I know a lot of people think the Hopper has improved PQ over the VIP receivers but there really is no difference. Most of you went from having a VIP receiver and then swapped it out with a Hopper. You did not have any side-by-side comparison.
In our showroom we have a Hopper, Joey and 722k receiver connected to multiple TVs. We sell TVs so each TV is generally on the same channel so the different models can be compared. I'll tell you right now that each TV has the same PQ whether it is connected to a Hopper, Joey, 722k, HDMI or Component.
I believe people just think that it is an improvement because they tell themselves it is. Since it's newer equipment they feel it looks better. The biggest thing that makes the Hopper seem like the PQ is so much better are the menus. There is a major difference in the PQ on the menus and guides because the Hopper has them in HD and the VIPs do not.
In our showroom we have a Hopper, Joey and 722k receiver connected to multiple TVs. We sell TVs so each TV is generally on the same channel so the different models can be compared. I'll tell you right now that each TV has the same PQ whether it is connected to a Hopper, Joey, 722k, HDMI or Component.
I believe people just think that it is an improvement because they tell themselves it is. Since it's newer equipment they feel it looks better. The biggest thing that makes the Hopper seem like the PQ is so much better are the menus. There is a major difference in the PQ on the menus and guides because the Hopper has them in HD and the VIPs do not.