XA2 and Infocus 7200 720P projector questions.

Hi Ken,

I've got an InFocus 7205 connected to an HD-XA2 via Component Video and HDMI to DVI to M1 via a DVI switcher. On the audio side I am using SPDIF to a Lexicon MC-8 processor. I have a 10" diagonal screen with seating at 12' and 18'. Click on the link in my signature for a description of my setup.

I am quite happy with this arrangement. Perhaps down the road I might upgrade both the projector and processor.

Although I don't view standard DVDs much anymore, the HD-XA2 does a great job of upscaling via the HDMI output. However, there is a known problem with the Toshiba players that are connected via HDMI to DVI. In the vast majority of reported cases the players send the wrong video levels to displays connected via HDMI to DVI. This results in images that are too dark. Included in Toshiba's most recent firmware upgrade, version 2.5, was a new function call RGB Output Range Selection which was specifically designed to address this problem. Unfortunately, it currently doesn't work. I do however expect Toshiba to issue another upgrade to address this issue.

In the interim, until the fix is released, I have had good results in using the HD-XA2's Brightness and Contrast controls to adjust the grayscale on the HDMI output. Using this "workaround" and I get a very good image that has correctly calibrated black and white levels per the HD DVD calibration disc.

I paid $900 for my HD-XA2 back in January and that was $100 under list, so your $440 is an exceptional value. I have had little in the way of complaints with the player, other than this irritation regarding video levels on HDMI to DVI. I have had very few problematic discs and each of the Toshiba firmware upgrades seems to have incrementally improved playability. I frankly can't remember the last time a disc failed to play flawlessly.

If I were you I would take advantage of the great deal.

Larry

+1, Love the xa2 with my 720p projector.