Display bric-a brac #4

[Cricket2]

This was split from another thread so if it doesn't make sense, I guess you can blame me....


Many DLP projectors use a clear color wheel segment to make an image look brighter in a room with more than desired ambient lighting. This sounds like the same thing but in reverse (or is it inverse?)

In almost every case with a DLP PJ, the picture color/contrast suffers when the clear segment is used and not in a higher ambient light condition. One of the first rules of HT viewing is to shut off the clear segment.

Thinking in reverse, how will this perform in higher ambient light conditions that are brighter than normal? I would have to think color or contrast will suffer quite a bit.

I'm not a scientist but usualy when you remove something in favor of another, something in the balance is upset.

 

[Groucho]

Many DLP projectors use a clear color wheel segment to make an image look brighter in a room with more than desired ambient lighting. This sounds like the same thing but in reverse (or is it inverse?)

In almost every case with a DLP PJ, the picture color/contrast suffers when the clear segment is used and not in a higher ambient light condition. One of the first rules of HT viewing is to shut off the clear segment.

Now, maybe things have changed in the few years since I bought my HT projector, but at the time, the big issue with DLP projectors was the spinning color wheel and that it caused headaches with some people. I'd guess that newer ones spin faster and reduce that issue, but since you're talking about a spinning wheel, you can't really just shut off a quarter of the wheel...?

Back on topic... I dunno. That technology sounds a bit too specialized to be able to replace the Bayer sensors. I'd rather have a larger sensor than a smaller one that is trying tricks to reduce noise at the expense of color.

 

[Cricket2]

Now, maybe things have changed in the few years since I bought my HT projector, but at the time, the big issue with DLP projectors was the spinning color wheel and that it caused headaches with some people. I'd guess that newer ones spin faster and reduce that issue, but since you're talking about a spinning wheel, you can't really just shut off a quarter of the wheel...?

The light is what is shut off during the time the clear segment passes over the slit the light passes through. I know there is an animation somewhere that explains it better than I ever could. I'll look for it later on.
The few people who say they can see the "rainbow effect" do seem to have a lower occurrence of the effect with today’s faster color wheels. I have had many people watch movies at my house on a 98" screen and not one has complained about the effect.

 

[Groucho]

Yeah, it was definitely a concern, though not a huge one, when I got my Sanyo Z2, three years ago. I remember the time as a couple months ago, I had them check it out before the warranty ran out - they were great, they pay for overnight shipping there and back. I'm definitely going to consider them strongly when 1080P projectors get down to a reasonable price.

At the time, too, DLP projectors cost a fair chunk more than the LCD projectors and the quality difference was quickly being erased. I haven't paid any attention since then (no point torturing myself reading about improvements) so I don't know the current state, the most I do is occasionally check how the 1080P ones are coming. Looks like they're getting there...

 

[Cricket2]

I just crossed the 4k hours mark on my X1. No complaints but I really do need a new bulb now. Still debating the $300 for the new bulb vs $300 toward a new PJ.

Now we are officialy off topic. Where is a moderator when you need one ???

 

[webshark3]

Yeah, it was definitely a concern, though not a huge one, when I got my Sanyo Z2, three years ago.

You got the Z2? I have the Z1. Talk about bang for your buck. One the the best HT investments I made. I blow my image up to 143" widescreen. Still looks better than most theaters now-a-days.

The Kodak sensor is interesting. I'm not sure I like trading off color for sensitivity, but that seems to be where the market is headed. I saw a [print] article on a new Sony Bayer Sensor that had something like 20MP, but only 10MP would be effective. The remainder would capture additional color info. I need to find that article. My facts may be way off.

