Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater HD front projection??

I gotta say I have both a CRT and DLP front PJ and if you can swing it any sort of way go for the CRT. Sure it has drawbacks - size and not as fancy tech - but the picture is just so much closer to reference.

what's reference and who decided what it is?

Alright - sorry - I opened up the wrong can of worms - I should have said - my opinion is that CRT really gives an excellent picture for FP and I prefer it to my DLP PJ for movies. Understand neither of them are high end equipment and I am not a videophile. Previous statement retracted.

And to add to that - I have been lurking around these forums to try to get tips to optimize my Axiom setup and created an ID when I saw this thread. I feel that people can benefit from the opinion of someone who has spent considerable time with both technologies.

All the best

Chandler

My office is expecting delivery of a 61" NEC plasma screen any day now. (It's actually really late.) It's going to be used as a computer monitor, but you bet we're going to test it out with DVDs. I'll let you know what I think of the PQ.

Oh, I think it cost like $10,000, though.

Welcome aboard, happy. I meant no disrespect by my comment -- just a poke in the ribs.

Here's what's grabbed my eye right now, but like I said, I'm a long way off from a purchase of this size.

Toshiba 65HX83 65" LCoS

Anyone in the LA area with FP that would want to change my mind.

Yes, CRT projectors (especially the ones with bigger 8"-9" guns), once properly calibrated, do produce better pictures than any digital projectors available today. However, the drawbacks are daunting...

(1) They are HUGE and HEAVY. If you ever want to ceiling-mount it, you first need a major structural reinforcement on the ceiling joists themselves. If you table-mount it, it will surely dominate the entire room, sitting right in the middle of the room.

(2) The projected image is several fold dimmer than digital projectors. This means that you need a perfectly light-controlled room, preferably all walls/ceilings painted in dark colors.

(3) Cost of ownership is very high -- CRTs don't last forever, plus the cost for regular calibrations/maintenance (see below).

(4) Last but not least, calibrating a CRT projector is a full-time job by itself. Forget about possibly doing it by yourself, unless you want to get an ISF certificate. And you have to repeat it regularly. Incidentally, un-calibrated or poorly calibrated CRT projector is a disaster in picture quality. Never expect a decent performance out-of-box, whether new or used.

Craig, I don't know what kind of picture quality you demand. But I can essentially guarantee, from my own experience, that a properly set up digital front projector will produce a BETTER image than what you watch in a typical local cinema theater (excluding those rare high-tech theaters where all gears are truly well calibrated and maintained), AS LONG AS you have a decent light control.

If you agree that the Axiom 5.1 system produces clearer, more accurate sound than what you ever hear in a local cinema theater, you know what I mean...

Talk to me Sushi...point me toward FP bliss. I'd love some links to some great HD FP's.