XGA-Projectors & HD

[Damage Inc.]

If I have an XGA-projector, which would have a resolution of 1024x728,
and then send an HD-signal into it, would it be able to display 720p?

I've been told and have read that they can.

However, it really made me wonder:
It makes sense for the vertical dimension, as it can display up to 768 pixels, so 720 pixels should be possible.
But then for the horizontal dimension, it can do 1024 pixels, but for 720p that dimension would be 1280 pixels.
Would this be a problem or would it just... lower the horizontal pixels?
I couldn't imagine it cutting off the image, that would be even worse...

This would of course also be in a 16:9-mode.
I don't know if that means it would have extra pixels horizontally
as it doesn't use the excess used for 4:3 above and below the 16:9-image.
But I doubt that too cause I still notice my projector projecting light on the unused areas...

[Suntory_Times]

Originally Posted by Damage Inc.

If I have an XGA-projector, which would have a resolution of 1024x728,
and then send an HD-signal into it, would it be able to display 720p?

I've been told and have read that they can.

However, it really made me wonder:
It makes sense for the vertical dimension, as it can display up to 768 pixels, so 720 pixels should be possible.
But then for the horizontal dimension, it can do 1024 pixels, but for 720p that dimension would be 1280 pixels.
Would this be a problem or would it just... lower the horizontal pixels?
I couldn't imagine it cutting off the image, that would be even worse...

This would of course also be in a 16:9-mode.
I don't know if that means it would have extra pixels horizontally
as it doesn't use the excess used for 4:3 above and below the 16:9-image.
But I doubt that too cause I still notice my projector projecting light on the unused areas...

it can do 720p, but not in terms of how it is ued usually. As there are 768 pixels,, vertically, there however is not horizontally, as xga creates a 4:3 image. Hope that helps. Basically put, aca 720p projector is much better (significant) then anxga projector ceteris paribus.

[Damage Inc.]

Originally Posted by Suntory_Times

it can do 720p, but not in terms of how it is ued usually. As there are 768 pixels,, vertically, there however is not horizontally, as xga creates a 4:3 image. Hope that helps. Basically put, aca 720p projector is much better (significant) then anxga projector ceteris paribus.

So there would just be less pixels used horizontally?
And thus the quality would be slightly lower?

If it's like that, I think I could live with that, I'd like to see what it looks like anyway.
The thing is, I saw a projector for relatively cheap,
and anything that is a native 720p or up costs at least hundreds more than the one I saw.
I even saw projectors of 800x600 that cost a lot more.
So it might be a good alternative to get just a little closer to HD,
cause I don't have a lot of cash to spend on it at the moment...

[Suntory_Times]

I'd recommend saving that little bit more. The difference is night and day difference.

[Damage Inc.]

Originally Posted by Suntory_Times

I'd recommend saving that little bit more. The difference is night and day difference.

Well, the first best of 720p I can find is at least about 500 Dollars.
But the thing I'm looking at is almost 200.
So, I thought I might give it a try...

[lojack1976]

I have an XGA projector and in all honesty the difference between 1280x720 vs. 1024x768 is extremely small and pretty much insignificant. My projector is native 4:3, but it does support 16:9 and it will accept a 1080i signal. As with my Panny plasma that is 1366x768 feeding the best resolution it will accept makes all the difference in the world. The Panny can accept a 1080p signal by the way.

If the projector or TV can accept a better source such as 720p, 1080i, or 1080p then it will be interpolated and give you a picture nearly as good with little loss of quality. It will be scaled down to fit the pixels, but it will still look better than feeding it its native or a lower resolution assuming it has a good scaler of course.

Basically, I would say look at the quality of the projector as being more important. There are many XGA projectors that just outright perform better than many 720p projectors. The resolution difference really is minor. Yes, a 720p native projector is preferred, but you may very well find an XGA projector in your budget with a better picture just as there are many 720p TV's that produce a better picture than some 1080p sets. Pioneer had a 720p set that outperformed everyone else's 1080p sets for at least a good 2 years.

Take a look at my gallery. My first foray into a projector setup is an XGA and I think the results came out pretty good. I'll move up to 1080p eventually, but its not a priority. My Kuro puts out a better picture with of course much better blacks, but my projector still looks damn good with very accurate colors and the huge picture easily trumps the 50" TV. I'm very happy with my budget projector setup. By the way, what model projector are you looking at?

[Damage Inc.]

Originally Posted by lojack1976

My projector is native 4:3, but it does support 16:9 and it will accept a 1080i signal.

Yes, that's exactly the case with the projector I've seen.
In fact, my current projector, also an XGA, would be the same case.
However, due to it having only up to a VGA-connection, I can't connect HDMI.
As it turns out, which I asked about before here,
it would require some expensive adapter to turn HMDI into VGA.
And the case with the projector I've seen, it has a DVI-input,
which I could simply buy an HMDI>DVI-cable for. If that works...

But the projector I've seen is an Acer... the exact model... is the PD528.
I've had a look through it's PDF-manual and it seems to have plenty of settings.
Even more than my own it seems, so it shouldn't be too hard to get a good image.

One thing I'm worried about though is that it might be too bright.
Because this thing apparently is 3500 Lumen while my own is 2000, which apparently is already pretty overkill.
I think it looks good though, the darkness compared to brightness.
However, it shouldn't be more and this is almost double I guess...
Then again, if there's a little bit of light it tends to look weak again...
And also, I might be able to compensate with certain brightness-modes I guess/hope.
Like I did with my own, which also helped to turn the fan down.

Also, I hope I don't have to hang it close. I didn't quite understand the graph in the manual.
Cause if I did understand it I'd have to hang it closer than mine to get a projection of the same size.
Which usually means it kind of stacks up the brightness, you know how light loses strength with distance...

