HQV Benchmark DVD Video Quality Evaluation Test Disc - Test List
In order to test the video performance of the Sharp XV-Z17000, when faced with standard resolution content source, I used the standardized HQV DVD Benchmark Test Disc from Silicon Optix (IDT). The test disc has a series of patterns and images that test how well a video processor in a Blu-ray Disc/DVD player, TV, Video Projector, or Home Theater Receiver can display a good quality image with a low resolution or poor quality input source.
In this Step-by-Step gallery, the results of several of the tests listed in the list above are shown.
Screen shots were obtained using a Sony DSC-R1 Digital Still Camera. All photos were taken at 10 megapixels and resized for posting.
1. Using an OPPO Digital DV-980H DVD Player, I set the output resolution to 480i, and connected the Composite (yellow) video output to the matching composite video input on the Sharp XV-Z17000.
2. I inserted a Silicon Optix test disc in the DVD player and ran through a series of tests designed detect the deinterlacing and scaling ability of the Sharp XV-Z17000.
After going through this Step-by-Step look at some sample tests, also read my Review and Photo Profile for the Sharp XV-Z17000.
Sharp XV-Z17000 Video Projector - Deinterlacing and Upscaling Test Jaggies 1-1
Pictured on this page is one of three deinterlacing/scaling tests, in which a diagonal line moves in a 360 degree motion. In order to pass this test, the rotating bar needs to be straight, or show minimal wrinkling or jaggedness, as it passes red, yellow, and green zones of the circle. As you can see, as shown in this photo, the rotating line is fairly smooth, which means that the Sharp XV-Z17000 passes this test.
Proceed to the next photo...
Sharp XV-Z17000 Video Projector - Deinterlacing and Upscaling Test Jaggies 1-2
Pictured on this page is a second look at the rotating line test. As outlined on the previous page, the rotating bar needs to be straight, or show minimal wrinkling or jaggedness, as it passes red, yellow, and green zones of the circle. As you can see, as shown in this photo, the rotating line is fairly smooth, which means that the Sharp XV-Z17000 passes this test.
Proceed to the next photo...
Sharp XV-Z17000 Video Projector - Deinterlacing and Upscaling Test Jaggies 1-3
Pictured on this page is an additional, more close-up, look at the rotating line test. As you can see, as shown in this photo, the line does not exhibit any jaggedness. This means that the Sharp XV-Z17000 passes this test.
Proceed to the next test...
Sharp XV-Z17000 Video Projector - Deinterlacing and Upscaling Test Jaggies 2-1
Here is the second test that measures deinterlacing capability (480i/480p conversion). This test consists of three lines moving and down in rapid motion. In order to pass this test, at least one of the lines needs to be straight. If two lines are straight that would be considered better, and if three lines were straight, the results would be considered excellent.
As you can see, the lines are not jagged or wrinkled, and the bottom line is only slightly wavy.
This means that the Sharp XV-Z17000 is considered to be passing this deinterlacing test.
Proceed to the next photo...
Sharp XV-Z17000 Video Projector - Deinterlacing and Upscaling Test Jaggies 2-2
Here is a second, more close-up, look at the three line test that demonstrates deinterlacing capability (480i/480p conversion). As outlined on the previous page, in order to pass this test at least one of the lines needs to be straight, but two or three straight lines would show better results.
As you can see, the lines are not jagged or wrinkled, and the bottom line is only very slightly wavy and bent on the ends.
This means that the Sharp XV-Z17000 is considered to be passing this deinterlacing test.
Proceed to the next test...
Sharp XV-Z17000 Video Projector - Deinterlacing and Upscaling Test Flag 1
Probably the most demanding deinterlacing test is how a video processor can handle a waving American Flag. If the flag is jagged, the 480i/480p conversion and upscaling is considered below average. As you can see here (even when you click for the larger view), the interior stripes of the flag appear are very smooth smooth along the edges of the flag and within the stripes of the flag. This result indicates excellent deinterlacing (480i/480p conversion) and 1080p upscaling for the Sharp XV-Z17000 .
By proceeding to the next photo in this gallery you will see the results with regards to the differing position of the flag as it waves.
Sharp XV-Z17000 Video Projector - Deinterlacing and Upscaling Test Flag 2
Here is a second look at the flag test. If the flag is jagged, the 480i/480p conversion and upscaling is considered below average. As you can see here (even when you click for the larger view), the interior stripes of the flag appear are very smooth along the edges of the flag and within the stripes of the flag. This result indicates excellent deinterlacing (480i/480p conversion) and 1080p upscaling for the Sharp XV-Z17000, with regards to this test.
