Plextor ConvertX PX-M402U - Page 5

Video Quality Tests Page 1

Test Screens and MPEG-2/MPEG-1 Format

Test screens are used to test the clarity and brightness of the created files. The test screens are compared against the images provided on the Pioneer disc, without any kind of conversion. Black and white lines are introduced, coloured images with all kind of colours, as well as dark and light areas on the screen.

On this page, MPEG-2 and MPEG-1 profiles were used (DVD and VCD). Clicking on the images will reveal high resolution images for better comparison.

DVD unconverted image
DVD High Quality Conversion
DVD Good Quality Conversion
DVD Standard Play Conversion
DVD Long Play Conversion
DVD Extended Play Conversion
VCD MPEG-1 Conversion

We were expecting better performance from the Plextor ConvertX at this point. As it can be seen above, colours are darker than the source image. Very good converters produce brighter images. However, software configurations can produce brighter images. In terms of colour clarity, all profiles seem to produce a rather good performance, except for the VCD profile, but this is acceptable since the VCD format is not a high quality MPEG-2 format.

DVD unconverted image
DVD High Quality Conversion
DVD Good Quality Conversion
DVD Standard Play Conversion
DVD Long Play Conversion
DVD Extended Play Conversion
VCD MPEG-1 Conversion

This is a mixed, colour and black and white image. From the images above it can be seen that again colours became duller than the original source, but black and white areas remained almost the same as the source. Again, a small exception was the VCD format.

DVD unconverted image
DVD High Quality Conversion
DVD Good Quality Conversion
DVD Standard Play Conversion
DVD Long Play Conversion
DVD Extended Play Conversion
VCD MPEG-1 Conversion

We used the above test pattern to investigate the distortion in the captured image. Small black lines are introduced in different shapes, and a bright white layer in the background. Good convertors should produce an image in such a way that the black and white areas should be cleary identified as different, distinct areas. ConvertX M402U managed to do this with no problem. Excellent performance.

DVD unconverted image
DVD High Quality Conversion
DVD Good Quality Conversion
DVD Standard Play Conversion
DVD Long Play Conversion
DVD Extended Play Conversion
VCD MPEG-1 Conversion

Brightness was again reduced, but as before, clarity remained at high levels. Black, white and grey areas are identified clearly as different areas and no colour distortion was observed.