Lumagen RadianceXD™ Video Processor
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Νανόπουλος Γιάννης
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- 17 June 2006
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Απάντηση: Re: Lumagen RadianceXD™ Video Processor
Αν λές για το Χρήστο είναι άρρωστος...
Αν λές για το Χρήστο είναι άρρωστος...
FAQ Lumagen RadianceXD™ Video Processor
Αφιερωμενο εξαιρετικα στον κυριο Μπαμπη....:guitarist:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=909924
What's the RadianceXD?
The new video processor from Lumagen.
Who's Lumagen?
From their website:Lumagen is a privately held video systems product company that was founded in September of 2001. We are headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon where we beaver away at equipping home theaters with the technology to make movies jump off the screen. Lumagen provides solutions for video switching, calibration, plus deinterlacing and scaling. Together these allow knowledgeable integrators and enthusiasts to provide the best quality and most accurate video images for their home theater installations.
Specs?
(The following is from the official Radiance XD brochure)
Inputs/outputs:
Sounds nice. What else? (updated 10/1/07)
The Radiance XD uses the VXP GF9450, the current flagship image processor from Gennum. By all accounts, the GF9450's deinterlacing, noise reduction, and mpeg artifact reduction abilities are top notch. They better be, because that's all the chip is being used for. The rest of the processing (scaling) and the calibration features are handled by Lumagen. (Note that jrp stated that "deinterlacing and noise reduction" is done by Gennum and the rest by Lumagen, but I'm going out on a limb here and assume that MPEG Block Artifact Reduction, a.k.a. BAR, is done in the Gennum chip as well.)
Also, not listed above is PIP (picture-in-picture) functionality. The PIP window should be selectable from any of the inputs. This could be used to check security cameras, for example. Some have requested multiple PIP windows, but according to Lumagen the XD's architecture simply won't allow it.
HDMI outputs only? This is not going to work with my CRT projector.
An external HDMI to RGBVH box (with BNC connectors) is planned. However according to jrp it will not work with hdcp encrypted sources, the hdcp license preventing this. It will use the same digital/analog converter as the one found in the Vision series of processors. As with most post-release add-ons related to the Radiance, there is no time frame or known price yet. Note that hdmi input cards (with hdcp support) are available for most models of crt projectors these days.
What's this 'no ring' scaling thing about?
Upscaling tends to introduce so-called 'ringing' artifacts, that look like halos (comparable to some extent to edge enhancement artifacts). Lumagen uses a proprietary upscaling algorithm which is widely recognized as the best in the industry. Here are some comparison pics. The Radiance algorithm has been improved from the version found in the Vision processors.
Can I still use the Gennum scaling?
At some point jrp indicated they might make this an option, but I don't think this would be a high priority on their to do list, seeing how their scaling is universally considered superior. In other words: why would you want to do that?
What about SDI/HD-SDI inputs? (updated 12/20/07)
There are none on the XD, but its potential high end brethren (dubbed the 'RadiancePro') will have them. That's the plan anyway. If you really want an SDI input, Lumagen will release an HD-SDI->HDMI external input box, as mentioned above. (Yes, HD-SDI, not SDI - the HD flavor accepts SDI signals though). There is no schedule for it at this point, but retail price has been set to $599. Note that AJA is already making such a device. Link. You can find it online for less $500. I think I read somewhere that this device cannot do 480i passthrough, it will be converted to 480p. So that would defeat the XD's deinterlacing unit, not an ideal solution.
The RadiancePro? Tell me more! (updated 12/20/07)
Don't hold your breath. Lumagen is finishing the XD first, and will in fact do the XD 1.3 (see two questions down) before doing the Pro. That would put the Pro more or less in 3rd quarter of '08 (beta version). There are no specs at this point, besides two HD-SDI inputs. A possible feature Jim mentioned is the ability to have different resolutions on each output. Note that although the Pro is definitely in the plans for Lumagen, it is not yet certain that it will see the light of day. It could be scrapped if for example Lumagen realizes that the market is too small to support enough sales to offset development costs. At this point in time though, it seems more likely than not.
All my equipment is black. The XD's silver is going to stand out. Can I have it in black? (updated 10/06/07)
You'll be able to get the Radiance with an optional black faceplate. It'll set you back $200 though. See this post for links to a couple of pictures by member RichB. Purty. Also, see Phil's pics toward the bottom of the FAQ.
Does it have HDMI 1.3? (updated 12/20/07)
No. The 6 hdm inputs and 2 outputs are of the 1.1 variety. Lumagen announced from the beginning that they would be upgradable to 1.3, but a confusing wording led most to believe that this would be a simple (and somewhat inexpensive) swap - it won't be, as Jim has indicated that it will require swapping the main motherboard as well. Lumagen has realized (a bit too late if you ask me) that the market simply demands 1.3, whether it's needed or not (according to Jim , mostly not, and I tend to agree, but this is an entirely different FAQ altogether). Having come to this realization, a 1.3 version of the XD will be in the works shortly. Owners of the current (1.1) version will be able to upgrade via a Lumagen-sponsored program, whose price point should be announced shortly. It will require sending the unit back to them, though, as the swapping of the inputs, outputs, and motherboard can obviously not be done by the owner. To keep the upgrade cost reasonable, Lumagen will resell the 1.1 innards in a new case at a reduced price. Stay tuned.
Upgradeability is cool though - anything else?
Yes. The inside of the XD consists 3 main boards; the Gennum (deinterlacing, NR, BAR), the Lumagen FPGA (scaling, calibration), and the audio/misc board. Each of these can be replaced independently. (Lumagen has not stated whether these would be 'field upgradeable' (meaning they send the replacement card and you swap it yourself) or if the unit would need to get shipped back to them for replacement.) This is of course no guarantee that the XD is 100% future proof - a few AVS'ers have pointed out that "upgradeability" has been used time and again as a marketing tool by various electronics companies, with no follow through to speak of - just because the parts are replaceable doesn't mean they will get replaced. Hopefully Lumagen will have a better track record on this.
Price?
MSRP is $3999. Preorder price is lower, at least it was when I preordered. Contact AVS for more info.
Not cheap. (new 9/24/07)
What part of "preorder price is lower" don't you get? (Seriously: call AVS while you still can.) Anyhow, on top of the XD and the Pro, Lumagen is also planning a RadianceXS - that would be the 'light' (aka cheaper) version of the XD.
