The Quick Version: The DVDO Edge will restore amazement and wonder to your high definition TV. It’s that good.
Remember when you watched high definition for the first time? Mine was a HDNet hockey broadcast on a 34-inch Sony XBR Tube (800 series, I think). There was a sort of magic that first time, and this DVDO scaler brought back that feeling on my old plasma. I have been watching a 37-inch Panasonic plasma for a few years, but this little $800 box made it seem new again. It even improved the Hitachi Director Series and Pioneer Elite sets that I am currently reviewing.
The beauty of this scaler is that it is so easy to use. Plug in all your devices — hopefully they have HDMI — and it will only take a few minutes to configure everything. The setup wizard does most of the work and it’s easy to fine-tune settings later.
You should notice a picture quality difference immediately. The biggest change you’ll find is that every source will be silky smooth. In fact, the picture was so fluid at first, it was somewhat nauseating. The refresh rate isn’t the only thing improved, either. The colors are better, the detail is higher, and it even helps to resolve TV-specific issues.
The Edge makes colors more vibrant and saturated. Unfortunately, if your HDTV is painstakingly calibrated, like mine, you will have to recalibrate it. Once it’s redone, you will notice blacker blacks and whiter whites. It’s impressive.
The Hitachi plasma I reviewed has a great scaler that works wonders on standard definition content, but the Edge made my 3-year old Panasonic plasma just as good. If your set doesn’t handle non-HD material well, this will help a lot. Also, remember how the Hitachi had weird horizontal line issues? This mostly resolved it. Those lines are still present, but not nearly as prominent.
There are some quarks and limitations, but the benefits easily outweigh ‘em. For instance, when the content switches between resolutions — like when changing from an HD to SD channel — a blue screen flashes for about a 1/2 second before the new content is displayed. It isn’t a deal breaker for me, but it might annoy others. Also, the unit only has one S-Video and composite inputs, along with only has two component inputs, but the full array of HDMI inputs shows this is built for the modern AV rack.
Anchor Bay has been making similar scalers for a while and this is their lowest-priced unit yet. Don’t think the price is a knock on the scaling capability, however, because due to some in-house engineering on the scaler (which saves money on licensing), this unit is still impressive.
It doesn’t sport RS-232 control but it does have an IR input. The only output is HDMI, but at least it can split the audio off onto its own HDMI stream. It can’t be rack mounted, but it’s sexy enough to sit exposed on a TV stand. The Edge is aimed at the Best Buy crowd instead of the custom install market, which is great for you and me.
A good amount of HDTVs have lackluster and/or older processors. The DVDO Edge is a wonder of modern day high definition technology, and will improve any viewing experience. It should be noted that the upcoming Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray player will have the same internal processor and hopefully that player will be equally as impressive. At $799, this scaler isn’t cheap — but the results are more than worth it. Don’t buy a new HDTV before checking out what the DVDO Edge can do for the one you already own.
So you want this scaler, do ya? Drop us a comment below with the model number of your HDTV, how long you’ve owned it, and why you want this scaler so badly. Is that begging? Yup. Don’t forget the Edge only outputs via HDMI, so make sure you can actually use this unit before entering the contest. A winner will be chosen at random.
Insignia 42″ LCD TV. My wife bought if for me as a gift over a year ago.
I only have regular Dish Network (non HD) My wife and I NEED this up-scaler because we lack HD goodness. Please, help us have some HD in our lives.
My wife would love to watch some Lifetime television for women in HD. lol
Toshiba 50HM67 50″ DLP HDTV Television. I have owned it for a little over a year. Its my first HDTV I haven’t been too impressed with it. I have been looking at scalers but most of them are worth more than what this TV cost me. I would relly like to have the scaler especially know since I am low on money since I paid for a traffic ticket today.
