Well, it's just a little over 24 hours since I had the experience I've been waiting for a long,long time to see....a non cinema environment with the capability of producing very large, high resolution, often lifelike and stunning images and sound....and the ability to easily choose what exactly you feel like experiencing at any point in time in that environment.
"This" would be Dean McManis' Home Theater. I was fortunate to be able to drive south myself approximately 33 miles to Dean's house this weekend to meet he and his lovely wife....while on a 360 mile drive north to see a friend that my wife and I were visiting, and to be given a "tour" of what he has at his disposal on a DAILY basis. I expected to be really impressed from everything I'd read from others who have seen it, and what I saw did not disappoint in the least! My expectations honestly were exceeded. I think I have good perspective from owning a not yet fully calbrated, but not badly tweaked G1000 at 7 foot wide display, with a reasonably performing scaler and having also just gone to Infocomm and and seen several times the new 1000 to 1 contrast JVC QXGA D-ILA and the new 1000 to 1 M5100SC SXGA projectors put through their HD paces on the 20 foot wide screen at the show. Wow!! on them....and "WOW" on Dean's theater at a fraction of those projectors' prices!!
I knew Dean's screen would be huge. What I didn't know was that it would be virtually the whole front wall!! Seemed to fill it entirely with about a foot border side to side and top to bottom. Maybe the top of his screen area was right at the top of this room which is one level below his living space, I'm not sure about that.
That stunning effect in his theater is coupled with, from what I saw, virtually flawless scaling from his HTPC. Echoing what others have said about S.O.T.A. processing with 480P DVD and D-ILA projection, it looks on the best material almost like Hi Definition or at least in the same "impact" league as HD. It really was truly amazing to be seated 12 feet from a the 15 foot diagonal wide screen, seeing the detail and clarity that he gets from 480P.
Then, I was treated with samples of HD programming as well, that he could find to show at that point in time, and this gorgeous, huge display on the perforated GrayHawk, thrown up by his calibrated G15 [even at 800 hrs on his bulb] through his Isco lens.....was nothing short of stunning!!!!!! WOW!! Loved the Direct TV loop with the "Echo Challenge" footage. Loved the other HD material we sampled and the CGI 1080P, 13 ft. wide saltwater acquarium effect. If I could have sat dead center without my head casting a shadow, I would gladly have moved 2-4 feet closer. He has comfortable seats four or five feet closer that where we were at 12 ft. but by necessity, off to the left and right sides of the screen to keep from creating shadows in the projection path to the bottom of his screen.
To this phenominal visual experience he adds an outstanding surround theater sound system and the very accurate soundstage created by his ability to have the front speakers located behind the screen. The performance of the sub woofer behind our sofa made me ask if he had those in-the-floor monster bass shakers. You don't get that in your local cineplex!
HT is like boxing in that with two fighters of equal ability....the good big man will generally win, while with HT, the larger image will be the one you probably would opt to sit in front of...if it remains as highly resolved as a smaller image next to it.
Thank you, Dean, for the great experience and the interesting conversation we had!! Your HT produces big time thrills and chills! I only regret there was not time for seeing even more, and that I didn't see any of your Dreamcast simulation of that slashingly quick boating experience through exotic locales that you told me you love to play, being a boat lover myself. I can only imagine the whole 4x3 center of your front wall filled up with adrenaline pumping images!
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Ron
[This message has been edited by RonF (edited 07-08-2001).]
"This" would be Dean McManis' Home Theater. I was fortunate to be able to drive south myself approximately 33 miles to Dean's house this weekend to meet he and his lovely wife....while on a 360 mile drive north to see a friend that my wife and I were visiting, and to be given a "tour" of what he has at his disposal on a DAILY basis. I expected to be really impressed from everything I'd read from others who have seen it, and what I saw did not disappoint in the least! My expectations honestly were exceeded. I think I have good perspective from owning a not yet fully calbrated, but not badly tweaked G1000 at 7 foot wide display, with a reasonably performing scaler and having also just gone to Infocomm and and seen several times the new 1000 to 1 contrast JVC QXGA D-ILA and the new 1000 to 1 M5100SC SXGA projectors put through their HD paces on the 20 foot wide screen at the show. Wow!! on them....and "WOW" on Dean's theater at a fraction of those projectors' prices!!
I knew Dean's screen would be huge. What I didn't know was that it would be virtually the whole front wall!! Seemed to fill it entirely with about a foot border side to side and top to bottom. Maybe the top of his screen area was right at the top of this room which is one level below his living space, I'm not sure about that.
That stunning effect in his theater is coupled with, from what I saw, virtually flawless scaling from his HTPC. Echoing what others have said about S.O.T.A. processing with 480P DVD and D-ILA projection, it looks on the best material almost like Hi Definition or at least in the same "impact" league as HD. It really was truly amazing to be seated 12 feet from a the 15 foot diagonal wide screen, seeing the detail and clarity that he gets from 480P.
Then, I was treated with samples of HD programming as well, that he could find to show at that point in time, and this gorgeous, huge display on the perforated GrayHawk, thrown up by his calibrated G15 [even at 800 hrs on his bulb] through his Isco lens.....was nothing short of stunning!!!!!! WOW!! Loved the Direct TV loop with the "Echo Challenge" footage. Loved the other HD material we sampled and the CGI 1080P, 13 ft. wide saltwater acquarium effect. If I could have sat dead center without my head casting a shadow, I would gladly have moved 2-4 feet closer. He has comfortable seats four or five feet closer that where we were at 12 ft. but by necessity, off to the left and right sides of the screen to keep from creating shadows in the projection path to the bottom of his screen.
To this phenominal visual experience he adds an outstanding surround theater sound system and the very accurate soundstage created by his ability to have the front speakers located behind the screen. The performance of the sub woofer behind our sofa made me ask if he had those in-the-floor monster bass shakers. You don't get that in your local cineplex!
HT is like boxing in that with two fighters of equal ability....the good big man will generally win, while with HT, the larger image will be the one you probably would opt to sit in front of...if it remains as highly resolved as a smaller image next to it.
Thank you, Dean, for the great experience and the interesting conversation we had!! Your HT produces big time thrills and chills! I only regret there was not time for seeing even more, and that I didn't see any of your Dreamcast simulation of that slashingly quick boating experience through exotic locales that you told me you love to play, being a boat lover myself. I can only imagine the whole 4x3 center of your front wall filled up with adrenaline pumping images!
------------------
Ron
[This message has been edited by RonF (edited 07-08-2001).]
