CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

barcoguy · Joined: 05 Feb 2008 Posts: 128

So thanks to Curt I saw on amazon they had some cheap HD-DVD players this would make a great test device to demo CRT projectors to people. But which one is the best? I don't want to spend much $ obviously. I like the sound of the HD-A30 but I heard its not very good at 1080p which is the whole reason I want one.

Let me know

MYoung · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 369 Location: Madison, WI

What projector will you be using with it?

Moose · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 788 Location: Minnesota

I would go for the HD-XA2 but I'm not certain if it does 1080p or not. Supposed to be the best upscaling HD player, which I why I want it.

ecrabb · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 9:55 am Post subject:

Yes, the XA2 is 1080p. It's a really nice piece of kit, so the price is still pretty high unless you can score a steal on a used one. Used, it's still running $300-400 on fleabay.

The A30 is more plastic-y and lower-end, but it's also 1080p. It's now selling brand new from several resellers for around $120-130.

The A35 is also 1080p and closer to $200-225.

SC

barcoguy · Joined: 05 Feb 2008 Posts: 128

barcoguy · Joined: 05 Feb 2008 Posts: 128

**kal** · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 3:10 pm Post subject:

You're going to want one with 1080p for a 9500LC. Scanlines at 1080i will be noticeable.

Kal

barcoguy · Joined: 05 Feb 2008 Posts: 128

Right my only concern is the 1080p/24hz

Won't that be really choppy? Normally I have it at 60 or 72

garyfritz · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 12088 Location: Fort Collins, CO

You can't display 24hz on a projector. No CRT made (to my knowledge) will lock onto the signal. If it could, it would drive you nuts to watch it.

You need to use something like 1080p/60Hz out of the player, or use a scaler/VP to upconvert the 24Hz to 48/72Hz or whatever.

**kal** · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:31 pm Post subject:

Gary is exactly right.

barcoguy · Joined: 05 Feb 2008 Posts: 128

Isn't that what most of those HD-DVD players output?

**kal** · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:32 pm Post subject:

barcoguy · Joined: 05 Feb 2008 Posts: 128

Oh ok I was going to say. I just have the moome HDMI card no scaler.

Unless the new moome has a built in scaler?

MYoung · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 369 Location: Madison, WI

If I were you I'd...

1) Buy a HD-A1 for $50 off eBay.
2) Buy a Lumagen VisionHDP (maybe $900-$1000)
3) 1080i @ 60Hz from HD-A1 ---> Lumagen VisionHDP yielding 1080p @ 48Hz ---> 9500LC

I take it you don't want to blow a grand on a scaler though.

**kal** · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 5:04 pm Post subject:

Moome's cards will never have scalers in them. Far too complex.

Kal

barcoguy · Joined: 05 Feb 2008 Posts: 128

**kal** · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 1:30 am Post subject:

Before you get too excited about 48 or 72Hz, watch a bunch of movie content at 60Hz and see if the 3:2 pulldown judder bothers you.
It doesn't bother most people as if it did, 99.9% of TVs out there wouldn't be runing at 60Hz for movies.

Seriously. You need to check for yourself and see if spending an extra $1000 on something to go from 24Hz to 48/72Hz is worth it.

Kal

barcoguy · Joined: 05 Feb 2008 Posts: 128

Joust · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 3:56 am Post subject:

What about the A35.
i've looked at a few comparisons of them vs the xa2. seem to be similar.
for me the xa2 is more desirable but not for the performance reasons.
i'm a tinkerer.

overclkr · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 4227