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AE700 how to remove smooth screen?

3958 Views 63 Replies 16 Participants Last post by exsodius, Mar 7, 2005

exsodius

Discussion Starter · Feb 28, 2005

I have opened my 700 one time, but not the optic. Where is the smoothscreen placed. It must be that little glass lens, between the lcd panels and the big lens, but i am not sure.

I just can't get used to the smooth picture. I want a sharp picture with screendoor again! Sound silly but its true. I think the 700 would look a lot better without smoothscreen, espesially at 2x viewing distance. Hey, this is 720 panels with a LOT of pixels.

It would be interesting if this smoothscreen could be removed, i for sure would like to try it.

I know there has been a lot of talk that smoothscreen is as sharp, jada jada. But i really hate it.

If this can't be done, i think i would try the Z3 instead.

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tvted

· #2 · Feb 28, 2005

Quote:

Originally posted by exsodius
I have opened my 700 one time, but not the optic. Where is the smoothscreen placed. It must be that little glass lens, between the lcd panels and the big lens, but i am not sure.

I just can't get used to the smooth picture. I want a sharp picture with screendoor again! Sound silly but its true. I think the 700 would look a lot better without smoothscreen, espesially at 2x viewing distance. Hey, this is 720 panels with a LOT of pixels.

It would be interesting if this smoothscreen could be removed, i for sure would like to try it.

I know there has been a lot of talk that smoothscreen is as sharp, jada jada. But i really hate it.

If this can't be done, i think i would try the Z3 instead.

Sell the unit and buy a Z3 if you are happier seeing image structure.

No need for the yada yada.

ted

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exsodius

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 28, 2005

Lol. That was very funny for YOU

Madra mia! So you actually mean you will see screendoor at 2x with a 1280*720 projector???

tvted

· #4 · Feb 28, 2005

Quote:

Originally posted by exsodius
Lol. That was very funny for YOU

Madra mia! So you actually mean you will see screendoor at 2x with a 1280*720 projector???

Depends on your eyes and the image.

2x away is too far in my opinion - specially if the image is good.

I guess you wouldn't like LCOS either.

ted

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exsodius

Discussion Starter · #5 · Feb 28, 2005

I don't mind smoothscreen that much on a movie, but on windows desktop it get so hard reading the letters. It looks like it is out of focus all the time. And you have to admit that it is harder to get it 100% focused with smoothscreen than without Ted. And my vision is good(yet). So LCOS do have some smothscreen like technology too?

Looks like nobody know what part inside is the smoothscreen, but many know how it works at least. It must be somewhere between the lcd panels and the big lens, because it would not work if it was between the light bulb and the lcd's. At least that's my conclusion for now. I love to screw things apart. But i don't want to destroy it yet

mystery

· #6 · Feb 28, 2005

exsodius,

I agree with you. I just last week for the first time viewed this projector and immediately hated the smoothscreen technology. There was an overall softness to the image. It reminded me of the compression used on satellite television by providers of such signals. The sharpness just wasn't there. At least with pixel structure or SDE, you can slightly defocus if you wish to reduce or eliminate the anomaly. Furthermore, you can tweak this de-focusing to the point that pleases you. Sounds like smoothscreen can't be adjusted like this.

suffolk112000

· #7 · Feb 28, 2005

Well, I felt as you did before I bought my new DVD player.

When my AE-700 arrived, I didn't want to unhook my 1 year+ old Panasonic RP82 from its current set-up so I opted to use my 9+ year old Toshiba 3006 DVD player and use S-video.

The AE-700 was doing ALL the scaling.

It didn't take long for the "Smooth Screen technology" and the constant urge to want to re-focus to get old.

Now I am not saying the image was awful. I think for a $1900 projector, it is a little power house. I just think the good folks at Panasonic got a bit excited with the "Smooth screen technology." Maybe the AE-800 will have a happy medium.

Well, when I hooked up the new Denon 2910, I was very surprised at the clean and crisp image I was getting with this new up-scaling DVD player. The first thing I did was focus the image to the best I could get it. Then I noticed something. I could see scan lines! The image was incredibly crisp.

I then gave the pj a slight defocus and the scan lines are now gone, and yet the image is still much more crisp that it was with-out the 2910.

