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  • alhutch - Friday, April 11, 2008 - link

    I like the system you are putting in good choice on the RS2 however for other readers you can find 1080 p under 3k now.
  • Electro - Wednesday, March 26, 2008 - link

    FYI, that projector you selected is based on LCoS. It uses crystals to reflect the light. Yes, DLP reflects the light, but you are wrong thinking your projector is DLP based.

    I suggest look for projector models that uses LED as the lighting instead of a halogen bulb which most projectors uses. The difference is noticeable and a lot less heat. Less energy wasted, less money spent each month on electricity bills.

    You should be using HDMI instead of those analog connections. I am sure that PS3 contains HDMI connectors. Digital displays loses quality when trying to convert analog to digital and then deinterlace the content. Since LCoS displays are progressive, it is best to send only progressive to your projector for the best picture.

    I hope you are spending at least two to four times more time designing and simulating loudspeakers than you are designing and building your theater room. The reason is most of the movie content is sound. An OK sound setup will make the movie seem OK even with the best visual setup. An excellent sound setup will make the movie seem great even though the visual setup is poor.

    I am thinking of designing the following loudspeakers.

    FL, C, FR:
    (3) Exodus Audio/CSS WR125S
    (2) Dayton PT2C-8 Planar Tweeter
    MTM Style
    Box Type: ?
    Box Size: ?

    RL, RR:
    (2) Exodus Audio/CSS WR125S
    (2) HiVi RT1L Round Planar Tweeter
    Bi-pole
    Box Type: ?
    Box Size: ?

    SL, SR (optional):
    (2) Exodus Audio/CSS WR125S
    (2) HiVi RT1L Round Planar Tweeter
    Di-pole
    Box Type: ?
    Box Size: ?

    Subwoofer:
    (2) Exodus Audio Shiva-X
    Push-Pull
    Box Type: ?
    Box Size: ?

    Sound card: Audiotrak Prodigy 7.1
    OS: Gentoo Linux
    Amplifier: Technics SA-AX7 AV Reciever
    Monitor: Hitachi CM771 19" CRT
  • ocularis73 - Wednesday, March 26, 2008 - link

    I built a home theater with projector too. Here's what I used:
    Sharp XR-10X, $900 in 2005
    Galvanized pipe, flanges and screws to make ghetto mount, $12
    White wall in basement, free
    DVD / home theater system from Best Buy, $150
    Old couch and loveseat, free
    Blocks to hold couch higher than loveseat for "theater effect", $10
    First time watching a DVD on an 85 inch screen, PRICELESS

    Guess it all depends on your expectations. Seems like you to expect yours to transport you through outer space. I'd suggest watching that scene from Contact; might help. Best of luck though. Hope you get to actually watch a movie in a year or two... ;)
  • nbaleva - Wednesday, March 26, 2008 - link


    I'm considering mounting a projector in my living room. The question I have is how far from the source player will the projector be and have you considered what to do about long HDMI cable runs ? The reason I ask is that I need > 40 ft for my HDMI run and the current long HDMI run solutions are $$$.
  • nubie - Wednesday, March 26, 2008 - link

    If you lose the signal use an active extender ($20), the HDMI spec includes 5 volts for running devices like this, just put it somewhere in the middle of the run.

    http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id...">http://www.monoprice.com/products/produ...7&p_...

    These are based around a single chip designed as an HDMI repeater, so you should be good to go.
  • cdl1701 - Wednesday, March 26, 2008 - link

    That is my problem with all articles on this site
  • malvitz - Friday, March 28, 2008 - link

    I had the same problem as you until i just updated to the latest version of Firefox, although i have many extensions which may have been causing a problem my other computers and friends computers did not have a problem with images. possibly just try updating Firefox to 2.0.0.13 or newer.
  • Anand Lal Shimpi - Wednesday, March 26, 2008 - link

    Try now :)
  • cdl1701 - Tuesday, April 1, 2008 - link

    cool works now thanks!
  • nubie - Wednesday, March 26, 2008 - link

    My Firefox is fine too, never had a problem with Anandtech and firefox.
  • xxjudgmentxx - Wednesday, March 26, 2008 - link

    ...pictures load fine on firefox.
  • xxjudgmentxx - Wednesday, March 26, 2008 - link

    http://projectorpeople.com/projectors/projdtls.asp...">http://projectorpeople.com/projectors/p...;itmname...

    kills that JVC unit.
  • datobin1 - Wednesday, March 26, 2008 - link

    I believe you mentioned in your last post that you are using screen material with some gain. If this is the case, placing the PJ in the back of the room will improve the viewing cone and the added brightness from that will make up for the zoom loss.

