I am in the planning stages of a dedicated theater in my house. I was originally going to purchase an Optoma HD70, until I discovered this forum...thankfully.

Anyway I new someone who had a CRT sitting around, so I gave him a call, and it turns out that it is a Sony VPH-1271Q, which from what I have read should be a pretty good CRT to start with. The hours on the unit are unknown, but I will be getting it next weekend, and will be checking the guns, to see what kind of condition they are in.

The theater room will be 100% light controlled, and finished very dark, so I should have no problems with the black levels. I am wondering how the lumen output will be projecting onto a 100" wide screen, I am considering the Wilsonart Designer White, as it seems to have pretty good results with CRT's.

I am still a bit confused about setting the projector up for the aspect ratio of the screen. I originally wanted to go with a 2.37:1, constant height setup, but I am not sure if this will be possible with the CRT, or if I sould just stick with 1.78:1 screen.

My sources that I will be displaying are, HTPC - Bluray/HDDVD/DVD, HD Sattelite with some 4:3 material-but mostly HD, and Xbox 360 Elite. All sources will be HDMI and the Sattelite and HTPC with HDCP. I understand that there is an expansion card available for the Sonys, and I am wondering if this is my best route, or should I be looking into another type of device.

The projector has the remote, but no user/service manual. I was wondering if anyone knows where I can find one, or if I even need it.

If anyone has any Advice or Tips for a newbie, I am all ears.

Thanks

The 1271 is a good choice. Probably one of Sony's early built like a tank good projectors. I have two and I'm the pig on eBay buyng the new 07mp CRT's as they come up. Fortunate for me one of mine had new CRT's in it when I got it.

Your best option is to buy a good video processor that you can change the aspect ratio with. I use mine to fill the screen regardless of the aspect ratio of the movie. Years ago I bought my Crystal Image processor from AVScience and to this day it still serves me well. DVDO I believe makes a reasonably priced processor too. You will need a processor with the screen size you are going with, no question about that.

You can check the hrs on the CRT's provided no one has altered it. You need to get into the service menu. There used to be a website that had the manuals. I don't have it. You can probably search for it in this forum or perhaps someone will post it.

If the 1271 has low hours you will enjoy a relatively bright (4 CRT) sharp picture. If it has high hours it will be dimmer and fuzzier. It's fairly straight forward and easier to setup than some others. You could likely download the user/service manual for free at Curt palme's site.

Definitely go with a 16:9 (1.78:1) screen.

You will have to convert HDMI to RGBHV using one of the stand alone boxes or try this http://221.169.10.62/sony_hd.htm ask if it works for a 1271Q (it should but ask to be sure)

To enter the service menu press ENTER twice then UP then DOWN and ENTER again. Select YES to enter the service mode. Then hit the menu key and scroll down to "set info". Press the right arrow key,and look for "timer".

Your best option is to buy a good video processor that you can change the aspect ratio with. I use mine to fill the screen regardless of the aspect ratio of the movie. Years ago I bought my Crystal Image processor from AVScience and to this day it still serves me well. DVDO I believe makes a reasonably priced processor too. You will need a processor with the screen size you are going with, no question about that.

I thought I only needed a scaler if my sources didn't output a HD or 16x9 image, to double the lines. My sources all scale/output HD signal, either 720p, 1080i, or 1080p.

try this http://221.169.10.62/sony_hd.htm ask if it works for a 1271Q (it should but ask to be sure)

The device that I was looking at is this one http://www.curtpalme.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=54943 which is similiar to the device that you suggested. If I get a card like either one of these, and can output 720p or 1080i at all my sources, than I should not need a scaler/proccesor is that correct.

I also found the user manual on Curt Palme's site. I am wondering about the installation of the projector on the ceiling. The manual states that there is a 14.5 degree angle from the centerline of the lens to the centerline of the screen, at the distance that the projector will be setup to what my screen size is. I am using the distance calculated of off the 120" screen in the chart, because it is the same width as what I will be installing - I hope that is the right way.

I want my screen higher on the wall than what this installation would allow. I need an 8 degree angle center to center. The manual says this can be done by installing spacer washers under the lens to shim them.

I am wondering if this has any ill effects on the quality of the picture, and where I can purchase of find the thin washers. I belive I need the ones that are .4mm thick.

Sorry for all the questions, and thanks for all your help.

"I am wondering if this has any ill effects on the quality of the picture,"

Actually, the picture will be better. The picture will be "squarer" on the tube face.

"I am wondering if this has any ill effects on the quality of the picture,"

Actually, the picture will be better. The picture will be "squarer" on the tube face.

So the less angle you can get from the centerline of the screen to the centerline of the projector the better? Is there a certain point or angle that it will actually make it worse, or can you shoot straight at the screen, like a 0 degree ofset?

Thanks

A zero degree offset is the ideal way to set up, the only problem with this is the projector takes the best seat on the house, being completely centered on the screen, not only horizontally as always, but also vertically. You will be sitting next to the projector to watch movies.

