CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

**kal** · Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:26 pm Post subject:

I'll confirm with Moome what the ETA is.

Kal

**kal** · Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:56 pm Post subject:

I've updated the FAQ in the first post:

FAQ

Can you set different gamma correction for the two HDMI inputs?
No - there is one gamma adjustment setting. It is used for both inputs.

How do I adjust gamma on this card?
See this Gamma Tuning Guide for Moome products. The short answer: The gamma pot on the card is used to set the 'max' gamma boost value and the gamma up/down buttons on the remote then step over 20 levels of boost from off to max.

How will most people hook up their HDMI sources to this card?
A few common ways are used:
(1) Less than 3 sources and receiver without HDMI: Source 1/2 -> HDMI cables -> XG-FULLHD card.
In this method you would then connect your source devices via SPDIF or Toslink to your receiver. Only the older compressed Dolby Digital/DTS sound formats are supported over SPDIF/Toslink.
(2) More than 3 sources and receiver without HDMI: Source 1/2/3/etc -> HDMI cables -> HDMI swicher -> HDMI cable -> XG-FULLHD card.
In this method you would then connect your source devices via SPDIF or Toslink to your receiver. Only the older compressed Dolby Digital/DTS sound formats are supported over SPDIF/Toslink. Only one of the two HDMI inputs on the XG-FULLHD is used.
(3) Newer receiver with HDMI: Source 1/2/3/etc -> HDMI cables -> Receiver -> HDMI cable -> XG-FULLHD card.
In this method the newer Dolby Digital/DTS high bit rate and lossless audio formats can be carried over HDMI to the receiver and decoded. The video then continues on to the XG-FULLHD card. Only one of the two HDMI inputs on the XG-FULLHD is used.

What about the SPDIF audio output on the XG-FULLHD? How do I use that?
None of the methods mentioned above uses the SPDIF audio output on the XG-FULLHD as frankly, it's not needed. SPDIF audio output is included as it comes for 'free' with most HDMI chipsets (including the one used in the XG-FULLHD) so it's included as a method to extract audio from the HDMI stream for those that may want to use it for testing. We can't see anyone seriously using it in a regular setup as usually most source devices are close to the receiver/preamp so it makes sense to connect the devices up directly, not looping through the XG-FULLHD. If you have less than 2 sources, and your receiver is close to your projector, and your receiver does not support HDMI, then it may make sense to use the SPDIF output on the XG-FULLHD card as follows: Source 1/2 -> HDMI cables -> XG-FULLHD card -> SPDIF cable -> Receiver.

I only need one HDMI input. Can Moome make a cheaper version with only 1 HDMI input?
Most HDMI chipsets (including the one used in the XG-FULLHD) support 2 HDMI inputs. Removing one of them would not greatly reduce the cost involved in building the device. You would basically only be saving the cost of the one HDMI connector.

What about the "Phone" audio output jack? What's it for?
It's a headphone jack you can use for 2-channel listening. Again, not something that most people would ever used but some may want to use it for testing.

How do I use the remote?
Buttons 1 and 2 select between HDMI inputs 1 and 2. The Gamma Up/Down buttons increase and decrease gamma.

Kal

KennyG · Joined: 10 Feb 2007 Posts: 254

Wonderful...now all we need is the card.

dropzone7 · Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Posts: 1069 Location: Charlotte, NC

I just hope I don't need new tubes by the time this card is available. Always on the lookout for a parts machine anyway.

I guess Kal is still waiting to hear back from Moome on an ETA. The suspense is killing me...

dropzone7 · Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Posts: 1069 Location: Charlotte, NC

I'm going to have to unsubscribe from this thread because I can't stop checking back here! Laughing

Any word from Moome yet Kal? I know you said he gets tons of emails every day but do we even have a guess about ETA at this time?

KennyG · Joined: 10 Feb 2007 Posts: 254

**kal** · Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 5:00 pm Post subject:

Update: The (hopefully) final prototype is built and Moome has it in his test setup (he owns an XG135) and he's doing tests to ensure good noise performance. He figures that he can get this orders into the factory in February with shipping in March.

