I will be receiving this projector within a week and would like to know what needs to be done OOTB to maximize my viewing experience. I plan to connect the projector using my receiver via the component inputs (I can also run composite and/or s-video). The projector will be ultimately installed my new home (assuming the builders can get the permitting done and the construction under way). The room is 18x20x9 on the lower level and surrounded on three sides by foundation walls. Thanks!

To maximize viewing:

1. Get an anamorphic lens
2. Use DVI input
3. Don't bother with composite
4. Get an external video scaler (lumagen work well) and set for 1:1 pixel mapping and video signal transcoding to DVI (for convenience more than anything)
5. Get it calibrated by William Phelps
6. Use a gain-enhancing screen
7. Consider external HDCP box from digital connection if your unit lacks HDCP chip
8. Mount projector closer to screen rather than further to maximize light output.
9. Have fun!

Mike

To maximize viewing:

1. Get an anamorphic lens
2. Use DVI input
3. Don't bother with composite
4. Get an external video scaler (lumagen work well) and set for 1:1 pixel mapping and video signal transcoding to DVI (for convenience more than anything)
5. Get it calibrated by William Phelps
6. Use a gain-enhancing screen
7. Consider external HDCP box from digital connection if your unit lacks HDCP chip
8. Mount projector closer to screen rather than further to maximize light output.
9. Have fun!

Mike

Thanks for the response :p

1. I'll look into an anamorphic lens while my house is being built.
2. My receiver (Rotel RSX-1067) does not have DVI output so, unless I use a scaler, I will be using component video.
3. Ok
4. See #2
5. Who :eek: Ok, so I've seen his name bandied about and I'll shoot him an email.
6. Will Screen Goo suffice?
7. I will be getting the new and improved DLA-SX21UH with HDCP support.
8. I will probably mount the screen between 15'-18' from the screen.
10. I hope so :D

John -- if you want to maximize your viewing experience, do not feed the box component. You really do need a DVI source optimized through an external scaler. Component just doesn't make the grade. Of course, by the time you add the cost of all this stuff together, unless you got the SX21 for free you are probably spending more than a brand new Ruby goes for....

John -- if you want to maximize your viewing experience, do not feed the box component. You really do need a DVI source optimized through an external scaler. Component just doesn't make the grade. Of course, by the time you add the cost of all this stuff together, unless you got the SX21 for free you are probably spending more than a brand new Ruby goes for....

I was able to get the projector for a good bit less than half of MSRP;) With Ruby at ~9K, I've got some room before I get close. I've looked at DVDO iScan HD. Are there any other recommended scalers?

Hi Blacksquid

I have a SX 21 calibrated by William utilizing an ISCOII lens on a 120" Da-Lite HiPower screen

Here's my upgrade path for you

Send it to William as pre\viously advised. best $$ you'll spend, though you'll be sceptical reading this

Get hold of an ISCO anamorphic lens

Use DVI

The DALite HiPower really is a good match

Let me know if you have any questions

Rob

I have a firehawk paired with my sx21 - it's a good match, but I would probably recommend the hipower as well given its extra punch. Don't know much about the goo, so I can't comment.
I also use a lumagen pro hdp with great success - and I saw that they are on sale during CES for $500 or so off MSRP - definitely worth a look. no experience really with DVDO stuff, but I imagine they are quite good as well - don't know if DVDO transcodes, which is a feature that really makes the lumagen terrific, not to mention their great customer support. If you use a scaler, just get the custom timings from the jvcdig.com site to really dial it in.
Also, strongly consider getting a dvd player that outputs a 480i signal, or modify one for sdi ouput. nice to have the external scaler do all of the deinterlacing as well.

The sx21 is a nice projector, but to really maximize its abilities takes some work and $. In any event, you can only go so far in addressing its technology limitations.
New, the stuff I am suggesting adds about $4K plus to the price unless you are lucky enough to find it all in used condition, which is why I think a ruby might be a better way to go given its great specs and significantly lower hassle factor... Of course, this is all based on the original theory that you want to maximize the JVC - if you can live without hitting that target, no need to go this deep into it.

