Do the Denon 900 and 1600 Scale for 4:3/non-anamorphic (1 Viewer)

[Stephen Hopkins]

I'm looking at replacing a dying RP91 and i'm considering the Denon 900, 1600, and 4800. Acording to the PDF product descriptions of all three they scale 4:3 and non-anamorphic images the same way my RP91 does. I've checked this out on the Denon 4800, but I haven't had time to get to the store and verify it on the Denon 900 and 1600. Can anyone verify the 900 and 1600's scaling features? I can get the 900 for around $150, the 1600 for around $300, and the 4800 for around $320. I like the Burr Brown DACs of the 4800, but I'm not interested in the changer features, which is why i'm really interested in the 1600. I don't however think i listen to enough music to get much use out of them (or dvd-a), which makes me think the 900 would be the better choice economicly. The build quality is another big plus for the 4800, but changer carousels are pretty flakey most of the time.

Anyone have any words of wisdome for me?

Thanks

 

[BeatCrazy]

Hi Stephen,

Me again

Unfortunately, neither the DVD900 or DVD1600 offer scaling features a la the DVD4800 or RP91K. Unless you want to explore some older JVC players with scaling/zooming, the DVD4800 and RP91K are still your best bets. If you can swing the ticket price of the new DVD5900, we might get bonafide scaling via its new FL2310 chip.

 

[Stephen Hopkins]

Then why does denon list "Aspect Ratio Control" as one of the features of both the 900 and 1600 in the EXACT same wording as int he 4800 pdf??? I'm not saying you're wrong, i'm just pissed at Denon cuz they LIE!!!

Thanks anyway

 

[BeatCrazy]

Yeah, Denon has a long history of improper wording on its DVD player features. Remember when they initially said the DVD3800 and DVD9000 would be "chroma-bug free"? Whoops! That didn't happen....at least they gave a fix via CD-ROM.

The DVD1600 is based on the Panasonic RP82/XP50/XP30 platform. The video sections are virtually identical, even the menus are the same. No scaling in the Panasonics = no scaling in the Denons.

I think scaling for 480p via component is a dying breed. The RP91K is nearing 3 years old and uses a Genesis-based chipset that handled the scaling. No one is using this any more as most have gone to a deinterlacer that uses motion-adaptive deinterlacing (DVD4800&RP91 don't have this). The only motion-adaptive deinterlacer that is coupled with a scaling chip is the new Faroudja FL2310 which is in the Denon5900. Other players that use this chip don't do 480p 4:3 scaling via component, rather the use its 1080i scaling capabilities via DVI.

As an RP91K owner, I grew tired of it's bad combing on video-sourced material and it's inability to handle "bad edits" especially on concert-video type stuff. I got an XP50, which looks the same as the RP91K on normal stuff, but handles video and other quirky things much better.

 

[Stephen Hopkins]

Does that meen the 963A does do scaling through the DVI output in 1080i? I had read elsewhere that it does not... if it does, this may be the way I go.

 

[Dmitry]

The only motion-adaptive deinterlacer that is coupled with a scaling chip is the new Faroudja FL2310 which is in the Denon5900.

Sam, do you know if 5900 will do scaling via component or will it be DVI only?

 

[BeatCrazy]

Stephen,

AFAIK, the 963A only does 1080i via DVI, but I think there is a hack to get it from the component outputs. I do know that it doesn't scale 4:3->16:9 via the components like the RP91K. I haven't had this player in my home like I have the Denon's and Pannys.

Dmitry, I don't think anyone knows for sure if the components will handle 1080i, but I'm 99% sure 1080i will only come out of the DVI, as Denon specifically states they are waiting for approval to "turn-on" this capability.

 

[Stephen Hopkins]

Sam, Does it scale 4:3->16:9 through DVI? My display is DVI/HDCP capable and i've read great things about the PQ over DVI, so if it scales over DVI it sounds like the player for me.

Also, anyone know if the Bravo D1 scales over DVI? Also, does it play DIVX like some of the cheap (Liteon) players built on the same chipset (that do 1080i over component)?

Thanks

 

[Dmitry]

Sam, sorry, I wasn't clear enough. Do you know if Denon will do scaling ala Panny 91 via component (4:3/LBX -> 16:9) or will that only be available as part of 1080i upconversion through DVI? To re-iterate, is “the dying breed of scaling” being re-surrected with DVD-5900 or not?

 

[Stephen Hopkins]

I found out this... according to the "Secrets" article on the Bravo, it DOES window-box 4:3 when in 16:9 mode. The last question is does it offer a suitable zoom for non-anamorphic widescreen movies, or will they be window-boxed like regular 4:3 material?

 

[BeatCrazy]

Stephen,

16:9) or will that only be available as part of 1080i upconversion through DVI?

Hard to say. The manual is not availabe yet, and the product description is unclear.

 

[Dmitry]

I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Hopefully the local HT store will carry a demo unit and I'll be able to check it out myself.