Samsung LNT5271F, 52″ LCD 120 MHz. I have had the set since income tax day, April 2008. I am using with DirecTV’s version of a HD DVR. The quality just isn’t there. I have have high hopes that this DVDO is the answer to HD fluidity! Alms for the poor? Please give me the Best Christmas Ever! So far I am guaranteed a new mouse and keyboard combo. And some socks.
Fingers crossed, in S. Texas
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Samsung 46 Inch 1080P. I have owned it for a year now and love the picture while it is only being used in SD at the moment i would love to have this scaler to propel my av into 2009 in HD!
Toshiba 42RV530. Its a 42in 1080p. I have owned it since August of this year. I only get SD cable presently so any processing would be nice.
Vizio VO47L, owned 4 days, and after paying for that I’m out of cash to buy the other components like the DVDO that would take advantage of my HD tv:)
Cesar, sorry to hear about the ticket. Hope I didn’t write ya. :) Fish gotta swim. Birds gotta eat.
Sony KDL-52X3500, bought that one in December 2007.
My job sucks, my AVR broke last week and my Wife doesn’t like Gears of War 2. Give me that piece of technology to make me smile. I mean like this: :D
52″ Samsung LCD, owned it for most of this year. While the picture is nice, I know it could be better, and considering the number of people on my couches when the ball game is on (or when the PS3 is on), an image quality upgrade would be supreme. Plus, who doesn’t like to tinker with calibration? I know this is shameless, but it is also my birthday (12/15).
By the way – CrunchGear does an amazing job keeping my refresh button itch satiated at work. Keep it up.
I don’t have a good TV, yet. I’m looking at buying right now, and if I won this I wouldn’t have to pay so much for a higher end set, I could settle for one with slightly less specs and use this to make up for that TVs shortcomings.
That and I never win anything…please please please.
I’m an early-adopter who got married and had kids and am now having trouble adopting. I have a 5 year old Pioneer 433-cmx hung above my fireplace with all the av equipment in a closet 75′ away. I purchased an $800 optical dvi cable in order to make the long run. I have DirecTv HD and BluRay; but, can’t view HD as the dvi input will not handle any of the resolutions out of said boxes (currently watching via S-VIDEO – blah). I either need a scaler or I need a new plasma. This box would save me.
Please, please, please – on my knees.
Samsung 67″ Series 7 DLP HDTV (HL67A750). I bought it this year and need the picture updated. My family is coming for the holidays and want them to be eased about the digital conversion. When they see the picture quality they will accept digital with open arms.
I have a Panasonic TH46PZ85U. I got the TV just over a month ago but we watch primarily SD content and I also want to find ways to make my old DVD collection watchable on the new TV.
My LG 42LC7D has been good to me for the six months we’ve had it, but I would love to have a smoother picture since the local cable company can’t provide anything like what is expected for HD content. Not to mention how it would improve DVD playback and the like.
I have had the InFocus Play Big IN82 projector for about 7 months. The screen is 110″ across. Doing anything to smooth out the upscaled DVD’s and Netflix content from my Xbox360 would help out tons.
At that size, flaws are evident. A scaler would make Rock Band sessions easier to see, make me enjoy my DVD collection more and give me a new lease on life.
Sony KDFE-50A10
I would use it to make the picture better. Sounds like it works great.
Thanks so much, CrunchGear! Awesome giveaway.
We’ve had a Yamaha LX 500 on the ceiling for about 5 years now, and with a 100+ inch screen, any improvement on physical or digital media would be awesome. Plus, having had to deal with Comcast for several days out of the last month arguing over service, I could use something to get excited about when it came to HDTV. CrunchGear for the win.
I have a HP PL5060N 50″ Plasma.
Upgraded from a 42″ 2yrs ago.
Unit only has 1 HDMI input so a unit that has multi input will allow me to connect my other A/V componites using HDMI.
LG 50″ Plasma (50PC5D) for a little over a year. Connected is DirecTV HD DVR, Roku box, Wii, DVD player. Be really nice to make all my SD content look better.
