December 13, 2006

" I totally don’t know what it is, but I want it."

HDTV Logo

The high-definition home theater market is booming, which means there is a better selection of HD products for you to choose from, and that prices are more competitive than ever. Does that mean non-HD equipment will soon become obsolete? Not likely. But those who upgrade to an HD system will soon be able to see the fruits of their investment. So while the nation is close to a complete conversion to HD, we are in a time betwixt... but we know you want it now... So we thought we'd share with you some information on HD, just in time for the holidays.

"I Don’t Know What It Is, But I Want It."

You may have seen a commercial for Direct TV networks where Jessica Simpson kicks some guys butt for not watching her in 1080i and then says... "1080i. I totally don’t know what it is, but I want it."

Just in case you have that in common with Ms. Simpson, we have prepared a brief overview of HD resolutions. Technically HD can be anything from 480p (Enhanced Definition) up to 1080p lines of video resolution. On a standard CRT TV we see 480i broadcasts. Even just upgrading from an "interlaced" (the "i" in 480i) to a "progressive" (the "p" in 480p, 720p, and 1080p) scan signal is a significant improvement. Here is a breakdown of the current signals you will find on the market today.

  • 480i (NTSC)- Found on older CRT TVs.
  • 480p (EDTV) - Common on lower priced projectors (under $800), Plasmas, and LCD TVs.
  • 720p (HD) - Found on projectors (many under $1000), LCD TVs and Plasmas.
  • 1080i (HD interlaced) - Not common as native resolution. Both 720p and 1080p can scale 1080i.
  • 1080p (True HD) - Found on projectors (under $5000), LCD TVs and Plasmas.

The 1080i Jessica refers to is an interlaced signal, which is not as desirable as progressive scan signal. However, 1080i has more lines of resolution. So between a 720p and 1080i you choose the smoother scan process, and more video lines. There are not many native 1080i display products, but there are a lot of units that are 1080i compatible. Both 720p and 1080p projectors will both do a great job displaying 1080i broadcasts.

Quick Tip: Chicken of the Sea is actually tuna, not chicken.

Football

1080p or 720p?Which is the Real HD?

Purists feel that only 1080p is "true" HD, but isn't much to watch in that resolution. The two most common HD broadcast signals are 720p and 1080i. Thats 1080i, not 1080p. As we mentioned, both a 720p and a 1080p projector will look fantastic in either HD signal. Our best-selling resolution today is 720p, which also happens to be the resolution of ESPN and FOX Sports’ HD broadcasts. 720p was likely chosen for sports broadcasts because progressive signals do a better job with fast motion in video than interlaced.

Quick Tip: Sports fans who want HD can check out the HDSportsGuide.com as handy reference for what's on in HD. They include broadcast signals too, so you can compare who's picked 720p and who is going with 1080i.

Native 1080p projectors (such as the Mitsubishi HC5000BL are now here, and they are much cheaper than the $8,000-10,000 price tag we predicted back in April of this year. Rather they are falling in the $4,000-6,000 range. If you can afford one, they will be more future proof than 720p, and they will also display absolutely breathtaking video.

720p video will also look very good, and is a tremendous improvement over your NTSC television. 720p native projectors are a more comfortable $2,000, with rebates and incentives making them even less expensive. See our selection of HDTV projectors here.

For those who want to improve the look of every image they see, a DVDO scan converter might be worth the investment. It will "clean up" all the sources you run into it, making them suitable for viewing on your big screen HD player. They are not inexpensive, however, running in the $1,000 to $2,000 range.

Why Buy Wide?

Widescreen and 4:3

Buying HD is a kind of future proofing in itself, but there are some other things you can look for before buying that will keep you ahead of the curve. As you may already know, an HD signal is widescreen (16:9) native. So choosing in a native 16:9 projector as well as a 16:9 screen will be a smarter investment, unless you think you will be upgrading your system in a couple years.

