Denon DVP-602CI, A power boost

WHAT IS VIDEO NOISE?

• The Denon DVP-602CI is a product for videophiles who are not satisfied with "good" and are willing to go a step further to have "the best".

• Price: €1,999

• Specialists' rating: 4

• Text: Javier SAIZ

Of all the links that can make up the video playback chain, perhaps the least known or most undervalued by most users are external video processors. There are several reasons for this, but it is mainly because few manufacturers have this type of equipment in their catalogs, and those that do, Denon excepted, tend to be highly specialized brands that are little known outside the most videophile circles. Secondly, the prices of these components tend to be excessively high for most pockets; their cost is high because they use top-of-the-range components, require laborious adjustment processes and are made in quantities that do not allow for major economies of scale. Finally, even among those who know them, some feel that their contribution to the system's picture quality is not especially relevant in the age of high definition, particularly when many other links in the audiovisual chain, such as players, receivers or even the displays themselves, feature chips from renowned manufacturers such as HQV, Sigma Designs (formerly Gennum), Anchor Bay Technologies or even Faroudja. In response to all of the above, and starting with the last point, it must be pointed out that having a renowned chip does not automatically guarantee that all its possibilities will be exploited or that it will deliver the best performance it is capable of. Implementation and integration with the rest of the components are extremely important. In fact, it is not uncommon to find that many of the functions of these chips are not implemented in many products, or if they are, only partially. What's more, it is not just a matter of hypothetically better deinterlacing or scaling: video processors add other picture enhancement functions, such as noise reduction systems far more sophisticated than those found in the vast majority of displays, detail enhancement systems much more complex and effective than the usual sharpness control, the ability to change the cadence of the material, for example converting an NTSC DVD movie at 60 frames per second back to the original 24 frames, image compression for use with projectors fitted with a 2.35:1 anamorphic lens, and so on. Of course, we must not forget other factors such as integration into automated systems and control of other equipment, generation of calibration patterns, a considerable increase in the number of available HDMI inputs and a long list of improvements in functionality and ergonomics.

In the case of the unit at hand, the Denon DVP-602CI, we find a video processor that is relatively easy to use and configure, and even affordable compared with its rivals from brands such as Lumagen or DVDO. The 602 is built around one of the most powerful image processing chips currently available: the Silicon Optix Realta sxT2, a model above the same manufacturer's more common Reon VX, which, thanks to its greater processing power, can use more powerful algorithms than its little brother.

As usual with Denon products, the external appearance is exemplary, with excellent finish and design. The front panel, made of black sheet metal, features a huge display whose large characters make the main information extremely easy to read, even from a good distance. It also has all the buttons needed to access the menu and configure the unit or select the input without resorting to the remote control. The fine finish is not limited to the exterior: through the ventilation grilles on the top of the chassis you can see the superb appearance of the 602's integrated circuits and the use of high-grade components. The rear panel houses all of the available connections, which are far from scarce. Video is covered by six HDMI inputs (version 1.3), one component video input available with both RCA connectors and the more reliable bayonet BNC type, one S-Video and, lastly, one composite video input. In case one of the devices connected to an HDMI input is actually DVI, or for the analog video inputs, there are two Toslink optical digital audio connectors. The forward-looking approach of this processor is evident, leaving very little room for analog: apart from the video inputs mentioned above, we find neither audio inputs nor additional analog video outputs. Thanks to a dual HDMI output, two displays can be connected and receive the same signal simultaneously, although they can have different resolutions, with the video processor adapting to the information supplied by each one. In addition to the A/V connections, the rear panel has several connectors that allow this Denon to be integrated into automated systems, which is one of its target environments, and a frame for installation in a standard 19" rack is even included. There is also an RJ45 connector that allows not only firmware updates or new features to be downloaded via the Internet, but also management and configuration from a PC using a simple web browser.

The 602's remote control has a good button layout and provides direct access to the most frequently used functions. However, the feel of the keys and its overall finish are not as refined as those of the unit itself. Perhaps, given the many remote control options available, the manufacturer did not consider it so important, but in any case a higher standard of finish would have been welcome. Since this unit will normally be used in high-end systems in which a good number of the displays will be projectors, it is a real shame that it has no aid for use in low-light conditions.

When you press the power button, after a couple of seconds, once it has stabilized, it emits a pleasant "click" very similar to that of certain high-end amplifiers, letting us know it is ready for use. Once the Denon was up and running, my first surprise was that the remote control seemed not to work: although the indicator showing that it was transmitting lit up, pressing any key had no effect on the unit. Fortunately, there is a section in the manual explaining how to "reset" the remote, a quick and simple process after which the problem was solved. Once all the connections have been made, the only essential requirement to start enjoying this processor is to select the output resolution and signal format that best suit our display. From that point on, we can start adjusting each input to our taste, with its own configuration independent of the others. The second step, key to starting to get the expected performance from the 602, is to activate the "i/p Scaler" function, which lets us move from "pass-through" operation to scaling from one resolution to another, changing frame rates, and so on.

The usual processing test using Silicon Optix's own HQV discs becomes a mere formality, as expected. Deinterlacing results in "Auto" mode are perfect in each and every test, regardless of the type of disc used, whether one of the standard-definition discs (PAL or NTSC DVD) or the high-definition one (Blu-ray). No jaggies or combing whatsoever can be seen, and cadence detection, however unusual the cadence, is fast and correct, always achieving the highest possible resolution and showing that we are dealing with a true thoroughbred among video processors. Turning to DTT (digital terrestrial TV) broadcasts, a supposedly less demanding test which, when it comes down to it, puts less capable units in a tight spot because of its mix of cadences and editing defects, it is clear that the 602 not only shines with synthetic tests but with anything you feed it, reducing the appearance of jaggies or combing to practically nothing, as I have rarely seen.

