The Monoprice switch looks like it is exactly what I NEED…..for now. Thanks for the link Jack.
The 7300 only converts/scales 480i component, and only has component output. I’m currently using it for my DVD player and the SD satellite feed. The DCDI chip does a pretty remarkable job in comparison to the progressive scan DVD players that I’ve tried. It also improves the SD satellite signal to some degree, but not nearly as well as DVD. My concern with continuing to use the 7300 with the projector (when I’m done with the HT) is that satellite feed will look horrible on a 96” screen. On my 46” TV it is acceptable, but nowhere near DVD. From what I understand, a video processor doesn’t really help much with satellite feeds due to the old “garbage in / garbage out” phenomenon. That’s why I am buying a new receiver. The vip622 is a HD receiver with HDMI and component output verses the others which have coax and S-video. I’m keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for an improvement with SD via the HDMI or component output.
I was all fired up to purchase the DVDO VP30 with their new “precision card” upgrade last week, but my vendor talked me out of it. I was also going to order the Oppo new 970 with HDMI 480i output to use with the VP30. He suggested that I just try a reasonably priced up scaling DVD player with DVI or HDMI output for a while, and if I wasn’t happy with it that he’d sell me a VP. He even suggested that I buy the Oppo 971 instead of one of the players that he sells. So by his candid honesty, the decision to not buy a VP right now was pretty easy.
I’ve been doing quite a bit of research on these video processors and there seams to be trade off’s with just about every one of them on the market, unless I shell out about $4000 – and that ain’t happening. Some VP’s do better with film while others do better with video. Some do better with HD material, while some do better with SD material. The high end units seam to do well with both. Plus, there’s new chips coming out within the next few months that some folks feel will set a new standard. And to make this all even more confusing and difficult to decide is HD-DVD and Blue Ray technology.
So for the time being, all I need is a reasonably priced switch. The one that Jack mentions looks like it will fit my needs for now. In a few months or so I’ll re-evaluate the need for a VP.
