Well, I went over to the local audio/video place with my Dad last night. From what the guy told us, the flat screen monitors only come in 16:9 format and this is unexceptable for normal broadcast - it cuts off the top and bottom of the picture and stretchs (at least the model he showed us) He said, even if any models were capable of averagaing the picture as to not cut off the top at bottom and leave black space to the left and right, it would burn the edges into the monitor - makes sense. So, this option is out.

Now, we checked out there front projectors; DAMN these things have progressed since the last time we went home theater shoppping. He showed us a sharpvision (is there anything better?) single lens model that was incredibly bright. He turned up the lights in the room and the picture was still <b>very</b> clear and bright. 5 years ago the picture would have looked completely washed.

Who makes a good screen and single lens projector. Because of the installation of these suckers to me it might make sense to buy from a store but I'm sure they can be had cheaper online. Are there place capable of just insatllation and set up? Could I handle it?

From the sound of things, I think we want to stay with a single lens (althought this is not set) due costs; unfront and variable. Also, from what I gather you need to spend double to get a slighly better picture. The project he showed was 10 something and looked great. For all the rear projection fans, (as I still am) there is simply nothing that compares to a 150" screen Also, the projectro can display 4:3 and the screen they had, had black curtains that came down and cleaned up the edges to frame the 4:3 on the wide screen.

The audio is on hold for now because we will continue to use the old system for a little while. I guess the 10K budget will be blown on a projector alone so what you recommend for screen and projector under 15K?

Also, anybody know a good place to sell an old 80" mitsubishi RPTV? With a little luck and some more research - we should have no need for it

Thanks for all your help! I really appreciate and trust your judgements - I mean you bought the right car so...

 

channel speaker behind the screen for the most realistic dialogue image. They come in motorized or non-motorized versions.

I like Vidikron projectors a lot.

 

I do like the idea of being able to mount a center channel behind it. Looking at the room yesterday, there seemed to be no good location for this speaker except on the floor. Before, we had the center on top of the tv

 

Here is the paragraph..

"Well, I went over to the local audio/video place with my Dad last night. From what the guy told us, the flat screen monitors only come in 16:9 format and this is unexceptable for normal broadcast - it cuts off the top and bottom of the picture and stretchs (at least the model he showed us) He said, even if any models were capable of averagaing the picture as to not cut off the top at bottom and leave black space to the left and right, it would burn the edges into the monitor - makes sense. So, this option is out. "

As far as cutting off the top and the bottom of the picture, that's not the norm for 16x9 flat screens. I know Mitsubishi and Tosh don't do this. As far as the stretching that is also correctible via easily accessible settings on your remote on the Mistus and Tosh's. My friend has a 40" Mitsu flat screen and he actually prefers to watch 4:3 TV in squished mode and can't be talked out of it! We call it fat boy mode. BUT there is a setting to normalize the picture without losing any of the picture.

As far as burn in goes, let me tell you that I have a 4:3 RPTV and watch widescreen DVD all of the time with the black bars on the top and bottom. I have been doing this for over 2.5 years and there is absolutely no hint of edge burn in. It seems to me there would be none since the bars are black which is an absence of light, isn't it? The TV you were looking at has the same issues except the black or grey bars are on the right and left of the screen when watching 4:3 on a 16x9 set. Again, I have not seen any evidence of burn in on my friend's Mitsu. (However, the little bugs on the bottom left on cable channels can burn in.)

I just hate to see you cross off an option when you were blatantly misinformed.

 

Those guys at the store normally don't know too much and that's exatly why I posted here. Although its not my tast to watch the 'fat boy' mode, I like the idea of the bars on the left and right. As far as the burn in is concerned, yes I agree the black/grey is mostly the absence of the light particles in that area of the screen. What I think he was refering to was near the edge, there are constantly bright lights. If you look at a monitor that has been used for a couple years, you don't necessarly see stuff burned in like the station logos and such but you do see an outline of where the light has been aimed. It doesn't bother anyone because it is almost near the edge but if you watched the tv in 4:3 for everything besides movies, you would probably see this over time. Agree?

