Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater anyone know a lot about projectors?

Sushi's happy just to have another FP convert

Sushi,

thanks for the great advice. Unfortunately, since I am an apartment dweller, I really have no choice but to put the AV rack where it is right now. I could put it where the computer is, but then the computer would have to go where the AV rack is. We are just that short on space. I am actually typing from within a closet right now....literally =)

I did not think that the heigh would be too much of an issue. For screen height, it wont be any taller than 40". If the screen is 18" from the ceiling, 40" tall, that leaves 38" from the bottom of the ceiling to the groung. That is almost exactly the right size from what Im thinking for an audio rack for right there.

For projectors, budget is the "only" factor right now. I am considering either the Infocus X1 of the Sanyo Plv-z1. I will purchase the X1, find out if I see the "rainbows" due do it being a DLP projector, if so, I will take it back and purchase the Sanyo.

I started thinking front projection just recently. I was going to be happy and pick up a 46" Sony RPTV. The cost was going to be around $1700 w/ the stand. After looking into these two projectors, I realized I could have something a little more fun for the same cost.

Sushi:
I think you got Mahesh and me wrong. We are not stating to "choosing a projector based on throw offset". We are stating only features that some projectors offer such as "Lens Shift" (like the PLV-Z1) or projectors that have image offsets in general. Twopecker on has limited space to work around and certain features that some projector offer can alleviate his concerns. In his situation we are working with only 8-11.5 for projector location. The .5 will be needed for ventilation because some of the units can generate a lot of heat. For instance if he wanted a 100" and he wanted to table mount it which will only work at around 8.5-9 feet since the sitting location is at 10-12 feet then a short trow len projector will be needed to get that 100" picture like a Panny AE300. At 9 feet the biggest picture you will get is around 78"-80" inches diagonal 16:9 for the Infocus X1 that he is planning to buy. I apologize if I otherwise assumed that you comment was incorrect.

twopecker:
If you expect and look for rainbows you will find it. Tolerance for the rainbows is different to each individual. After 2-3 weeks of using the X1 I do not see it at all or barely see it. Like a brand new M22 one might seem to think it may sound bright. After a couple of weeks you get accustomed to it and say WOW! All the people who have come over have not complained once about the projector. Most are supprised of how vivid the colors look on my 78" diagonal 16:9 picture. I have movie nights on Fridays now because of it. I watch a lot of asia market kung-fu films and I have not seen the rainbows on the subtitles that some people have mentioned. Hero was amazing on the Z1. When I get a chance I will post some pictures of my setup and of a picture quality. IMHO the X1 gives the best picture using a HTPC. Next best is a progressive player via component to special component to Svideo connection into the Faroudja DCDi scaler. Order the connector from Infocus because it doesnt come with the package anymore. Mandarax (or something like that)from avsforum.com http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=68 makes a custom mount for the X1 and it can be vertically mounted anywhere on a wall. Some people have the same issue as you and just mount the X1 just below the fan having the mount attached to the vertical wall not the ceiling. At 11 feet sitting position the X1 at 8 feet 80" diagonal 16:9 picture does not show a screen door. The Z1 at 8 feet does show a little of the screen door. A soft defocusing makes it disappear. At 10+ feet you can not see any screen door in either. The Z1 does appear a little bit brighter. Both are vivid. I watch also 4:3 cable TV and there is a PS2 in the picture. The X1 does a better job since the projector is a 4:3 projector. The Z1 is a 16:9 projector. If you are using HD or satellite you might be better of with the Z1.
Bother are great projectors for the price. You won't go wrong with either.

Saturn

In reply to:

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I think you got Mahesh and me wrong. We are not stating to "choosing a projector based on throw offset".

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Saturn, Mahesh,

My cordial apologies if my point (2) above seemed like it was directed toward your comments. It wasn't at all (in fact, I did not even read your posts before I posted mine. hahaha...). My stated (2) purely as a general comment; it is by no means in response to your posts. In fact, now that I've read your comments, everything you said seems perfectly reasonable to me; and you hadn't mentioned anything about the throw offset anyway (as you said above).

Marcus,

Understood your situations. In fact, the InFocus X1 presents the exact problem of throw offset in your situation: The projector has a 12% positive offset in the 4:3 mode, and as much as 32% in the 16:9 mode. This means that, if you have a 40”-high 16:9 screen, your screen top will be as much as 13” below the lens center. If you have to drop down the projector by 18”, your screen top will be down over 30” from the ceiling, leaving very little clearance below the screen. So, if you really cannot take down the fan (as others mentioned, it is not as difficult as you may think, and it is a completely “reversible” process -- it will leave no sign behind when you move out), and if you must mount the projector on the ceiling, then the X1 may have to be eliminated from your candidates.

That said, here is one potential trick in case you are planning on a fixed-wall screen (this doesn’t work with a pull-down screen): Mount the projector 18” down from the ceiling, and then tilt it a few degrees upward so that the top of projected image is placed at the desired height. Then, you mount the screen tilted downward by the identical angle, so that the projection axis is perpendicular to the screen. Placing a few inch-thick “spacer” behind the top edge of the screen frame will do (some calculations needed to determine the exact thickness of the spacer). This will completely eliminate the keystone distortion. In fact, since your screen is placed higher than the eye level, this tilted setting will give you a better visual geometry in the end. I recommended this exact approach to one of my friends who had the same problem as you, and he has been extremely happy with the overall results.

Incidentally, the Sanyo Z1 accommodates from 0% to -50% variable offset (lens-shift). So it is ideal for you with respect to throw geometry. Another potential candidate will be the Panasonic L300U, which also has a mild negative offset (the top of the screen will be higher than the projector).

Sushi,

I just realized the offset problem today, I definitely did not take that into consideration. Technically, taking the fan down presents no problem at all. I have had to put up a few in my time. I am just leary of doing things like this in an apartment. No big deal I am sure, but I still worry.

I have "looked" at both of these projectors online. No place locally has them demoed. After seeing the Samsung RPTY DLP tv, i am VERY intrigued by the X1. Seeing the specs, and how well it would fit my room, and the extra inpus, the Z1 is very interesting. I am struggling to decide between these two projectors. Making the room fit the projector is not an issue. Just deciding which of these two to get is a royal pain in the *expletive*.

I noticed that a table top location in front of your sofa won't work since you have a chaise. How about taking out the lights on the fan. If you remove all 3 bulbs and fixtures. Looks like it can be unscrewed easily. That should give you en extra 4 inches. So you would only need to drop it by 12-14 inches from the ceiling. That should be good enough room to fit your 80" picture. Store away the fixtures and bulb till you move again. Most adjustable mounts will drop the lens down about 6-12 inches from the ceiling anyways.

Saturn

That is also another option that my friend and I had brought up. the fan blades are 12" down, the light adds another 8". Since the offset is about one foot, I think these blades would still be in the way of the image if i only drop it down a foot from the ceiling. I think what I will probably do is just hold the projector where i want and get an idea of what I need to move.

I really like the idea of tilting the projector and then tilt the screen to compensate. Does something this simple really work well?

Tilt in what respect? I have mine on a table top tilted or raised up and using some Keystoning to correct. That works good enough. What I noticed with any tilting or keystoning is that the degree of focusing is less. When I had it flat/no raise or tilt with no keystoning I had a bigger degree of focusing.

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I really like the idea of tilting the projector and then tilt the screen to compensate. Does something this simple really work well?

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Yeah, as I said, one of my friends recently did it exactly as described, following my hunch. If you are interested, PM me and I will give you his contacts. I am sure he will be happy to share his thoughts/results/photos with you.