Cable Solutions is pleased to offer factory B-Stock iScan HD units.  These units have previously been used as demonstration models or as review units. They are complete with all components, and are in perfect working condition. Each has been fully tested and carries the full manufacturer warranty, just like a new iScan.

A limited number of these open box iScans are available, so grab one now, because when they're gone, they're gone!

DVDO's Description
The iScan^TM HD is a high-resolution video scaling processor and hub that converts standard-definition video content from your DVD player, VCR, DVR, PVR, digital satellite receiver, game console, or PC to any output resolution between 480p and 1080p, including popular HDTV resolutions such as 720p and 1080i.

Precision Video Scaling ^TM  by Anchor Bay Technologies - Yields best-in-class front-of-screen performance

- Enables exact match of video source resolution to display native resolution

- Delivers optimum matching of source aspect ratio to display aspect ratio

- High-performance Pan and Zoom

DVDO PureProgressive ^TM  technology

- Delivers state-of-the-art progressive-scan video from interlaced video sources, enabling flawless, seamless, automatic, source-adaptive and motion-adaptive deinterlacing

Video controls

- Individually programmable picture controls for each input with nonvolatile memory including brightness, contrast, hue, saturation, sharpness, and V/C differential delay

RightRate ^TM

- High-performance Framerate Conversion & full-frame Timebase Correction

- Enables correction of unstable sources such as VCRs

- Provides optimum match of source frame rate to display frame rate

- Delivers highest video quality through elimination of annoying timebase-induced artifacts

AutoCUE-C ^TM

- Automatic Chroma Upsampling Error Correction

- Removes the annoying Chroma bug which is prevalent in many DVD Players

AutoVFR ^TM 

- ABT's automatic Video Format Routing^TM

- Enables connection of Component video sources of all resolutions & formats through one input

- Provides European RGBS compatibility through Component input connection

AutoSource ^TM 

- Automatic Source Activity Detection & Selection by Priority Pre-sets

Enhanced graphical On-Screen Display (OSD) 

- Logical, simple user interface

Product Review
by Mark Schneider

Looking at the list of features above might lead one to ask, what does all of this mean? 

Analog Video Inputs
The iScan HD has an impressive array of analog video inputs, including (2) composite, (2) S-Video, (2) component video, as well as an analog pass-through input.  If you've had an HD-capable display for a while, you probably already know how easy it is to get spoiled by the video quality of  HDTV programming.  Switching over to a standard definition source can be a big let-down.  Of course, no video processor can make SD look like HD, but with the iScan HD, the full extent  of Anchor Bay Technologies' video processing prowess is brought to bare.

Of course, this is an iScan, so you can bet that 480i de-interlacing is first class.  The HD uses the Silicon Image Sil504 - one of the finest inverse-telecine IC solutions available at any price.  Inverse-telecine processing produces artifact-free deinterlacing of 24 frame-per-second film-sourced material.  Mode detection is excellent.  For example, the Video Essential "Montage of Images", which includes many film to video mode transitions, was rendered flawlessly.

The next weapon against inferior-looking SD video is high-performance scaling.  All inputs, up to 480p, are scaled to the selected output format and resolution.  For example, the HD does an outstanding job of up-converting to 720p, which is a perfect match for many DLP-based HDTVs and projectors.  Many display devices have poor built-in scalers, so the iScan HD provides superior performance in those cases.

In addition, the iScan HD has a full-frame Time Base Corrector (TBC), which can make a significant improvement in image quality, particularly with video sources that have poor timing stability, such as VCRs.  A "chroma up-sampling error" filter corrects MPEG decoder artifacts, effectively compensating for the "chroma bug" that most DVD players have.  Separate picture controls for each input, and full aspect ratio control add to the overall video improvement.

Digital Video Inputs
The iScan HD has a DVI input that is suitable for any digital video source that does not require HDCP.  If you need HDCP, please consider the iScan HD+.  Inputs up to 480p will be processed and scaled to the output format of your choice.  Inputs above 480p will be passed though on the digital video output.