Thanks for everyone's comments! I have one more question regarding anamorphic lens vs. a good video processor. DVDO video processors/scalers can output the maximum resolution for the SX21UH. If I acquire one of these, do I need an anamorphic lens?

Yes, you will need a scaler for correct deinterlacing and pixel matching to the native rate of the panel. The deinterlacer/scaler in the sx21 is pretty crappy - you will see significant improvements going external. A scaler also allows you to seamlesssly switch between aspect ratios without having to remove the lens for 4:3 viewing versus 16:9 viewing. Check out panamorph.com for more info. You can use the entire 1400 X 1050 (4:3) panel to watch 16 X 9 video, giving you all of the pixels and all of the lumens the thing can display.
You don't NEED to do it all at once of course, just add the components over time if you want to slowly ramp up. I'd probably go scaler first, allowing for DVI input and correct timings, then add the lens if you feel the need. Calibration is a real nicety as it dials in color, grayscale, contrast, etc. , but at the price of lumens.

I have a question for you SX21-gurus. I understand that there are two kinds of DVI signals, video and computer. I have MyHD going to VantageHD and then to SX21 with Panamorph. (the improvement with the scaler is amazing BTW). I wonder if the the DVI input in the SX21 matches the kind of signal coming from the HDMI in the Vantage and then from MyHD. I also wonder about black level.

I have a question for you SX21-gurus. I understand that there are two kinds of DVI signals, video and computer.I believe the SX21's DVI input is mapped for computer signals.

Charles is correct. The SX21 DVI input is DVI-PC, not DVI-V. 0-255, not 16-235.

Same is virtually true for the HX-1 and HX-2, by the way. They have menu options for setting this but they are broken.

Where do I go from here? The VantageHD HDMI output probably is 16-235. I am beginning to convince myself that I need a new projector.

You can compensate with the brightness and contrast controls in the projector. It's not ideal but it works. That or get a scaler that will do the translation.

Thank you for your help Charles and William.

Quick question in regards to the sx21

We've had an sx21 for a while now, and recently added a vp30 with a deinterlace card into the mix so i've been playing with getting the best image out of this puppy. I'm in PAL land here, so bear that in mind in relation to judder avoidance.

So far i've set the thing up via the component in, 1080p-50 (seems the best given my mix of different input signals) letting the projector handle the last bit of scaling from 1080p to 1400x1050. The image looks fantastic, but you can tell there's some scaling going on when you check the 1 pixel vertical and horizontal test pattern from the dvdo. The judder test sweep is nice and smooth with no tearing. Otherwsie the image has never looked better, especially when looking at the normally jaggie cg plants in DVE.

I've also tried seting up via DVI, 1400x1050 (50hrz ish seems best for judder, 60hrz doesn't tear, but very judddery)). The vertical and horizontal single pixel test patterns are spot on, but the judder test sweap bar seems to tear vertically as it sweeps across the screen. When viewing content some of that tearing seems to show up... Not completely noticable, but certainly not what i'd describe as rock solid. I havn't played with any of the porch, etc advanced settings and left them at default.

Is there something i'm missing? I've tried playing with framrates to see if the tearing goes away, which at some points it does, but at the expense of strange image resizing, or loss of colour (everything looks green). Does someone have some magic scaller settings? :P

As a side note, when i switch from the component imput to the dvi, i need to vertically shift the dvdo image output to line it up, but this setting does not seem to be saved in a user profile. ANyone else notice this?

Cheers

Mike

I have a SX21 driven via RGB from a HTPC running TheaterTek software.

What's the proper setup of the SX21 for the best picture ? Also, what's the sweet-spot of the SX21 for refresh rate and resolution ?

TIA,
:-) neil