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Originally Posted by Hartwig Hanser
just another thought: For half of this ($4000) you get the Mitsubishi HC5000 which offers also 1080p/24 input and has HQV processing built in. I am eagerly awaiting the first real reviews. IF the HQV processing does its job as expected, you will probably not need an outboard processor since the internal processing should be superb.
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While this is certainly another option for those who wish to go this way I would contend that there is no way that a $4000 projector can provide the same capabilities of a $3000 outboard video processor based on economic considerations alone. I'm always leery of any product that claims to perform as well as external devices when those devices cost about 75% of the product. The VP50 (and similar units from other companies) does so much more than the built-in video processing in any projector. And even if the internal processing is "superb" as you predict, you are talking about today. As I mentioned, there have been two significant upgrades in the DVDO VP30 et. al. in the last year (first a better 480i interlacing algorithm and now the introduction of the VP50 with so many new features, like PReP and much more to follow via firmware upgrades) so that today's "superb" processors become tomorrow's "adequate" processors in a very short time frame. Besides, there's a lot more to video processing than accepting a signal and turning it into the native resolution of the display. External Video Processors can actually re-interlace progressive signals that were poorly deinterlaced (like on cheap set top boxes), adjust for audio time delays, and a whole host of other things that are not usually found on display internal processors. And, at least in the case of products from DVDO, the upgrade path is quite seamless as the technology advances.
That said, I have no doubt that the HC5000 is a fine projector and it would be fairer to compare it to the "Pearl" directly since the VPL-VW50 also accepts native 1080p/24 and does internal video processing as well. I would suspect that both units could be had for within $500 of each other (rumor has it that "street" on the Pearl in power buys will be somewhere around $4300 although specifics are vague at this point) and both don't need external video processing to create their pictures. Personally, I much prefer an LCoS picture to an LCD picture but others might have differing opinions. The nice thing about any display that will accept its native resolution at its inputs is that you can choose to add an external video processor if you want to, or you can just let it stand on its own merits. Lots of people will purchase these and other projectors without ever using an external video processor and that's fine. But if the bug hits you, and your budget permits, you always have the option of adding external processing to take advantage of advances in the technology. I'm presenting outboard processing as an option for your consideration, not something that I consider mandatory for all consumers. The fact that one is considering a 1080p display shows a bit of familiarity with the current state of display technologies. My purpose here is to let you know ways that you can extract every last drop of video out of the display you are considering. With a display that can't handle its output resolution directly (like a 1080p display with 1080i maximum inputs) you are always locked into using the internal processing of the display as part of the video chain.
Different strokes for different folks.