The RadianceXS? Tell me more! (updated 11/03/07)
No official announcement has been made, however Lumagen has been 'thinking about it.' Here is what we know so far:
I don't live in the US. Local Lumagen distributors are charging an arm and a leg for the XD - much more than the equivalent of US$4000, despite the currently weak dollar! What can I do? (updated 11/20/07)
First, note that the above isn't necessarily true in any and all countries outside the US. CALL YOUR LOCAL DEALER and find out for yourself. Chances are, you will not get the equivalent to the US price, but it might not be so bad. Besides, the premium that non-US dealers are asking often covers extra service and support; they might help you set it up, or maybe even provide you with ISF calibration. That said, sometimes the price asked simply isn't reasonable, and the dealer won't move. What to do? Unfortunately, US dealers are not supposed to sell outside the US. But some will. Another solution would be to have a person in the US buy one for you and ship it to your country of residence. As a last resort, try contacting Lumagen directly and explain your situation. No guarantee here, but they will at least listen and have been known to be helpful.
Is there a trade-in program?
Yes. You will get 33% of your current Lumagen unit's MSRP. It is recommended that you try to sell it yourself, as you will likely get more than this.
Is there a competitive trade-in program?
I'll quote Jim Peterson on this one: "We do not have an official program. However, I am happy to discuss specific cases if you give me a call (503-574-2211) or email me at [email protected]"
Ok, that all sounds great - when does it come out?
When it's ready.
No, seriously. When is it coming out? (updated 10/17/07)
Well, let's see. I got on the preorder list mid March, and according to Jason Turk (AVS) at the time, Lumagen was aiming for an April release. This has been pushed back ever since (to Summer, then late Summer, etc). Note however that Lumagen never committed to a firm date. When asked recently, they said: "We still need to implement a few more important features in the software before the Radiance will officially be in production. Sorry that I don't have an exact date for production, but it's not too far away." (9/13/07) When asked even more recently, they said: "Since CEDIA we have been shooting for a Q4 production release. (...) Still might make it." (10/17/07).
Hmm, okay, so where are we now? (new 12/20/07)
February'08 is the latest announced (again, not official) release time frame. Lumagen has spent a lot more time chasing bugs lately, time they thought would be spent adding the features needed before the unit can be released. We're getting there though.
But I want it now!
Get a beta unit. You can get them from AVS or directly from Lumagen. Contact either for more information.
Beta he? Well... (updated 10/26/07)
It's a bit of a misnomer. Only the software is beta - the hardware itself is production hardware, e.g., final. It used to be that you had to sign a NDA, but not anymore as of 10/25/07.
So what is the software in? If it's beta, should I expect a lot of missing features or some unstability? (updated 12/29/07)
Not at all. The XD has been usable and stable for quite a while now. While Lumagen keeps on fixing bugs are they are discovered and reported, they are now spending most of their time adding planned features to the XD. Here is a list of the features implemented so far. First, the "obvious" features (visible to the user):
Glad you asked. Here is the list of features to be implemented between now and the end of December:
Indeed. Jim has indicated that they will delay a few non-critical features for after production release:
Can you tell me exactly what the 'image enhancement controls' do? (new 12/29/07)
The Gennum image enhancement controls are:
- 2D/3D noise reduction
- Mosquito noise reduction
- Block artifact reduction
- Edge enhancement
- Dynamic contrast enhancement
Some screenshot examples can be found here, however the linked document being from Gennum itself, I'd take it with a grain of salt. That said it will give you a concrete idea of what these controls are supposed to do. In the document, I'm not sure if 'detail enhancement' corresponds to a feature implemented in the XD (the sharpness control perhaps?). Also, remember that Lumagen's scaling has a built-in mosquito noise reduction algorithm, so the Gennum noise reduction controls should be applied accordingly. (I will experiment a bit with these and report back - my first impression is that they will be mostly useful for bad/heavily compressed sources such as... drum roll... cable. Yeah, you didn't see that one coming did ya.)
What about blending? (new 10/21/07)
Blending, from the moment it was suggested, was always on the 'maybe'-list. Lately, it seems it's moved on the 'probably not'-list. In Jim's words: "At this point we are thinking this will be a feature for the RadiancePro. There is some chance we might add it to the RadianceXD, but at this point there are no plans to do so."
Ok - I just got a beta unit. Can I get access to the beta user forum? (updated 11/14/07)
You sure can. First register on the Lumagen User Forum. Then you need to contact your dealer/distributor, who in turn should email convergentav at btinternet dot com. The email should contain your name and forum user name (with confirmation that you have acquired a unit of course), so the admin can give you access. If you got the unit from AVS, you can email [email protected] directly with your name and user name, and they will forward the request on your behalf. (You can bypass AVS here because units ordered from AVS are in fact shipped directly from Lumagen.)
Can you tell me more about the audio delay feature? Correct lip sync is important to me. (updated 9/24/07)
As mentioned above, there will be an audio delay feature. You will be able to configure it per input resolution (not just per input - see question about memories configuration below), and it will work regardless of the ouput (hdmi or coax). You will also be able to adjust the delay on the fly (with the remote) if a particular movie/program is misbehaving. The audio delay feature is not planned for release, but will be available in a subsequent firmware update. The reason for this is that it has been deemed a low priority enhancement - jrp has stated that many beta users have simply set the delay to 0 ms - the XD simply is that fast, and a delay isn't necessary.
What are the 'game' and 'passthrough' modes mentioned above? (updated 11/17/07)
If you intend to connect video game consoles to the XD, low latency modes will be available. This is planned for after production release.
What do we know about the audio features - besides that they were hard to implement? (new 10/17/07)
Any audio input (analog, coax, optical, hdmi) can be associated with any video input AND directed to any of the audio outputs (one or both hdmi , and/or coax - yes, simultaneously if desired). Furthermore, the XD offers extremely flexible audio EDID control (EDID is the identification data that allows components to publicize what video resolutions/audio formats they're capable of - this works only with hdmi of course). Basically, any of the outputs' EDID, or a user-made one, can be passed back to any of the sources. Also, note that video EDID can be passed back from the other output than the one used for audio.
Can you direct different inputs on each of the outputs?
No. The way it works is that you choose one input, and direct it to one, or both outputs. However you can replace the video signal in the second output with a blank 720p signal if you are using that output for audio to a receiver or preamp.
Is the manual available online?
Not yet. We can only assume that it will be once the XD is released, like they are for the other Lumagen models. In the meantime, here is the (official?) Radiance FAQ. The first question has some feature info and comparison with the Vision series of processors, while the rest seems geared towards early (e.g., beta) users. It is a work in progress: as of this writing, the last section (on RS-232 control), is not up yet.
