Big Ass TV

August 10, 2006 6:49 PM

Home Theater Question: So I want to set up a digital projector on the wall of my apartment and I have one remaining question: XGA or SVGA?

does it make a difference? What does it mean for the image that I'm going to get? Is it worth the extra 2-3 hundred bucks? I'm just going to be using this set-up to watch movies and play x-box so I'm not too anal but I want it to look good. Specifically, the model I'm looking at is:

http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/proj_1200mp?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

also, if anyone has anytips for setting up a home theatre I'd appreciate it

posted by slapshot57 to technology (11 comments total)

DLP is an excellent choice, and from the spec's that seems like a decent unit, though I have been less than impressed in the past by Dell LCD's.

Realize TV is something insanely low like 400x300. For anything that is expecting to output to a TV (sans hidef) svga vs xga wont matter. If you are looking at an XBOX 360 make sure your projector has an HDMI port.
posted by SirStan at 7:01 PM on August 10, 2006

If plan on watching HDTV with it SVGA isn't going to cut it. If not, SVGA will work fine. As far as set up goes, buy a real screen, it makes a huge difference.
posted by doctor_negative at 7:01 PM on August 10, 2006

the unit says it can project in HD, how will SVGA not cut it?
posted by slapshot57 at 7:09 PM on August 10, 2006

If you are going to project the image any larger than 20 inches or so diagonal, get the highest resolution you can. Go to your nearest big box electronics store and see what the different resolutions look like in real life; you may find it more economical to get something like this, considering that you won't get the best performance out of a projector unless you invest in a good screen or special paint for the wall you are projecting it on. This may not work if your apartment is too small, though.

As far as a complete theater setup is concerned, advance planning and budgeting is key; what are you going to get, where are you going to put it, how are you going to mount it, where are the wires going, how many plugs do you need are all things you should know before you start to shop. Don't be seduced by marketing telling you to get special pure copper cables with platinum connectors; cheap 18 gauge (or larger) wire from Home Depot or Lowes will work as well (and look the same) as Monster Cable stuff costing many times more.
posted by TedW at 7:09 PM on August 10, 2006 [1 favorite has favorites]

HD is a misnomer. There are many different types. This projector will probably do 720i just fine (the lowest HD resolution I believe?)
posted by SirStan at 7:19 PM on August 10, 2006

my apt is large (I have a 9 foot long blank space where I'm going to project and could paint with the special paint) so that's not a concern. The set up is all planned out I'm just want to know that SVGA is going to suit my needs. Sounds like it should
posted by slapshot57 at 7:29 PM on August 10, 2006

HD scaled down to SVGA still looks incredible, almost as good as real HD.

The choice depends on how close to the projector you plan to be sitting. As a rule of thumb, if you're going to be sitting in front of the projector, get the XGA, as the grid will be too visible with an SVGA (I have one). If you'll be sitting behind the projector, you'll be happy with SVGA.

I'd also recommend looking around for a secondhand Infocus X1. They have a much better video processing chip than any other low end projector ever made (even the X2 doesn't have it).
posted by cillit bang at 8:09 PM on August 10, 2006

XGA is mainly used for computer output (such as powerpoint presentations, or attempting to give oneself a coronary by playing Quake3 on a 9 foot screen), becaues even lowish-end computer graphics are much higher resolution than DVD.

SVGA resolution is greater than TV/DVD/game console quality, so it sounds like it's all you need - spend the money you save by not going XGA on getting a brighter lamp (eg at least 1800 lumens) so that the picture is bright on your 9-foot space.

Some HDTV modes (presumably including some supported by xbox 360 and the upcoming playstation 3) exceed the SVGA resolution. Other than computer graphics output, that would be your only use for XGA. Normally I'd suggest the extra resolution to future-proof yourself, but the bulb life on projectors is limited, and replacement costs are hundreds of dollars, so it seems pointless to get the extra resolution if you're not going to be using it immediately or int he near future.

(I purchased an XGA DLP 2000 lumen projector, the screen size it about 10 feet diagionally. You'll love it. If the walls are white, you'll lose contrast as projected light reflecting from the screen bounces off the surroundings and back onto the screen, lighting the room and thus diminishing your blacks, so some dark drapes will improve the image, if you care enough. My walls are still white, but I still love it :)
posted by -harlequin- at 8:54 PM on August 10, 2006

I have not seen them, but one group of projectors that get consistently *very* good reviews for dvd viewing are the ones that are native 858x480 -- in other words, that are exactly dvd resolution (taking the anamorphic into account). Infocus makes some, I think some others do as well, for about a grand.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:12 PM on August 10, 2006

HD scaled down to SVGA still looks incredible, almost as good as real HD.

True dat.

You probably won't find a projector in your budget that will do true 1080i HDTV... so don't worry about it. Many stations don't even broadcast at that range yet and won't for many years to come. By the time they do you'll be ready to upgrade.
posted by wfrgms at 11:17 PM on August 10, 2006

You didn't ask about DLP vs LCD, but you should make sure to go to a store and look at some first. Some people find DLP to have a "shimmery" quality, at least some of the time, that can be too distracting to watch. Then again, some people can't get past the "screen-door effect" of the LCDs. Neither one is a perfect technology. I went with an SVGA LCD and have been mostly happy--and more to the point, I don't think spending a few hundred dollars more would've made me much happier.
posted by rikschell at 6:57 AM on August 11, 2006