themeScene HD81 Brochure

Liam @ Prog AV · 27-06-2006, 2:38 PM

Just got this mailed from my ThemeScene rep. Looks very spicy indeed!

http://progressive-av.co.uk/product_..._Brochure1.pdf

Still nothing on price etc but will confirm when I get any news!!

Keith Hurst · 27-06-2006, 2:54 PM

Drool, probably way outside my price range though even if it is released here.

KH

Zag · 27-06-2006, 6:52 PM

That looks like a stunning bit of equipment. I just hope that the combination of 1080P DLP chip, plus 7 segment colour has been implemented in such a way as to reduce the dreaded RBE. Otherwise all that fancy processing, great contrast and resolution is worth nothing to the rainbow senstive amongst us.

VirusKiller · 27-06-2006, 9:30 PM

Sadly, it would have to be a tremendous improvement in rainbow elimination to persuade me to try single-chip DLP again (H79 trial was a disaster).

I wonder what the cost of the PJ unit without scaler will be (if that's an option). With 1080p LCD and LCoS on the horizon, there will be quite a bit of competition...

sjb · 27-06-2006, 11:55 PM

It's a pity Optoma/Themescene appear to be bringing the HD81 to market without lens shift

it looks like it will have a fixed offset of 27%.

My ceiling mounted screen is 3.5mtrs wide by 1.97mtrs high .

If I'm working it out correctly, the centre of projector lens would have to be 530mm above the top of my screen if ceiling mounting the projector.

Anyone with an H79 etc... looking to upgrade to the HD81 will have to shift things around - not ideal !!

Regards,

Stan.

jamieuk23 · 28-06-2006, 7:52 AM

I really dont understand why they dont make lens shift as standard ! surely it would open a bigger makret to them regards to sales any every 1s cinema rooms are never the same.

lazy designers !

AngelEyes · 28-06-2006, 8:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjb

It's a pity Optoma/Themescene appear to be bringing the HD81 to market without lens shift

it looks like it will have a fixed offset of 27%.

I must have missed that... surely this won't be the case?

charris cy · 28-06-2006, 8:24 AM

any estimated price? comparison to the new sim2 1080p?

Timbo21 · 28-06-2006, 9:59 AM

Looks scrumptous

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngelEyes

I must have missed that... surely this won't be the case?

I'm afraid this is correct. I was considering waiting for this, but the 27% offset with no lens shift ruled it out for my room. It's believed at some point it may be introduced. One of the great things with Optomas was their lens shift. I believe the HD72i doesn't have lens shift too IIRC.

T.

AngelEyes · 28-06-2006, 10:05 AM

Yes... nightmare

Gary Lightfoot · 28-06-2006, 8:16 PM

The HD81 uses an existing Optoma chasis so that developement time and cost was reduced, and that has allowed it to be brought to market quicker and cheaper than a 1080 pj designed from scratch. Most new 1080 pjs will be coming to market at over £10,000, and if the rumoured street price of $6000 is correct for the HD81 it will be considerably cheaper than any other 1080 DLP.

There will be a 1080 pj from Optoma later on that does have lens shift (and possibly an auto iris which they have developed), so if you need lens shift (at a possibly equally affordable price) you'll have to wait a bit longer.

Gary

HouseofMu · 05-09-2006, 10:56 AM

Does this fixed lens shift mean it has to be mounted simlairly to the InFocus 720xx range. They require the lens center to be level with top of screen area.

Is there a pj distance to screen, height calculation ?

Would adjusting screen drop not also help the positioning of pj ?

danny daniell · 05-09-2006, 3:31 PM

According to T3 mag,rrp will be £5k & release date is november.

tryingtimes · 05-09-2006, 4:28 PM

Will it be available without the VP?
(for those who already own one, or who want a different one)

HouseofMu · 05-09-2006, 9:04 PM

Is there another outboard VP than offers such a comprehensive collection of HDMI in / out/ passthrou sockets ?

gandley · 05-09-2006, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tryingtimes

Will it be available without the VP?
(for those who already own one, or who want a different one)

In the US i believe it only comes with the VP as its the VP that controls the PJ interface, ie its only for the HD81 and its more akin to a control unit. without it the HD81 only has basic functions.