If more than one digital video input is needed, Cable Solutions has digital video switchers that can expand the number of inputs.  In addition to the DVI input, an SDI (Serial Digital Interface) input module is available as an upgrade option, adding compatibility for a source component with a standard definition  professional output.

Digital Video Output
All inputs, up to 480p can be processed, scaled, and output to the DVI output.  This output can be configured  to any resolution and format, from 480p to 1080p.

The DVI video output is compatible with virtually all HDTV and computer displays, and works equally well with DVI or HDMI inputs.  Computer formats are supported as well, so it works extremely well with LCD monitors.  Many popular output resolutions and formats are pre-configured.  In many cases, these pre-configured formats will be all that is needed, but the output can also be tweaked to exactly match the resolution and format that extracts the maximum performance from almost any given display device. 

Analog Video Output
So far I have only written about the digital video output, but the iScan HD also has a high-performance analog video output in the form of a VGA-style HD-15 connector.  This output supports a number of popular conventions, including Y/Pb/Pr component video and R/G/B/H/V.  It can be used with a VGA cable, or a VGA breakout cable can be used to break out to 3 - 5 connectors as required to match your display device.

In is important to notice that only one output can be active at any given time, so for practical purposes, one must decide which output provides the greatest advantage with a given equipment mix, then use that output exclusively.  For example, if your display device does not have a DVI or an HDMI input, that would make the analog output your clear choice. 

The HD does not convert high-definition DVI inputs to analog.  On the other hand, one of the advantages of using the analog output would be to take advantage of the high-bandwidth analog pass-through input.

The HD also has the ability to output SD sources in virtually any format and resolution on the analog output.  The advantage of this ability would be exemplified in the case where a projector requires a signal in the RGBHV colorspace.  All inputs up to 480p can be de-interlaced, processed, scaled and transcoded to the ideal output resolution and format.  Keep in mind that component video and DVI inputs above 480p will not be processed - they will just get passed through.

For either output, the iScan HD provides 27 built-in test patterns to aid in adjustment for maximum performance.  Brightness, contrast, geometry, color bars, grayscale, checkerboards, crosshatch, focus, pixel lines and frame rate patterns are included.

Digital Audio Processing
In addition to video processing, the iScan HD also has ABT's "Precision AV LipSync Intelligent Digital Audio Delay technology".  This feature is designed to correct the timing differences between video and audio that are common with digital programming.  The HD has  four digital audio inputs - two optical TOSLink and two coaxial and each of these inputs may be assigned to any of the video inputs.  Both optical and coaxial outputs are provided, and both are simultaneously active, so either one or both may be used as desired.

Operation and Controls
The unit may be controlled at the front panel via nice soft-touch switches, or with the included IR remote control.  In addition to a full on-screen menu system, the iScan HD also has a four character display on the front panel that is large enough to read from across a room.

The remote control has dedicated buttons for each of the nine inputs, as well as each of the aspect ratios: 4:3, LBX, 16:9, preset, pan, and zoom.   This also means that there are discrete IR codes for each of these buttons, which is ideal for use with remote control macros.

This processor can be as simple or as complex as the user wants it to be.  The presets work well in most cases, without further adjustment, but for those who wish to extract every last bit of performance from their system, it is also possible to tweak almost every conceivable parameter of the output in great detail.

Observations
I used a Sony VPL-VW10HT projector with a native resolutions of 1366 x 768  for my testing of the analog output and a Samsung flat-panel monitor with 1280x1024 resolution for evaluation of the DVI output.  The Sony projector has a decent scaler and de-interlacer, but the iScan was clearly superior in both regards.  I sampled DVDs with the iScan set for both 720p and 1080i output resolutions.  I noticed in particular that the images were free from both de-interlacing and scaling artifacts.  With highly detailed DVDs, such as The Fifth Element, the scaling did not produce the artificial quality that I have noticed with some scalers.