Oh, and if those photos of your projections are from an XGA
and I'd get the same results... I'd be happy...
Cause I see more and more HD and the blurry projector is just getting boring...
Some DVDs I'd call very good, but still not as impressive and not enough DVDs were as good.
'Wanted' <3

[lojack1976]

Well, I just took a look at that Acer's specs and it is a pretty bright projector. I would run it in Eco mode though for longer lamp life plus it would bring the lumens down to 2800. A lot of the current home theater models are coming in around 2500-2800 lumens. This projector has a 2000:1 contrast ratio which is a little higher than mine. With the right adjustments I'm sure you could get a pretty good picture out of it.

My projector is 1500 lumens, but since its short throw its like its 3000 lumens. This thing can get bright! I run it in Eco mode which lowered the brightness some. After spending some time adjusting it I was able to get a pleasing picture without it being overly bright. The black level is OK, but its hard to judge once you get used to a Kuro. I am happy with the picture though. Its pretty accurate and HUGE! Its hard to go back to looking at a 50" TV after watching movies and gaming on my 106" screen.

I have my PS3 and Xbox 360 both outputting 1080i to both my TV and projector using an HDMI splitter running off of my AVR, and its working great. A HDMI to DVI cable should work fine in your situation. I'm using one from my computer to my TV without any issues. I don't know what size screen you have, but the calculator on projectorcentral.com shows that you can get an 84" picture from 11ft. with max zoom on the Acer.

[Suntory_Times]

IMO xga is not worth it, save up and go at least 720p. If you thought the jump to blu was significant on normal tv's, you haven't seen anything untill you see the jump from xga to 720p (and then to 1080p). Note, I have an xga projector and since buyign my current projector it hasn't been used once (despite it bieng in a much more convinient location). It simply looks bluury, the contrast is by comparison horrible and is simply put not worth it in this day and age.

[Damage Inc.]

Originally Posted by lojack1976

My projector is 1500 lumens, but since its short throw its like its 3000 lumens.Its pretty accurate and HUGE! Its hard to go back to looking at a 50" TV after watching movies and gaming on my 106" screen.

I have my PS3 and Xbox 360 both outputting 1080i to both my TV and projector using an HDMI splitter running off of my AVR, and its working great. A HDMI to DVI cable should work fine in your situation. I'm using one from my computer to my TV without any issues. I don't know what size screen you have, but the calculator on projectorcentral.com shows that you can get an 84" picture from 11ft. with max zoom on the Acer.

I'll go and measure mine, but I'm pretty sure it's quite a bit smaller.
When you say the size, you do mean the diagonal of the 16:9-image right?...

OK, so the projection I have now is 63" with the projector at a distance of almost 9ft.
That's pretty funny, my PROJECTION is only somewhat bigger than your TV. :P
But then my TV is 43"... so to me the projection is an improvement in size...
I might be able to fix up a bigger screen... the problem is just I don't have a lot of room there.
So I'll have to put it either in a different position or a different wall altogether...

Uh oh... the calculator doesn't even let you enter as "close" as 2.70m for the Acer-projector...

Hm, then again, the calculator doesn't seem to make sense.
As about any screen-size would be huge, even with a model similar to my current one.
Cause at the distance my projector is, the screen-size indicated by the calculator
would barely fit in the room...

[lojack1976]

Yeah, I'm referring to diagonal size. What I would do if I were you would be to figure out how far from the screen you are going to mount the projector and from there figure out which projector to go with based on the max size or the desired size you can get from that distance.

My personal goal was to get at least an 80" image which would be difficult with a lot of projectors at the distance that I have available in this room which is why I ended up with the super short throw projector that I have. Other options that I looked at would have gotten me a 72" image which I could live with, but I really wanted bigger.

Now, obviously I ended up with a much larger image than I was going for, but that's mostly because I got such a large screen. I couldn't pass on it though since I got it for $140 shipped which is the cheapest I could even find an electric screen let alone at such a large size, and I did want to keep the budget as low as possible while getting a quality setup. I could have spent more on a smaller screen, but why do that? LOL.

What sort of budget are you working with and what is the desired size you are looking for? There may be other projector options out there other than the Acer that would fit your budget. You can never have too many options to choose from. I personally looked around for about two months before I settled on the projector I have.

[Damage Inc.]

Well, the position I'd mount the projector would depend on the projector.
For example, my current projector was first mounted a foot or two in front of its current position.
Then I decided to get a wider screen cause it just didn't benefit from "projection-abilities",
so I had to move the projector back to get a big larger projection.

However, there's also the matter of these beams, which it currently projects from behind but in between them.
I don't know if it would hit the beams if I'd have to move it back a lot.
Depends how far back, but if far back enough it could hang lower...
If it would have to go closer to get a smaller image, that would be alright too I think.
Then I just don't hope there would be a problem with keystone-settings and such.
I read that it can ruin the image, but, even though I changed it quite little,
I don't see much wrong with the image, apart from it being SD...

But the budget... really I just went to look for a projector that could do (semi-)HD
and see what the lowest price would be around here.
I have a budget of just maybe a hundred or two, cause I really don't have a lot to spend all the time.
BDs I actually buy by selling some DVDs or other BDs I don't want anymore.
Just too bad projectors are still quite expensive
and usually when they would be cheap enough they are discontinued...
And especially around here the prices are a lot higher than in the US for example.
Not to forget the availability is much lower, so stores probably struggle with sales too.

It's similar to like musical instruments.
I actually imported a guitar from the US years ago,
because even with taxes it would be hundreds less than buying it from a store around here.
Not going to risk it with a projector though,
cause first they've become a lot more strict with import-duties and such.
And of course, I wouldn't really trust a device like that to survive the trip...