Optoma HD7300 720p Projector (1 year old). My current video processor is getting long in the tooth since it doesn’t support 1080p input or HDMI v1.3 (no audio support). I’ve been watching the DVDO edge ever since it was announced at CES. I’d love to pair this baby up with a Blu-ray player outputting 1080p/24hz.
LG 42″ LCD HDTV model number 42LG50 i still have an old dvd players which sadly still need to be scaled would be great for it!
Sony KDL-37M4000 its a pretty nice tv for my limited space requirements but it only has two hdmi inputs. I’ve got the Computer, DVR, DVD, Laptop and soon Blu-Ray but it would nice to have them all plugged in hdmi and scaled to perfection. Oh and I need to figure out what it is in the DVD player that makes the really dark scenes go dark then light again. I think the dvd player is trying something and I turned off all the TV black adjustments with no fix. The video processor would really clean up some of these issues. Also who knows Cox’s cable sucks and paying extra for HD that goes on the fritz really drives me crazy so when I watch a film I want it perfect with no glitches.
42 inch Pioneer PDP 4270 – owned for ~2.5 years
My wife (then fiance) bought it for me when we got engaged. Yep, I bought her a rock and she bought me a big ass TV. I win.
I want this scaler to help clean up some issues with my DVI-HDMI connection with my computer.
Sony KDL-46S2000. SD content looks bad to awful on the set, and switching between HDMI and Component inputs is a complete mess. I’ve been wanting one of the DVDO processors for a while but haven’t found the cash for one yet. Still hoping…
Sony Bravia KDL-52WL135, picked up four months ago. The Edge would solve a bunch of problems for me, the largest being that my receiver only plays 7.1 audio via HDMI, but only passes 1080i through to the TV—the Edge could give me the full benefit of my receiver and TV at the same time. (I could buy a new receiver, yes, but my current receiver has a digital amp and doesn’t run hot, and my stand doesn’t provide a lot of room for cooling…) It would also simplify switching between a fair number of sources (I still have an old NES hooked up to my TV)… oh, and the improved scaling wouldn’t hurt, either. I still have a lot of DVDs to watch!
Olevia 237T I need this upscaler so my little girl can watch Discovery HD in all of its glory before she outgrows her curiosity
I have a Magnavox 32″ 720p LCD HDTV #32MF338B that I got last Tuesday. I also have a ye olde laserdisc player and the Star Wars: The Definitive (Han Shoots First) Collection box set. Since it appears George Lucas can’t stop himself from trying to “fix” his masterpiece, the DVDO Edge seems to be my best option.
This would be great for my Samsung HPT5084. I have been limited to 720p/1080i as I couldn’t afford 1080p at the time, and of course, I can’t buy a new TV for quite some time. If this scaler could improve on my picture (using a Sony blu-ray player), I would definitely use this. Good review, actually got me excited about a product that would have before seemed rather mundane. Never used a scaler before, but your enthusiasm has peaked my interest.
We have an older Toshiba 57″ 1080i CRT RPTV. I purchased it about 3 years ago. I told my wife how big it was on the phone and she didn’t pay attention. She came downstairs after it was delivered, her jaw dropped and said that the cats were orbiting the TV it was so big. Fast Forward a few days later…and she loved it. Now she says we can’t go any smaller…and that she wants something bigger, like a 60″ LCD. I said “win the lottery and we’ll talk!” So, this would probably buy me some more time with the current TV before having to take out a second mortgage for a new one!
I just purchased a Sony Bravia XBR 46″. It does great with the HD channels, but the SD channels are very blocky (especially on kids cartoons).
I GOT YOU ALL BEAT – I got this bad ass Hitachi 42″ Tube TV Model 43fwx20b. Great TV 1080i and needs some sweet loving with this upgrade! Ok so its not the most impressive TV but hell I live at home and started working at the beginning of a recession – I cant afford the fanciness!
Give my TV the Christmas it deserves this year! Thanks Crunch Guys…..
