMI keys are sent back and forth which will either allow or not allow the handshake between the components. I am pleased to say the DUO "played well" with every component I tried. About 10 Blu ray players, 5 different receivers and 3 different DirecTV HD DVRs. Not to mention the XBOX 360 and PS3 game systems. No more are the days of "Can't we all just get along?" with the DUO. Its set up wizard is very wise and performs flawlessly!
Simply put the DVDO DUO is the ultimate nucleus of any set up. There is not a display out there that won't show some benefit from using one. You will never run out of HDMI inputs and you will never wonder what is going on. I wish I could speculate on future firmwares that may add features that will make the DUO the absolute "best bang for the buck" VP available. Maybe one day I will. Either way the DUO deserves some attention for everything it brings to the set up. Though the launch has been somewhat quiet DVDO does have a possible slayer of VPs that cost two to three times as much. All I know now is I don't have to worry about scaling from any future receivers or any other sources. I also can rest assured about HDMI sources and never not having enough inputs. The DVDO DUO may not reinvent the wheel but it gets it right at the right price range...
Pics below are DirecTV sending in 1080i to the DUO which then sent out 1080p. The amount of detail from the close up shots is remarkable. Whether it be movies or football.
For more DVDO DUO football pics see the VW200 Football thread!
Equipment used with the DVDO ISCAN DUO:
Carada Masquerade Masking System
Vutec 120.5" Silverstar screen
LG BD390 Blu ray player
Sony 1000ES Blu ray player
Pioneer 09FD Blu ray player
Onkyo TX-NR1007 Receiver (plus many other Onkyo units)
B&K 200.7 AMP
DirecTV HR21 Pro
DirecTV HR23
DirecTV HR10-250 Tivo
XBOX 360
PS3
Harmony 1100 Remote
Last edited by joerod; 10-23-2009 at 10:55 PM.
For my theater pics, screenshots and more go to: http://www.joerodhometheater.com/about.html
jay0heavenly (10-21-2009), mytime (08-07-2010), Tome3 (10-21-2009)
Man, you are a machine...Originally Posted by joerod
Coming soon...
Do you take time to sleep ?
Keep your good work...
OK dumb question but a video processor is new to me. Would this do anything in regards to oversaturated colors like when using an RS2 Projector. I am guessing not since the review doesn't mention it, but want to make sure
Great review though not bad for $1,000 or so at amazon
Good question (not dumb at all).OK dumb question but a video processor is new to me. Would this do anything in regards to oversaturated colors like when using an RS2 Projector. I am guessing not since the review doesn't mention it, but want to make sure
Great review though not bad for $1,000 or so at amazon
For my theater pics, screenshots and more go to: http://www.joerodhometheater.com/about.html
No dumb questions eh?
Can you fly to NY to give me and install all of your AV equipment in my place?
LOL...just kidding.
GREAT REVIEW! Very informative
His Dudeness strikes again!
Once again a very insightful and detailed review! I am buying one tomorrow! Great pics. They fully demonstrate the capability of the Duo.
Didn't even know I needed one. Thanks JR for helping me spend more money!
Great review!
Pioneer Kuro Elite Pro-110FD
Panasonic 50" G10
Sony PS3 (slim) (blu-ray)
Xbox 360 (hddvd)
Thanks!! Great review!
Glad to see you here aaron!
For my theater pics, screenshots and more go to: http://www.joerodhometheater.com/about.html
DVDO has been making some exceptional video processors for quite a while now and this one is no exception. Thanks for the review...
Theater 1 - Panasonic PT-AE4000U, Draper Premier 119" 16:9 Projector Screen, Panasonic TH-85PF12U Plasma TV, 6 Conrad Johnson LP275M Amps, Anthem Statement D-2 Pre/Pro, 6 Thiel SCS4 Speakers, 2 REL T-1 Subs, Infinity Interlude 120S Sub, Simaudio MOON Orbiter Universal Disc Player, ELP Laser Turntable, 2 Dish Network ViP 622 DVR's, Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player, Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player.
Friends don't let friends buy Korean brand TV's.
Cool - thanks for the reply.Good question (not dumb at all).
I really like the RS2 that I bought, but as known by most it has the oversaturated colors. I am not willing to buy something to correct this since within 2-3 years I will get a new PJ and I am not "that" bothered with it (and nobody else notices
Thanks for the great review!
Question
Another couple of potentially dumb questions: How do you handle getting the sound to the receiver/amp if you are plugging everything into the Duo? For example, the DirecTv hdmi output goes to the Duo, and then the Duo to the projector/display device -- so how does the sound get to the reciever? Also, how would you compare the video processing in the Duo to that in the Denon 4308 and the Denon 4310, if you know? Thanks!!
My guess would be to run it from the DUO to the AVR - leave the AVR to a "Pure" mode (that is what Pioneer calls it) and then to the display unit from there.
Alternatively it says that it has 2 HDMI outs + HDMI Audio out. So you should be able to run HDMI Audio to the AVR and then directly to the display from the DUO.
And just as I had written that I saw that the answer is in the review
I use the HDMI Audio output to send the sound to my receiver
The Duo has an HDMI Audio Only output (plus two Video HDMI outputs) that you route to the AVR. That way the video HDMI output goes to your display and the audio HDMI out goes to your receiver allowing transfer of the High Definition Audio Codecs.
As to the Denon comparison I will have to defer to Joe.....
Joe.........
Does the Duo have any "processing" capabilities that are superior to the Edge?
You're welcome.
For my theater pics, screenshots and more go to: http://www.joerodhometheater.com/about.html
The DUO has an Audio HDMI Out (dedicated just for audio) which goes to your receiver. It also has two Video HDMI outs (dedicated for the image) which goes to your display(s).
I had the 4310 and it did a nice job of scaling. I would say they are on par but the DUO with its many more options can be tweaked to look better. Especially with football doing my PC Level with 36 bit color trick...
For my theater pics, screenshots and more go to: http://www.joerodhometheater.com/about.html
I still have an Edge here and I will say they are on par but the DUO has a couple things it does that makes me like it more. Auto AR, the GUI and navigating is much smoother... All around I don't have any hiccups at all using the DUO which is why it has earned a place in my rack.
For my theater pics, screenshots and more go to: http://www.joerodhometheater.com/about.html
No problem.Cool - thanks for the reply.
I really like the RS2 that I bought, but as known by most it has the oversaturated colors. I am not willing to buy something to correct this since within 2-3 years I will get a new PJ and I am not "that" bothered with it (and nobody else notices
Thanks for the great review!
A DUO will still benefit any set up (including yours) and I think it definitely deserves a look.
For my theater pics, screenshots and more go to: http://www.joerodhometheater.com/about.html
Sorry, just noticed Stevo already answered.
For my theater pics, screenshots and more go to: http://www.joerodhometheater.com/about.html
Just as you posted this it hit me. Local ABC is not in HD yet (seriously true...) and Local NBC has not been given HD placement on D yet.... Once they solved the contracts issues D said their satellites were full. So I am thinking that this thing would definately help with upconverting those. It really isn't pretty on the 50-inch and even worse on the 110-inch.......No problem.
A DUO will still benefit any set up (including yours) and I think it definitely deserves a look.
Oh yeah, it would definitely help with those non HD channels...
For my theater pics, screenshots and more go to: http://www.joerodhometheater.com/about.html
Great review!
Thank you.
Thanks.
For my theater pics, screenshots and more go to: http://www.joerodhometheater.com/about.html
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