By proceeding to the next photo in this gallery you will see the results with regards to the differing position of the flag as it waves.
Proceed to the next photo...
Sharp XV-Z17000 Video Projector - Deinterlacing and Upscaling Test Flag 3
Here is a third, and final, look at the flag test. If the flag is jagged, the 480i/480p conversion and upscaling is considered below average. As you can see here (even when you click for the larger view), the interior stripes of the flag appear very smooth along the edges of the flag and within the stripes of the flag. This result indicates excellent deinterlacing (480i/480p conversion) and 1080p upscaling for the Sharp XV-Z17000 .
Combining the three frame results of the Flag Waving Test, it is evident that the 480i/480p conversion and 1080p upscaling ability of the Sharp XV-Z17000 is excellent so far.
Proceed to the next test...
Sharp XV-Z17000 Video Projector - Deinterlacing and Upscaling Test Race Car 2
Pictured on this page is one of the tests that shows how good the video processor of the Sharp XV-Z17000 is at detecting 3:2 source material. In other words, the video processor has to be able to dectect whether the source material is film based (24 frames per second) or video based (30 frames a second) and display the source material correctly on the screen, so as to avoid artifacts.
In the case of the race car and grandstand shown in this photo, if the video processor is poor the grandstand would display a moire pattern on the seats.
However, if the Sharp XV-Z17000 has good video processing, the Moire Pattern will not be visible or only visible during the first five frames of the cut.
As shown in this photo, the moire pattern is not visible as the image pans and the race car goes by. This indicates good performance of the Sharp XV-Z17000 with regards to accurate processing of film or video-based content containing detailed backgrounds and fast moving foreground objects.
For another sample of how this image should look, check out an example of this same test as performed by the DreamVision Starlight1 LCOS Video Projector used for comparison.
For a sample of how this test should not look, check out an example of this same DVD deinterlacing/upscaling test as performed by the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 705HD 3LCD Video Projector, from a past product review.
Proceed to the next photo...
Sharp XV-Z17000 Video Projector - Deinterlacing and Upscaling Test Video Titles
Here is a second photo of the "Race Car Test". As outlined on the previous page, if the video processor is poor the grandstand would display a moire pattern on the seats. However, if the upscaling section of the Sharp XV-Z17000 has good video processing, the Moire Pattern will not be visible or only visible during the first five frames of the cut.
As shown in this photo, the moire pattern is not visible as the image pans and the race car goes by.
This indicates very good performance of the Sharp XV-Z17000 with regards to accurate processing of film or video-based content containing detailed backgrounds and fast moving foreground objects.
For another sample of how this image should look, check out an example of this same test as performed by the DreamVision Starlight1 LCOS Video Projector used for comparison.
For a sample of how this test should not look, check out an example of this same DVD deinterlacing/upscaling test as performed by the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 705HD 3LCD Video Projector, from a past product review.
Proceed to the next test...
Sharp XV-Z17000 Video Projector - HD Resolution Loss Test
Even though a video processor may be able detect the difference between video and film-based sources, such as shown in the previous photo, can it detect both of them at the same time? The reason this is important is that often, video titles (moving at 30 frames per second) are laid over film (which is moving at 24 frames per second). This can cause problems as the combination of both these elements can result in artifacts that make the titles look jagged or broken.
However, in this case, if the Sharp XV-Z17000 can detect the differences between the titles and the rest of the image, the titles should appear smooth.
As you can see in the real world example, the letters are smooth (the blurriness is due to the camera's shutter) and shows that the Sharp XV-Z17000 detects and shows a very stable scrolling title image.
Proceed to the next test...
Sharp XV-Z17000 Video Projector - HD Loss Test CU
In this test, the image has been recorded in 1080i, which the VX-Z17000 needs to reprocess as 1080p (the 1080i image was supplied to the VX-Z17000 using a Blu-ray Disc player set for 1080i output). The problem faced is the ability of the processor to distinguish between the still and moving parts of the image. If the processor does its job properly, the moving bar will be smooth and all of lines in the still part of the image will be visible at all times.