Since the Realta boasts a much more sophisticated noise reduction system than usual, analyzing the signal pixel by pixel and taking into account both motion and time, on this occasion I also ran tests to determine whether the Denon could achieve a good result in this respect without adversely affecting picture definition or producing side effects. Of the three noise reduction levels available, low, medium and high, the first can be used without major drawbacks: the noise level is reduced with minimal loss of fidelity. The medium and especially the high levels are very effective at eliminating random digital noise, but they soften the image and can even produce a "pixel cloud" effect.

The combination of scaling and detail enhancement provided by the Denon makes it possible to squeeze every last drop of quality out of what is, to this day, still the most popular format: DVD. It is impressive to see how, from a good release, one can achieve picture quality that is not high definition but comes very close to it, much closer than one might think a priori. It is worth stressing that the impressive sharpness achieved, even in the background, with detail enhancement at its medium setting is not obtained at the cost of side effects such as double contours, nor by exaggerating others such as mosquito noise, as the sharpness controls available on the vast majority of displays tend to do.

To conclude this test, I do not want to overlook an important quality of this processor: its ability to change the cadence of content, for example converting a film-sourced DVD encoded at 60 images per second (480i60), or a computer file from the same source encoded at 720p60, to 1080p24, recovering the original cadence and thereby getting rid of the defects of 2:3 "Pulldown". Since I have a good number of Region 1 (NTSC) DVDs, thanks to this superbly executed feature I have thoroughly enjoyed watching those movies again, which, in addition to the sharpness mentioned in the previous paragraph, have their original speed restored, adding a much-appreciated touch of cinematic realism.

CONCLUSION

The Denon DVP-602CI is a product for videophiles who are not satisfied with "good" and are willing to go a step further to have "the best". Compared with its rivals, such as the DVDO VP50 and VP50Pro, Lumagen Radiance XD, Pixel Works Cristalyo II, etc., the Denon lacks certain features such as an advanced CMS (color management system), analog outputs or professional SDI inputs, to name some of the most relevant. But it is also true that its cost is very, very much lower than that of those products, and in what matters most, picture quality, it can take them on without any complex, matching and even surpassing them in some respects. If we compare it with the capabilities of most players, displays or receivers, with very few exceptions, better not even try. In short, this is a unit offering an excellent quality/features/price ratio, which I recommend without reservation.



WE LIKE

Reference image deinterlacing and scaling in both standard and high definition, configuration flexibility, usable picture noise reduction, reasonable price.



COULD BE IMPROVED

No analog outputs, few analog inputs. Limited features compared with its most recent (and more expensive) competitors.

WHAT IS VIDEO NOISE?

Noise is the set of distortions and/or defects in the image shown by any display, caused by faults in the transmission of a video signal or in its encoding. In the case of analog signals, the most common defects are "snow" and "ghosting", while in digital signals they are macroblocking, random noise, ringing (double contours) and mosquito noise.

Focusing on digital video, since it is what the Denon featured in this test uses, random noise can originate either in the grain present in the original film or in a possible fault in the process of digitizing and encoding the analog original. This defect shows up as dots containing information different from what they should display, appearing and disappearing randomly. Macroblocks result from applying an excessive compression rate when digitizing the signal and are particularly evident in many files encoded with the DIVX codec and in many DTT broadcasts, especially those with a lot of motion, such as sporting events. When this defect appears, the image looks as though it were built from large blocks instead of "invisible" pixels, and so it loses sharpness and resolution very noticeably. The other types of noise, false contouring and mosquito noise, also originate in the encoding process. The first produces a white "second silhouette" that can be seen around the outlines of the various objects in the image, while the second consists of black shapes reminiscent of the veins in the wings of flies and mosquitoes, hence its name.

Once the "damage" has been done, trying to repair it is an extremely complicated task. First, the image is analyzed in an attempt to detect which part of it is noise and which is not, taking into account the information surrounding the affected area. In the most advanced systems, time (the previous and following images) and motion are also taken into account, allowing far more precise detection and avoiding altering information where it is not necessary. The analysis process itself determines how each pixel is to be modified, and in this way an attempt is made to recreate/restore the image so that it ends up as close as possible to the original.

Despite the sophisticated algorithms used by some processors, such as the Silicon Optix Realta in the DVP-602CI, using aggressive noise reduction levels has negative consequences that are generally visible as a "softer" image, meaning less sharp, similar to a blurring process resulting from removing more information than necessary, in addition to the "pixel cloud" effect, whereby areas of the image seem to move out of sync with the rest owing to incorrect interpretation of the information to be restored. It is up to the user to weigh the trade-off between noise reduction and loss of quality; my personal advice is that, except in very extreme cases, the less the better.

Denon DVP-602CI, A power boost

Specifications

VIDEO PROCESSOR Realta sxT2 HQV. OUTPUT RESOLUTIONS 480i/480p/720p/1080i/1080p. 1,360 x 868 native plasma resolution. CONNECTIVITY Inputs: 6 HDMI, 2 component video, 1 S-Video, 1 composite video, 2 optical digital. Outputs: 2 HDMI monitor, 1 optical digital. Control: 1 Ethernet, 1 RS-232C, 1 remote, 1 trigger. DIMENSIONS 434 x 106 x 278.5 mm. WEIGHT 4 kg. DISTRIBUTOR Gaplasa (917482960).

Price: €1,999