I see discussions about input and output memories/configuration. I don't get it, and it looks like I'm not the only one. (updated 9/24/07)
I'll give it a try, but see also the question about the CMS. The Radiance has 4 configuration memories per (physical) input: they are named MEMA, MEMB, MEMC, and MEMD. To each of these you can assign input specific settings to correct for source problems. Each MEMA/B/C/D holds 8 input resolution sub-memories, one for each of the following resolutions:
I'm not sure. I don't see the point of all this. Can't you just set the output to the native resolution of your display and be done with it? (updated 9/24/07)
Well first of all the native resolution doesn't tell us anything about the refresh rates the display accepts. For example, if your shiny new LCD accepts 24p, that's probably what you want to feed it to avoid motion judder (in theory anyway) if you're getting 24p in. The configuration abilities above will have the Radiance switch automatically from say 1080p60 to 1080p24 if the source material calls for it. Also, even with the same source, different resolution inputs might result in wildly different output adjustments being needed, the typical example being a cable box with SD and HD channels. So there definitely won't be a one-size-fits-all output configuration for your display.
Ok, I get it now, but why do I need 4 memories per input? (new 9/24/07)
This is useful in a number of situations. If you have an anamorphic lens for example, you would probably use one MEM for when the lens is on, another for when it's off. Or, if your room isn't a batcave, you might want to setup different configurations for different times of the day depending on the ambient light. In any case, whatever your situation is, chances are the XD's got you covered.
Right, right. Sounds good. Any other configuration memory details I should know about? (new 9/24/07)
Why yes! First of all, the input resolution sub-memories can be reprogrammed to catch different resolutions. Jrp gave the example of 720p24, an Apple HD format. The 'Other' (8th) sub-memory cannot be reprogrammed, as a 'catch-all' is needed. Also, the SD inputs (composite, s-video), only have two resolution sub-memories for each of their 4 memories (480i/p60 and 576i/p50).
Any other unique feature(s)?
When it comes out, the Radiance XD will be the only consumer grade video processor to offer a full CMS (color management system). It will allow for correcting 'out of specs' colors on certain display devices that may need it and don't offer the necessary controls - the notorious example du jour would be the JVC RS1.
Can you tell me more about the CMS?
I have no details on the specifics of the user interface, but you will be able to control gamut, grayscale, gamma, and color/hue. Gamut, grayscale and gamma settings are associated with output configurations (MEMx), while color and hue settings are set per input. Additionally, contrast and brightness settings can be set per input resolution sub-memory (see the question about memories above).
That sounds pretty complex.
This system is meant to direct calibration settings where they are needed. For example, contrast and brightness settings can be set per input resolution so the same cable feed can be set up differently for SD and HD channels. On the other hand, gamut correction makes sense for your display device. And so on.
Is CMS that useful? (new 10/22/07)
User sfogg has started experimenting with the first version of the CMS that was just added to the software. You can see before/after shots there and in subsequent posts. As you can see, the XD tones down the RS1's infamous oversaturation - the result may or may not be to your liking, in fact some users prefer the saturated colors, but others say that once you go 'correct' you cannot go back. In any case, the use of the CMS will not be limited to the RS1 of course, and should allow for precise calibration of most displays. According to some doing a CMS 'right' is not trivial, and if Lumagen pulls it off this will be a big differentiator between the XD and its competition.
Ok. It all sounds fantastic, but how does it perform? Is there any feedback from the beta testers yet? Any screenshots? (updated 10/26/07)
As of 10/25/07 the NDA for beta users has been lifted, so users can comment on all aspects of the XD's functionality (issues related to beta testing are still to be discussed on the closed Lumagen forum). No earth shaking revelations, as the NDA had been lifted previously for video features, and a few reports came out at the time - I took the liberty of highlighting a couple cool/interesting things:
Glad you asked! Here's a full account by Phil, a.k.a. escon. Enjoy!
--
This is a brief look at the innards of the XD. Ever the engineer, the first thing I did after I received mine was to have a look inside it. Below are some shots of it with full permission from Lumagen BTW. It will be a couple of weeks before I get the chance to fully integrate it into my system - many new components are to go in at the same time. Luckily, my display's native resolution of 768p (768 x 1280) is already supported, so I should get a good feel in how it compares to my DVDO VP50.
The XD design is focused on having a sleek uncluttered look – just the two “eyes” on the left side of the front faceplate are the only indication that there is a connection with the outside world. The left eye (multicolour LED) serves as the Status indicator; changing colour depending on the state the XD is in. The one next to it is the IR sensor. The unit you see here has the optional Black Faceplate – the standard is a Silver one. I much prefer the black myself – I think it gives the unit a much classier look – but, each to his own. If you specify a Black faceplate at the time you place the order, rather than exchanging it for the standard Silver one at a later date, there is only a minimal surcharge.
The inside of the XD is beautifully “crafted”. The Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) show no late/last minute changes to the design and it looks like it is a fully mature product, true to Lumagen’s claims. As has been discussed extensively in the Lumagen RadianceXD thread, you can clearly see that the I/O is contained on the main PCB. If an upgrade to HDMI 1.3 is ever required, this board will have to be swapped over for an updated one. Note that each of the six HDMI 1.1 Input connectors and of course each of the two HDMI output connectors has its own dedicated chipset. This allows continuous HDCP connection/connectivity, even if the inputs are switched, leading to rapid source switching.
The whole of the XD remains uncannily cool. Barely warm to the touch for both the unit and the external power supply. I measured just 18 watts of total power consumption. It would be an absolute no brainer to squeeze the whole innards of the XD into a 1U high box as far as heat build up/dissipation is concerned.
As an alternative to an HDMI 1.3 upgrade, maybe some time in the not too distant future, an external converter box that converts the new HD/BD audio signals into multi channel PCM which the HDMI 1.1 inputs can handle without any problems, could be another way to upgrade the one or two HDMI inputs that need it. (Dave's note: this is pretty unlikely now that a new version of the XD with hdmi 1.3 is planned.)
Another way not requiring any additional external or internal hardware is to have the AVR in front of the XD so that the Audio is pulled out with the Video signal being passed onto the XD for processing.
Another variant is to just have the HD/BD player directly go into the AVR whilst still connecting the remainder of your sources into the XD first. The HDMI output of the AVR goes back into the XD before being passed onto the display after in has processed it to your liking. See this post for details.
Lastly, yet another variant on the above is to connect all your sources into your AVR and have the XD change its internal settings as you switch sources - a macro would set your AVR as well as a "virtual" input on the one HDMI input on the XD.
There are clearly many ways to get around not having HDMI 1.3 input ports. I was a strong sceptic at first and was going to wait and see if Lumagen would be bringing out an HDMI 1.3 upgrade (sooner rather than later). But I was convinced after all the discussions on this topic in the Lumagen Radiance XD thread that it was really not such a big drawback in having HDMI 1.1 ports.
The Gennum VP can clearly be seen to be on its own daughter board and as Lumagen has said, this can be upgraded to a new board should a later/better version of the Gennum VP come out at a later date. The top most piggyback board carries all of the Audio I/O connectors, analog as well as digital, but with very little circuitry contained associated with it. It also carries the POWER IN and the RS232 FW upgrade/control connectors as well as the Lens Trigger signals.