 

[Groucho]

I was headed for the Z1 then the Z2 came along by the time I was ready to buy. I couldn't resist "true" HD instead of 1/4 HD. The Z1 was a great deal, and the current version (Z5?) is still great - I think you can get it and a free screen for something like $1,200 or $1,300 bucks. It's a real steal for the quality you get, it blows away most any regular TV IMHO. My screen is 8' wide and an oddball ratio (since I cut it myself) - nearly 2:1, that way I can zoom in 2.35:1 movies extra-wide, while 1.85:1 movies (and narrower) don't go to the edges. It works out to about 103". I'll take that over some plasma with a stretched 1024x768 resolution any day!

As for bulbs, I got lucky (sort of) - my Z2 didn't power on when I first got it. Sanyo sent me a replacement bulb which didn't help, then paid to overnight it to them. I got a call from the tech saying that it was working fine. They shipped it back and it's worked perfectly every since then - and I got a free spare bulb out of the deal.

 

[webshark3]

Nice, They only had the Z1 almost 5 years ago. Since I only use it for DVD currently, it's not bad. Still on my original bulb too. My screen is a painted white wall framed out in black trim. I won't buy a screen till my kids are out of the house. As it stands now, they think it's a giant chalkboard.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/webshark74/detail?.dir=5a9b&.dnm=9768.jpg&.src=ph

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/webshark74/detail?.dir=5a9b&.dnm=e8bd.jpg&.src=ph

But now were a "little" off topic. lol

 

[Cricket2]

Nothing like a huge Wiggle on your wall huh? Perhaps a procenium might help with the "get away from the screen" threats? It looks like you have plenty of room.

I used an AVS spray formula on a floating piece of shower stall board with bias lighting behind it and the rest of the wall with black felt spray glued up. Two days after I hung it all, my center channel speaker fell off the wall and scraped right down the top middle of the screen. I sanded and re-sprayed it but I can still see the mark in scenes with clear skies or a large area of white. Always annoyed me but I'm far too lazy to get all that gear out again and start over. It's on my list of "to do's"

 

[Cricket2]

...placeholder from thread split...

 

[webshark3]

I haven't tried the sprays, but played around with that tub liner stuff (Plastex?). It was pretty inpressive. The company caught onto people using if for screens, and started making custom sizes for home theaters.


Thanks for the split. We're back on topic.

 

[Cricket2]

The formula I ended up with had some of the silver/chromatic paint mixed in with it. It looks white but with super fine sparklies in it after it dried. I'm happy with it because it was cheap and it sprayed out easily.

Next time I'm just buying a regular screen on a snap frame or I'm going nutz and using a sprayed plexi mirror.

 

[Groucho]

I've got a proscenium but no pictures on the site where I'm willing to put links to from here, only my old site which'd choke from Disboards-type traffic. It's also one of those things where the theater got about 90% done and that last 10% has been dragging along for three years now. But we did build a stage, there's soffits all the way around the room, and we did two big speaker towers on either side of the screen. The bottom half is covered by drywall and painted black, then there's a platform inside that the speakers sit on, and the top half is going to be covered by speaker fabric, so it looks more or less like one solid continuous tower. Of course, I bought the fabric about three years ago and it's still sitting there...

For the screen, I was lucky enough to have someone give me a basically brand-new pull-down Da-Lite screen, so I built a wood frame of my own dimensions, sliced most of the screen out of the pull-down, stretched it over the frame, and stapled it down. It works pretty well.

I have the center speaker underneath the screen, which works pretty well, but I might consider moving it over the screen and dropping the screen height some time. It's fine from the second row (old red flip-down theater seats on a riser) but just a tad high from the first row (an old couch currently, some day to be the home theater recliners).

So close... some day I'll finish it. Maybe some day I'll even finish the two MAME cabinets in the back of the theater, too.

 

[Cricket2]

Maybe some day I'll even finish the two MAME cabinets in the back of the theater, too.

Oh boy, I smell another thread split

Speaking of unfinished projects, I still want to reframe a bunch of Disney one sheets. They are just in regular poster frames now and I want them in light boxes. I still have a crazy rare Finding Nemo pre-release that I have to un-tube one of these days too. I'm just lazy I guess.