Pokerchip's Home Theatre version 2.0

[PokerChip]

Well, it's time for some show and tell!

My first HT was great and I had a thread for it here:
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/show...=pokerchip%27s

This one, however, is the REAL deal

http://www.flickr.com/photos/6168808...57626366077975

Still shopping for gear and HT seating, so open for suggestions...

[David Susilo]

I'll go for:

Panasonic PT-AE4000U
Grandview / Carada screen, 2.35:1 ratio
PSB Image T6 for rears and fronts, Image C5 for centre and Subseries 300 for sub
Anthem MRX-500

[PokerChip]

Like the idea of 2.35:1 screen. I've heard good things about Grandview from a friend of mine. The price seems right.

I was going to go for no gain (total light control), until I started to look at the review of the JVC DLA-X3 3D projector in the latest Home Theater magazine. They are suggesting a screen with a little bit of gain could help alleviate the loss in brightness when viewing 3D material.

At $4,500 (that's USD though so who knows how much it would cost here), it definitely strikes the right price and the reviews seem very positive. I will likely wait until new PJ announcements in the fall to see what else is announced, or if I can get a deal on it at that time.

My thinking is 2 years from now, I'll kick myself in the rear end if I don't have 3D. I went through a similar dilemma 4 years ago when I built my 1st HT. It was about 720p vs 1080p. I bought 1080p, paid a premium, but never regretted it. I think we're almost at that juncture with 3D, especially since I have 3 other large flat screen TVs in the house, none of which does 3D.

[PokerChip]

I should mention I sold my PJ and screen to the people who bought my former house. I had a Mitsubishi HC5000 as well as a 100" Screen Innovations 16:9 fixed frame screen with no gain (1.0).

I still own a complete set of Definitive Technology ProCinema 1000 Series speakers, which I really, really like and intend on re-using here.

My receiver will likely be the Pioneer VSX-1021-K. I like the way it plays with Apple products (my entire household is Mac/Apple based), especially the Airplay compatibility. You guys will have a tough time to convince me to go with anything else given the cost / bang or the buck.

[David Susilo]

Pokerchip, if you can, push your budget a bit higher to get the VSX-1350. This way you'll get MOSFET amplification and Marvell QDEO K2 upscaler and Pioneer PureCinema de-interlacer.

[David Susilo]

The DLA-X3 doesn't have enough light output when playing 3D on a 1.0 gain screen even on the "high" lamp setting. I know it's out of your budget, but between the 3/5/7, only the 7 that is bright enough for 3D (and you'll still need at least a 1.3 gain screen for it)

[PokerChip]

Agreed. That's a good point, especially the Marvell video processing.Will do!

Wonder if that one has Airplay capability? Can't see it on the Pioneer Canada website.

[PokerChip]

Hence my question about screen gain... If I did go for 1.3 gain, how will this affect the majority of my viewing (in 2D)? Can one adjust the PJ so it's dimmer if the screen has gain?

Never worked with anything but a 1.0 screen before.

[David Susilo]

Definitely it does NOT have Airplay capability.

[David Susilo]

re: screen gain

you can use "normal" light power for 2D and get around 14 ftL but even with 1.3 gain, in 3D mode (you can't choose light power output, automatically locked to "high") you'll only get about 11 ftL.

[PokerChip]

At the end of the day, it's easy enough to have a, HDMI to iPad/iPhone/iPod dock plugged in for that reason.

DOE! I'll have an Apple TV in my room, so no need for that!

Definitely better specs and a worthwhile trade up.

[David Susilo]

there you go! problem solved!

[PokerChip]

So what do you recommend? NI I want to stay under $5,000, I don't think there's anything available that'll do decent 3D...

[David Susilo]

if you want 3D under $5k, that's your only option, unfortunately.

Alternatively you can have 2 screens. 1 fixed and 1 motorized/pulldown. Use 1.0 gain screen for 2D viewing and get a 1.6 gain screen for 3D. it's still cheaper than getting the 9 series.

[PokerChip]

What do you think of the Sony VPLHW20? And the VPLHW15?

The VPLHW15 can be had for about $2,500. If I bought this now, I could resell it in 2 years for $1,000, at which time $3,500 should buy a good 3D PJ.

Is that how I should approach this?