I couldn't take it any longer. While my home construction is on hold, I have a projector and all the other gear (save screen) necessary for assembling my HT. So, I hacked together a system last night and took some pictures.
My first problem was that I only have an older non-progressive Pioneer 626 player around. This gives me sound, but the least desirable picture quality (according to the experiences of others).
Hooking up my laptop for video gives the best quality, but laptop sound. What to do? I took pictures of both and you can see what a difference the sources make.
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/hkstirman
Look in the 'HT Project' folder.
I was curious about the grey v. high power debate on screens, so I thought the drywall grey might give me some indication as to potential picture quality. The only conclusion I could draw is that it makes the image abominable, regardless of source. The same image on a white painted wall was much better. I don't know if its the color, texture, or what - I won't be drawing any conclusions.
Another interesting test was length of cables: they didn't make a difference. I have the Lexicon and amp in the closet, and the projector out in the room. I have a 40' coax cable for video and a 5' coax cable for digital. First I had the shorter cable connecting the digital and the longer cable running out to the projector. The image was so bad that I tried switching them: I moved the dvd player out into the room, and ran the digital audio over the 40' cable. What happenend? No real noticable difference. The sound didn't get any worse, and the picture didn't get any better. Oh well, at least this way I don't have to schlep into the closet to change discs.
The pictures are from 'Out of Sight' and 'Austin Powers II'. I chose a dark scene and a light scene from each. Interestingly, I didn't notice as much of a difference last night while switching as I do looking at the pictures.
The laptop is a new Toshiba. The video card is lousy, but its what I have around.
White segment was turned off and gamma was set to Natural 1.
The image size is around 7.5' wide in the pictures.
I was surprised just how much light bounced around in the room. I have total ambient light control (basement), but the light color of the walls and floor made it quite bright in the room during a movie. I don't want a dark colored room, but after the experience last night, may have to.
Making the image larger (8.5') and smaller (5') didn't help - they still looked bad.
What did I learn? I'm not sure anything. I now know that 1) it's not easy to take digital pictures that look all that great, 2) the screen must make a HUGE difference, 3) the only time I see rainbows is when I glance at the lens then look away, 4) I love the big image, and wonder if 8' will be big enough in an 11' X 15' room (I assume that over time you want a smaller image once you get over the excitement of the sheer size), and 5) this is all really fun.
Ideas from others as to why the image was so poor are very welcome.
Please know that this is not my idea of a good set up. I designed the room for a DILA, with a window for the projector to be in the next room. I ran the BetterCables ultra 5 BNC cable and ultra VGA cables through the walls back to the other room, so will have to use something else with the LT150 (throw distance too great). I will be building an HTPC when the house is nearly complete (no sense in doing it now), and the room will be finished with a manual masking system on the screen wall.
I guess the main conclusion is when you hack something together, often times you get something that looks hacked.
Kelly
My first problem was that I only have an older non-progressive Pioneer 626 player around. This gives me sound, but the least desirable picture quality (according to the experiences of others).
Hooking up my laptop for video gives the best quality, but laptop sound. What to do? I took pictures of both and you can see what a difference the sources make.
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/hkstirman
Look in the 'HT Project' folder.
I was curious about the grey v. high power debate on screens, so I thought the drywall grey might give me some indication as to potential picture quality. The only conclusion I could draw is that it makes the image abominable, regardless of source. The same image on a white painted wall was much better. I don't know if its the color, texture, or what - I won't be drawing any conclusions.
Another interesting test was length of cables: they didn't make a difference. I have the Lexicon and amp in the closet, and the projector out in the room. I have a 40' coax cable for video and a 5' coax cable for digital. First I had the shorter cable connecting the digital and the longer cable running out to the projector. The image was so bad that I tried switching them: I moved the dvd player out into the room, and ran the digital audio over the 40' cable. What happenend? No real noticable difference. The sound didn't get any worse, and the picture didn't get any better. Oh well, at least this way I don't have to schlep into the closet to change discs.
The pictures are from 'Out of Sight' and 'Austin Powers II'. I chose a dark scene and a light scene from each. Interestingly, I didn't notice as much of a difference last night while switching as I do looking at the pictures.
The laptop is a new Toshiba. The video card is lousy, but its what I have around.
White segment was turned off and gamma was set to Natural 1.
The image size is around 7.5' wide in the pictures.
I was surprised just how much light bounced around in the room. I have total ambient light control (basement), but the light color of the walls and floor made it quite bright in the room during a movie. I don't want a dark colored room, but after the experience last night, may have to.
Making the image larger (8.5') and smaller (5') didn't help - they still looked bad.
What did I learn? I'm not sure anything. I now know that 1) it's not easy to take digital pictures that look all that great, 2) the screen must make a HUGE difference, 3) the only time I see rainbows is when I glance at the lens then look away, 4) I love the big image, and wonder if 8' will be big enough in an 11' X 15' room (I assume that over time you want a smaller image once you get over the excitement of the sheer size), and 5) this is all really fun.
Ideas from others as to why the image was so poor are very welcome.
Please know that this is not my idea of a good set up. I designed the room for a DILA, with a window for the projector to be in the next room. I ran the BetterCables ultra 5 BNC cable and ultra VGA cables through the walls back to the other room, so will have to use something else with the LT150 (throw distance too great). I will be building an HTPC when the house is nearly complete (no sense in doing it now), and the room will be finished with a manual masking system on the screen wall.
I guess the main conclusion is when you hack something together, often times you get something that looks hacked.
Kelly