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Well, I did say Po' Boy's system, right?Okay, here we go:
InFocus X1 DLP projector (under $1000 from Best Buy; as low as $899 with the right discount offer; add around $30 for S&H, or tax, if purchasing locally) - SVGA native resolution (600x800 pixel ...but don't let that fool ya, it's capable of fine film-like resolution aided by a proprietory Faroudja chip; almost XGA detail in the correct set-up).
Da-Lite 70" X 70" (2.5:1 high contrast glass bead screen (available new from internet vendors on eBay or Projectorzone for less than $100, but let's just leave it at $100 including S&H); this provides a beautifully vivid picture even in screening rooms with mood lighting (i.e., especially when combined with the X1's excellent 2000:1 contrast ratio), but you WILL have to pull this model down manually. Hey, what do you expect for under $100?
Panasonic RP91K Progressive scan DVD player (under $400 from many vendors including etronics.com & PCMall; let's round it off to around $400 including S&H) - This player or one with similar flexibility is required to make this system sing! More on that later.
Cables: Component video cable (25' to 40', male RCA to male RCA, purchasable at any local electronics or computer superstore such as Fry's or over the internet for around $30; 15 pin male breakout adaptor with RCA female RGB for $3 to $20 dependent upon source ...or, just purchase a similar breakout cable on eBay or elsewhere for approximately $50 that has RCA male RGB to a male 15 pin computer output; add in around $5 S&H or tax) for direct connection to the InFocus 15 pin female input.
Thats...
$930 for the InFocus X1 projector (inc. S&H)
$100 for the 70" X 70" Da-Lite screen (inc. S&H)
$400 for the Panasonic RP91K prog. scan player (inc. S&H)
$55 for the component video cable(s); adaptor, if needed (inc. S&H or tax)Total cost: $1485 (this, of course, may be scaled much higher, dependent upon screen size and type)
So, how does one make this system's performance really pop? The trick, for want of a better word, comes from the Panasonic DVD player's versatility. Once hooked up through the InFocus X1's computer input the picture should automatically adjust to video source. Unlike the S-Video and video inputs however, the calibration to a close NTSC picture is limited due to the lack of tint control, but this can be easily compensated for through the RP91K's tint control (+15/-15) by searching through the menu (note: the -8 setting on the DVD player's tint control should bring the color level very close to NTSC on the projected image, assuming that all of the other settings, such as contrast, brightness, color temperature, etc., were made earlier through the projector's set-up menu)
This is the "trick" part, keeping in mind that we're working with the projected image through the RP91K's menu: After some experimentation I noticed that clicking -1 on the "edge" function (0/-3) which is next to the tint control on the DVD player's menu removes noise from the image without softening the picture; in fact, it tightens and sharpens the image without adding any unwanted information (i.e., such as edge enhancement)! Now I'm not quite certain what combination of factors brought about this synergy, but in this mode of operation pixel detection is negligable and image clarity is astounding; very film-like.
I'm not sure whether this is simply a fluke or luck or simply utilizing the best features of the engineering in both units and screen to produce the optimum image, but it certainly raises the level of home theater experience for a modest investment. I say this having viewed systems costing $10,000, $15,000, $20,000 plus in HT Emporiums and High-End A/V specialty shops.
The X1 has been praised as a great entry level DLP HT projector, noting the limitations of it's SVGA pixel format, but I'm here to tell you that properly set-up that this unit is capable of being nudged up several rungs on the high resolution video ladder. At least that has been my experience, but I'm NOT inclined to say YMMV! :o)
Cheers,
AuPh
Follow Ups:
Disclosure I know a lot about audio but zero about video. I had been looking @ the $2999 Phillips 34" flat screen hdtv capability set based on a good review in Perfect Vision.So a few q's:
Is it competitive with hdtv?
How big can you project the screen before it loses resolution?
Can you deliver tv video feed through the system or is just for dvd's?Last question what resolution does the In Focus claim: 1080 or 720?
Congratulations on your breakthrough discovery/organization of stuff.
1) "Is it competitive with hdtv?"A: Yes and no; I'm assuming that you mean performance-wise. There are so many differences between direct view and large screen viewing that it's hard to know where to start. First of all, the picture on a smaller set, especially an HD set, will often seem brighter, sharper, more colorful & with in some instances with more uniform contrast, but for movies smaller screens don't convey the drama, visual impact and subtle detail. I guess that my answer, oddly enough, is that it's like comparing apples & oranges. BTW, the wife and I also have a 38" direct view HDTV (RCA) that's set up to accurate NTSC standards; WS television is very nice over our HDTV, but we far and away prefer movies over the new InFocus projector. It's just a more realistic "filmlike" presentation.
2) "How big can you project the screen before it loses resolution?"
A: According to specs, the optics will focus from 4.9' up to 32.8' (1.5 - 10 meters). In real terms, using standard academy 4:3 measurements, a 5' diagonal picture could be viewed at 7.5' distance and a 12.5' diagonal picture could be viewed at 19' distance. I know that this information doesn't specifically answer your query, but based on the bulbs power (1100 ANSI lumens) my viewing room would be too small to test this unit's claimed limits! My suggestion would be to assess the size of screen and aspect ratio you want and then go with a screen with suitably high gain to display a brighter, higher resolution picture. BTW, with a 2000:1 contrast ratio you'll be able to achieve a decent black level with lots of subtle picture detail in the blacks.
3) "Can you deliver tv video feed through the system or is just for dvd's?"
It can handle standard TV through it's S-Video input or HDTV through it's VGA input using adaptors and/or after market breqak-out cable. Personally, I don't like watching TV over it only because I prefer saving the lamp life for movies.
Note: The lamp life, which I may have mentioned earlier, is around 3000 hours, which is LONG for DLP projector bulbs; the replacement bulb assembly for this unit is also somewhat cheaper than many of those that come with other projectors (i.e., $300 or less from the right source as opposed to $400 to $600 for bulb assemblies for projectirs with much shorter bulb lifespans). Also, the InFocus bulb assembly is user replaceable.
4) "...what resolution does the InFocus claim?"
A: According to the specs (Google: InFocus X1 HDTV specifications) on the first link that popped up, it can handle both 1080I & 720P.
Hope that this information helps!
Cheers,
AuPh
I don't see any dowside. Do you feel there are any issues or shortcomings?
No downside that I've been able to discern.BTW, after some tighter calibration I've been able to tweak an even better color scale. If you should decide on this model projector and DVD player I'll gladly share my optimized calibrations and you can test them out; it should save you some time fiddling with Joe Kane's Video Standard or Video Essentials DVD.
Cheers,
AuPh
If the X1 had a DVI input, the performance would be even more impressive, paired with a suitable player-there's a few out there now, and more DVI equipped players are being introduced later this year.My next house simply has to have a dedicated A/V room-I have to share the living room with su esposa, and this limits me to a 51" Hitachi rear projection set paired with a Panasonic XP-50. Only a front projector can give you that sense of cinematic scale in a home theater, though.
"A little government and a little luck are necessary in life, but only a fool trusts either of them".
-P. J. O'Rourke
a DVD player. I often forget all of it's features which really understates the bargain it is.
Music is Emotion
I'm not getting everything I can out of it, even though I've been through the manual carefully and it's feeding an ISF-calibrated Panny HDTV-compatible widescreen ...
check out www.avsforum.com for many, many hints and tricks on the RP91 they even have a software upgrade posted!
Music is Emotion
Any obvious things I might be missing?
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