--
Αφιερωμενο εξαιρετικα στον κυριο Μπαμπη....:guitarist:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=909924
What's the RadianceXD?
The new video processor from Lumagen.
Who's Lumagen?
From their website:Lumagen is a privately held video systems product company that was founded in September of 2001. We are headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon where we beaver away at equipping home theaters with the technology to make movies jump off the screen. Lumagen provides solutions for video switching, calibration, plus deinterlacing and scaling. Together these allow knowledgeable integrators and enthusiasts to provide the best quality and most accurate video images for their home theater installations.
Specs?
(The following is from the official Radiance XD brochure)
Inputs/outputs:
- 18 video inputs: 6 HDMI (SD/HD), 4 Component (SD/HD), 4 SVideo and 4 Composite
- 18 audio inputs: 6 HDMI, 4 stereo (analog), 2 optical and 6 COAX
- Outputs: two HDMI video outputs, two coax audio outputs
- 10-bit processing
- Proprietary Lumagen “no-ring” scaling
- Each input has 4 user configuration memories
- Each memory has 8 resolution submemories
- 2:2, 3:2 and 3:3 pull-down for SD/HD film sources
- Per-pixel SD/HD video de-interlacing
- Adaptive diagonal filtering
- MPEG mosquito and block artifact reduction
- Temporal noise reduction for SD/HD sources
- Output resolution from 480p to 1080p, plus 1080i
- User programmable non-linear-stretch (NLS) mode
- 4:3, LBOX, 16:9, 1.85, 2.35 and NLS input aspect ratios
- Programmable output aspect ratio from 1.33 to 2.35
- Extensive support for anamorphic lenses
- Automatic detection for NTSC, PAL and SECAM
- Extensive suite of test patterns
- Parametric grayscale calibration
- Parametric Gamma calibration
- Programmable input/output color-space
- Y/C-delay calibration
- User-adjustable image enhancement
- CUE and ICP filtering
- Eight channel audio at 96 kHz
- Two 12-volt trigger outputs
- IR and RS232 control
- LVTTL IR format command input
- Universal power supply
- Optional external SDI to HDMI converter
- Optional external HDMI to analog converter
- Optional ears for rack mounting
Sounds nice. What else? (updated 10/1/07)
The Radiance XD uses the VXP GF9450, the current flagship image processor from Gennum. By all accounts, the GF9450's deinterlacing, noise reduction, and mpeg artifact reduction abilities are top notch. They better be, because that's all the chip is being used for. The rest of the processing (scaling) and the calibration features are handled by Lumagen. (Note that jrp stated that "deinterlacing and noise reduction" is done by Gennum and the rest by Lumagen, but I'm going out on a limb here and assume that MPEG Block Artifact Reduction, a.k.a. BAR, is done in the Gennum chip as well.)
Also, not listed above is PIP (picture-in-picture) functionality. The PIP window should be selectable from any of the inputs. This could be used to check security cameras, for example. Some have requested multiple PIP windows, but according to Lumagen the XD's architecture simply won't allow it.
HDMI outputs only? This is not going to work with my CRT projector.
An external HDMI to RGBVH box (with BNC connectors) is planned. However according to jrp it will not work with hdcp encrypted sources, the hdcp license preventing this. It will use the same digital/analog converter as the one found in the Vision series of processors. As with most post-release add-ons related to the Radiance, there is no time frame or known price yet. Note that hdmi input cards (with hdcp support) are available for most models of crt projectors these days.
What's this 'no ring' scaling thing about?
Upscaling tends to introduce so-called 'ringing' artifacts, that look like halos (comparable to some extent to edge enhancement artifacts). Lumagen uses a proprietary upscaling algorithm which is widely recognized as the best in the industry. Here are some comparison pics. The Radiance algorithm has been improved from the version found in the Vision processors.
Can I still use the Gennum scaling?
At some point jrp indicated they might make this an option, but I don't think this would be a high priority on their to do list, seeing how their scaling is universally considered superior. In other words: why would you want to do that?
What about SDI/HD-SDI inputs? (updated 12/20/07)
There are none on the XD, but its potential high end brethren (dubbed the 'RadiancePro') will have them. That's the plan anyway. If you really want an SDI input, Lumagen will release an HD-SDI->HDMI external input box, as mentioned above. (Yes, HD-SDI, not SDI - the HD flavor accepts SDI signals though). There is no schedule for it at this point, but retail price has been set to $599. Note that AJA is already making such a device. Link. You can find it online for less $500. I think I read somewhere that this device cannot do 480i passthrough, it will be converted to 480p. So that would defeat the XD's deinterlacing unit, not an ideal solution.
The RadiancePro? Tell me more! (updated 12/20/07)
Don't hold your breath. Lumagen is finishing the XD first, and will in fact do the XD 1.3 (see two questions down) before doing the Pro. That would put the Pro more or less in 3rd quarter of '08 (beta version). There are no specs at this point, besides two HD-SDI inputs. A possible feature Jim mentioned is the ability to have different resolutions on each output. Note that although the Pro is definitely in the plans for Lumagen, it is not yet certain that it will see the light of day. It could be scrapped if for example Lumagen realizes that the market is too small to support enough sales to offset development costs. At this point in time though, it seems more likely than not.
All my equipment is black. The XD's silver is going to stand out. Can I have it in black? (updated 10/06/07)
You'll be able to get the Radiance with an optional black faceplate. It'll set you back $200 though. See this post for links to a couple of pictures by member RichB. Purty. Also, see Phil's pics toward the bottom of the FAQ.
Does it have HDMI 1.3? (updated 12/20/07)
No. The 6 hdm inputs and 2 outputs are of the 1.1 variety. Lumagen announced from the beginning that they would be upgradable to 1.3, but a confusing wording led most to believe that this would be a simple (and somewhat inexpensive) swap - it won't be, as Jim has indicated that it will require swapping the main motherboard as well. Lumagen has realized (a bit too late if you ask me) that the market simply demands 1.3, whether it's needed or not (according to Jim , mostly not, and I tend to agree, but this is an entirely different FAQ altogether). Having come to this realization, a 1.3 version of the XD will be in the works shortly. Owners of the current (1.1) version will be able to upgrade via a Lumagen-sponsored program, whose price point should be announced shortly. It will require sending the unit back to them, though, as the swapping of the inputs, outputs, and motherboard can obviously not be done by the owner. To keep the upgrade cost reasonable, Lumagen will resell the 1.1 innards in a new case at a reduced price. Stay tuned.
Upgradeability is cool though - anything else?