    Theater is coming along nice and I'm drooling over your PJ
  • tvarad - Wednesday, March 26, 2008 - link

    Not trusting the ceiling mount brought back memories of my install of a gazillion pound Runco 3-gun CRT projector eons ago. The contractor put in the mount, attached the monster and let go. In a few seconds, the projector let go of the mount. Luckily the contractor managed to catch it on the way down without any injuries (how he was able to, given it's weight, I've never figured out). We re-did the mounting with bigger and more screws and I actually did pull-ups on it as a test for a few days before I hung the projector on it again!
  • Screammit - Wednesday, March 26, 2008 - link

    Yes, Talking monkey, came here from the future! ugly sucker, only ever says "ficus"
  • Rogue 2 - Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - link

    I do Pro AV as my "day job" and I use those Chief mounts all the time. There are a few more parts you need to really secure it to the ceiling "right"... ceiling plate, pole, then the RPA mount. But I'd be more concerned with heat buildup in the cubbyhole.. what are you doing for ventilation? Those suckers get REAL hot after a while!
  • endofwho - Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - link

    How are going to cold the hushbox(fans like 'Noctua_NF-P12')? Does VC DLA-RS2 make alot heat?
  • taltamir - Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - link

    I buy a 1000$ every year or two. Makes much more sense then that 6000$ projector. not to mention the 30,000$ one.

    A 1000$ projector has similar quality to a TV thrice the price.
    You can very cheaply install it yourself. No need for anything fancy. Heck, at first I just projected on a blank white wall with regular paint. Its still awesome. If you then have some dough, hang some wood and paint it with a special silver reflective projector light.
  • nubie - Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - link

    Read a review and see the difference yourself:

    http://www.projectorcentral.com/jvc_dla_rs2_home_t...">http://www.projectorcentral.com/jvc_dla_rs2_home_t...

    Personally on a budget I would just get a 720p DLP of high quality that was a little older, but my budget is currently less than 0.

    This is for those who understand why they are paying for the extra quality, and have had enough of "less than" or "good enough". considering on the amount he spent on the room this projector is a good match for this sort of environment.

    This is an enthusiast's blog after all, he didn't call it "save money on a 99" television, skip LCD's and buy a DLP projector", he is putting in a serious theater in his house, and that demanded a real projector. I frankly was amazed at the quality available at this price, but as I said, I would be fine with 720p high quality for under $1k, but I would just be watching primetime/broadcast HD and computing on it. Not building it into a theater room in my house. I don't think that he will be upset with his purchase anytime in the next few years (and as he said, the current high-end is 5 figures, he did pretty well considering), not until there is a lot of content at better than 1080p.

    I would be curious to see if he can play 4-player native 1080p on any current game system, that would be a treat. Or if he plans on PC gaming or Stereoscopic gaming/movie watching.
  • SlingXShot - Thursday, March 27, 2008 - link

    Same here, I was able to afford only Optima 720P projecttor, I had infocus 4805 before. I found that it wasn't worth extra 500$ for the infocus 720P projector. Howeever, I can tell you that the difference was not that much between the infocus 4805 and 720P. It is brighter, etc, but if I had the money I would have gotten a 1080p projector. It is such a difference. And anyone who buys 5000$ 70 INCH TVs is just stupid, buy your self a projector... you will save few thousand dollars.
  • nubie - Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - link

    Wow, simply stunning, and unbelievable that you could use this for your TV with an antenna now that broadcast 1080 is becoming standard for primetime (now if only re-runs were :().

    @casteve, look a little closer, it is also the sync for VGA or RGB+Sync. Besides, if you just spent $6,000 on a projector and you couldn't connect it to any composite equipment, wouldn't you be a little miffed? I was surprised at the lack of VGA input, but realized the RGB probably covered it.

    Best feature of your projector? Probably the analog overscan adjustments, I hate it when the image isn't pixel perfect, full screen be damned (on a projector "full screen" being the difference between 96" and 101" diagonal is not a big deal, but the inaccuracies caused by non-native pixel stretching is a huge deal).

    Now to forget buying a house and pick up one of these bad boys :), or just watch the used market for one in about 4-5 years, when everyone is moving to QuadHD and Blu-Ray Xtra :D.

    Keep up the good work, starting to look really good, I love the PS3 on particle board and a box, just had to hook it up ;).

    Do you have plans for a comfortable foot-rest? That is the number one problem with the theater, I can't get comfortable without my legs properly supported, no hyperextension, but a slight bend and the back of your knees supported.
  • casteve - Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - link

    Thanks for the update - I am so jeolous. Had to laugh when I saw the yellow rca jack for composite video input. Kinda contrary to the market segment.
  • redsquid5 - Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - link

    Putting the projector at the back of the room was the right decision, it would be no brighter if closer with the same image size.
    Once you add lenses, the brightness is just a factor of screen size; the same amount of light is going through to form the image.
    (Light intensity drops with the square of distance for point sources.)
    The advantage with the closer projector would be to keep head shadows out of the movie... Down in Front!
  • h0kiez - Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - link

    Your comments about the PJ pricing are so true. Although I'm decidedly on the lower end of PJs, I've been through 3 PJs in as many years (Infocus 4805, Infocus 5000, and now Mits HD1000U) and will soon get a 1080 model. If you know how to shop around (which all of your astute readers surely know how to do), you can get a PJ, use it for a year, and sell it for not a whole lot less than you paid for it.

    Your analogy to PJ pricing vs. computer pricing is spot on too...I can't tell you how many times I've explained to people that they're better off with teh $500 PC and just buying a new one every couple of years.

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