Anyone have a projector?

[nwg]

I now watch my films on a projector and the TV does not get used films.

I find it a much better cinematic experience with the lights off and a beam of light going across the room. I also don't go to the cinema anymore as the screen looks too small. As I only sit away about 2.5 metres from my scree, it screen actually looks bigger than the one at my local cinema.

It was done on a budget. The projector was second hand and the screen is no more than a blind. It is sufficient for my needs and can be raised when not being used.

I synchronised Star Trek First Contact playing both on my PC (attached to the PJ VGA input) and my DVD player on the TV. It is possible to see the difference between the 80" screen and my 28" widescreen TV. The projector also does not any overscan like the TV so it shows more at the sides.

I wouldn't mind seeing what you have Blu.

I have done a quick page with some pictures.

http://www.apah20.dsl.pipex.com/pj/pjsetup.htm

[megamachine]

I was thinking of doing that for my home viewing, nwg, but haven't gotten around to it yet. I have been using a projector for university teaching for years, just bring my laptop with the XviD of what I need, plug in and play. With a well done XviD, it works great, especially if the projector has a good lamp. The audio on most projectors is sub-par, so I use external speakers. Both my TV and DVD player at home are no longer working, so I am thinking of not replacing them and instead using this type of setup at home.

[nwg]

It is important to go for a Come Cinema projector as many projectors used in business are known as Data Projectors. Tehy work fine of a computer but they
often lack a widescreen setting. They also have better connections. My projector has VGA, S Video, composite and component input. I use my DVD player on component and sometimes hook up my Dreamcast to the S Video input.

The bulb in Panasonics last a long time. They have a low and high setting. On high setting, the contrast is a bit higher and the lamp will do 2000 hours. For films, the low setting is best and will do up to 5000 hours. I have done over 1000 hours and hope it will do many more as the lamps are not cheap.

The speaker on the PJ is just a small mono one. It sounds rather poor. I use my surround system with it and get Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 om both the DVD Player and when using the PC.

The PJ is LCD but DLP (Digital Light Processing) is more common now. DLP technology is technically better than LCD but a cheap DLP will not beat a decent LCD.

[megamachine]

Thanks, nrw, I'll keep this in mind when I go shopping. In the classroom, though I don't recall the model, I use VGA from my laptop and external speakers through the headphone out, and it can play widescreen vids.

[blutach]

Search and ye shall find Nic

http://forum.digital-digest.com/showthread.php?postid=300569#post300569

Talk about lamps - over here a replacement costs as much as 2 regular 26" TVs!

Regards

[nwg]

Must have missed that thread.

Looks like a nice projector but it doesn't have component. What connection do you use S Video?

Have you tried HD on it? MY projector will accept HD resolutions but it will scale it down to 854x480.

If I had a new projector (and a lot of money) the new Panasonic AE900 looks nice or perhaps the Sony HS50/HS60.

[blutach]

On the contrary - it definitely has component input. The only thing that I use S-vid for use the overpriced (but very used by Firey) cable TV, which only comes in S vid.

True HD looks superb - can't wait till all TV is HD. This one is native 1920 x 1080

Regards

[nwg]

True HD looks superb - can't wait till all TV is HD. This one is native 1920 x 1080

Regards

It isn't in the UK yet. Sky isn't HD until next year. The BBC have said HD for them to the majority of people is seven years away for them. They will do some limited trials in 2006 with Satellite and cable.

[blutach]

That is awful bloody news - I guess you'll have to be content with HD DVDs.
Shows what happens in a monopolistic situation. Needs more regulation to tell them to go HD (like we had here).

Regards

[nwg]

I won't be getting into HD DVD or Blu Ray (not for years anyway). I would probably settle for upscaling DVD's. It would require a new DVD player and Projector though. The new Sony NS92 looks like a nice machine.

There is a cable company called Telewest. They claim they will be doing HD before Sky and will be broadcasting early next year. It is only available in a very small part of the country and nowhere near me.