However, to throw a "wrench" into the test, the squares on each corner contain white lines on odd frames and black lines on even frames. If the blocks continuously show still lines the processor is doing a complete job at reproducing all of the resolution of the original image. However, if the square blocks are seen to vibrate or strobe alternately in black (see example) and white (see example), then the video processor is not processing the full resolution of the entire image.
As you can see in this frame, the squares in the corners are displaying still lines. This means that these squares are being displayed properly as they are not showing a solid white or black square, but a square filled with alternating lines.
Proceed to the next photo...
Here is a close-up look at the rotating line in the test as discussed in the previous page. The image has been recorded in 1080i, which the StarLight1 needs to reprocess as 1080p (the 1080i image was supplied to the Starlight1 using a Blu-ray Disc player set for 1080i output). The problem faced is the ability of the processor to distinguish between the still and moving parts of the image. If the processor does its job properly, the moving bar will be smooth.
However, as seen in this close-up photo of the rotating bar, which appeared smooth in the previous photo, still looks fairly smooth in this close-up. This is a good result as it shows that the Starlight1 does well with both 1080i to 1080p still image conversion and 1080i to 1080p conversion of moving images. NOTE: Blurriness in image is caused by the camera shutter.
Final Note
In a further testing not shown in this profile, the Sharp XV-Z17000 did an excellent job rendering the 3:2 Pulldown film, 2:2 and 3:2:3:2:2 frame cadences, but did display some instability with more unusual cadences, such as 2:2:2:4, 2:3:3:2, 5:5, 6:4, and 8:7. On the other hand, the VX-Z17000 did an excellent job of handling video generated titles (30 fps) superimposed over film-based material (24 fps) without any signs of jaggedness or other noticeable artifacts. For a detailed explanation of the above cadence tests, and why they are conducted, refer to the HQV Website.
On the other hand, the VX-Z17000 did exhibit some video noise and mosquito noise artifacts with the test material.
What all the above technical explanations mean is that the Sharp XV-Z17000's built-in video processor and scaler can deliver a very good image on the screen, in real world conditions, with most standard definition and high definition material.
Taking these test results, plus features, connectivity, and audio performance, this video projector definitely deserves your attention.
For more details on the features and functions of the Sharp XV-Z17000, plus a close-up photo look at this player, check out my Review, as well as my Photo Profile.
Manufacturer's Site.
Compare Prices
In order to test the video performance of the Sharp XV-Z17000, when faced with standard resolution content source, I used the standardized HQV DVD Benchmark Test Disc from Silicon Optix (IDT). The test disc has a series of patterns and images that test how well a video processor in a Blu-ray Disc/DVD player, TV, Video Projector, or Home Theater Receiver can display a good quality image with a low resolution or poor quality input source.
In this Step-by-Step gallery, the results of several of the tests listed in the list above are shown.
Screen shots were obtained using a Sony DSC-R1 Digital Still Camera. All photos were taken at 10 megapixels and resized for posting.
1. Using an OPPO Digital DV-980H DVD Player, I set the output resolution to 480i, and connected the Composite (yellow) video output to the matching composite video input on the Sharp XV-Z17000.
2. I inserted a Silicon Optix test disc in the DVD player and ran through a series of tests designed detect the deinterlacing and scaling ability of the Sharp XV-Z17000.
After going through this Step-by-Step look at some sample tests, also read my Review and Photo Profile for the Sharp XV-Z17000.
Sharp XV-Z17000 Video Projector - Deinterlacing and Upscaling Test Jaggies 1-1
Pictured on this page is one of three deinterlacing/scaling tests, in which a diagonal line moves in a 360 degree motion. In order to pass this test, the rotating bar needs to be straight, or show minimal wrinkling or jaggedness, as it passes red, yellow, and green zones of the circle. As you can see, as shown in this photo, the rotating line is fairly smooth, which means that the Sharp XV-Z17000 passes this test.
Proceed to the next photo...
Sharp XV-Z17000 Video Projector - Deinterlacing and Upscaling Test Jaggies 1-2
Pictured on this page is a second look at the rotating line test. As outlined on the previous page, the rotating bar needs to be straight, or show minimal wrinkling or jaggedness, as it passes red, yellow, and green zones of the circle. As you can see, as shown in this photo, the rotating line is fairly smooth, which means that the Sharp XV-Z17000 passes this test.
Proceed to the next photo...