I now have found the happy medium I was looking for. I know what you guys are going through, but I honestly believe you can get the picture you are looking for if you get a GOOD DVD player that does up-scaling and let your DVD player scale the image.

I thought, briefly that maybe the Denon 3910 would be even better, but since I have to defocus the image, I think the 3910 would be overkill for the AE-700.

Exsodius, what DVD player are you using??

Craig

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tvted

· #8 · Feb 28, 2005

Quote:

Originally posted by exsodius
I don't mind smoothscreen that much on a movie, but on windows desktop it get so hard reading the letters. It looks like it is out of focus all the time. And you have to admit that it is harder to get it 100% focused with smoothscreen than without Ted. And my vision is good(yet). So LCOS do have some smothscreen like technology too?

Looks like nobody know what part inside is the smoothscreen, but many know how it works at least. It must be somewhere between the lcd panels and the big lens, because it would not work if it was between the light bulb and the lcd's. At least that's my conclusion for now. I love to screw things apart. But i don't want to destroy it yet

My desktop is fine - Radeon 9500 Pro at 1:1, 25ft VGA (sharpness off - I hate EE)- some ringing but its probably my cable. There *is* a uniformity problem but that is to be expected at this price level - the glass may be big but I bet its not the best.

Have you considered trying HDMI though there is *some * cropping?

No, LCOS has a higher fill factor - my reaction to your "preference" for SDE.

Before you destroy the resale value of your PJ wouldn't if be more astute to move on if you are dissatisfied?

Craig - I'm happy for you - now that you've gone beyond S-Video.

ted

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suffolk112000

· #9 · Feb 28, 2005

Quote:

Originally posted by tvted

Craig - I'm happy for you - now that you've gone beyond S-Video.

ted

tvted,

LMAO.... Yeh, actually, I think I know what the letter "S" in S-video stands for if you know what I mean.

Craig

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Georgeb

· #10 · Feb 28, 2005

I bought the Yamaha 510 over the Panasonic 700. I had demoed both at the same time . The 700 had little better contrast and was priced lower than the Yamaha, but I just couldn't take to the Panny's soft look. Maybe Panasonic will make a change on their next model and allow the viewer to move the " smooth screen thing" similar to how Yamaha allows you to move the color balance filter in or out with certain settings.

suffolk112000

· #11 · Feb 28, 2005

Quote:

Originally posted by Georgeb
I bought the Yamaha 510 over the Panasonic 700. I had demoed both at the same time . The 700 had little better contrast and was priced lower than the Yamaha, but I just couldn't take to the Panny's soft look. Maybe Panasonic will make a change on their next model and allow the viewer to move the " smooth screen thing" similar to how Yamaha allows you to move the color balance filter in or out with certain settings.

If you go over to the tweaks thread some of the guys are adding filters to their 700's to get the desired performance "they" need. I have not had the time to tweak with mine very much because I am still building my theater so I can't comment on how well it works.

Craig

stieger

· #12 · Feb 28, 2005

Hi folks,

What size screen are people using with the 700? What gain (1.2?)

I will have a controlled light environment, and currently own a AE500U, but am selling the house and leaving it there for the next owner.

I want to go 110", but not sure if this PJ has what it takes. At that size, what gain screen should I get?

Also, do you guys have a 16;9? or 2:33 ratio screen? My current Stewart is 16:9, and I hate having so much black space/bars above and below the image. Wish I just had a screen filled with image!

Thx,

Stieger

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suffolk112000

· #13 · Feb 28, 2005

Quote:

Originally posted by stieger
Hi folks,

What size screen are people using with the 700? What gain (1.2?)

stieger,

58X104 Da-Lite HCCV screen with masking.

Craig

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stieger

· #14 · Feb 28, 2005

Hi,

What is HCCV mean?

Stieger

suffolk112000

· #15 · Feb 28, 2005

Quote:

Originally posted by stieger
Hi,

What is HCCV mean?

Stieger

Stands for High Contrast Cinema Vision.

http://da-litehometheater.com/index.php

If you want to read more about it just do a search in the screens forum. There are quite a few people using this screen with the AE-700.