Dark program material presents one of the greatest challenges to any LCD display.  The VPL-VW10HT has a limited contrast ratio, but Sony has done a very good job with preserving shadow detail, so I was curious to see how the HD would contribute in this very difficult area.  I found that dark scenes had a greater depth than I am accustomed to seeing with this projector.  Dark backgrounds were rendered with a pleasing lack of video noise.  Shadow detail was even better than usual.  This projector has good color accuracy, so I was pleased to observe that the iScan did not impose a penalty in this area.

Sampling scenes from X-Men, I noticed an improvement in the sharpness of some of the lettering, and vertical pans were obviously superior as compared the de-interlacer in the projector.  On all DVDs that I sampled, the iScan did a very nice job with scrolling credits, whereas the internal processor was unable to cope.

When viewing via the DVI output on the Samsung flat panel monitor, I set the iScan to exactly match the 1280 x 1024 native pixel resolution of the monitor.  This monitor was designed primarily as a computer monitor, so the built-in de-interlacer/scaler is just about average.  The improvement that the iScan HD brought to this setup was even more obvious than with the Sony projector.  The complete lack of scaling artifacts made a striking difference with this display.  The iScan also did a better job of de-interlacing than the PC that I normally use with this monitor.  Prior to this test, I had observed that this monitor really didn't have what it took to do a good job with video material, but the iScan HD forced me to reconsider that observation.  What I had previously considered to be inherent noise in the monitor design was missing when using the iScan.  It was a pleasant surprise to find that the monitor could look so much better than I had thought possible.

Moreover, the iScan processor made all of the program material that I sampled look more natural with both displays.  To say that it was more film-like really only tells part of the story.  LCD projectors do not suffer from flicker as a film does, so they already have that advantage over film.  On the other hand, video artifacts generally create what can only be described as a "video look" that tends to diminish the perceived naturalness of a program.  With the iScan HD, I found that picture was more pleasing in a way that is difficult to describe.  Rather than adding to the video, the iScan seemed to be working to remove the tiny intrusions that conspire to take one out of the viewing experience.

In evaluating equipment and cables, I have watched so much video that I have become highly attuned to everything that can (and often is) wrong with a video picture.  I tend to analyze every defect.  Sometimes I will notice some video artifact right in the middle of a movie and I will be completely distracted.  It is a curse that relates to my line of work.  So for me, the fact that the iScan HD does not call attention to itself is a very good quality.  Rather, it works to take the tiny distractions away...to reduce them to a level that is below my threshold of distraction.  I found that I would start watching a movie to evaluate the iScan, but then I would get drawn into the movie and forget about the evaluation.  This happened several times, with several different program sources.  I'm talking about standard definition material from satellite, laserdisc, and yes, even from a VHS tape!  For me, the small differences made all the difference.

Additional Information
To read an independent review, by Greg Rogers in Widescreen Review: click here

For a brochure in PDF format: click here
To view the owner's manual in PDF format: click here

The iScan HD does not include input or output cables, but we so have a wide selection of cables available separately.  If you don't see what you need, or if you want some help, please feel free to contact us.

Customer service is our first priority.  We do our best to help you find the best solutions for your particular application.  We're enthusiasts too, so we know what it's like to wait for cables and accessories that are needed to hook up new gear.  We also know how important it is to be able to get a response when you need help, so you'll often find us working long hours in an effort to get you the answers that you need.

Design excellence, high quality materials, meticulous workmanship, and superior service...put it all together and you get a superior product.  Don't get stuck with bad advice, poor service, slow shipment or an inferior product.  If you want the best, here it is.

Miscellaneous

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SKU Number MM601-R
Our Price: $399.00
(Limited time offer!)

Here is a picture of the front panel of the iScan HD,





The rear panel is shown here.





Here is the included IR remote control





This flow chart shows some examples of the source components that might be connected to the iScan HD.