Within the next month I am planning on upgrading my Sony HS10 with a Pearl, but I had a couple of questions about the Pearl that I haven't found the answer to.

Right now I am feeding my HS10 video from a HDMI switch box. When I switch to the HTPC, I have to enter the HS10's menu and change the format from Video to computer. I am using a DVI to HDMI video cable from the computer to the switch and the opposite of that from the switch to the PJ. Will the Pearl auto-detect the signal type in that instance?

Also, it is my understanding that the Pearl will connect to the PSS-610 mount that I am currently using for the HS10. Is this true?

If anyone cares about my home theater setup:

I am using the only space available to me which is my living room. I only have 12 feet of space between my screen wall and rear wall. My screen is 80" wide and I am using a Dazian no gain white fabric (cheap). I have loved my setup for years, but my HS10 is dying a horrible blue death. The upper-left corner of the screen has developed a blue glow that is slowly making it's way forward across the rest of the screen. I had to send it back to Sony for a similar problem right before the 2 year warranty expired. Two or three years later it is back with a vengeance and I have no more warranty. I hope the Pearl is more reliable.

I recently bought a Denon DVD-2930CI which seems to do a good job upconverting standard DVDs, and I am eager to see how it looks on the 1080p Pearl. I am expecting a huge increase in picture quality with this new projector, so I hope I am not disappointed.

I had considered the RS-1, but the Pearl is cheaper and fits my mount (supposedly).

Thanks for your time!

Rick

Your room size will be perfectly fine. 80" is no problem for the pearl, in fact, you could go 90-105" wide (which is a great opportunity to try out 2:35:1) with your lense 10-1/2 to 11 ft to screen. The zoom and shift is very powerful and a blast to set up and adjust from the comfort of your favorite chair.

about autodetect, I don't see why it wouldn't. Especially if it is the only signal being fed (dedicated Theater). Mine seems to remember the signal path, so when I start up JUST the PJ, it is already at component (360HDdvd) before I turn anything else on. I have never had to select the input since I've owned it.

SD is fine, but HD is where you'll really get your "wow". With fresh popcorn and a soda, you and yours are sure to be transported. :)

I haven't cut my Dazian screen material to fit yet because I knew I was going to be getting a new projector, so I was planning on testing a larger sized picture.

My HD source right now is DirecTV, but I have been pricing Blu-ray players. I am very hesitant to buy Blu-ray or HD-DVD right now though. I am getting impatient and will probably make an impulse buy and end up regretting it. :)

Don't cut, just mask (the unused portions of your existing screen with velvet) till you determine what you really want. Especially if your used to 16:9.

You will notice that your movie watching experience will improve. Once I sampled 2:35:1 on the pearl, I couldn't go back, the same as I can't go back to SD after seeing HD material on 1080p projection , it's practically film. :D

On HD sources:

I already had a 360. Your HD movies on direct should look great also. It's good way that your taking advantage of your existing sources to sample whats out there. I traveled the same path.

I am getting impatient and will probably make an impulse buy and end up regretting it.

Why not ge the Toshiba XA2. Even if you don't do much with HD-DVD it a GREAT upscaling player, puts out 1080p and HD-DVD is a bonus.
I run one with my Pearl and really like it. The price is now within reason, also.

scott

javdog,

Do you use the zoom method or do you have a lens?

Scott

Why not ge the Toshiba XA2. Even if you don't do much with HD-DVD it a GREAT upscaling player, puts out 1080p and HD-DVD is a bonus.
I run one with my Pearl and really like it. The price is now within reason, also.

scott


It's tempting. I think I am going to hold off awhile longer though. Both formats have movies that I want, but I don't want to buy 2 players or 1 expensive combo player.

I couldn't own the XA2 and not go crazy and buy a ton of HD-DVD movies. I am already spending thousands on the projector and would like eat sometime this year. :)

Rick

I am already spending thousands on the projector and would like eat sometime this year.

