Originally posted by Goof
So basically, a 480P/576P/HDTV(?) enabled projector isn't going to give me any further benefits when I connect using VGA (but will if I use component)?
So the only things I could improve on are noise level (40dB+ yes please!!!!), brightness etc?
Oh, and I did tweak with your page/link last week and had noticable improvements.
Every new LCD and DLP projector has a deinterlacer, which when fed an interlaced signal, will turn it into a progressive picture. Yes, your projector has a deinterlacer too.
The deinterlacer in a projector is usually quite bad, and is only designed for video based material. It's like the "Bob" deinterlace algorithm in software DVD players. Film material doesn't look too good. Why don't manufacturers include a proper deinterlacer, then? Cost reduction, maybe. However, the deinterlacer is NOT in use with a progressive component or a VGA signal, because the source is already progressive. EDIT: Forgot to add: not all projectors are able to display a progressive component signal.
Progressive DVD players and some of the newer projectors have adaptive deinterlacing circuits such as the Faroudja DCDi, which are optimized for both video and film. It's better to have the deinterlacer inside the player, because then the deinterlacing is done digitally inside the player-> one less DA conversion.
In addition to the deinterlacer, all projectors have a scaler. What the scaler does, is take any form of picture that is fed into the projector, and make it fill the panel. Imagine feeding a 640x480 picture to your XGA projector: it's the the scaler that stretches the image to fill the whole screen. The scaler is always in use with a composite, s-video or component connection, and also when feeding the projector a non-native VGA signal. It's also the scaler that does all the refresh rate conversions.
With VGA/DVI, you can bypass both the scaler and the deinterlacer. With a progressive component signal you can bypass the deinterlacer.
So, a properly adjusted PC is the best picture source for any projector, because it is as straight a feed into the projector as possible. Progressive component comes second, then interlaced component, s-video and composite.
But the PC isn't nearly as user friendly as a standalone player... And with the new widescreen models it takes a bit of tinkering to get it work in 1:1... Decisions, decisions.
So what would you get if you upgrade your projector?
- better contrast
- better lamp life
- better black levels (your current PJ is a data model with a high light output)
- better noise levels
- better color reproduction
- better connections
Of course a projector upgrade will bring you some improvement, but you have to consider: is it really worth the required ~2000£? Ask your dealer if he will lend you a, say, Sony VPL-HS10 for testing: always see for yourself how much better the picture actually is! Don't trust forums or marketing. Your current projector might even come quite close to a new projector...
Well, I'm just rambling but I hope that some of this will make the whole thing clearer for you to understand.
Regards,
Olaiho