The one drawback of a widescreen native product is the stretching that occurs when watching native 4:3 content, which is mostly what you find on regular television, older DVDs and VHS tapes. Many home theater projectors will have a feature that will play 4:3 content without stretching, but black bars will appear on the sides of your screen. If you can live with that, there is really no disadvantage to going 16:9.

Quick Tip: We get calls from time to time asking us if it is possible for the black bars to “burn in” to the projector. The answer to that is "no." Because when the black bars appear there is actually no light hitting the pixels.

Low Priced HD Projectors

800 Lumen projector in daylight

High Definition has dropped in price significantly over the past three months. You now have several HD projector options at just under $1000. That's a phenomenal price when you consider the size of the HD image you can create. Who do you know with a 100-inch HD television in their home that cost under a grand? Well now that could be you. The Mitsubishi HD1000U is a brighter portable HD projector that sells for under $1000.

Quick Tip: A well lit room will require a brighter projector (over 1000 lumens) for a clear image. In direct sunlight, a projector will be noticeably washed out, but shielding the screen and projector can create very bright images even in daylight hours. See an example of the 800 lumen Sanyo PLV-Z2 (predecessor of the PLV-Z5) in action.

High Definition Accessories

Up-converting DVD Player for HD

An up-converting DVD player will take your existing DVD library and maximize it for HD viewing. There are a number of options, including the popular Oppo, which sells for right around $200; a great deal less than it will cost you to replace your (most likely 480p) DVD library with high-definition versions (remember what a pain it was to purchase all your VHS tapes on DVD?).

Quick Tip: The $200 up-converting DVD player is a great option, even if you think you may upgrade in a year or two. Though many people have their opinion, there is no clear front-runner in the HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray competition.

The Sound of HD

HDTV sound has a minimum of 5.1 channels. That includes a center speaker, two left, two right, and a subwoofer. If you want the full HDTV experience, investing in a 5.1 system is a must. Good sound will make any image look better, and it will make your space feel more like a real theater. There are also 6.1 systems that include one more speaker opposite the center channel speaker (behind your head). Projector People offers a 6.1 system from Tannoy that is phenomenal for the price. We also offer an exclusive 30-day money-back guarantee if they don't knock your socks off. They start at $599.00.

Quick Tip: It probably goes without saying, but we should mention that you will also need an HD receiver along with all of your components. You can either spend a few hundred dollars and get a receiver from a consumer electronics store, or you can ask your cable/satellite company for their HD box. There is typically a monthly charge ($5-15) just for the box itself, and there may also be an upgrade charge (if you don't already have digital service) to factor in. There are far more HD channels than ever before, so there is a greater demand for the HD boxes. In same cases there may even be a waiting list. So the sooner you put in your request, the better. Even on your regular television, the HD images will look a little crisper.

Extras for a Better Home Theater

Some additional recommendations for a better home theater include a universal mount and a re-tensioning screen.

Universal Projector Mount

The universal mount may save you the expense of a new mount if you should decide to get a new projector. They fit about 90% of current projector models (mostly those under 18 lbs.) and are very reasonably priced. We offer Universal mounts from both Chief and Peerless. Peerless also offers a telescoping bar which allows you to adjust the distance of the mount from the ceiling.

Re-tensioning Screen

The re-tensioning screen is a very cool option from Draper. After a few years use, tensioned screens will stretch slightly, making for a slightly droopier appearance. The re-tensioning screen (Draper Onyx) has wires inside of it which can be tightened when the stretching settles in. The screen can be adjusted just a couple times, but since the stretching takes awhile, this should keep your screen nice and taut for several years.

Your Holiday Wish List (as prepared by ProjectorPeople.com)

, , , ,

December 01, 2006

Episode One : Business Projector Buyers Guide

Podcast

Our first podcast edition is an audio buyers guide for business projectors used for presentations. We discuss the latest advances in projector technology including lens shift, wireless connections, quick shut down, HDMI and DVI, and more. We discuss business projector basics from recommended brightness and resolution to portabilty.

OR

Subscribe in a reader »

, ,