Yes. The inside of the XD consists 3 main boards; the Gennum (deinterlacing, NR, BAR), the Lumagen FPGA (scaling, calibration), and the audio/misc board. Each of these can be replaced independently. (Lumagen has not stated whether these would be 'field upgradeable' (meaning they send the replacement card and you swap it yourself) or if the unit would need to get shipped back to them for replacement.) This is of course no guarantee that the XD is 100% future proof - a few AVS'ers have pointed out that "upgradeability" has been used time and again as a marketing tool by various electronics companies, with no follow through to speak of - just because the parts are replaceable doesn't mean they will get replaced. Hopefully Lumagen will have a better track record on this.
Price?
MSRP is $3999. Preorder price is lower, at least it was when I preordered. Contact AVS for more info.
Not cheap. (new 9/24/07)
What part of "preorder price is lower" don't you get? (Seriously: call AVS while you still can.) Anyhow, on top of the XD and the Pro, Lumagen is also planning a RadianceXS - that would be the 'light' (aka cheaper) version of the XD.
The RadianceXS? Tell me more! (updated 11/03/07)
No official announcement has been made, however Lumagen has been 'thinking about it.' Here is what we know so far:
- Fewer inputs: 4 HDMI, 2 component, 2 composite, 2 SVideo, 6 Coax and 2 Optical (S/PDIF)
- Fewer outputs: 1 HDMI, 1 Coax S/PDIF
- No Pip/Pop support
- Picture quality will be the same as the XD
- Standard color will be black, a silver option will be considered
- Casing will probably be 1U (XD is 2U, this refers to the height of the unit)
- Only one HDMI receiver (the XD has one per HDMI input, allowing it to keep each input 'alive' even if you switch to another one)
- Feature set will be reduced compared to the XD
I don't live in the US. Local Lumagen distributors are charging an arm and a leg for the XD - much more than the equivalent of US$4000, despite the currently weak dollar! What can I do? (updated 11/20/07)
First, note that the above isn't necessarily true in any and all countries outside the US. CALL YOUR LOCAL DEALER and find out for yourself. Chances are, you will not get the equivalent to the US price, but it might not be so bad. Besides, the premium that non-US dealers are asking often covers extra service and support; they might help you set it up, or maybe even provide you with ISF calibration. That said, sometimes the price asked simply isn't reasonable, and the dealer won't move. What to do? Unfortunately, US dealers are not supposed to sell outside the US. But some will. Another solution would be to have a person in the US buy one for you and ship it to your country of residence. As a last resort, try contacting Lumagen directly and explain your situation. No guarantee here, but they will at least listen and have been known to be helpful.
Is there a trade-in program?
Yes. You will get 33% of your current Lumagen unit's MSRP. It is recommended that you try to sell it yourself, as you will likely get more than this.
Is there a competitive trade-in program?
I'll quote Jim Peterson on this one: "We do not have an official program. However, I am happy to discuss specific cases if you give me a call (503-574-2211) or email me at [email protected]"
Ok, that all sounds great - when does it come out?
When it's ready.
No, seriously. When is it coming out? (updated 10/17/07)
Well, let's see. I got on the preorder list mid March, and according to Jason Turk (AVS) at the time, Lumagen was aiming for an April release. This has been pushed back ever since (to Summer, then late Summer, etc). Note however that Lumagen never committed to a firm date. When asked recently, they said: "We still need to implement a few more important features in the software before the Radiance will officially be in production. Sorry that I don't have an exact date for production, but it's not too far away." (9/13/07) When asked even more recently, they said: "Since CEDIA we have been shooting for a Q4 production release. (...) Still might make it." (10/17/07).
Hmm, okay, so where are we now? (new 12/20/07)
February'08 is the latest announced (again, not official) release time frame. Lumagen has spent a lot more time chasing bugs lately, time they thought would be spent adding the features needed before the unit can be released. We're getting there though.
But I want it now!
Get a beta unit. You can get them from AVS or directly from Lumagen. Contact either for more information.
Beta he? Well... (updated 10/26/07)
It's a bit of a misnomer. Only the software is beta - the hardware itself is production hardware, e.g., final. It used to be that you had to sign a NDA, but not anymore as of 10/25/07.
So what is the software in? If it's beta, should I expect a lot of missing features or some unstability? (updated 12/29/07)
Not at all. The XD has been usable and stable for quite a while now. While Lumagen keeps on fixing bugs are they are discovered and reported, they are now spending most of their time adding planned features to the XD. Here is a list of the features implemented so far. First, the "obvious" features (visible to the user):
- Input selection for video
- Input aspect ratio selection (except NLS)
- Input memories (A, B, C, D)
- Input Zoom
- Input sub-resolution memory auto-selection
- Input sizing (a.k.a. input cropping)
- Input level (i.e. Video or PC)
- Black-level, Contrast
- Input color-space selection (i.e. ITU-Bt.601 or ITU-Bt.709)
- Color, Hue, plus Color/Hue offsets
- Output resolution (only the defaults for now)
- Output vertical rate (50 or 59.94 only)
- Output Aspect ratio
- Output level (i.e. video or PC)
- Input sub-memories can refer to different output configurations
- Auto-select NTSC at 60 and PAL at 50 using different output configurations
- HDMI video EDID configuration
- HDMI audio EDID configuration
- Some context sensitive help
- Set pillar-box, side-bar, and letter-box top-bar, level
- Save the setup to flash memory
- Audio switching for HDMI audio in to HDMI audio out
- Ability to configure output 2 as audio only
- Audio switching for COAX/TOS in, and stereo in, to SPDIF out or HDMI out.
- HDMI input audio in formats compatible with SPDIF can be output on COAX SPDIF out.
- Menu commands to associate an audio input with the selected video input.
- Primary gamut control
- Trigger output control
- Front-panel LED action control
- Grayscale/Gamma (11 point parametric. Note: 21 point comes later)
- Test Patterns (more to come later)
- Adjust video while viewing test patterns
- Output support for 8-bit 4:4:4 and 12-bit 4:2:2 (YCbCr).
- Output dither for 4:2:2 format to 8-bit or 10-bit resolution
- Input 7 to 10 type select (YPbPr, RGBcvS)
- Image enhancement controls
- Video input pipeline with source switching and format conversion
- No-ring scaling engine and output data path
- Improved pipeline precision versus the Vision series (with more to come)
- Improved down-scaling versus the Vision series (with more to come)
- Faster video switching versus the Vision series (with more to come)
- All HDMI inputs remain active (including HDCP) when not selected
- EDID supports 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 HDMI video input modes
- Vision series style RS232 commands
Glad you asked. Here is the list of features to be implemented between now and the end of December:
- Input 7 to 10 type select (add RGBHV, RGBS, RGsB)
- Y/C delay (Luma to Chroma delay error correction)
- CUE filter (To fix Chroma up-sample Error)
- List-based selection of output resolutions
- Input sub-memory format select (resolution and/or rate and/or interlace)
- Non-linear-Stretch (NLS) for 4:3 sources on a 16:9 screen
- Miscellaneous control (OSD active, on/off action, etc.)
