I think I'm confused about video processing...

[victimsofadown]

So there are a few recievers I'm looking at (on a very tight budget), and I came accross the Sony STRDG720, which appears to only be about $230! The downside is that there's no video conversion (which to my knowledge basically means that if I put in component, it needs to go component out, Composite in composite out, etc).

This brought up a couple of questions in my mind, so if someone could help me that would be great!

1) Is there any downside to this reciever as long as I have the inputs available on my TV? I know it would be a little effort to change the TV input AND Receiver input, but I doubt $200 difference!

2) When I see a reciever that "upconverts" to 480p, does that mean that if I put my 360 (connected through component) that it will be downgraded to 480p through HDMI?

3) Would I be better off waiting for Pioneer's 2009 modles? I see that the 2 I'm interested in LIST PRICE for either 299 or 399...

THANK YOU!

[gamer2600]

Honestly is your price budget I would consider getting a Yamaha RXV663. It is a better build quality and you will be able to pass all video and audio signals through the one HDMI output. You won't have to worry about the video conversion. This receiver can be had for around $350 or cheaper in some places. A friend of mine has one and he loves it.

[gamer2600]

...also...I think people get too caught up in this upconvert business from receivers. You should just be worried about plugging everything into the receiver and taking one HDMI cable to your TV. That way you can do all switching with the receiver. The receiver will pass whatever signal the source gives it without problems in most cases (PS3, Wii, Blu-ray player, etc.)

[indignant]

Does anybody know if the yama 465 will be available in silver?

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by gamer2600

...also...I think people get too caught up in this upconvert business from receivers. You should just be worried about plugging everything into the receiver and taking one HDMI cable to your TV. That way you can do all switching with the receiver. The receiver will pass whatever signal the source gives it without problems in most cases (PS3, Wii, Blu-ray player, etc.)

Well, not exactly true. If you do set it up as you've described, then you SHOULD be concerned about upconversion. For example, the Wii outputs at 480p with component cables. This is an analog signal. The Onkyo 606 upconverts to 1080i when set up as you've described it. Now your set turns around and de-interlaces the signal, and you've got two different sources doing two different conversions.

This is why I run my Wii and Xbox 360 (via component) directly to the TV and let it do any conversion.

[gamer2600]

Originally Posted by aramis109

Well, not exactly true. If you do set it up as you've described, then you SHOULD be concerned about upconversion. For example, the Wii outputs at 480p with component cables. This is an analog signal. The Onkyo 606 upconverts to 1080i when set up as you've described it. Now your set turns around and de-interlaces the signal, and you've got two different sources doing two different conversions.

This is why I run my Wii and Xbox 360 (via component) directly to the TV and let it do any conversion.

I understand that some signals being fed that way are less than 1080P and some receivers can only output 1080i or whatever but I always thought you could just use the output of the receiver basically to just pass all that stuff through HDMI unaffected and let your TV handle.

[CosmoKid]

Originally Posted by victimsofadown

So there are a few recievers I'm looking at (on a very tight budget), and I came accross the Sony STRDG720, which appears to only be about $230! The downside is that there's no video conversion (which to my knowledge basically means that if I put in component, it needs to go component out, Composite in composite out, etc).

This brought up a couple of questions in my mind, so if someone could help me that would be great!

1) Is there any downside to this reciever as long as I have the inputs available on my TV? I know it would be a little effort to change the TV input AND Receiver input, but I doubt $200 difference!

2) When I see a reciever that "upconverts" to 480p, does that mean that if I put my 360 (connected through component) that it will be downgraded to 480p through HDMI?

3) Would I be better off waiting for Pioneer's 2009 modles? I see that the 2 I'm interested in LIST PRICE for either 299 or 399...

THANK YOU!

Nothing should be down converted. It's more of a "what comes in, goes out" approach.

You would be better off with a receiver from Panasonic, Yamaha or Onkyo.

If you are on a tight budget, buy.com has the Yamaha RX-v463 for $250 shipped through J&R.

Audioholics has the 465 (adds 2 more HDMI inputs and on-board decoding) for $296 shipped with a 3 year extended warranty after the %10 coupon.

The 463 is similar to the Sony 720 except it is (thankfully) not a Sony.

You will only need one TV input with any of these receivers as you will have video switching.

[kpkelley]

The STR-DG720 is at the end of it's run, it's being replaced by the STR-DH700.

1)If you have a universal remote, changing inputs for each source can be automated.

2)I don't know this for sure, but I believe it upconverts 480i analog signals to 480p. Other analog signals should remain unconverted.

3)This is a question that all technophiles must ask, upgrade now or wait for something better?