PJ to watch movies off SD sky+ and DVD.

[chris2922]

Id like to add a PJ to my home theatre setup but am hesitant to make a decision.

This is mainly due to the fact that all my sources output standard definition pictures.

My Sony DAV-S550 outputs DVD in SDef - via component out (that i cant use with my TV) but still - its SDef in PAL, 'component out' or not.

My Sky+160 box outputs standard definition via SVideo as well.

Ill spend most of my time watching movies recorded off Sky+ and would like a projector that handles deinterlacing with some competency.

I was interested in the Sanyo PVR-Z4 but have heard deinterlacing is it Achilles heal.
I was also interested in the Espon EMP-TW520, which apparently handles deinterlacing better, but suffers with chaotic menus, the need to extensively calibrate it, and a rather noisy lens mechanism and fan.

Can anyone offer me any advice? As you can gather from my initial choices, im spending about 1k.

[Oakleyspatz]

Infocus have always been reliable with regards to de-interlacing. Their Screenplay range (4805, 5700, 7205, 7210) have all got Faroudja's top de-interlacer inside and do a superb job of supressing jaggies and motion artifacts. The NTSC resolution 4805 is now available for around £600 or the PAL res 5700 for around £1000. The new line of Infocus projectors, the 'In' range do not have Faroudja de-interlacers but Pixeworks which from a demo I had of the budget In72 model, still works wonderfully ( see: http://www.infocus.com/Home/Products...tors/IN72.aspx )
They do not tend to make widescreen LCD projectors under 720p resolution nowadays but have no fear, scaled sd images will still look good on a 720p projector so long as (as you so rightly pointed out) the de-interlacing is up to scratch.

[sbowler]

I use a cheap freeview box for the pj, a panasonic 700, and the picture is comparible with DVD. Never had any complaints with the quality from the box, a very watchable image.

[chris2922]

Perhaps im over alalysing the issue?

Im watching my Sky+ box on a 4:3 Sony Wega set (29") and find the picture to be fantastic. I just want something for films thats gives a bit of wow factor.

Making the journey out to try and emo some of these pj's isnt something i intend to do till ive got some osrt of idea what models im looking for.

Although Faroudja's hardware does a great job its a little out of my price bracket this time around.

Has anyone paired up a Z4, epson or anything similar with Sky+? Id be keen to hear your results.

(sbowler - ill give the panny a look - thanks!)

[hornydragon]

loads of people are happy with Sky from a PJ its more a question of budget and tech. LCD or DLP? Buy the best you can afford and not worry if its an older model Optoma H70 etc (do you have £1500 to spend? http://www.av-sales.co.uk/OPTOMA-THE...RTNER=AVFORUMS )

[chris2922]

I was intending to limit myself to about £1000.

Its tricky though, and before i can decide whether or not i should hold and wait a while longer; i think i should try and see the z4 in action displaying a standard definition, interlaced picture.

Ive only recently upgraded to sky+ from analogue cable so im not going to be hard to impress. Frankly i think sky+ on a crt is fantastic quality. If its going to be anything like that then ill be sold.

[hornydragon]

if you let us know where you are we can reconmend some places to go for a demo

[chris2922]

Im in the West Midlands, near Dudley and Stourbridge.

In the past i have purchased electronics from reviews and magazines alone, but this time i think im going to need to see it first.

Thanks for taking the time to help.

[hornydragon]

I was brought round there..............well places to demo some PJ's there is Music matters in Solihull, Downing & downing in stourbridge, BF interactive in shrewsbury, Frank Harvey in coventry IIRC (just a few for you to phone tomorrow and see whats on demo) most will have £3k+ units on demo but go have a look and see what you think and take a couple of DVDs you like with you and dont be scared to say it looks crap if you think it does! Oh and tell them your happy to spend between £1k and £k as long as you thin the improvement is worth it

[chris2922]

Right, ill get on the case tomorrow.
I know where Music Matters and D&D are, so thats handy. Cheers.

[hornydragon]

music matters in stour are very small and hifi orientated (nice guys those) Solihull is much bigger sevenoaks cheltenham and Wolves are good but no idea if they have PJ on demo but manufactures (or distibutors) tend to have dealer lists n their websites. Optoma, Infocus (CSE solutions), Sanyo (OWL video) Panasonic, NEC, SONY, Mitsubishi (OWL video) all do sub £1000 units

[chris2922]

Heres a PJ that apparently scales standard definition very well, at the right price. Though no mention is made of fan noise or filer access.
What do you think?

http://www.projectorcentral.com/panasonic_ae900.htm

[hornydragon]

AE900 is good (panny generally are) everytime a new one comes out from panny or Sanyo it gets a bit better Z5 wont be long!

[chris2922]

ha ha, i cant get into the 'the next ones just round the corner' mindset with this too! It took me about a year to buy this damn pc.
After doing some more reading it sounds like the panny might suit my situation better. Ill be about 10ft away from the screen, and the pj will be about 11ft from the wall its projecting onto. Im going to try and get something between 50 - 80" diagonal.
Its solid ability to scale standard def images and burry-o-vision anti screen door effect might be just what i need.

I'll still be viewing them first if at all possible though.

[Oakleyspatz]

Originally Posted by chris2922

Perhaps im over alalysing the issue?

Im watching my Sky+ box on a 4:3 Sony Wega set (29") and find the picture to be fantastic. I just want something for films thats gives a bit of wow factor.

Making the journey out to try and emo some of these pj's isnt something i intend to do till ive got some osrt of idea what models im looking for.

Although Faroudja's hardware does a great job its a little out of my price bracket this time around.

Has anyone paired up a Z4, epson or anything similar with Sky+? Id be keen to hear your results.

(sbowler - ill give the panny a look - thanks!)

I think you misunderstood me Chris, The Infocus Screenplay range have the Faroudja de-interlacer built in. You do not need a seperate box. The Infocus Screenplay 4805 is only £600 brand new and for a first pj, will definately produce that 'wow' factor. But the technology is DLP which can cause a problem called 'rainbows' to some people ( flashes of multicoloured light when moving the eyes quickly over the image). Also the AE900 is a very well reviewed pj but beware of possible verticle banding on this model ( look for thick verticle stripes running down bright images when you demo) which has been reported by some owners. So a demo of whatever pj you are interested in is always advised.