Folks with high-end LD players and extensive collection should consider investing for the future!
Substance eventually convinced me to "secure" my analog collection (LD, MUSE) for the foreseeable future and remain technically compatible with displays going forward.
It was for sure an expensive purchase but I never had second thoughts about it after receiving, setup'ing, configuring and using it ever since.
My progression over the years has been
CLD-R5 => CLD-D925 => LD-S9 => HLD-X9 => HLD-X9 + Lumagen and each upgrade has brought better, more stable picture quality (that was the whole point of the upgrade anyway!).
http://www.lumagen.com/testindex.php?module=radiance21XX_detailsMy reasoning was:
- Electronics manufacturers won't care very long for analog inputs.
- Those who do will not spend a lot of time or use high-end parts for this little-used inputs in today's world.
- Half of my gears are outputting analog (Composite, Component).
- I only use digital video projectors for display.
- I want to be able to use any of my devices in 1K and 4K output.
- I want to simplify cabling, jump to digital with as little PQ damage as possible.
- I want to remove relying on my main A/V Amp for Audio/Video processing to make it easily replaceable.
- Best picture quality available now on the retail market.
- Device with upgradable firmware for easy updates.
- Coming from a known, respected video processing device maker.
Let's break it down to analysis, conclusions:
- I should not wait too long to jump in, otherwise -- like Pioneer spare parts -- they will eventually disappear permanently
- Electronics devices have been going down incredibly in price over the years and so are the price of the parts they are using... I used to work for a IC STB makers who lost all business to cheap clones parts... and closed the division. I know that trend well.
- I intend to keep them all so I need a set of MULTIPLE analog inputs with independent settings, I don't want a switching box in the way.
- I had to plug it in S-Video, Composite, HDMI and use a Component switch box to accommodate them all, I want to simplify the cabling down to HDMI only.
- 1K for now but eventually I will update to 4K and I don't want to have to upgrade the video processor again.
- The box must aggregate all my sources and have at least 2 HDMI out, one for video (projector has no sound), one separate for sound.
- This was solved with an OPPO BDP-105 (thank you Substance!) with an AC3RF demodulator. Amp is only used for 5.1 amplification and can be replaced anytime.
- Lumagen has a very, very good reputation for scaling and customization capabilities.
- Check.
- I also probed friends working in the home-theater/video events business and the feedback was "You can't go wrong with Lumagen".
Now all I have is one HDMI cable out for video:
- HD-DVD player => Lumagen digital in
- BD Player => Lumagen digital in
- Laptop => Lumagen digital in (split video HDMI to projector and coax sound to amp)
- Laptop USB => 192Khz/24bit to OPPO DAC in
- LD Player => Lumagen composite in
- MUSE decoder => Lumagen component in
So in the end the 2144 cleared all the boxes and I'm using about half the connectors, still room for more HDMI in and a few more analog devices. It's not cheap in price by any mean, but I considered I would use it for the next 10~15 years or so.
Now if you get the $3,000 discounted unit and calculate how much that's going to cost you, that's only $17~$25/month.
Ask yourself if your LD/MUSE/CED/VHD/VHS/old gaming console/old computers/etc. collection is worth to you, how long you expect to enjoy them with the best picture quality you can get on retail and make a decision.
+ Google around for reviews on Lumagen products and services, it's overwhelmingly positive.
My first 2144 had an issue and Lumagen promptly got the old unit back and shipped replacement, zero problem after that.
The unit comes with a fan but, even in a warmer environment like Singapore, I never noticed it running. Dead quiet.
Now, substance, how about unlocking the Closed-Caption capability of the Radiance?
Should we start a fundraising to "purchase" the development from Lumagen?
Julien