CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

justtaint · Joined: 21 May 2007 Posts: 191 Location: Chicago

The lack of black detail is driving me nuts. I know the projector isn't setup 100% yet, but I'm beginning to think I need some method of boosting black detail. I see the different products for sale on Curt's pages, but I don't see anything for just a gamma boost. I have component input on the projector right now, and I'm pretty sure I don't need RGBHV input (though I do have the card for it), so all these Box 1020, 1021, 1040 or RTC2000 products are overkill (since I don't need to convert from RGB to yPbPr or vice versa).

Is there something that just boosts gamma? Or is there some reason I might need one of those boxes in the future?

I currently have the following hooked up to the projector:

DirecTV HR21
Xbox 360
Xbox 360 HD-DVD addon

Eventually I'll add in my Momitsu V880N, outputting component as does everything above. I might eventually add a HDFury, but the HR21 component output looks just fine to me, and my Xbox360 doesn't have HDMI output.

dropzone7 · Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Posts: 1069 Location: Charlotte, NC

Bucketfoot · Joined: 17 Mar 2006 Posts: 698 Location: Centennial, CO

I have a 1270 and am waiting for my EXT-FULLHD box to get here. I wanted HDMI and being an external device I can still use it if I move to a different brand projector.

I just wish the damn thing would get here Smile

tommo2 · Joined: 03 Jun 2006 Posts: 226 Location: Ireland

You will definitely need a cable driver if you have a long cable to your projector. The xbox 360 will not output hd on a cable much longer than the output cable supplied with it. The picture will become terribly dark at higher resolutions, or may not be there at all.
So, unless you have all your equipment plugged straight into the pj, you will need a box to boost gamma and include a cable driver. All the gamma boxes listed here do this. Also, check out IAC, or Image alignment correction. A lot of hd sources suffer left-shift of the image, especially when using the hd fury. The box 1040, 1020/21 etc range calls this IAC, and the others have a different name on it, i think.
I have a barco, and can see no difference between Component or RGBHV input, suggesting that the barco's internal transcoder is fine. However, I would try to input RGBHV if you can.
You will also need some sort of switcher to switch between xbox, hr21 and momitsu.

How long is your cable to the projector?

justtaint · Joined: 21 May 2007 Posts: 191 Location: Chicago

Right now I have everything plugged into an Onkyo AVR, then probably a 15 foot cable to the projector. When I complete my basement theater (if I keep the CRT), it won't be much longer than that, and I might be able to shorten the distance. HDMI is a consideration, but if I need HDMI in the future, I'd probably buy the HDFury.

I'd pay extra for the cable driver if I needed it, but I don't think I need RGB-YPbPr or YPbPr-RGB conversion, unless its going to be better than the internal cards I already have for the 1272. I'm willing to upgrade from the Box1021 (Gamma only), but only if I'm going to get some use out of the feature.

I do have an Extron matrix that I haven't hooked up yet, which may eventually be hooked up to all my directv receivers and the projector. I also have a 1271 switcher that I haven't had a chance to fool around with (if that makes any difference).

tommo2 · Joined: 03 Jun 2006 Posts: 226 Location: Ireland

Trust me, you will definitely need a cable driver to use a 15 foot cable to the projector.

Also, the box 1021 is RGB only, but all of your sources use component output. And the box1021 has no IAC.
There is a VGA output cable available for the xbox 360, but it will cost around 50 bucks for the official one. Better to pay extra for the box 1020 or 1040. I myself bought a cheap aftermarket cable and the picture quality was crap. So I think this rules out the box 1021.

The box 1020 does not have component input either, so I think this is out aswell.
You will probably be fine using component straight into the projector and letting the internal cards do the transcoding. But the HD fury is RGBHV, so if you intend to have this, I would run like this:

XBox 360 component > component switcher > Box 1040 component input.
Hr21 component > component switcher
Hd fury RGB output > Box 1040 VGA input.

Then connect the box 1040 VGA output to your 15 foot VGA - RGBHV cable to your projector.

You NEED IAC, You NEED a cable driver, You NEED gamma boost. Buying the box 1040 is NOT overkill, even if you do not use the transcoder built in.