I basically have everything ready to start taking pre-orders. I'm considering putting up this pre-order page in the next few days but not really announcing it or posting it on the main site listing for another month so that people in the forum can get their orders in and be first in line. What do you guys think?

EDIT: Oh yes, price. You guys are definitely going to ask about that... Smile

It'll be $15 more than the other cards, so $450. So for $15 more you basically get the same as the other Sony/Marquee cards, but (1) better DACs, (2) better opamps, (3) 100% HDMI 1.3 compliance (not 1.2), and (4) Two HDMI inputs instead of 1. Of course, you lose the component input but IMHO two HDMI's are better than 1 HDMI and 1 component.

Kal

dropzone7 · Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Posts: 1069 Location: Charlotte, NC

That's great news Kal! I think we all want Moome to take his time with the testing and make sure it's good to go before production. It's just good to hear that there is light at the end of the tunnel on this. I'm sure all of us XG owners would appreciate a little advance notice of the preorder so that we might be part of the first round of shipments. You just tell us when and where dude. Smile

MikeEby · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 5237 Location: Osceola, Indiana

I work for a small electronic manufacture in Indiana. We specialize in small run electronics for the RV industry. We have automatic surface mount machines that are way under capacity right now. Do you think Moome would be interested in licensing the assembly of boards to the US? We have our cost very much under control, probably not as low as Taiwan but very competitive and can respond very quickly. Several of our employees are former Crown (high end amplifiers) employees.

Looking at the design of the Gen 1 board, guess would be the most costly part of the board would be the tooling for the connector panel.

Just a thought.

Mike

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:01 am Post subject:

Well Moome's in Taiwan so I'd say it's more convenient for him. You could always ask...

**kal** · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:03 am Post subject:

Yup. Ask, but as AnalogRocks mentioned, Moome just goes down the street to get his boards done, he knows the people. and they speak the same language.

Kal

**kal** · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:45 pm Post subject:

Okidoki guys, pre-orders for the Moome NEC XG-FULLHD card are now available.
See: http://www.curtpalme.com/NEC_XG_FULLHD.shtm (Or use the link in the first post of this thread).

This is a hidden page as we want to give the forum regulars the first places in line to order. There's no link to this page on the main site.

Note that I mentioned that it ships in April 2008. This is pessemistic. I've added over a month 'padding'. Moome has indicated that he will send the order in at the end of February with shipping in March. This initial batch size is unknown. He'll likely decide a month from now before placing the order.

Kal

Thor · Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 75 Location: Denmark

Just to be sure before I order, I can use 1080i 72 Hz and 1080p 48 Hz with Powerstrip, even that it's not mentioned in the "support mode table", right?

**kal** · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:16 pm Post subject:

yonexsp · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 311

April, and $450. Crikey, an XG will be worth less than that by then. I love CRT but at that price it starts to get hard to justify.

**kal** · Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 9:06 pm Post subject:

True. It's not exactly cheap, but then, the other Moome HDMI cards (Marquee/Sony) are $435 and are not HDMI 1.3. So I find it surprising that people thought that a better card with better parts would be cheaper.

Kal

dbaisey · Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:31 pm Post subject:

The value of a large screen video display device shouldn't be determined by what is on E-Bay sold as-is. You either respect CRT quality and upgrade to new sources or buy something that will make you happier with the same quality. I have no problem with SD DVD superbit 'The Fifth Element' as long as the media stays the same for all SD but thats not going to happen. I think Moomes on the edge of what is 'new' for our CRTs so that will usually not be discounted to 'as is' E-Bay pricing. Doug

KennyG · Joined: 10 Feb 2007 Posts: 254

JuzWerkz · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 6:16 pm Post subject:

**kal** · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:00 pm Post subject:

14 pre-orders so far, Moome thinks the batch size will be about 50. No other news from Moome other than that. Sorry.

Kal