To me, I was happy to have my dad misinformed as I don't like the flat screens yet. They are to expensive right now, imo. However, I will tell him this to see what he says as he was immediatly turned off by the idea of lossing picture on this particular set.

He said all flat screens are monitors right now and contain no tuner or speakers...is THIS true? My dad hopes he's wrong on this also.

Thanks so much

 

There are modes for viewing standard aspect on most 16:9 screens without stretching at all. I would also not recommend a single tube front projector (many of these are LCD based). Zenith makes a lower model HD capable front projector which utilizes three tubes and comes in under 10K. The higher model front projector is self converging, but it's probably outside of your price range.

I still believe that Toshiba has the best value for RP HDTV 16:9 screens from a price/performance standpoint.

Overall your best HT experience will come from a HD capable front projector with a good (important) screen. I would also recommend the Stewart screens.

Do not underestimate the importance of audio - it is something that is highly tweaked in an audio shop. I used to work in a high end shop and almost every customer who started out only wanting a projector and screen came back to upgrade their audio components - you were spoiled by whatever setup the shop had and will notice a large discrepency between audio and picture quality which will ultimately affect your enjoyment of your system. Where are you located, aybe I can give you some guidance as to where to look around.

 

so usually no speakers - also, be very careful about the inputs on the set - some of the plasmas don't have the connections for a component cable which would require a conversion to a 24 pin connector. Pay attention to the resolution of the screen as well - all HD screens do not have the same resolution.

 

Robby,

The use of the term "flat screen" is not one I generally see as one used to describe a style or technology of displays. I think you may mean RPTV (rear projection TV). You can have a flat screen LCD computer monitor or a flat screen typical TV. Long ago the typical TV had a near circular picture with a curved glass front.

It's almost scary what the local shop will tell you to sell you what they carry. The best thing to get is always just what they have in stock. They'll tell you anything to put boxes in your hands today.

I'm holding out for the next generation DLP projectors coming out from Sharp and Seleco using the 1280 x 720 HD1 chip. There is some uproar about the copyright issues and downconversion if you don't have the right electronics installed. The Sharp 9000 won't have it, the Seleco 300HT will. At least that's my current understanding. Neither are out, but the Sharp is due very soon and the Seleco will be shown at next month's CEDIA show and likely available in November.

But these projectors aren't cheap. The Sharp may be $10K list price and the Seleco $12 or maybe even $15K.

There are certainly cheaper projectors and I'd look at the upcoming Sony 11HT or the price-dropping 10HT. Sony uses LCD panels and this technology is prone to "screen door." (grid pattern of lines in the picture that require you sit far away or defocus the picture)

So what would I recommend that's relatively cheap and has a gorgeous picture? PIONEER ELITE RPTV It is THE NAME in rear projection. Toshiba has done a great job in putting out very good product at much better prices. But the Pioneers still kick butt. The 510 is at least 2 years old and is due for replacement soon. It doesn't to 3:2 pulldown and isn't ideal for progressive DVD players. The new model should resolve this.

As to the "chopping off the top/bottom" of normal TV viewing, don't sweat it. Go through all the TV's stretch modes. My sister has the Pioneer and with normal TV on and the whole screen filled it looks pretty good. One mode only stretches the outer 10%, leaving the inside geometry the same. You really can't see any stretching. I would stay away from the 4:3 mode with the gray or black side bars. It may burn in and it may not. But I'd hate to get burn in and wish I didn't. The worst you can get with full picture, stretched/cropped normal NTSC TV is some missing picture info. Big deal. Normal TV sucks.

If you gotta do TV for under $5000, I can't recommend enough a 16:9 HD-ready rear projection TV. Pioneer or Toshiba.

Good luck,
jerry

 

Robby,
I you are looking at a projection system, find one that has a DLP ( digital light projection ) system made by Texas Instruments. They sell this to many systems producers like Toshiba, Matsu****a, etc...
The picture quality is incredible !
The price is higher than for LCD or tube type projection systems, but if you want the best quality picture, this is it !

 

picture quality. Stewart has a tremendous reputation in the business.