Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Front Projection

With front projection, HD will be good...no question about that. With DVD, you have to work harder and make sure you have a GREAT DVD player - because as you blow up a low res picture (DVD), you see more of the flaws.

I would recommend matching a Projector with an HTPC (Home Theater PC) connected through DVI - the best way for a sharpest picture is 1-to-1 pixel matching, where your output from the source(DVD player) matches the native resolution of the projector.... with an HTPC and some DVD players you can do custom resolutions.

If you have a powerful HTPC, you can sample hi-def DVD with WMV-HD... it is dreamy!

I agree Dallas, I plan to build a new HTPC asap, and will be using Theatertek software DVD which you can scale to match the projector as you mentioned below.

Dallas, I would be interested in finding out more about your seteup, you can PM me if you would like. One idea I have is to setup a Raid 5 environment to house music and ripped DVD's from my archive.

Randy

My setup is really simple, just as described above. I don't use TheaterTek + ffdshow, because my computer's processor can't handle it. I just use PowerDVD 6, which already kicks my Oppo's butt - so your setup should be better. But I have seen the light! FP and HTPC is the way to go (for now anyway).

I even tried comparing Call of Duty 2 on my setup with computer vs the Xbox 360, and the computer is definitely sharper (slower though...but that's just my old processor)

Next in line is an HD tuner card, the MyHD 130...and it's Valentine's Day tomorrow - I should buy me something, cause there's no one else I love more than myself! lol

Good luck with your HTPC build. Are you gonna use Windows MCE 2005?

I only plan to use Theatertek, no ffdshow. I agree with you on HTPC's performing better than DVD players, and that includes upconverting DVD players in today's market.

I also plan to incorporate a HDTV tuner card, wireless internet to my 802.11g setup in my home. So far I'm not planning on using MCE2005, I've been reading good things about XLobby as a front end, and best of all, it is free.

In addition, the source DVD is a factor too. If you take a flick that was a crappy transfer to DVD, flaws may not show up on the stock 27" TV, but probably will on a 52" DLP TV, and definately will on a much larger front projection. It isn't the display, but is the input media. Now, if you take a well done transfer to DVD (or real HD signal), it will look great. Nothing like the real large screen.

I can put in a thumbs up for a good HTPC. I got to experience a home built (as opposed to the store bought Windows Media Edition PCs) HTPC a few weeks back, and it was pretty impressive. Some day, I may go that route, but for now, I have other projects I need to spend money on.

Oh, I have a Sanyo Z3 (last year's model) and a nice Carada screen and I love it.

As others have mentioned, when it comes to movie watching, size does matter.

I just ordered a new Sanyo Z4 and 106" Optoma Greywolf screen. I paid under $2,000 for all of it. I trust the Z4's scaler will do a good job with DVD material and I assure you this image will be far more impressive to watch than a 60" HD tv that costs twice as much.

I am also moving to digital cable so I can actually see HD for the first time in my life (apart from casually glancing at HD tv's at Best Buy). I don't quite know how I'll route the HD signal to my PJ but I'll get that sorted out in the next week.

If you are into movies go FP. You do need a somewhat light controlled room but that can be managed.

Greg

He's trying, he's trying.