Its also up on some USA retail sites for approx $5800

sjb · 05-09-2006, 11:37 PM

HouseofMu - 27% offset means the lens center needs to be 27% of your screen height ABOVE top of screen.

i.e. my screen is 1970mm high x 27% = 530mm, so, in my case the lens center needs to be 530mm above top of screen.

If you can alter screen drop this would help.

I have 300mm of black between top of screen and ceiling, only another 230mm to find !!

You could also tilt the projector up slightly and use keystone etc.. to adjust the image.

AV Sales have the HD81 on their site at £4995 . They are taking pre-orders !

Best Regards,

Stan.

HouseofMu · 05-09-2006, 11:48 PM

blimey! didnt realise it meant above the screen top. I bought my screen with an extended drop, but i'd still struggle to accomodate that. Cant be many people that can locate pj that high above scr. What were they thinking of ?

I do still think the external connection box is inspired thou. Other multi HDMI connection boxes still cost a fortune.

My tosh MT8 is still performing exceptionally well, but I've half an eye, on a 1080p replacment. I think waiting for a lens shift version might be better idea.

cheers for the info.

Liam @ Prog AV · 13-09-2006, 9:55 AM

UPDATE:

ThemeScene HD81
- £4,999 inc VAT
- available end of this month to any one who has backordered (I don't imagine much that stock!)
- two-box solution only but for £5k all in you're kinda laughing really!!

HD3000 (video processor) will also be available on it's own for £1,999 inc VAT and I think stocks are available now (I've had one for about 6 weeks and it's really rather good!).

HouseofMu · 13-09-2006, 10:12 AM

Had the processor or the whole package ?

Any chance you could post a mini review ?

This might be a daft question, but would I notice 'real' a pq improvment over my 720p MT8 when using a a proper 1080 source (ie Sky HD)?

Little confused by the in/outs of the HDMi sockets, is one of them a HDMI passthou ?

2 of them in the HDMI out section (far right) but are labeled as input from external sources , so are they in or outs ?

Liam @ Prog AV · 13-09-2006, 10:18 AM

There is a HDMI out to the AV Receiver, and then a pass back in again before it goes up to the projector. This to enable any HD audio to be picked up by your receiver. If you aren't using it a tiny 10cm HDMi lead is supplied which just hooks the two together. So you've got 3 HDMI ins, out to the AVR, back from the AVR, then out to display.

Projector and processor combined make the HD81. You cannot buy the projector alone, most of the firmware is in the processor. The processor alone is the HD3000 but does use different software (i.e. it isn't the same and can't be pulled out of the HD81 - although I'm sure plenty of us will try!).

Given the power of the VXP chip in this thing, yes you will notice a real improvement, even on SD material!

HouseofMu · 13-09-2006, 10:28 AM

Why the need to go out and back from AV amp.
Wouldnt it be simpler to go IN from a device then
1. out to AV amp for sound
AND simultaneously
2. out to pj for video

ie a 1 in 2 out setup ?

HouseofMu · 13-09-2006, 10:47 AM

One extra Question:

The brouchure indicates that the HDMI sockets can accept upto 1080i (and can then be deinterlaced) but can those sockets also they accept 1080p ? I'm thinking of future DVD players etc that might supply a prog. signal.

mikeaitch · 13-09-2006, 11:23 AM

Hmmmmm £5k......... or a

Sony Pearl with extra bulb, lens shift 3 chip + £1000 towards a scaler you wouldn't have to sell with the projector next time you upgrade?

Some rainbows...

keystone required so some pq degradation..

Mitsu HC5000 poss with c £2-2500 change and onboard HQV Reon processing?

JVC DiLa with supposed native 10,000-1 CR and £500-£1000 change?

Hmmmmmmm......

Zag · 13-09-2006, 2:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeaitch

Hmmmmm £5k......... or a

Sony Pearl with extra bulb, lens shift 3 chip + £1000 towards a scaler you wouldn't have to sell with the projector next time you upgrade?

Some rainbows...

keystone required so some pq degradation..

Mitsu HC5000 poss with c £2-2500 change and onboard HQV Reon processing?

JVC DiLa with supposed native 10,000-1 CR and £500-£1000 change?

Hmmmmmmm......

I agree.