- Copy input memory
- Copy output configuration
- Label input memory
- Label output configuration
- Undo save command
- 24p, 24sF, 48p output support for 24p input
Indeed. Jim has indicated that they will delay a few non-critical features for after production release:
- PiP
- Pixel accurate output-timing programmability
- Output sync polarity
- Additional improvements in pipeline precision
- Additional improvements in downscaling
- Additional Test Patterns
- PoP
- 24p, 24sF, 48p output support for interlaced input
- Configure Zoom step-size
- Grayscale/Gamma (21 point parametric)
- Genlock
- Lower latency “game mode” (Approx 4 ms)
- Near zero latency “pass-through” mode
- Additional context sensitive help
- Ability to configure output 2 as digital pass-through
- Scale 240p as progressive input
- Horizontal pass-through (with other processing available)
- Vertical pass-through (with other processing available)
- Auto input aspect selection for HDMI inputs
- Fast image shift up/down for 2.35 material
- Non-linear-Stretch (NLS) for 16:9 sources on a 2.35 screen
- Upload/download configuration to/from PC
- Programmable audio delay
- Additional RS232 command/status
- Interpret and report audio stream info on screen
- Add eight additional output configurations
- Auto input size (i.e. crop) to current active source image size
- Add single control to adjust gamma (as opposed to n-point we have now)
Can you tell me exactly what the 'image enhancement controls' do? (new 12/29/07)
The Gennum image enhancement controls are:
- 2D/3D noise reduction
- Mosquito noise reduction
- Block artifact reduction
- Edge enhancement
- Dynamic contrast enhancement
Some screenshot examples can be found here, however the linked document being from Gennum itself, I'd take it with a grain of salt. That said it will give you a concrete idea of what these controls are supposed to do. In the document, I'm not sure if 'detail enhancement' corresponds to a feature implemented in the XD (the sharpness control perhaps?). Also, remember that Lumagen's scaling has a built-in mosquito noise reduction algorithm, so the Gennum noise reduction controls should be applied accordingly. (I will experiment a bit with these and report back - my first impression is that they will be mostly useful for bad/heavily compressed sources such as... drum roll... cable. Yeah, you didn't see that one coming did ya.)
What about blending? (new 10/21/07)
Blending, from the moment it was suggested, was always on the 'maybe'-list. Lately, it seems it's moved on the 'probably not'-list. In Jim's words: "At this point we are thinking this will be a feature for the RadiancePro. There is some chance we might add it to the RadianceXD, but at this point there are no plans to do so."
Ok - I just got a beta unit. Can I get access to the beta user forum? (updated 11/14/07)
You sure can. First register on the Lumagen User Forum. Then you need to contact your dealer/distributor, who in turn should email convergentav at btinternet dot com. The email should contain your name and forum user name (with confirmation that you have acquired a unit of course), so the admin can give you access. If you got the unit from AVS, you can email [email protected] directly with your name and user name, and they will forward the request on your behalf. (You can bypass AVS here because units ordered from AVS are in fact shipped directly from Lumagen.)
Can you tell me more about the audio delay feature? Correct lip sync is important to me. (updated 9/24/07)
As mentioned above, there will be an audio delay feature. You will be able to configure it per input resolution (not just per input - see question about memories configuration below), and it will work regardless of the ouput (hdmi or coax). You will also be able to adjust the delay on the fly (with the remote) if a particular movie/program is misbehaving. The audio delay feature is not planned for release, but will be available in a subsequent firmware update. The reason for this is that it has been deemed a low priority enhancement - jrp has stated that many beta users have simply set the delay to 0 ms - the XD simply is that fast, and a delay isn't necessary.
What are the 'game' and 'passthrough' modes mentioned above? (updated 11/17/07)
If you intend to connect video game consoles to the XD, low latency modes will be available. This is planned for after production release.
- Normal mode with Genlock: 20mS approx - uses Gennum for processing so all features are available.
- Genlocked game mode: 4 mS approx - bypasses Gennum. Calibrating and scaling features are available, but not the Gennum image enhancements.
- Pass-through: 0.01 mS - calibration features are available. No scaling or image enhancement.
What do we know about the audio features - besides that they were hard to implement? (new 10/17/07)
Any audio input (analog, coax, optical, hdmi) can be associated with any video input AND directed to any of the audio outputs (one or both hdmi , and/or coax - yes, simultaneously if desired). Furthermore, the XD offers extremely flexible audio EDID control (EDID is the identification data that allows components to publicize what video resolutions/audio formats they're capable of - this works only with hdmi of course). Basically, any of the outputs' EDID, or a user-made one, can be passed back to any of the sources. Also, note that video EDID can be passed back from the other output than the one used for audio.
Can you direct different inputs on each of the outputs?
No. The way it works is that you choose one input, and direct it to one, or both outputs. However you can replace the video signal in the second output with a blank 720p signal if you are using that output for audio to a receiver or preamp.
Is the manual available online?
Not yet. We can only assume that it will be once the XD is released, like they are for the other Lumagen models. In the meantime, here is the (official?) Radiance FAQ. The first question has some feature info and comparison with the Vision series of processors, while the rest seems geared towards early (e.g., beta) users. It is a work in progress: as of this writing, the last section (on RS-232 control), is not up yet.
I see discussions about input and output memories/configuration. I don't get it, and it looks like I'm not the only one. (updated 9/24/07)
I'll give it a try, but see also the question about the CMS. The Radiance has 4 configuration memories per (physical) input: they are named MEMA, MEMB, MEMC, and MEMD. To each of these you can assign input specific settings to correct for source problems. Each MEMA/B/C/D holds 8 input resolution sub-memories, one for each of the following resolutions:
- 480i/p60
- 576i/p50
- 720p60
- 1080i50
- 1080i60
- 1080p24
- 1080p60
- Other
I'm not sure. I don't see the point of all this. Can't you just set the output to the native resolution of your display and be done with it? (updated 9/24/07)
Well first of all the native resolution doesn't tell us anything about the refresh rates the display accepts. For example, if your shiny new LCD accepts 24p, that's probably what you want to feed it to avoid motion judder (in theory anyway) if you're getting 24p in. The configuration abilities above will have the Radiance switch automatically from say 1080p60 to 1080p24 if the source material calls for it. Also, even with the same source, different resolution inputs might result in wildly different output adjustments being needed, the typical example being a cable box with SD and HD channels. So there definitely won't be a one-size-fits-all output configuration for your display.
Ok, I get it now, but why do I need 4 memories per input? (new 9/24/07)
This is useful in a number of situations. If you have an anamorphic lens for example, you would probably use one MEM for when the lens is on, another for when it's off. Or, if your room isn't a batcave, you might want to setup different configurations for different times of the day depending on the ambient light. In any case, whatever your situation is, chances are the XD's got you covered.