I have a Sony KDS-50A2000 1080P SXRD that I have had for 2 1/2 years. I have all of my SD / HD signals going through an Optoma processor now but it is fixed from the factory for 720P output.
I would love to see how good the Sony could look if it was fed a 1080P signal form the “EDGE”!!!!!!!
I have recently started to get into this A/V stuff and currently have an Optoma HD-7100 front projector that I have had for 10months. I don’t feel the video deinterlacing/processing is all that great and with the amount of movie nights I host it would be great to have the Edge to really make the most of the Optoma!
I just ordered a Samsung LN40A650, haven’t received it yet. But my biggest concern is how well the non HD content I have will look on it.
Samsung LN52A650 – 52″ 1080P
Had it for a few months now I think, great TV, and I want this scaler badly because… well, it makes everything look amazing, it’s as simple as that.
Samsung LN46A630. Owned for a few months. Always looking to improve the picture!
I have an Insignia 42 inch television that my wife bought for me last Christmas. I have digital cable through a crappy local cable company called Armstrong. I’ve been thinking about getting a dish so I can get more HD channels.
Sharp Aquos LC-45GX6U 45″ LCD almost 4 years old, a 1080p that only does 1080i unless you hack it. Would love for it to look better.
-Bret
32″ Insignia (NS-LCD32-09). I’m a broke ho and I can’t afford a feature-rich upper-echelon brand name set with fancy expensive video processing. I’m stuck with the blue-collar Best Buy grab-bag model. This processor would possibly put me on par (or above) my Jet-setting microsoft-employed friends and their top-of-the-line 42+” super-screens. For once, I’d like to be the one who’s envied (At least until they get their own upper-model Anchor Bay processors after seeing mine). It’s basically all about shallow materialistic envy, as well as the fact that I really appreciate getting the most of my overpriced PPV UFC fights on my comcast-leased DVR or my bargain-bin upscaled DVDs.
P.S. If it’s not me, it should be Alex. A child’s curiosity is a terrible thing to squander…
Sony XBR46 LCD TV 1080P.
Love the TV but feel it is not living up to its potential.
Would love to try this scaler to help it be all it can be!
:)
I’ve got a couple nice panny plasmas. The latest is a 9UK 50″ 720p model (yeah, it IS 2+ years old!) which is totally sweet, but this scaler would make all my digital content just THAT much sweeter.!
Panasonic TC-32LX85 32″ 720P
I need this box because my wife wont let me upgrade to HD programming and she wont let me buy a BluRay player. :(
I have an Insignia 32” LCD (Insignia NS-LCD32). I bought it back in February, so I’ve had it for just about 11 months now…
Looking back buying this was probably a poor life decision, but as a broke college student finding this for sale at a relatively cheap price (display model discount) made it the only decent option to furnish my apartment.
Yes, it does HD, and I think it looks okay with the HD channels I have thanks to Time Warner. My roommate’s father just bought himself a Bravia set, however, and my roommate likes to remind me anytime I’m trying to enjoy HD how much my television looks like rubbish. I’m tired of hearing it…
Seeing as it seems to be of a decent build quality, I would probably beat him senseless with it before hooking it up to my lovely off-brand television and enjoying the finer things in life.
Sony Bravia KDL-46S2000 that I’ve owned since Xmas ‘06. I want this to see how the Wii looks at 1080p!!
My Vizio 47″ leaves a lot to be desired and a tech answer is THE answer. Upscaling the video files would be nice too!
I have a Philips 50PF9830A/37 and I need the DVDO…please!
Optoma HD65 for about 11 months
’cause at 106″ diagonal you NEED a scaler.
Gotta love the price-performance ratio of this scaler, this was unheard of at almost any price but a few years ago. Sign me up.
I have a first-gen Westinghouse LVM-42w2 monitor and the HDMI on it is hosed. No way to fix it (since it’s no longer under warranty) without schlepping it to some shop in Sacramento that’s a 3-hour drive from me. So, yeah, let’s hook up that instant upgrade and get my TV working like it ought to!