Xref: utzoo sci.electronics:13358 rec.arts.tv:25740
Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!usc!ucsd!brian
From: brian@ucsd.Edu (Brian Kantor)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics,rec.arts.tv
Subject: Re: Image enhancer for VCRs
Keywords: Does it work?
Message-ID: <16833@ucsd.Edu>
Date: 5 Aug 90 17:58:19 GMT
References: <1987@xn.LL.MIT.EDU>
Followup-To: sci.electronics
Organization: The Avant-Garde of the Now, Ltd.
Lines: 19

Most of the simple image-enhancers sold for video work in that price
range are really just adjustable high-pass filters that tend to boost
the high frequencies in a TV signal, and thus tend to sharpen edges a
little.  Some also move the video around, either by fiddling the black
level or stretching the whites a little, thus giving an apparent
increase in contrast which can appear as a sharper image.

Consider that the normal parts-to-retail ratio for consumer goods is
around 3 to 5 times, so figure what can be done with $10 to $20 of
parts.  A pretty metal cabinet with shiny knobs is going to cost around
$2 to $5, even in quantity, and there's probably $1 for packaging and
printing the how-to-hook-me-up sheet, so there's not a whole lot left
over for clever circuitry.

I don't know much about the DAK unit in particular, but I sincerely
doubt that it does much more than the sharpness control on your VCR
can do.  At least Drew has a money-back guarantee if you're
disappointed.
	- Brian