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InFocus X2 by Ken - Mar 03, 2005
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| SVGA (800x600), 1700 ANSI Lumens, 6.8 lbs, $549 (MSRP) |
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| Personal Experience |
| Bottom line - best major purchase I have made since I bought a home with a finished basement! I got the projector and mounted it on the ceiling in my basement projecting on a light-brown wall. I expected that I would need to paint the walls white, or get a screen, but was shocked by the amazing picture quality. Here are the details: 1) Comcast Cable with HiDef Box set to 720p. Hidef program is so amazing it makes me want to cry. Sports programing blows the mind away. I even enjoy watching boring shows with the wife, like the Oscars, just because I am so amazed at how crystal clear the picture looks. You feel like you are there! Regular TV looks better than average, but make sure to change the aspect ratio back to Native (vs 16:9 when watching hi-def channels). I am also using the expensive $99 monster DVI cable to connect to the cable box. Definitely worth it! 2) X-Box. I purchased the Hi-Def cable from Microsoft for $20. Also definitely worth it with most games in 480p in 16:9 format. I still have yet to see a game in 720p or 1080i, but since the 480 looks so good, I'm just waiting on a good game to come out - maybe Fifa street? since it just came out in 720p - we'll see. Check hdtvarcade.com to see what games are in what format so that you know what aspect ratio to set your X2 3) DVD player: Since the Xbox only outputs in 480i, I wanted to try the upconversion DVD players. I first tried the Denon 1910. That did NOT work when using a DVI cable!!! It might have been just me or possibly it is because the Infocus X2 is not HDCP compliant?? I'm not sure, but the 1910 warns against non-HDCP compliant units and InFocus says that x2 is non-compliant - so that's my best guess. Next I tried the TOSHIBA SD-5970. That worked, and I hooked it up using the $99 Monster HDMI to DVI cable. I'm not sure if it was worth it, because DVD's look great, but NOT Amazing, like HiDef Comcast programming. The verdict is still out, but I have never seen any of the DVD's like Finding Nemo that supposedly look MUCH better with progressive scan DVD's. Again I have it set to 720p output as recommended by InFocus. Once again, everybody that comes over, including the sceptic wife, is shocked by our basement - they all say its like a theater and I don't even have surround sound yet - that'll be my next big purchase. Infocus X2 is highly recommended, but be sure to check out the problem section below: |
| Problems |
| 1) My InFocus X2 does not have any component inputs. That means to get premium quality, you must come through the computer/DVI input. If you have a DVD, Cable box and Xbox like me, it is a real pain to switch the cable in the back (especially with a ceiling mount). I got a step ladder to make it easier. The DVI switcher for 4 DVI cables is TOO expensive, almost $400. 2) Be prepared to spend at least $400 after you get your InFocus to purchase DVI cables for the cable box, possibly HDMI cables if you buy a progressive scan DVD player, as well as adapters to connect your DVI cable to the computer port... Its definitely worth it, but just be prepared. 3) No way to turn off unit with remote (and yes it is still a little noisy in whisper mode, but once the movie starts you can't hear it anymore). I have it set-up so that after it cools/powers down I just turn off the entire unit on the wall switch since it is ceiling mounted. |