Right, right. Sounds good. Any other configuration memory details I should know about? (new 9/24/07)
Why yes! First of all, the input resolution sub-memories can be reprogrammed to catch different resolutions. Jrp gave the example of 720p24, an Apple HD format. The 'Other' (8th) sub-memory cannot be reprogrammed, as a 'catch-all' is needed. Also, the SD inputs (composite, s-video), only have two resolution sub-memories for each of their 4 memories (480i/p60 and 576i/p50).
Any other unique feature(s)?
When it comes out, the Radiance XD will be the only consumer grade video processor to offer a full CMS (color management system). It will allow for correcting 'out of specs' colors on certain display devices that may need it and don't offer the necessary controls - the notorious example du jour would be the JVC RS1.
Can you tell me more about the CMS?
I have no details on the specifics of the user interface, but you will be able to control gamut, grayscale, gamma, and color/hue. Gamut, grayscale and gamma settings are associated with output configurations (MEMx), while color and hue settings are set per input. Additionally, contrast and brightness settings can be set per input resolution sub-memory (see the question about memories above).
That sounds pretty complex.
This system is meant to direct calibration settings where they are needed. For example, contrast and brightness settings can be set per input resolution so the same cable feed can be set up differently for SD and HD channels. On the other hand, gamut correction makes sense for your display device. And so on.
Is CMS that useful? (new 10/22/07)
User sfogg has started experimenting with the first version of the CMS that was just added to the software. You can see before/after shots there and in subsequent posts. As you can see, the XD tones down the RS1's infamous oversaturation - the result may or may not be to your liking, in fact some users prefer the saturated colors, but others say that once you go 'correct' you cannot go back. In any case, the use of the CMS will not be limited to the RS1 of course, and should allow for precise calibration of most displays. According to some doing a CMS 'right' is not trivial, and if Lumagen pulls it off this will be a big differentiator between the XD and its competition.
Ok. It all sounds fantastic, but how does it perform? Is there any feedback from the beta testers yet? Any screenshots? (updated 10/26/07)
As of 10/25/07 the NDA for beta users has been lifted, so users can comment on all aspects of the XD's functionality (issues related to beta testing are still to be discussed on the closed Lumagen forum). No earth shaking revelations, as the NDA had been lifted previously for video features, and a few reports came out at the time - I took the liberty of highlighting a couple cool/interesting things:
- User VirusKiller: "I'm using a Radiance with a JVC HD1 (RS1). Sources are Oppo HD970 (DVD), Toshiba HD-XA1 (HD DVD), Sony PS3 (Blu-Ray), and a SkyHD satellite receiver (here in the UK). All connections are via HDMI. The deinterlacing from the latest Gennum chip is pretty much beyond reproach. My comment covers deinterlacing of 480i60 film, 576i50 video and film, 1080i60 film, and 1080i50 video. Lumagen's NoRing scaling is quite exceptional. I haven't seen it in the Vision series, but one other Radiance Beta user privately commented to me early on that the Radiance's scaling is "at least as good" as his HDQ. No doubt it will get even better as the algorithms are refined. In short, the image from vanilla DVD is the best I have seen, bar none. To put this into context, I have previously seen Faroudja 2310 (Philips 963SA SDI --> Crystalio I --> Panasonic AE900), Gennum 9351 (Oppo HD970 and Meridian G98 480/576p HDMI --> JVC HD1), and Meridian (G98 --> JVC HD1 and 800 --> DVP1080 --> MF1) scaling solutions. Take a good disc such as Star Wars Ep. IV and it really "approaches" HD. Certainly, it is exceptionally filmic with minimal artifacting. In fact, almost all artifacting I've seen is due to excessive edge-enhancement in the source material. Obviously, the Radiance has much less to do with full HD signals. Nevertheless, images from HD DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD satellite look appropriately stunning. HD sport is quite wonderful on the big screen – recent football (soccer!) matches on the BBC, for instance. Planet Earth in HD on Sky is quite breathtaking. Scaling of SD satellite is better than my old SDI-modded sat receiver into the Crystalio. Bit-rate is most definitely a significant factor in the final image quality. For reasons I cannot comment on at this time, I expect the quality of OTA broadcasts to improve considerably before the production release. The Radiance is a lot more usable than I thought it would be. It's a very fast machine and very pleasant to use. The menus take a little getting used to if you are new to Lumagen, but quite logical IMO. I have to comment about the whole Beta process. Quite simply, it's been a pleasure. Jim and his team are very open about things and very quick to respond to issues. As it should be IMO. I purchased a Beta unit very early on. I wanted the best quality, a certain minimum feature set, excellent customer service, and a large degree of future-proofing. I have not been disappointed so far. Negatives? In terms of video quality and Beta customer experience, erm, none. In terms of things I can't comment on, nothing of significance. Really."
- User Eitzel, commenting on the above: "I have to whole-heartedly agree with the above and the images from the Radiance are awesome."
- VirusKiller was asked: "What does the Radiance bring to the table for HD-DVD and BR compared to the HD1's internal processing (from HD-DVD's 1080i60 and PS3's 1080p24)? (Gamut control not counting since not available so far)." And he replied: "In terms of purely displaying the 1920x1080 pixels on a 16:9 screen, I would say not much for 1080p24 source inputs. If all you are interested in is film, then a 1080p24 HD DVD player and a 1080p24 Blu-Ray player should work very well with the HD1. This will be true for most people. However, 24fps genlock for 1080i60 film sources is an important feature that is not in the HD1. You might say that future HD DVD players will output 1080p24, but if you're a purist it's a little more subtle than that. For video material on HD DVD or Blu-Ray you would want to set the player's output to 1080i60 rather than 1080p24 so that proper video deinterlacing can be performed. If the player does not allow conditional output (i.e. 1080i60 for video and 1080p24 for film) then you would need to use 1080i60 all of the time and genlock would be important. Other features (apart from the CMS) would be vertical stretch for CIH systems, not to mention sophisticated independent display and source calibration, and A/V switching and transcoding."
- User sfogg: "As said the deinterlacing of the Radiance appears to be top notch. No worries about jaggies or anything like that with video material. The newer menu structure of the Radiance is nice as it keeps the same efficient tree design of the earlier units but is easier to understand for someone new to the Lumagen as it doesn't have all the abbreviations. The new input memory design of the Radiance is very very nice. This lets you really tweak sources that output multiple resolutions such as the PS3 and so on so that you can fix framing, output different resolutions or refresh rates automatically based on input resolution/rate and so on. Also handy for dealing with the weird levels of the PS3 for example by setting 1080i/p24/60 inputs for Video Levels with 720p for PC. Can of course do things like that with the A/B/C/D input memories as well. One feature I'm surprised more haven't made comment on is that all the HDMI inputs on the Radiance are active at all times. It keeps HDCP connections up even when an input is not the selected input. This will make things like BR/HD-DVD comparisons much easier as the players won't stop when you change inputs."