Popcorn's cheap :)

I am very hesitant to buy Blu-ray or HD-DVD right now though. I am getting impatient and will probably make an impulse buy and end up regretting it. :)

I am not sure that there will ever be a loser in this format war. Mac's are still hanging around, even though MS has a much higher percentage of the market.

I wonder if the only losers would be those who do not get one for years, waiting for "the one".

HD-DVD on the Pearl was phenomenal.

Best Regards,
Doug

While you'll definitely appreciate the absence of SDE with the Pearl (or any other 1080p), you are now going to be more conscious of the effects of the low res standard def format- ringing, filtering, EE, etc. I don't have Blu-ray so I had to content myself with Casino Royale on sd...what a depressing experience that was.
Afterwards I popped in some HDDVDs and the difference was... not small.
A lot of dvds I have still seem to hold up well, but HD with a 1080p is just nirvana.

One of the B&Ms recently had the A2 for $300 or $350 with 9 free movies.
for a technology upgrade like that and a software collection jumpstart, thats a steal. And I agree that for various (corporate political) reasons that a stalemate will exist for quite a while.

You guys are like the little devil that pops up on my shoulder. :)

I am leaning towards buying the HD-DVD player. The only problem now is I will have to upgrade my HDMI switcher since I am out of ports. I am going to take a look for something with at least 5 input ports since I will probably end up getting a Blu-ray player at some point. (Or who knows what else)

Rick

^ Heh, we are but you won't regret the visual (and emotional) experience given when these 2 technologies are paired, they're made for each other. :D

Right now I am feeding my HS10 video from a HDMI switch box. When I switch to the HTPC, I have to enter the HS10's menu and change the format from Video to computer. I am using a DVI to HDMI video cable from the computer to the switch and the opposite of that from the switch to the PJ. Will the Pearl auto-detect the signal type in that instance?


Yes.

Having gone from an HS-20 to Pearl myself, I can confirm that you no longer need to manually go make the change between Video GBR and Computer modes when changing video source types on the Pearl.

Yes.

Having gone from an HS-20 to Pearl myself, I can confirm that you no longer need to manually go make the change between Video GBR and Computer modes when changing video source types on the Pearl.


Thank you! That is great news indeed!

And thank you to everyone else in this thread!! I am so excited now! :D

Rick

Yes.

Having gone from an HS-20 to Pearl myself, I can confirm that you no longer need to manually go make the change between Video GBR and Computer modes when changing video source types on the Pearl.

I myself have owned the hs-20 for three years and am contemplating upgrading to an 1080p projector. I'm thinking of either getting a pearl in late spring/early summer or waiting for the jvc to get into a better price range in late 07/early 08.
I don't like to upgrade often and when I do I want to see a huge jump in performance. Over the years I have been greatly bothered by the screen door effect - specifically in scenes with white or blue in the background. Additionally, the panel alignment is very evident in the upper part of the screen in light scenes- clearly visable green line from 15ft back on a 118in diag. screen. Finally, the lack of depth and grey blacks is bothersome.
Thus my question to those going from hs20 to the pearl is will the difference be huge. And will it not be worth the wait for the jvc to get into the current pearl price range. (I use the ps3 for bluray and my room is completly light controlled). Also, what do I do with the hs20- are there upgrade plans from sony and jvc?
Thanks
Frank

Frank, waiting for the RS1 to drop in price may be a never-ending cycle. This things normally become "affordable" when the next generation is just about being released. If you are content enough to stay with the HS20 for another 9 months or so then do it, but then the RS2 or maybe Sony VW75 will be on the horizon. (Those names are soley speculation.)

I'm just starting construction of a basement theater and don't have a PJ to replace, so my dilema is slightly different - do I leave the theater unused for a few months or go for a Pearl? I think the Pearl is the going to be the answer.

right- normally I would just target the sony pearl because it's in my price range but the JVC is getting such rave reviews it has me contemplating...otherwise you're right. There will always be a better girl around the corner...but damn that's a sexy beast jvc has out there.