Craig

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exsodius

Discussion Starter · #16 · Feb 28, 2005

Quote:

Originally posted by mystery
exsodius,

I agree with you. I just last week for the first time viewed this projector and immediately hated the smoothscreen technology. There was an overall softness to the image. It reminded me of the compression used on satellite television by providers of such signals. The sharpness just wasn't there. At least with pixel structure or SDE, you can slightly defocus if you wish to reduce or eliminate the anomaly. Furthermore, you can tweak this de-focusing to the point that pleases you. Sounds like smoothscreen can't be adjusted like this.

Smoothscreen should really rule, because your eyes can't focus on a special spot like a pixel. It's like on the cinema. It makes it more real. But before the 700 came out i hoped they would drop the smootscreen because i thought the higher resolution was enough to get a smooth picture. But apparantly it was not. Still i am curious how the 700 could look like without it

exsodius

Discussion Starter · #17 · Feb 28, 2005

Quote:

Originally posted by suffolk112000
Well, I felt as you did before I bought my new DVD player.

When my AE-700 arrived, I didn't want to unhook my 1 year+ old Panasonic RP82 from its current set-up so I opted to use my 9+ year old Toshiba 3006 DVD player and use S-video.

The AE-700 was doing ALL the scaling.

It didn't take long for the "Smooth Screen technology" and the constant urge to want to re-focus to get old.

Now I am not saying the image was awful. I think for a $1900 projector, it is a little power house. I just think the good folks at Panasonic got a bit excited with the "Smooth screen technology." Maybe the AE-800 will have a happy medium.

Well, when I hooked up the new Denon 2910, I was very surprised at the clean and crisp image I was getting with this new up-scaling DVD player. The first thing I did was focus the image to the best I could get it. Then I noticed something. I could see scan lines! The image was incredibly crisp. I then gave the pj a slight defocus and the scan lines are now gone, and yet the image is still much more crisp that it was with-out the 2910.

I now have found the happy medium I was looking for. I know what you guys are going through, but I honestly believe you can get the picture you are looking for if you get a GOOD DVD player that does up-scaling and let your DVD player scale the image.

I thought, briefly that maybe the Denon 3910 would be even better, but since I have to defocus the image, I think the 3910 would be overkill for the AE-700.

Exsodius, what DVD player are you using??

Craig

Do you use HTPC at all?

I use my HTPC via vga(dvds). I use the TV via composit. I don't use a external dvd player.

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tvted

· #18 · Feb 28, 2005

Quote:

Originally posted by exsodius
Still i am curious how the 700 could look like without it

Like a Z3 or an Infocus 5000?

Same Epson panel.

Infocus is known for its D65 out of the box.

ted

exsodius

Discussion Starter · #19 · Feb 28, 2005

Quote:

Originally posted by tvted
My desktop is fine - Radeon 9500 Pro at 1:1, 25ft VGA (sharpness off - I hate EE)- some ringing but its probably my cable. There *is* a uniformity problem but that is to be expected at this price level - the glass may be big but I bet its not the best.

Have you considered trying HDMI though there is *some * cropping?

No, LCOS has a higher fill factor - my reaction to your "preference" for SDE.

Before you destroy the resale value of your PJ wouldn't if be more astute to move on if you are dissatisfied?

Craig - I'm happy for you - now that you've gone beyond S-Video.

ted

It' so strange that your desktop is fine? Makes me think that there is some dirt on my lens or somthing. Maybe it is? I also use sharpness off. And i would LOVE to try HDMI.

Are you using powerstrip with 1280*720 resolution? If so, it makes all letters on the desktop sooo tiny. I have tried microsofts "cleartype" function without much help. What are your seating distance? Do you use it in ceiling or desktop? Do you use much lensshift? Mine is almost max downwards ceiling mounted at 2.9m distance.

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Durabolin

· #20 · Feb 28, 2005

Windows over HDMI on the 700 looks sharp to me. Are you using the HDMI input? I have tried VGA , mainly to fix the cropping issues, and its definitely softer. The type quality and length of the VGA cable also made a big difference. I had an average quality but short VGA cable that looked pretty good. I then tried an extremely high quality 5M VGA cable that absolutely sucked. Anyway HDMI is superior and if the firmware update solves the cropping issues its the way to go.

1 - 20 of 64 Posts

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