I wouldn't pay that for a rainbow generator but there are many people out there who will. The combined performance of the 1080 DMD & VXP chipped processor for £5000 is a powefull package and a dream come true for a lot of people, provided of course that you're eyes are okay with the technology.

In terms of picture performance I think the Pearl and HD81 will be close. The H81 will be sharper and brighter with better ANSI contrast and the Pearl will look more film like with the better on/off contrast. Of course, some of the differences may only be observable by the most critically eyed under optimum viewing conditions which will largely negate the differences anyway.

For some the H81 will be the best projector and worth the extra outlay, however for other people there will be better solutions too, it all depends on many factors each of which have to be carefully weighed up.

Liam @ Prog AV · 13-09-2006, 4:44 PM

Blimey you don't want much do you guys LOL!!! Only single-chip 1080p on the market we sell is 11 grand, ThemeScene come out with one for 5 grand including a 2 grand processor and it's no good LOL!!!!!! Anyways I've put a couple answers below:

Pearl + £1,000 for a processor is not going to match what a VXP can deliver. Will need closer to £2,000 processor budget. How DLP and SXRD will compare at this price point I cannot comment until I see it.

All these other comparisons need to consider the cost of a high-end processor in the mix so I would factor in a £2k difference.

For those who are interested, I haven't yet discovered if the HD81 can be set up to do 48Hz for NTSC film although by accounts both bits of hardware should be capable and the brochure mentions as much.

I have also asked about the AV loop-thru a couple times in the last 6 weeks but got no answer.

I wouldn't get too carried away about on board HQV just yet. Still haven't seen a HQV device reliably do SD film properley (that includes the Denon A1...)!

HD-DVD outputting 1080i50 film material will be correctly deinterlaced (at full resolution) by the HD81 back to 1080p25 (or 1080p24 from 1080i60). I don't know where we will stand with 1080p50/60 (i.e. 50 or 60 unique progressive frames) but I don't see anything else doing it either. In fact, the brochure does mention 1080i/p compatibility so you could be wrong. I haven't got a 1080p source so haven't tested it. Will get confirm from Optoma.

Liam @ Prog AV · 13-09-2006, 4:47 PM

I've got the processor not the whole package by the way. Will do a mini review when I have the lot. But I have posted comments re the processing on the video processing forum (specifically the HQV Benchmark thread)

Gary Lightfoot · 13-09-2006, 4:55 PM

I'm pretty amazed that 1080 has arrived and almost immediatley we have products that are £6000 (Ruby), £5000 (HD81) and £4000 (Pearl), with the Mitsubishi LCD being even cheaper I believe.

When 720 pjs arrived they were expensive for quite some time and only recently have they started to become more affordable. The Optoma H77 was £3500 (as was the NEC HT1000 only a year or so before that) not too long ago and that was considered cheap at the time compared the the competition.

Now, for £500 more, we have the Pearl and £1500 we have the HD81. Compared to many others that were released literaly weeks ago, thses prices are less than half (1080 DLP is £10000+).

Almost unbeleivable IMHO but great news for those who want 1080 at a reasonable price (for an early adopter) and don't want to have to wait a couple of years for them to drop to these prices..

Gary

mikeaitch · 13-09-2006, 6:56 PM

Amen to that Gary!

I'm glad I didn't bankrupt myself to get the Ruby, with all these new pjs coming out so soon after. The biggest problems I have with paying £5k for the H81 is that standalone VPs are constantly updated throughout their initial life, don't know about the H81 VP?

Plus if I want to change, my VP goes with the pj.

Also the offset- I understood when Optoma said it was basing it on a Business model to bring 1080 to market sooner, but it ended up not being launched ahead of the others- at least not by much. So I can't just unbolt my H78 and put up the H81

Overall though , vfm is getting better and better...

Gary Lightfoot · 13-09-2006, 7:04 PM

Indeed - the Ruby was an amazing bargain (and still is) even at £6000 and now that's looking expensive just a few months down the line.

The later Optoma model will have the bespoke chassis and should have lens shift, so will be suitrable for those who can't use the fixed offset. I wonder how much that will be...

By using the data pj chassis they've come in considerably cheaper than all the other DLPs right now though. A comparison in performance will be very interesting to see too (will it be half as good as those costing twice as much? I'm expecting a difference but not a huge one tbh).

Gary