Audio Video News

High-end home theater owners may already be familiar with Silicon Optix, Inc. The company's Image AnyPlace video scaler provides a great deal of flexibility for installers when choosing where to locate a front-projection monitor in relation to the screen. The scaler's Image Geometry Correction circuitry adjusts the image for off-axis projection in two dimensions (two-dimensional Keystone Correction), so for nightmare-installation rooms the projector may be mounted at the top, bottom, or either side of the projection screen. The scaler also makes it possible to project images onto cylindrical, spherical, or completely irregularly shaped objects. (Imagine the thrill of watching movies on the top of your brother-in-law's shiny bald head.)

In September 2004, Silicon Optix introduced Realta with HQV technology, a fully programmable single-chip video processor combining trillion operation per second broadcast-quality video processing with the company's proprietary geometric scaling technology. (The first to incorporate the Realta chip, Denon slipped it into their flagship DVD player, the DVD-5910).

Silicon Optix's latest home theater introduction brings together their new Cinema AnyPlace video/graphics scaler/switcher and a universal widescreen conversion lens from Panamorph, Inc. The new scaler includes support for Panamorph's widescreen conversion (anamorphic) lenses in addition to possessing the same scaling, switching, and geometry correction capabilities found in Silicon Optix's Image AnyPlace scaler.

The Cinema AnyPlace's scaling technology extracts and scales letterboxed 2.35:1 content into a full-screen 16:9 presentation so that the entire resolution of the projector is utilized. The Panamorph lens optically stretches the image back to its original 2.35:1 ratio. (Silicon Optix estimates 2.35:1 is the native screen aspect ratio for almost 80 percent of Hollywood's big-ticket theatrical releases). Resolution is said to be increased by 33 percent while net brightness is increased by 20 percent. In addition, the process compresses the projector's pixel structure, creating a more film-like image; and halos of unused light above and below the 2.35:1 screen image are eliminated.

A wide variety of input signals can be selected, switched, and scaled to a multitude of output resolutions with one-second artifact-free switching between inputs. Deinterlacing is applied to all 480i SDTV and 1080i HDTV signals.

Inputs include RGB analog, RGB DVI, two SDTV composite, one SDTV S-video, one SDTV component, and one HDTV component with support for all output resolutions from VGA (640x480) to SXGA+ (1400x1050). Supported 16:9 output formats include WXGA (1366x768), WVGA (852x480), and 720p (1280x720). The scaler also provides full aspect-ratio management through the Panamorph lens of all source material in the proper aspect ratio.

Other features include quick selection of aspect ratios, controllable front-panel illumination, multilingual on-screen displays, plus RS-232, RS-422, and RS-485 controllability.

The Cinema AnyPlace switcher/scaler and universal Panamorph lens package will be available in March 2005 for $5,495 MSRP. The Cinema AnyPlace switcher/scaler will also be available separately for $3,995 MSRP.