It's no secret that the video processing built into most displays - be they projectors or flatpanel - is a compromise, dictated by pricing. In this competitive marketplace, manufacturers will shave off as much cost as possible and advanced video processing (which is not quite as sexy to would-be buyers as impressive-sounding contrast ratio, brightness and resolution specifications) is often the first to go.

Consequently, much of the really interesting work in processing is not being conducted by the large manufacturers. Instead, it tends to be the domain of specialist developers like Gennum, Faroudja and Silicon Optix. These companies then license their technology to bigger brands.

If you don't want a new display, though, there's another way of being able to benefit from cutting-edge processing - and that's to use an external scaler. These boxes contain specialist technology, and effectively replace the 'front-end' of your existing display.

The name is actually something of a misnomer - they have several functions. The typical scaler will select from several different sources, allow you to make adjustments to the picture and deinterlace your video (assuming its interlaced in the first place) before it scales the picture to match the native resolution of your display.

It's the latter two areas in which the aforementioned specialist developers excel. The overall result can be a dramatic improvement in picture quality from one or more sources, subject to the pedigree of the kit you're partnering it with.

Gennum contributes its VXP processing to Themescene's 1080p-capable HD3000 scaler, which is not dissimilar to the 'controller box' that accompanies the display manufacturer's HD81 1080p DLP projector.

The HD3000 is a neat and low-profile box that leaves you with no doubts as to the exemplary quality of its construction. Top marks to the convenient front-panel AV inputs (composite, S-video and PC RGBHV) that sit with basic menu-driving controls behind a solid flap.

Inputs aplenty

Also noteworthy is the sheer variety of inputs on the rear panel - two composite, two S-video, two component and two RGB (which can be configured for component - or Scart-type RGB and composite sync).

There's only one HDMI input, but the HD3000 includes an in-built three-way HDMI switcher. This operates independently of the processor itself. The HD3000 also gives you two programmable 12V triggers for motorised screens.

There's only one video output, and it's HDMI. The lack of analogue outputs means that owners of HD-capable tubed projectors should look elsewhere. This is very much a video-centric controller. Unlike competing models such as the Vantage HD or Crystalio II, the HD3000 has no audio connectivity, and thus no ability to delay the audio to compensate for video processing times - something that can manifest itself as lip-sync errors. But most serious AV amps have adjustable input delays nowadays.

Setting up the HD3000 won't give enthusiasts any sleepless nights. The 'system' menu offers a choice of resolutions and refresh rates for the (progressively-scanned) output. They include 50Hz and 60Hz variants of 1280 x 720 (720p), 1366 x 768 (WXGA - as specified by many LCD and PDP TVs) and 1920 x 1080 (1080p). There is, alas, no custom mode here for non-standard formats.

Five banks of output video settings - including 'day' and 'night' modes for ISF-certified calibrators - can be independently configured, stored and recalled. Among the parameters here are gamma, colour-temperature, noise reduction, contrast, edge enhancement, brightness, hue and saturation.

Then there's the input video processor, which will adjust settings like colour level, white/black level, noise reduction and hue. Different banks of settings are memorised for each input and signal type. Note that no manual control over deinterlacing parameters is given.