<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Worthless!!!
Review: I bought the ADS upconverter because I bought a HDTV only to find out that my cable co. didn't offer HDTV and after 3 failed attempts to switch to a satellite provider that did offer HDTV (too many trees around my house). I wasn't expecting the upconverter to magically turn my standard signals into an amazing HDTV picture, but for $550+ I was expecting the upconverter to do something that was actually noticable. When I first turned in on I asked my wife to look at the picture and tell me what she thought. She looked at the TV and said okay I'm ready turn it on. I said "it IS ON!!" This is pretty much the reaction I had also when I looked at it. The image I got for my digital cable was certianly different, but that's all it was, different. It was NOT noticably better. In fact, in some instances I though the picture was worse. I called ADS tech support and they kept insisting I try it with my DVD because that is what the product is best for (even though that's not what I got it for). So I did and to be honest I really preferred the picture I got directly from my DVD over the picture I got after running it thru the upconverter. It didn't matter what display format I put it in it just didn't do anything to improve the picture. Save your money. If you can't get HDTV don't expect this box to give you anything close to the next best thing.
Rating: 
Summary: WOW!!! BEST PURCHASE I HAVE EVER MADE!!!!
Review: I just bought this thing from Amazon and all I can say is WOW!!!! This is probably the best purchase I have ever made. This thing is everything I ever expected and more!! It's very easy to use as well! I have bought other brands before, and this one just blows everything else out of the water! I have to say, everyone out there who is thinking of buying this, stop thinking. I bought it and I am extremely happy with it the moment I powered this thing on. YOU ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY CANNOT GO WRONG WITH THIS PURCHASE! I GUARANTEE IT!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Lots of potential, but scaling performance so-so
Review: I recently purchased ADS's HDTV Upconverter for use with my Mitsubishi 42" HDTV (CRT-based rear projection). I have a variety of video sources including an HDTV receiver, a DirecTV/Tivo receiver, a progressive scan DVD player, and an Xbox game console. Broadly speaking, I wanted to improve the quality of standard definition 480i signals from the Tivo and reformat 780p signals from the Xbox to work on my Mits which only accepts 1080i (along with 480i/480p). I also tried upscaling the output from my DVD player, sending both interlaced and progressive scan signals to the scaler. The HDUP1500 certainly does provide a wide range of flexibility, in that it can take virtually any video signal and deinterlace/scale it to all of the current standard and high-definition formats. I was successfully able to input all my sources and output the signals at 1080i (also tried 480p to see the deinterlacing capability on 480i signals). Unfortunately, I was less than impressed with the results of the unit's deinterlacing and scaling. Scaling of 480i signals from the Tivo was decent if the sequences were mostly static images. Xbox 780p signals were indeed converted (Soul Caliber II) but with excessive edge enhancement, imo. I preferred the progressive scan output of my DVD player to the video sent thru the scaler. PROS: supports virtually all formats in & out, ability to scale to various resolutions (for fixed pixel displays) and usual high-def formats (780p/1080i), does pretty well on static images
CONS: motion sequences end up w/ fair amount of artifacts, excessive edge enhancement degrades picture, no pass-thru of 1080i signals (these get pillar boxed, unfortunately), switching between inputs takes several seconds, mediocre 3:2 pulldown processing (mix of video & film sequences) Overall, it's difficult for me to justify the ~$600 price for mediocre scaling and deinterlacing. I ended up returning the unit as I'd rather save the money and apply it towards the purchase of a newer TV which has better built-in scaling and deinterlacing capabilities (e.g. Samsung DLPs or others). The ADS Tech HDUP1500 may be better suited for people with plasmas and other fixed pixel displays. DVDO and others are expected to release other high-def scaling products in the near future, which may be another option though these are all likely to be substantially more expensive.
Rating:
Summary: Lots of potential, but scaling performance so-so
Review: I recently purchased ADS's HDTV Upconverter for use with my Mitsubishi 42" HDTV (CRT-based rear projection). I have a variety of video sources including an HDTV receiver, a DirecTV/Tivo receiver, a progressive scan DVD player, and an Xbox game console. Broadly speaking, I wanted to improve the quality of standard definition 480i signals from the Tivo and reformat 780p signals from the Xbox to work on my Mits which only accepts 1080i (along with 480i/480p). I also tried upscaling the output from my DVD player, sending both interlaced and progressive scan signals to the scaler. The HDUP1500 certainly does provide a wide range of flexibility, in that it can take virtually any video signal and deinterlace/scale it to all of the current standard and high-definition formats. I was successfully able to input all my sources and output the signals at 1080i (also tried 480p to see the deinterlacing capability on 480i signals). Unfortunately, I was less than impressed with the results of the unit's deinterlacing and scaling. Scaling of 480i signals from the Tivo was decent if the sequences were mostly static images. Xbox 780p signals were indeed converted (Soul Caliber II) but with excessive edge enhancement, imo. I preferred the progressive scan output of my DVD player to the video sent thru the scaler. PROS: supports virtually all formats in & out, ability to scale to various resolutions (for fixed pixel displays) and usual high-def formats (780p/1080i), does pretty well on static images
CONS: motion sequences end up w/ fair amount of artifacts, excessive edge enhancement degrades picture, no pass-thru of 1080i signals (these get pillar boxed, unfortunately), switching between inputs takes several seconds, mediocre 3:2 pulldown processing (mix of video & film sequences) Overall, it's difficult for me to justify the ~$600 price for mediocre scaling and deinterlacing. I ended up returning the unit as I'd rather save the money and apply it towards the purchase of a newer TV which has better built-in scaling and deinterlacing capabilities (e.g. Samsung DLPs or others). The ADS Tech HDUP1500 may be better suited for people with plasmas and other fixed pixel displays. DVDO and others are expected to release other high-def scaling products in the near future, which may be another option though these are all likely to be substantially more expensive.
