Video Asylum

Posted by Larry on January 19, 2000 at 00:30:06:

In Reply to: Front projection TV posted by Tom on January 17, 2000 at 17:50:56:

I definately recommend going the front projection route. While nothing really will compete video-wise with an expensive and tricky to set up Big Gun (9") CRT with a quality outboard scaler/processor, I've had very good experiences with a very inexpensive Sony VPL W400Q LCD front projector. I'm sure I will be mega-flamed for this by some, but excepting for some unavoidable relatively minor flaws with LCD technology, I have an incredibly detailed, BIG picture that is just stunning, especially with a good anamorphic DVD via component cable input. Yes, a good CRT with a decent processor is better, but for the price of $3600 brand new, with a 3 year Sony warranty, I am in HT heaven. The 400Q through a HTPC, bypassing the internal scaler/line doubler using a Matrox G400 video card with PowerDesk drivers and WinDVD and Entech powerstrip to enable custom resolutions with sync on green, is simply outstanding...one of the best kept secrets in affordable HT(a good HTPC can be put together for about $1000-$1200 minus a monitor). And my 2 channel audio system isn't suffering due to a large boxy TV between front left and right main speakers. The VPL W400Q is point and shoot, light weight, has 16:9 LCD panels with a staggered pixel array so there is NO screen-door effect. Getting back to LCD drawbacks....the fan is noisy (but this disappears when the movie starts), and no LCD can produce the deep, deep black of a CRT rig (nor can a film projector, since even the black sections of a film frame permit some light through to the screen. In a dark room, to me the black is black enough with the 400Q...unless you have to compare it side by side with a very black image of a CRT or a black screen border vs a black bar, such as when watching a 2.35 movie on a 16:9 screen (which is actually a dark gray bar on an LCD). But what the hey...I'm happy with it, and down the road, other technologies will likely give CRT a run for it, like D-ILA and DLP, and their prices will drop in time, too. And when that happens, at least I didn't spend too much on a more expensive FPTV. Get rid of your RPTV...I think you will be glad you did. As regards screens, you can go inexpensive, like a Draper Cineperm M2500, about 400-500$ for 106" 16:9 at avscience.com, or all out for electric roll-up screens with tab tensioners for well over 1K and up (way up). The W400Q was recently DC'ed by Sony, replaced with the VPL VW10HT, street pricing about $5500, but the last few remaining 400Qs and some B-stock units (still with Sony 3 year factory warranty are still available for around $3900..check with Dennis Shepard @ medicalvideosystems.com). This is not even considering the impending availability of used VPL W400Qs in good condition (some with considerable remaining bulb life, I'm sure) that will hit the market as some current 400Q owners trade up to the 10HT. You can read a review on the 10HT at the link below.

Let the flames begin!!

Larry

• Sony VPL VW10HT review