I'm looking at enhancing my family's movie nights by adding an LCD projector. We only watch DVDs and I was leaning on purchasing the Sony VPL-HS20 but it has a native resolution of 788p. Would I be better off buying the Panisonic 500 or Sanyo Z2 and teaming it with a DVD player that has a DVI output and can be set at 720p? Any thoughts and opinions are welcome. Thanks Jim
It is true that the Sony has a 1368x788 WXGA, but it is also fully compatible with 720p as well as 1080i. Its contrast ratio at 1300:1 max is identical to the Pansonic PT-AE500 (L500), my projector, but it has a higher output in Lumens. 1400 Lumens can sometimes be a bit much for a picture and can leave a washed out image. Im not sure if you can lower the Lumens, as you can in y projector (i have it around 600 Lumens). I have seen both in action and its fairly hard to differentiate between either of them in a good home cinema setting. The Sony is a bit more expensive though than the Panasonic. Im yet to get into DVI, though there are great benefits. Personally, i prefer to use a Progressive scan DVD player and connect it using High Quality Component Video cables. You mentioned you wished to buy an LCD projector. Is there any particular reason for an LCD projector over a DLP projector. If not, i highly recommend the Optoma H56, the projector i tried desperately to get form US and failed. It has a fast colour wheel with 6 segments and a great contrast ratio. The benefit with the faster colour wheel is that rainbow effects are eliminated. It also allows greater definition with the high contrast (using the new 12 degree DMD Chip) and also you dont get any noticeable screen door effect (SDE) as you do with the panasonic and sony (only noticeable if closer than 2 feet to the screen). Have a look at: http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/74117 Anymore questions, get back to us Hope this helps, Chris
Thanks for your reply Oriphus. I've read about your great set-up. In fact it was your thread about your new system that got me thinking outside the box. I was originally going to buy a rear projection tv set. The reason I'm pretty set on an LCD projector is brightness. This is going in my great room where there is lots of windows and light. I don't expect to watch this during the day and am going to go with a fairly big screen - 92 or 106 inches. I've used older LCD projectors at my school and have always been impressed. The SDE doesn't bother me. I have also learned on another forum that I can hook up my computer to my projector and use a software program called Powerstrip. This program will allow me to send my desired aspect ratio to the projector. Thanks for your advice and I'll look up that optoma projector. Jim
For brightness, maybe it isnt the best (optoma). LCD is obviously brighter (a bit) than DLP proojection units of the same Lumens output. However, i wouldnt rule out DLP at all. Maybe you should consider either of these two, the latter being better for a brighter screen: http://www.av-sales.com/projectors/html/nec_ht1100_projector.html http://www.av-sales.com/projectors/html/nec_wt600_projector.html
Both those NEC projectors are nice, but they're the wrong aspect ratio for me. I've been into widescreen since laserdiscs in the late 80's. Jim
Yeah, teh 16:9 projectors are great for movies, they still have some black bars top and bottom for anamaphoric movies, but its still great. Have a look at this one aswell. http://www.av-sales.com/projectors/html/toshiba_tdp-mt8_projector.html I think the Sony may be your best bet.
That Toshiba looks good. I haven't seen it here in the U.S. though. I was looking at the inputs on the Sony and am wondering, how would I hook up a HTPC? It doesn't have the 15 pin RGB input. Is there some special cable? Jim
Here are the connections on the back of the Sony: DVI-D HDMI Component (3x RCA) S-Video (Mini DIN 4-pin) Composite (RCA) Now DVI from a PC (PC-DVI) tends to be different than DVI from a DVD player. However, im still not sure whether or not the two are interchangeable. Im not sure what your budget is for a projector. The mantioned Toshiba is around $4999 in the US. Amazon are the cheapest i can see at £4718: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00008KJ2S/dealtime-ce-feed-20/002-2639693-6608839
Wow, the picture of the Toshiba shows that it is the same one that Infocus sells as the ScreenPlay 7200 and it sells for around $2,000 more. If the Amazon one is the same, then it is a heck of a deal. I'm going to do some research to see if it is the same model. One says TDP-MT8 and the Amazon one says TDPM8U. Amazon also said that they first offered this projector in Feb. 2003. That doesn't seem right. I would definitely be interested in getting a DLP with the HD-2 Mustang chip for under 5K. Jim I just looked and it is the same projector. The only downside is the loud fan noise.
Yeah, im starting to wonder it myself. The two projectors are identical, but the Infocus is actually the cheaper one. the discernable difference i can see is the Image Size. Have a look at this: http://www.projectorcentral.com/Toshiba_TACP-TDP-MT8U.htm http://www.projectorcentral.com/InFocus_Home-Screenplay_7200.htm Those prices make more sense. However, then check out these: http://www.hypeaudio.com/tdpmt8.html http://www.bestpriceaudiovideo.com/products/product_detail.asp?Inventory=2901&affiliate_code=DT Especially these ones - has a lot of detail: http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?PAGE=PRODUCT&PROD_ID=503702&cid=44348&fp=F http://www.planetdtv.com/PROJECTOR/TOSHIBA/TDP_MT8U.htm
Here is the Infocus: http://www.plasmabay.com/plasma/Product.asp?SKU=SP7200 I would tend to get the Toshiba Manufactured one though