Now on the other hand, you will be using NO keystone on green, and very little on blue and red. You would be able to use the most phosphor area, giving the best possible brightness and resolving capability of your machine. Add on top the Tube toe-in mod and you'd have a nice centered image on all three tubes.

Now if only you can put up with the projector taking the best seat in the house.. I suppose you could mount your screen high and have the projector aiming above your head from behind your center seat, but you'd better stay sitting there through the whole movie so you don't block the image.

Don't worry about keystone that much. It's nice to use as little as possible, but a zero degree angle just isn't practicle. If you can, pain the room black so you don't have to worry about light reflection. It also makes the image look brighter if the room is completely dark.



Your best option is to buy a good video processor that you can change the aspect ratio with. I use mine to fill the screen regardless of the aspect ratio of the movie. Years ago I bought my Crystal Image processor from AVScience and to this day it still serves me well. DVDO I believe makes a reasonably priced processor too. You will need a processor with the screen size you are going with, no question about that.



Doesn't this distort the image? Or does the video processor do cropping as well?

Ok, so I will try to keep the ofset to a minimum.

The room will be painted and finished in very dark/matte materials and paint, including the ceiling.

I know that it is not recommened. to setup the projector for a 2.40:1 screen, because of reduced brightness and phospur life, but 80% of the viewing will be from these types of material. I will be using my HTPC for HDDVD,BLURAY,DVD so setting the size won't be an issue there.

What I am wondering is what type of scaler do I need to purchase so my HD sattelite, and Xbox 360 are shrunk to fit there proper aspect ratios on the screen, without running of the top and bottom sides.

I was looking at an old DVDO Iscan HD+, but I am unsure if this will work.

Thanks

What I am wondering is what type of scaler do I need to purchase so my HD sattelite, and Xbox 360 are shrunk to fit there proper aspect ratios on the screen, without running of the top and bottom sides.

I was looking at an old DVDO Iscan HD+, but I am unsure if this will work.

Thanks
You don't want to do this at all...running 16:9 within 2.35:1. You'll use maybe 1/4 of the raster and your tubes will show wear very soon. I would get a 16:9 screen and mask the top and bottom for 2.35:1 viewing.

You don't want to do this at all...running 16:9 within 2.35:1. You'll use maybe 1/4 of the raster and your tubes will show wear very soon. I would get a 16:9 screen and mask the top and bottom for 2.35:1 viewing.


Thanks for your advice, but I am already aware of that situation. I mainly watch Scope movies and that is the aspect that I would like to run. I am looking for suggestions on which scaler can preform the task that I want.

Thanks

Well after thinking about the pros and cons over the last couple of days, I will be going with a 16:9 screen.

The reason being, I don't feel a 96" Wide scope screen would really have that much "wow" factor.

I am anoyed by black bars, but with the CRT projector and complete black room, I probably won't even see them while watching.

Plus there are a lot of good 360 games coming out this fall, and they would be better played at 110" than at 82"!

Plus the whole brighter/phospur life played into it as well. I think a good bright pixar movie at 1.78 will be good reference material anyway.

Big Plus I don't have to buy a $1500 scaler

Also I am looking at the SMX style screens, and was wondering if anyone has an opinon on the black backing material.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction

You've definitly made a good choice, but I want you to be clear that the black bars will in fact show because they are not black, but rather like 5-10IRE. You should somehow make or buy something that will allow you to mask the bars.

Point taken, will look into masking.

Thanks

I recieved my projector over the weekend, and it is in excellent condition. Very clean inside and out. The tubes have 3000 hours on them, but it must have been setup in an optimal setting, because the all the tubes are in excellent condition. The blue tube is just starting to show some wear, I would say it is a 8-9 on Curt's chart. Not bad for a free projector :D

Anyway I have to get my room finished, then I can start calibrating.

You will have to convert HDMI to RGBHV using one of the stand alone boxes or try this http://221.169.10.62/sony_hd.htm ask if it works for a 1271Q (it should but ask to be sure)FWIW, JohnHWman from here also sells Sony DVI/HDMI input boards.... he's almost sold out however. See here (http://www.curtpalme.com/CRTforSale_3rdparty_products.shtm#SonyDVI). There's the HDfury (http://www.curtpalme.com/CRTforSale_3rdparty_products.shtm#HDfury) as well if you're interested. It's a bit cheaper.

Kal

Thanks, I will be ordering the DVI input card tommorow, hope there is still some left!

Ok, so I will try to keep the ofset to a minimum.

I know that it is not recommened. to setup the projector for a 2.40:1 screen, because of reduced brightness and phospur life, but 80% of the viewing will be from these types of material. I will be using my HTPC for HDDVD,BLURAY,DVD so setting the size won't be an issue there.

What I am wondering is what type of scaler do I need to purchase so my HD sattelite, and Xbox 360 are shrunk to fit there proper aspect ratios on the screen, without running of the top and bottom sides.

You can't run a 2.40:1 screen with a Sony because it will not squeeze the vertical size small enough to do it. NECs can but Sonys wont it will leave you with a oval instead of a circle on test patterns trust me I tried.