CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

cmjohnson · Joined: 03 Apr 2006 Posts: 1677

So is there a Blu-Ray player (or mod for one) out yet that offers an HD-SDI output?

CJ

MikeEby · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 5148 Location: Osceola, Indiana

Gary M. was trying to hawk some on here a year or so ago....He would start threads that were actually ads for his product. I think his company is Custom Home Theater...RUN THE OTHER WAY! He's a crook.

Mike

**ecrabb** · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 4:33 am Post subject:

Why bother with HD-SDI between player and processor in a home environment? What's the advantage over HDMI?

SC

MikeEby · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 5148 Location: Osceola, Indiana

**ecrabb** · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:09 am Post subject:

But, that's my question... Why would there be ANY improvement PQ-wise? Unless you're doing some massive transformation or conversion at the source, I don't see how HD-SDI between source and processor is of any benefit whatsoever. If I'm wrong, I'd love to be enlightened... So far, nobody can say... When I pressed Gary on the issue, it was plainly obvious he had no idea WTF he was talking about.

SC

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6368

You can read this pdf from Extron...

http://www.extron.com/download/files/extronews/hdsdihdmi_ts.pdf

**ecrabb** · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 6:13 am Post subject:

I've read that PDF, Tom... Several times. Now, obviously I'm not an engineer or I probably wouldn't be asking... But, reading that paper, I still don't see what advantage a Blu-ray player with HD-SDI offers over HDMI - especially in a HT environment with a equipment-projector runs well inside reasonable runs for HDMI.

SC

Nashou66 · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 6:24 am Post subject:

Boiler maker has HD SDI player and says its a better pic. Why? i am not sure but from my understanding even though theoretically its an all digital signal to the display with both formats, with HDMI there is still some processing being done. how true is this? i have no idea, its just what i have read and heard.

Athanasios

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6368

**ecrabb** · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 8:16 am Post subject:

HD-SDI has a couple of advantages in addition to long cable runs, but neither come into play with consumer Blu-ray as the source. In short, I don't think you'd be able to see a difference between HDMI and HD-SDI on ANY display, because for our consumer source, there IS no difference! 4:2:2 Y'CbCr H.264 or VC-1 is going to to arrive at the processor the same whether it goes over HDMI or HD-SDI.

When I pressed Gary to get him to articulate how exactly HD-SDI would be better for HT, he tried to say that there was some sort of processing in the video chain in some players, and that you could bypass the processing by using HD-SDI. When I explained that wasn't any sort of indictment of HDMI and was instead a problem with that player, and could he say what players do- or do not have this problem, he went back to the NDA bull****.

SC

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 9668

I thought SDI, or HD-SDI, skipped any source internal processing and simply handed over the raw bit-stream for outboard processing. See, SC, I'm even less of a quasi-engineer and I beat you to the bottom of enlightenment! Smile

Nashou66 · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 2:35 pm Post subject:

I understand what your saying SC but then your explanation would mean all BD players should look the same, they dont. I know for a fact on my LGBH200 there is some processing with the Qdeo, also there is a user selectable control for adjusting colors and contrast etc. this tells me that the signals do go through some processing, even if you leave it all at default setting with no adjustment there could be some altering being done or unintentional things going on. For comparison on my Marquees the Contrast Modulation Board does add noise to the signal even if all settings are at default. The same can be happening down stream from the main Mpeg chips on the BD players. HD SDI takes that possibility away, then it goes to an outboard processor where most likely we know what will be done to the digital signal and usually they are better units than whats in a player.

At least that is my take on it.

And I do agree the differences ,for most, wont be noticed. And one more thing, no HDCP to deal with and for some like Boilermaker who uses a blend unit HDCP is a pain in the ass.
Athanasios

cmjohnson · Joined: 03 Apr 2006 Posts: 1677

When you have a tendency to want to play with pro market gear, like I do, you sometimes may find yourself looking at a projector which has an SDI or HD-SDI input card on it but it doesn't have an HDMI input. This isn't going to be an issue if you don't play with pro market gear, but many of us play in that world. Virtually every CRT projector enthusiast is one of them. Also those who play with 3 chip DLP projectors.

I have a pair of Barco SLM R6 3 chip DLP projectors in my garage at this moment. They have SDI input cards in them,
though they're not the HD-SDI variety. But they could easily have had the HD versions instead. These projectors
have SDI, DVI (non-HDCP compliant), and 5 wire analog inputs. But no HDMI or component inputs.

SDI and HD-SDI send uncompressed data over long cable runs with ease and there's nothing special about the cables. Long HDMI runs are problematic. By preference I'd rather distribute my signals via SDI when thet capability is present.

Thanks for the tips.

CJ

Boilermaker · Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 527

Athanasios is correct - There were several reasons why I went the HD-SDI route:

1 - While PQ differences (if any) could be discussed, HD-SDI will never be the loser.
2 - Since my signal would go through my VP50pro to a splitter and on to two TVOne's for blending, the chance of a hand-shake brain fart would be too high.
3 - I always have the feeling that future BD releases might possibly have "enhanced" HDCP encryption that would cause problems with current generations of Moome's boxes. HD-SDI eliminates that possibility.
4 - Using HD-SDI frees up the HDMI connection for getting the lossless audio codecs to my pre/pro without any issues.

Bob

777 · Joined: 13 Mar 2010 Posts: 1

In my situation I am looking to use HD-SDI to bypass my arcam 888 (whose scaler cannot be set to passthru) and take the video straight to the DVDO while the audio ended up in the 888 via hdmi. This would allow me to scale less and reduce handshaking glitches (of which I seem to have plenty). In all seriousness, Gary aside, will this work and where can I get a reputable modded player (Oppo 83) with HD-SDI?

Boilermaker · Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 527

Unless there is a handshake problem with your 888, you should have no issues - I would suggest you switch your 888 input before you switch your VP50Pro input to eliminate a few seconds of HD-SDI shutdown while your audio goes through its handshake.

The only source of HD-SDI mods that I know of is JVB Digital, and they will either mod your Oppo, or sell you the whole package.

Bob

HogPilot · Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2010 8:50 pm Post subject:

Boilermaker · Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 527