Sharp XV-Z17000 Video Projector - Deinterlacing and Upscaling Test Jaggies 1-3
Pictured on this page is an additional, more close-up, look at the rotating line test. As you can see, as shown in this photo, the line does not exhibit any jaggedness. This means that the Sharp XV-Z17000 passes this test.
Proceed to the next test...
Sharp XV-Z17000 Video Projector - Deinterlacing and Upscaling Test Jaggies 2-1
Here is the second test that measures deinterlacing capability (480i/480p conversion). This test consists of three lines moving and down in rapid motion. In order to pass this test, at least one of the lines needs to be straight. If two lines are straight that would be considered better, and if three lines were straight, the results would be considered excellent.
As you can see, the lines are not jagged or wrinkled, and the bottom line is only slightly wavy.
This means that the Sharp XV-Z17000 is considered to be passing this deinterlacing test.
Proceed to the next photo...
Sharp XV-Z17000 Video Projector - Deinterlacing and Upscaling Test Jaggies 2-2
Here is a second, more close-up, look at the three line test that demonstrates deinterlacing capability (480i/480p conversion). As outlined on the previous page, in order to pass this test at least one of the lines needs to be straight, but two or three straight lines would show better results.
As you can see, the lines are not jagged or wrinkled, and the bottom line is only very slightly wavy and bent on the ends.
This means that the Sharp XV-Z17000 is considered to be passing this deinterlacing test.
Proceed to the next test...
Sharp XV-Z17000 Video Projector - Deinterlacing and Upscaling Test Flag 1
Probably the most demanding deinterlacing test is how a video processor can handle a waving American Flag. If the flag is jagged, the 480i/480p conversion and upscaling is considered below average. As you can see here (even when you click for the larger view), the interior stripes of the flag appear are very smooth smooth along the edges of the flag and within the stripes of the flag. This result indicates excellent deinterlacing (480i/480p conversion) and 1080p upscaling for the Sharp XV-Z17000 .
By proceeding to the next photo in this gallery you will see the results with regards to the differing position of the flag as it waves.
Sharp XV-Z17000 Video Projector - Deinterlacing and Upscaling Test Flag 2
Here is a second look at the flag test. If the flag is jagged, the 480i/480p conversion and upscaling is considered below average. As you can see here (even when you click for the larger view), the interior stripes of the flag appear are very smooth along the edges of the flag and within the stripes of the flag. This result indicates excellent deinterlacing (480i/480p conversion) and 1080p upscaling for the Sharp XV-Z17000, with regards to this test.
By proceeding to the next photo in this gallery you will see the results with regards to the differing position of the flag as it waves.
Proceed to the next photo...
Sharp XV-Z17000 Video Projector - Deinterlacing and Upscaling Test Flag 3
Here is a third, and final, look at the flag test. If the flag is jagged, the 480i/480p conversion and upscaling is considered below average. As you can see here (even when you click for the larger view), the interior stripes of the flag appear very smooth along the edges of the flag and within the stripes of the flag. This result indicates excellent deinterlacing (480i/480p conversion) and 1080p upscaling for the Sharp XV-Z17000 .
Combining the three frame results of the Flag Waving Test, it is evident that the 480i/480p conversion and 1080p upscaling ability of the Sharp XV-Z17000 is excellent so far.
Proceed to the next test...
Sharp XV-Z17000 Video Projector - Deinterlacing and Upscaling Test Race Car 2
Pictured on this page is one of the tests that shows how good the video processor of the Sharp XV-Z17000 is at detecting 3:2 source material. In other words, the video processor has to be able to dectect whether the source material is film based (24 frames per second) or video based (30 frames a second) and display the source material correctly on the screen, so as to avoid artifacts.
In the case of the race car and grandstand shown in this photo, if the video processor is poor the grandstand would display a moire pattern on the seats.
However, if the Sharp XV-Z17000 has good video processing, the Moire Pattern will not be visible or only visible during the first five frames of the cut.
As shown in this photo, the moire pattern is not visible as the image pans and the race car goes by. This indicates good performance of the Sharp XV-Z17000 with regards to accurate processing of film or video-based content containing detailed backgrounds and fast moving foreground objects.
For another sample of how this image should look, check out an example of this same test as performed by the DreamVision Starlight1 LCOS Video Projector used for comparison.
For a sample of how this test should not look, check out an example of this same DVD deinterlacing/upscaling test as performed by the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 705HD 3LCD Video Projector, from a past product review.
Proceed to the next photo...
