Hi guys,

For the past 6 years, I've been using a Sharp DLP projector, #PGM20XA with XGA (1024 x 768) resolution in the home theater & still enjoy watching DVDs on it (the darn thing just won't die). I got in to this great hobby because of this forum and would appreciate your opinions on using a Playstation3 (for the Blu-ray player) through component inputs. This projector has a DVI input, but is not HDCP compliant. In your opinion, would it be worth it to upgrade to Blu-ray and Direct TV HD. I love my new 50" Panasonic plasma, but movies are still MUCH better on a 100+" screen. Thanks in advance.

Randy

Keep it until it dies , then upgrade.

I'm right where you are. I have a M20x also and am somewhat torn as to upgrading. I still watch a lot of SD material which I run through an external scaler, and I really like the 80x60 image. If I move to 16:9, I won't be able to have that 60" height.

How many hours do you have on your m20x? I'm at about 2200 hours on the lamp. I did a timer reset when it was griping about the lamp time.

My current thought is to use it until the lamp goes...
My other thought is to get a AX-200 or similar bright 720p. My scaler won't do 1080p. :(

Then I would use the M20x as an occasional projector and when I get a house instead of a condo, use the M20x for backyard theater.

I have less than 600 hours on the Sharp. We usually only watch a movie a week on it. It took three or four returns to Sharp when I first got it due to the lamp not lighting, but it's worked great for years now. Those projectors were fairly popular for a while.

I'd just like to know if the HD upgrade is a "wow, that's a LOT sharper image and MUCH better colors" , or is it a "yeah, that looks a little sharper and maybe colors that pop just a little more" kind of upgrade. I'm sure XGA resolution limits the wow factor.

Randy

I went from a newer Sharp XGA projector to a Mitsubishi 1500, and the difference was definitely a "WOW!" experience.

I really didn't think that it would be, given that the difference was only 200 pixels or so, but I was absolutely blown out of the water with the difference.

I say upgrade and keep the other projector for occasional use, travel use, and outdoor movies.

Starman,

If I understand your questions correctly, I assume you want to know whether or not it's worth spending the jing to upgrade your TV service to HD so you can view it on the PJ or will you not notice enough of a difference to justify the extra monthy payment. I can't speak to your particular PJ, but my PJ history started with an X1 that I bought instead of a 61" DLP. As you are probably aware, that old workhorse is 480P, so it's not even up to the specs of your PJ. I ran HD through that with an OTA receiver (as well as SD through cable), so I can directly compare SD to HD on a less-than-HD projector. I don't know much about blu-ray or HDCP issue, but you will definately have wow-factor with your existing projector piping an HD image through it. Substantial wow-factor in my opinion. Not that it would be the ultimate HD experience, but it'll be (relatively) outstanding. I now have a Marantz 4001 (720p) and the difference is substantial, (I also went through a 4805 inbetween), but until I saw anything better I didn't think you could improve much on what I saw. A new 720p projector will be a big step up somewhere in your future, but is it worth the upgrade now to HD with your existing equipment? I say a resounding "yes!".

my .02

Gary