Hi,
With about 50 hours on my X1 and several configuration changes, I thought I’d share some thoughts about the projector and the rainbow issue, based on my experience.
After following the forums for several months I took the plunge on the X1 and crossed my fingers that rainbows would not be an issue. In our initial haste the X1 was aimed at a white bedsheet until the Parkland Plastics sheet arrived. While the picture on the bedsheet was impressive (aside from the creases ;-), I saw rainbows aplenty. Eye fatigue, as well. I was kind of concerned. My partner experienced none of this, which for some reason didn’t surprise me. Her reaction was mainly “big picture good!†(which was a relief).
I experimented with different video sources – an older Pioneer DV-525 connected via s-video produced lots and lots of rainbows. I did not like this at all. I then tried a laptop (Thinkpad) that was temporarily available. The picture was much cleaner than the output from the Pioneer, and rainbows were lessed, but still very noticeable along with the eye fatigue.
Eventually things came together. We received the Parkland sheet, mounted it to some luan, surrounded the screen with black fabric, and assembled an HTPC with a Radeon 9000 video card and TheaterTek software (800 x 600 @ 62Hz using Powerstrip). This didn’t all happen at once, but over a couple of weeks. Throughout each improvement in environment, the X1 experience improved along with it. Finally, I tweaked the projector a small amount, namely turning the brightness down a small amount, to coincide with the test pattern on the Video Essentials DVD.
With all that said, I’m happy to say that I very rarely see rainbows any longer. And the eye fatigue is completely gone. The rainbows that do appear are much more fleeting, and far less intense, than before. I will see perhaps a handful per film now, and they are of little to no consequence. Contrast that to the initial experience where I was seeing rainbows almost continuously to the point of distraction.
So what’s the explanation? Optical or psychological habituation? Improved video performance from screen/HTPC? Maybe all of these things. I don’t claim to know the answer, but I did want to describe how, in 50 hours of experience and with improvements in video source and viewing environment, the X1 experience can evolve from a rainbow frenzy to an immensely enjoyable viewing experience. In the first week I had doubts about the purchase; now I have none at all, especially at the price. So I just joined NetFlix ;-)
Cheers,
Aaron
With about 50 hours on my X1 and several configuration changes, I thought I’d share some thoughts about the projector and the rainbow issue, based on my experience.
After following the forums for several months I took the plunge on the X1 and crossed my fingers that rainbows would not be an issue. In our initial haste the X1 was aimed at a white bedsheet until the Parkland Plastics sheet arrived. While the picture on the bedsheet was impressive (aside from the creases ;-), I saw rainbows aplenty. Eye fatigue, as well. I was kind of concerned. My partner experienced none of this, which for some reason didn’t surprise me. Her reaction was mainly “big picture good!†(which was a relief).
I experimented with different video sources – an older Pioneer DV-525 connected via s-video produced lots and lots of rainbows. I did not like this at all. I then tried a laptop (Thinkpad) that was temporarily available. The picture was much cleaner than the output from the Pioneer, and rainbows were lessed, but still very noticeable along with the eye fatigue.
Eventually things came together. We received the Parkland sheet, mounted it to some luan, surrounded the screen with black fabric, and assembled an HTPC with a Radeon 9000 video card and TheaterTek software (800 x 600 @ 62Hz using Powerstrip). This didn’t all happen at once, but over a couple of weeks. Throughout each improvement in environment, the X1 experience improved along with it. Finally, I tweaked the projector a small amount, namely turning the brightness down a small amount, to coincide with the test pattern on the Video Essentials DVD.
With all that said, I’m happy to say that I very rarely see rainbows any longer. And the eye fatigue is completely gone. The rainbows that do appear are much more fleeting, and far less intense, than before. I will see perhaps a handful per film now, and they are of little to no consequence. Contrast that to the initial experience where I was seeing rainbows almost continuously to the point of distraction.
So what’s the explanation? Optical or psychological habituation? Improved video performance from screen/HTPC? Maybe all of these things. I don’t claim to know the answer, but I did want to describe how, in 50 hours of experience and with improvements in video source and viewing environment, the X1 experience can evolve from a rainbow frenzy to an immensely enjoyable viewing experience. In the first week I had doubts about the purchase; now I have none at all, especially at the price. So I just joined NetFlix ;-)
Cheers,
Aaron