Glad you asked! Here's a full account by Phil, a.k.a. escon. Enjoy!
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This is a brief look at the innards of the XD. Ever the engineer, the first thing I did after I received mine was to have a look inside it. Below are some shots of it with full permission from Lumagen BTW. It will be a couple of weeks before I get the chance to fully integrate it into my system - many new components are to go in at the same time. Luckily, my display's native resolution of 768p (768 x 1280) is already supported, so I should get a good feel in how it compares to my DVDO VP50.
The XD design is focused on having a sleek uncluttered look – just the two “eyes” on the left side of the front faceplate are the only indication that there is a connection with the outside world. The left eye (multicolour LED) serves as the Status indicator; changing colour depending on the state the XD is in. The one next to it is the IR sensor. The unit you see here has the optional Black Faceplate – the standard is a Silver one. I much prefer the black myself – I think it gives the unit a much classier look – but, each to his own. If you specify a Black faceplate at the time you place the order, rather than exchanging it for the standard Silver one at a later date, there is only a minimal surcharge.
The inside of the XD is beautifully “crafted”. The Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) show no late/last minute changes to the design and it looks like it is a fully mature product, true to Lumagen’s claims. As has been discussed extensively in the Lumagen RadianceXD thread, you can clearly see that the I/O is contained on the main PCB. If an upgrade to HDMI 1.3 is ever required, this board will have to be swapped over for an updated one. Note that each of the six HDMI 1.1 Input connectors and of course each of the two HDMI output connectors has its own dedicated chipset. This allows continuous HDCP connection/connectivity, even if the inputs are switched, leading to rapid source switching.
The whole of the XD remains uncannily cool. Barely warm to the touch for both the unit and the external power supply. I measured just 18 watts of total power consumption. It would be an absolute no brainer to squeeze the whole innards of the XD into a 1U high box as far as heat build up/dissipation is concerned.
As an alternative to an HDMI 1.3 upgrade, maybe some time in the not too distant future, an external converter box that converts the new HD/BD audio signals into multi channel PCM which the HDMI 1.1 inputs can handle without any problems, could be another way to upgrade the one or two HDMI inputs that need it. (Dave's note: this is pretty unlikely now that a new version of the XD with hdmi 1.3 is planned.)
Another way not requiring any additional external or internal hardware is to have the AVR in front of the XD so that the Audio is pulled out with the Video signal being passed onto the XD for processing.
Another variant is to just have the HD/BD player directly go into the AVR whilst still connecting the remainder of your sources into the XD first. The HDMI output of the AVR goes back into the XD before being passed onto the display after in has processed it to your liking. See this post for details.
Lastly, yet another variant on the above is to connect all your sources into your AVR and have the XD change its internal settings as you switch sources - a macro would set your AVR as well as a "virtual" input on the one HDMI input on the XD.
There are clearly many ways to get around not having HDMI 1.3 input ports. I was a strong sceptic at first and was going to wait and see if Lumagen would be bringing out an HDMI 1.3 upgrade (sooner rather than later). But I was convinced after all the discussions on this topic in the Lumagen Radiance XD thread that it was really not such a big drawback in having HDMI 1.1 ports.
The Gennum VP can clearly be seen to be on its own daughter board and as Lumagen has said, this can be upgraded to a new board should a later/better version of the Gennum VP come out at a later date. The top most piggyback board carries all of the Audio I/O connectors, analog as well as digital, but with very little circuitry contained associated with it. It also carries the POWER IN and the RS232 FW upgrade/control connectors as well as the Lens Trigger signals.
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Τι του δείχνεις ρε Τάκη; για μεταπτυχιακό θα πάει; 
Οταν θ' αρχίσει να ψάχνεται, θα τα ρωτάει μόνος του....
Πάντως Μπάμπη χωρίς πλάκα, ξεκίνα να διαβάζεις το thread στο avsforum.
Οταν θ' αρχίσει να ψάχνεται, θα τα ρωτάει μόνος του....
Πάντως Μπάμπη χωρίς πλάκα, ξεκίνα να διαβάζεις το thread στο avsforum.
Does it have HDMI 1.3? (updated 12/20/07)
No.
The 6 hdmi inputs and 2 outputs are of the 1.1 variety. Lumagen announced from the beginning that they would be upgradable to 1.3, but a confusing wording led most to believe that this would be a simple (and somewhat inexpensive) swap - it won't be, as Jim has indicated that it will require swapping the main motherboard as well. Lumagen has realized (a bit too late if you ask me) that the market simply demands 1.3, whether it's needed or not (according to Jim , mostly not, and I tend to agree, but this is an entirely different FAQ altogether). Having come to this realization, a 1.3 version of the XD will be in the works shortly. Owners of the current (1.1) version will be able to upgrade via a Lumagen-sponsored program, whose price point should be announced shortly.
It will require sending the unit back to them,
though,
as the swapping of the inputs, outputs, and motherboard can obviously not be done by the owner. To keep the upgrade cost reasonable, Lumagen will resell the 1.1 innards in a new case at a reduced price. Stay tuned.
No.
The 6 hdmi inputs and 2 outputs are of the 1.1 variety. Lumagen announced from the beginning that they would be upgradable to 1.3, but a confusing wording led most to believe that this would be a simple (and somewhat inexpensive) swap - it won't be, as Jim has indicated that it will require swapping the main motherboard as well. Lumagen has realized (a bit too late if you ask me) that the market simply demands 1.3, whether it's needed or not (according to Jim , mostly not, and I tend to agree, but this is an entirely different FAQ altogether). Having come to this realization, a 1.3 version of the XD will be in the works shortly. Owners of the current (1.1) version will be able to upgrade via a Lumagen-sponsored program, whose price point should be announced shortly.
It will require sending the unit back to them,
though,
as the swapping of the inputs, outputs, and motherboard can obviously not be done by the owner. To keep the upgrade cost reasonable, Lumagen will resell the 1.1 innards in a new case at a reduced price. Stay tuned.
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Εγώ;
Με την καμία.... Ούτε με σφαίρες μιλάμε....
καλά καλά, να σε δώ στο πρώτο κόλλημα ποιός θα σου λύνει τις απορίες....
καλά καλά, να σε δώ στο πρώτο κόλλημα ποιός θα σου λύνει τις απορίες....
Άμα είσαι καλός άνθρωπος έχεις και καλούς φίλους.....
Ευχαριστώ Χρήστο.... αλλά ρε σύ, αφού σου είπα..
Κάτσε να τον πάρω στα χέρια μου πρώτα... γιατί πές-πές φοβάμαι οτι κάποιος (ξέρεις τώρα εσύ..
