Darblet, HDMI Video Processor

For reference: I have a Marantz 8801 and bunch of amps , two SVS subs , a pair of Vapor Audio "stiff breeze" speakers and a sierra-1 center. The Blu-ray is an Oppo 103.The DarbeeVision is quit an accomplishment; I have little faith in "add on" devices, esp. for HDMI. . Anything that goes between the HDMI source and it's destination, has to have it's act together. You are adding another cable and a powered device.It is easy to cause movement artifacts, dropouts, a contrasty picture. or even effect color balance.What you want from this device: To do what it says it can do, with Zero artifacts.What I found: Some variations in the picture (when added), but was rectified with a few adjustments. That is normal. The sound , seemed altered slightly , but it was just as good. To tell you the truth, I am not even sure it changed at all..What I found: The Dardee adds depth of field and it doesn't look "fake" . Scenes from Avatar are magical. The detail is amazing . w/o looking "etched" The beautiful color contrasts are carried on naturally, and deeply far in to the picture. It seems to brighten colors and light in the background and still gets the black levels right. .It is worth it, but it is a junk-in, junk-out box. In other words it gets better , when its happy. One thing to do to make it happy, is get a 3amp 5Vdc regulated power supply of ebay, they should be around $16,00 .( direct plugin)Darbee sends an unregulated, underpowered 3 dollar supply, with this astounding product; that baffles the heck out of me. If you do change it , make sure center is positive, and its measured output is 5Vdc. . The difference is convincing, but be careful. The picture just seems to become more 'real'.I guess I'll mention that I was using mainly Wireworld Hdmi cables. The best being the "silver starlights". Now I am now running Monster's Black platinum's. they claim a clean "eye pattern" at 27 gigs. This is the best cable I have ever used. . Rock solid picture , superb color balance...yatayata... or grain, but make the colors more vicidis a possible rurend the destination, can easy hurt more than help anhthing, and usaually do.

It makes a different look for sure. I guess I had higher expectations. Really wanted the soap opera effect and it just never got there.But I still prefer it than not having it.

I fail to understand why reviewers downgrade the aesthetic qualities of this video processor. It's dark, and when placed above a black component it disappears. And being so small in size, it can be easily hidden behind a Blu-ray player or receiver.The processor is so easy to install, adjust and use.For those not interested in 3D (and that includes many of us), the cobalt model is the most economical. I own three of these devices. One device enhances the video in my designated home theater, consisting of a 105" Stewart screen and Epson front projector. A second one raises the bar for my 55" 2D Vizio LED backlit TV located in the living room.. And a third improves my 55" screen in my Florida condo.Some describe these models as being fragile. I've had no problems with breakage, cracks, or broken pieces.The addition of these devices causes many of my standard DVDs to approach or equal the quality of Blu-rays. And Blu-rays also benefit from the processing. Pictures appear sharper, detail is more apparent, 2D objects appear more 3D. The effects can appear stunning, awesomeI wish I could use this processor to enhance the signals of my OTA TV stations. My outdoor antenna feeds the signals into my home via a 75 ohm signal. I wonder if there is a 75 ohm to HDMI adaptor. Does anyone know?.The OPPO people are incorporating the Darbee in one of their award winning Blu-ray players. And Ludigren has also adopted the Darbee in their high-end processors. This speaks well for the Darbee.,

This device definitely improves the perceived picture quality from HDMI signals. Everything, especial good quality HD content, looks sharper and more amazing than it did before. Even over the air network broadcasts look great (I do not subscribe to cable or dish but have heard the Darbee doesn't do a whole lot for those since they compress the signal so much that the image quality is sort of bad. Over the air HD is much better quality).However, the form factor of this device is a bit ugly and cheapy looking. For the price being charged, it should really have a better build quality and nicer design. If you buy this, it's going to be the ugliest device in your system as it's not very 'home theater' like. It looks basically like a USB hub.More important than looks however, the Darbee Darblet feels EXTREMELY cheap quality and that goes not only for the device itself but also the AC adapter and the remote as well. They are worse quality than what you find on most toys and dollar store items!Case in point, I went to unplug the AC Adapter and it literally broke and came apart in my hand, leaving the plug part still plugged in and a plastic part in my palm. This is something to watch out for. I have the impression that Darbee tried to get the absolute cheapest components possible for this Darblet device, regardless of quality.Further, the first unit I received introduced sparkles when playing standard dvds, but looked fine when playing HD with my Panasonic Blu Ray player. Go figure. I exchanged it for another one that is fine.I also don't like the fact that the device is firmware upgradeable but you have to send it in and pay a fee to have that done if the company releases an update. Not very consumer friendly.I recommend you use this in line after an equalizing HDMI switcher so you are feeding it a nice clean signal. I use the  HDMI switch, 5 in, 1 out, with remote control, Built-in Equalizer, Blue Jeans Cable brand  which I can highly recommend. This is one of the better HDMI switches I've tried.In all I'm very satisfied with the Darbee in terms of what it does for the picture quality, but not with the hardware itself which I feel for the price being charged, could be a lot better.