Rating:
Summary: Lots of potential, but scaling performance so-so
Review: I recently purchased ADS's HDTV Upconverter for use with my Mitsubishi 42" HDTV (CRT-based rear projection). I have a variety of video sources including an HDTV receiver, a DirecTV/Tivo receiver, a progressive scan DVD player, and an Xbox game console. Broadly speaking, I wanted to improve the quality of standard definition 480i signals from the Tivo and reformat 780p signals from the Xbox to work on my Mits which only accepts 1080i (along with 480i/480p). I also tried upscaling the output from my DVD player, sending both interlaced and progressive scan signals to the scaler. The HDUP1500 certainly does provide a wide range of flexibility, in that it can take virtually any video signal and deinterlace/scale it to all of the current standard and high-definition formats. I was successfully able to input all my sources and output the signals at 1080i (also tried 480p to see the deinterlacing capability on 480i signals). Unfortunately, I was less than impressed with the results of the unit's deinterlacing and scaling. Scaling of 480i signals from the Tivo was decent if the sequences were mostly static images. Xbox 780p signals were indeed converted (Soul Caliber II) but with excessive edge enhancement, imo. I preferred the progressive scan output of my DVD player to the video sent thru the scaler. PROS: supports virtually all formats in & out, ability to scale to various resolutions (for fixed pixel displays) and usual high-def formats (780p/1080i), does pretty well on static images
CONS: motion sequences end up w/ fair amount of artifacts, excessive edge enhancement degrades picture, no pass-thru of 1080i signals (these get pillar boxed, unfortunately), switching between inputs takes several seconds, mediocre 3:2 pulldown processing (mix of video & film sequences) Overall, it's difficult for me to justify the ~$600 price for mediocre scaling and deinterlacing. I ended up returning the unit as I'd rather save the money and apply it towards the purchase of a newer TV which has better built-in scaling and deinterlacing capabilities (e.g. Samsung DLPs or others). The ADS Tech HDUP1500 may be better suited for people with plasmas and other fixed pixel displays. DVDO and others are expected to release other high-def scaling products in the near future, which may be another option though these are all likely to be substantially more expensive.
Rating: 
Summary: Does its job and then some
Review: I still have to review some of the finer functions of the unit, but overall, it does its job. One major bonus that most overlook, it eliminates a ton of wires going to the monitor/tv. That is a huge saving right offthe bat. The native pass-through of 1080i looks good. A 408i Directv/Tivo looks great upconverted too. I found the remote to be a bit clunky when changing inputs and using PIP. It might be just a case of getting used to it. I am looking for a way of hiding select inputs. Overall this product simplifies installation of multiple devices and looks good too.
Rating:
Summary: Wrong, that is not what is says
Review: In response to the "People Just Don't UNderstand" message: YOUR WRONG!!!!! I DID "research" the HDTV upconverter, I read the description from ADS in detail several times, I looked for online reviews, etc. I spent a lot of time. How can you say all it is supposed to do. In fact it can't, wont' and isn't supposed to allow you to watch local channels in HD on your non-HD TV. Here is a quote from the ADS advertisment:
"...Convert any video source into the High Definition Resolutions your HDTV was designed to display." [Note that it refers to displaying stuff on your "HDTV"].
Here is another quote from the ADS FAQ page:
"The HDTV UpConverter Up Converts video signals to match the High Resolutions your HDTV was designed to display. The HDTV UpConverter utilizes an advanced video processing engine with CinemaView™ scan conversion technology to enhance video quality for today's HDTV compatible displays."
[Note it says for today's HDTV compatiable displays, meaning it is not for use on non-HD TV sets contrary to Mr. Electronic's claim]
One last quote, ADS says that the upconverter was made to provide "...sharp images on your HDTV."
Perhaps when the guy who posted the message about people not understanding missed these statements from the manufacturer when he was doing his "research" The upconverter was made for use on HDTV televisions to make standard definition signals look more like high definition signals. It was not made for use on regular defintion TVs. The fact is it won't do either of the above.
Rating:
Summary: People just do not understand!
Review: People would like to say that the converter does not work, but one should study before they buy anything and place blame! All this system does is make your local channels broadcasting in High Definiton, available, whether or not your television is HD! If you have a HD TV your picture should look amazing once your local channels are being broadcasted in HD! If not it would look the same!
Get it!
Remember always investigate what you need before you pay for something you never actually needed!
Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your money
Review: This is a very disappointing product. It is supposed to enhance the image but it actually made it a lot worse. I have a perfectly calibrated home theater and after I put this cheapo upconverter everything needed to be readjusted. Color, tint, brightness. I couldn't believe it. If you are serious about upconverting, invest in a real box like the DVDO iScan HD. Now that's about the performance. About the rest, it sucks even more. The case feels cheap, switching between the different inputs takes forever (like there is a 5 sec delay between the moment you push and it does switch) DO NOT BUY.
<< 1 >>
| 
