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Re: Questions on projectors....

Posted by monk (A) on January 7, 2004 at 02:53:51

In Reply to: Questions on projectors.... posted by Bob C on January 6, 2004 at 16:31:59:

The revolution in Front Projection over the last few years is with digital systems (DLP and LCD are the two most popular ways of doing digital FP, but there's a couple of others too).

They are basically universal video displays; they'll show just about any video signal plugged into them. You can plug a DVD player straight into them (either they'll have component rca plugs just like a TV or they'll have a computer type input plug...that can take component video, you just need an adapter pig-tail to adapt the 3 rca ends of a component video cable to the kind of plug-in used on the projector).

The projectors will often have multiple inputs and multiple types of inputs. For example, most will take an S-Video plug and a composite video plug as well as component (either through rca's or with an adapter) as well as a computer type plug-in, like your computer's monitor would use.

This means they are very flexible for what they'll display. You can take your regular digital camera and plug it straight into the composite input on the FP and show just taken pictures straight from your camera ; you can plug your computer into it and serf the web on a huge scale ; you could plug a Sony Playstation or Nintendo directly into the machine and it'll show the game ; you can plug your DVD player into the projector, ....component (or DVI connection is the latest/best) video connection is best, but can also use S-Video or composite video cable from the DVD player.

No FP I know of has an on-board TV tuner. This means you'll need some way of tuning the TV and changing channels etc.., . A simple VCR will work fine (cost around $100 brand new for an OK VCR),..the VCR's have a TV tuner, plug the VCR into the Projector and use the VCR to change channels (over the air broadcast with rabbit ears/antenna or can have cable plugged into the VCR).

Front Projector is also capable of enough resolution to handle HDTV signals. Many HDTV signals can be picked up with just an antenna on the roof, you'd just need a HDTV tuner box (the HDTV satellite receiver box usually has an on-board tuner for taking over-the-air HDTV and regular analogue over-the-air signals. you could buy the HDTV satellite receiver box and not bother with the satellite dish, just using these other features. The Tonight Show or sports picked up by an HDTV tuner with just an antenna on the roof will look better than the best DVD.

Another big advantage of Front Projectors is that they'll take North American Video standard signals (NTSC),...but also will display video standards from other parts of the world (PAL, SEACAM). This means they can display DVD's from other parts of the world without having to convert them to NTSC. Basically an international TV for free. Some DVD players will convert PAL to NTSC, but this is better because you can plug any DVD signal into the projector and watch in the native format without conversion.

Being able to show all these different kinds of video means that switching between sources is a need. You can plug all the individual sources into the projector (number and type of input varies, but there's usually 3 or 4 inputs) and switch between them at the projector. Or you can have just one cable feeding the projector and everything else plugged into a box that'll switch between them.

Some receivers will handle all the video switching for you. For example, the Denon 3803 (under $1K new) will switch between component signals and it'll also up-convert S-Video/composite signals and output them to the projector via a component video connection.

As you can see the Front Projector is a hugely flexible display. You can plug the DVD player into it,...you could also plug your computer or laptop directly into it (even use this to play the movies), you can plug your digital camera into it for an instant slide-show,...a VCR, the video output from a cable box, from international video displays like a PAL DVD player etc. etc.

One thing to keep in mind is that you don't get sound (except sometimes a tiny and useless speaker that you should consider as not there, even if it is). So you'll need to send the sound from the DVD/VCR/Cable Box/Computer to some kind of amp/speakers. This could be as cheap as a $50 vintage receiver and $10 vintage speakers from Goodwill/Ebay. The digital projectors are a video display, they'll show just about anything you care to plug into them, but they don't have a TV tuner (use VCR/Cable Box/HDTV receiver to change channels).

Not long ago you could spent up to $100,000 on a CRT front projection system that was big/bulky and needed professional set-up/alignment and maintenance and 3 expensive bulbs to be regularly changed. For very little money (relatively), you can get *very* close to the same level of performance (better in many cases) in a tiny, easier to use box.

I know one local guy that had his mother sew King size bed sheets together and tack this to the outside of the house.... and he sets the projector/DVD player on a table in the yard for summer-time outdoor movies for friends, neighbors and family. This is great fun and trivial to do with a digital projector (just need an extension cord run out the window for AC power and you are away.

Bulb life varies from 1000 to 3000 hours on the digital projectors and a bulb costs around $300 or $400. If used for movies only, 2000 hours is many, many movies (2 years for most people, I'd guess...). But it might well be worth keeping the old 27" TV to watch Opera Winfrey/Dr. Phil and save the bulb for movies/sports .

With $10,000 plasma displays, owners measure the screen in inches, with 60" being HUGE. A $1000 front projector owner measures his screen in FEET. Watching Lawrence of Arabia in 8FT widescreen picture in the bedroom is just great (small and light, I can switch my projector quickly from bedroom to living room) and no regular TV and hope to compete with the experience.

Watching the World Cup soccer games on 8ft x 6ft screen was also great. Also, concert video's are great with the performer singing in front of you that's about the size they'd be if you were right up front in an actual concert (Stop Making Sense and the Elvis Return TV special are favorites,...the Diana Krall in Paris and DIVA's Live are good for reference display, though I enjoy the others more for content :-)

If buying a new TV or doing a home-theatre, a digital front projector is not the *only* way to go,...but they MUST be looked at and highly considered.

• Projector Central - decent site,...check their top theatre projector list and reviews...   (Open in New Window)

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