Sharp XV-Z17000 Video Projector - Deinterlacing and Upscaling Test Video Titles
Here is a second photo of the "Race Car Test". As outlined on the previous page, if the video processor is poor the grandstand would display a moire pattern on the seats. However, if the upscaling section of the Sharp XV-Z17000 has good video processing, the Moire Pattern will not be visible or only visible during the first five frames of the cut.
As shown in this photo, the moire pattern is not visible as the image pans and the race car goes by.
This indicates very good performance of the Sharp XV-Z17000 with regards to accurate processing of film or video-based content containing detailed backgrounds and fast moving foreground objects.
For another sample of how this image should look, check out an example of this same test as performed by the DreamVision Starlight1 LCOS Video Projector used for comparison.
For a sample of how this test should not look, check out an example of this same DVD deinterlacing/upscaling test as performed by the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 705HD 3LCD Video Projector, from a past product review.
Proceed to the next test...
Sharp XV-Z17000 Video Projector - HD Resolution Loss Test
Even though a video processor may be able detect the difference between video and film-based sources, such as shown in the previous photo, can it detect both of them at the same time? The reason this is important is that often, video titles (moving at 30 frames per second) are laid over film (which is moving at 24 frames per second). This can cause problems as the combination of both these elements can result in artifacts that make the titles look jagged or broken.
However, in this case, if the Sharp XV-Z17000 can detect the differences between the titles and the rest of the image, the titles should appear smooth.
As you can see in the real world example, the letters are smooth (the blurriness is due to the camera's shutter) and shows that the Sharp XV-Z17000 detects and shows a very stable scrolling title image.
Proceed to the next test...
Sharp XV-Z17000 Video Projector - HD Loss Test CU
In this test, the image has been recorded in 1080i, which the VX-Z17000 needs to reprocess as 1080p (the 1080i image was supplied to the VX-Z17000 using a Blu-ray Disc player set for 1080i output). The problem faced is the ability of the processor to distinguish between the still and moving parts of the image. If the processor does its job properly, the moving bar will be smooth and all of lines in the still part of the image will be visible at all times.
However, to throw a "wrench" into the test, the squares on each corner contain white lines on odd frames and black lines on even frames. If the blocks continuously show still lines the processor is doing a complete job at reproducing all of the resolution of the original image. However, if the square blocks are seen to vibrate or strobe alternately in black (see example) and white (see example), then the video processor is not processing the full resolution of the entire image.
As you can see in this frame, the squares in the corners are displaying still lines. This means that these squares are being displayed properly as they are not showing a solid white or black square, but a square filled with alternating lines.
Proceed to the next photo...
Here is a close-up look at the rotating line in the test as discussed in the previous page. The image has been recorded in 1080i, which the StarLight1 needs to reprocess as 1080p (the 1080i image was supplied to the Starlight1 using a Blu-ray Disc player set for 1080i output). The problem faced is the ability of the processor to distinguish between the still and moving parts of the image. If the processor does its job properly, the moving bar will be smooth.
However, as seen in this close-up photo of the rotating bar, which appeared smooth in the previous photo, still looks fairly smooth in this close-up. This is a good result as it shows that the Starlight1 does well with both 1080i to 1080p still image conversion and 1080i to 1080p conversion of moving images. NOTE: Blurriness in image is caused by the camera shutter.
Final Note
In a further testing not shown in this profile, the Sharp XV-Z17000 did an excellent job rendering the 3:2 Pulldown film, 2:2 and 3:2:3:2:2 frame cadences, but did display some instability with more unusual cadences, such as 2:2:2:4, 2:3:3:2, 5:5, 6:4, and 8:7. On the other hand, the VX-Z17000 did an excellent job of handling video generated titles (30 fps) superimposed over film-based material (24 fps) without any signs of jaggedness or other noticeable artifacts. For a detailed explanation of the above cadence tests, and why they are conducted, refer to the HQV Website.
On the other hand, the VX-Z17000 did exhibit some video noise and mosquito noise artifacts with the test material.
What all the above technical explanations mean is that the Sharp XV-Z17000's built-in video processor and scaler can deliver a very good image on the screen, in real world conditions, with most standard definition and high definition material.
Taking these test results, plus features, connectivity, and audio performance, this video projector definitely deserves your attention.
For more details on the features and functions of the Sharp XV-Z17000, plus a close-up photo look at this player, check out my Review, as well as my Photo Profile.
Manufacturer's Site.
Compare Prices