Topic: My dream theater

[XXXyzledge]

133 inches!!!!  Kay sir Mark ang pinakamalaki!!!! We're not worthy.....   (btw, screen ang pinag-uusapan ah...baka anong isipin nyo)

buti na yung malinaw doc! 

[docelmo]

HUWAW!!! anlaki talaga sir mark....ng screen mo!!!
w/ this screen ba pinapa lampas mo yung blackbars sa screen to simulate an anamorphic image?
 

[streetsmart]

w/ this screen ba pinapa lampas mo yung blackbars sa screen to simulate an anamorphic image?
 

Hi doc! No, I don't do that. To do that, the screen should have an aspect ratio of 2.35:1. This screen is 1.78:1.

The best way to do that is with a special lens - I think the best is Panamorph - which costs around $400! I can simulate something similar through the use of my video processor, but I would lose light output.

The problem with the 2.35 screen is that a 1.78 film (especially most concerts) will become smaller and a 1.33 film will look tiny. Since I watch a lot of concerts and older films, I prefer to have a 1.78 screen.

The only ones I know who have this set-up, including a Panamorph lens, are alvinthx2 and jay2.

[Munskie]

Hi doc! No, I don't do that. To do that, the screen should have an aspect ratio of 2.35:1. This screen is 1.78:1.

The best way to do that is with a special lens - I think the best is Panamorph - which costs around $400! I can simulate something similar through the use of my video processor, but I would lose light output.

The problem with the 2.35 screen is that a 1.78 film (especially most concerts) will become smaller and a 1.33 film will look tiny. Since I watch a lot of concerts and older films, I prefer to have a 1.78 screen.

The only ones I know who have this set-up, including a Panamorph lens, are alvinthx2 and jay2.

Mark...panamorph lens di lang $400......around $3000!!! 

[streetsmart]

Mark...panamorph lens di lang $400......around $3000!!! 

Ay mali! Nawala ang isang zero! Hahaha! 

Pero ang alam ako is that Alvin and Jay got theirs at a big discount kasi class B. May maliit na gasgas sa casing pero wala problem ang lens.

[iiinas]

Mark...panamorph lens di lang $400......around $3000!!! 

lens lang 150k pesos! o-may-gulay!!! 

[XXXyzledge]

lens lang 150k pesos! o-may-gulay!!! 

i 2nd da motion !!! YIKES! 

[vtec3]

lens lang 150k pesos! o-may-gulay!!! 

  para ka na bumili ng 2nd hand na kotse 

[streetsmart]

para ka na bumili ng 2nd hand na kotse 

Actually, meron din syang extra attachment which is a small device with motor to put the lens in position and then to move it out when you watch a film with aspect ratio that is not 2.35. That small device costs another $4000.

Ang ginawa ni alvinthx2 is to attach the lens to the rails of a sliding cabinet. Mano-mano na lang. Much cheaper. 

And by the way, I just recalled thaat there is a 3rd guy at Pinoydvd who owns one -- Mr. BnW.

[docelmo]

Hehehe thanks!!! kala ko naka panamorph ka na din.....well am sure that day will come

[streetsmart]

Hehehe thanks!!! kala ko naka panamorph ka na din.....well am sure that day will come

Really no. I watch too many concerts and old films which are in 1.78 and 1.33 formats

[docelmo]

Really no. I watch too many concerts and old films which are in 1.78 and 1.33 formats

Hehehe oks! sir mark, next time na lumuwas talaga ako, i'll make it a point to visit you and your awesome HT!
Ops! sorry po, ako na nag invite sa saliri ko! And i'll join you watch those concerts....and some "not" so old movies...
i'll bring some pinangat/laing and pili(unless mataas uric acid mo)
 

[ǝʞɐɾ ʎzzɐɾ]

talaga naman...nakakalaglag brip itong HT ni sir mark...lalo na siguro kung yung...ano na...ang palabas! 

[nerveblocker]

Hahaha!!! 

Actually, ernie has exactly the same screen. 133". And the screen of Jay2 has a WIDTH of 144" kaya more than 150" sya sa diagonal.

Woohoo!  I stand corrected!  Sige na nga....Biggest screen most seen by pinoydvd members! (sabay kabig!) Hehe!  I am just awed and humbled.  Makes my 90" screen look puny.

Sir Mark, di ka na kelangang kulamin...susuko ang mga mangkus sayo!!! 

[iiinas]

Woohoo!  I stand corrected!  Sige na nga....Biggest screen most seen by pinoydvd members! (sabay kabig!) Hehe!  I am just awed and humbled.  Makes my 90" screen look puny.

Sir Mark, di ka na kelangang kulamin...susuko ang mga mangkus sayo!!! 

yan ang marka ng matitindi sa hobby natin, hindi na kailangan ng mangungulam, kasi.....




































kaya nila kulamin sarili nila!!! 

[nerveblocker]

yan ang marka ng matitindi sa hobby natin, hindi na kailangan ng mangungulam, kasi.....




































kaya nila kulamin sarili nila!!! 

Yesssss....the ULTIMATE LEVEL!!!!    Mas mahal at maganda pa ang meron ka dun sa kinukulam sayo.   

[streetsmart]

kaya nila kulamin sarili nila!!! 

Bro iiinas, pasko na!!! SARS season na po!

Actually, my last Xmas gift to me (aside from screen and surround speakers) is a new projector lamp. Ikakabit today. Should result in a much brighter picture.   

Pagkatapos nito, pahinga muna and bawas muna sa mga "unwatched" list ko. 

[streetsmart]

Hehehe oks! sir mark, next time na lumuwas talaga ako, i'll make it a point to visit you and your awesome HT!
Ops! sorry po, ako na nag invite sa saliri ko! And i'll join you watch those concerts....and some "not" so old movies...
i'll bring some pinangat/laing and pili(unless mataas uric acid mo)
 

Doc, ang wife ko is from Tabaco so we get a regular supply of Bicol goodies. Dala ka na lang ng favorite DVD mo para mapanood natin. PM o txt mo lang ako kung gusto mo bisita. 

[iiinas]

Doc, ang wife ko is from Tabaco so we get a regular supply of Bicol goodies. Dala ka na lang ng favorite DVD mo para mapanood natin. PM o txt mo lang ako kung gusto mo bisita. 

sama ako dyan ha, para ma meet ko rin si doc. 

[docelmo]

Doc, ang wife ko is from Tabaco so we get a regular supply of Bicol goodies. Dala ka na lang ng favorite DVD mo para mapanood natin. PM o txt mo lang ako kung gusto mo bisita. 

Wooho! kababayan ko pala wife mo? my wife is from tiwi(nearby town), Hehehe alryt! Iam looking forward to it!!!

sama ako dyan ha, para ma meet ko rin si doc. 

Hehehe oks bro! Hope to see u also in the near future!
 

[ninjababez®]

Hahaha!!! 

Actually, ernie has exactly the same screen. 133". And the screen of Jay2 has a WIDTH of 144" kaya more than 150" sya sa diagonal.

bro i still have your address in my inbox .. ill bring my ozawa uncensored video ..

[streetsmart]

bro i still have your address in my inbox .. ill bring my ozawa uncensored video ..

Haha! Parang mini-EB na. Sige, hintay natin si doc! 

[XXXyzledge]

bro i still have your address in my inbox .. ill bring my ozawa uncensored video ..

huwooow!!!
panalo yang si MO sa BIG screen ni sir Mark! wooooohooo!!! panood! 

[ninjababez®]

huwooow!!!
panalo yang si MO sa BIG screen ni sir Mark! wooooohooo!!! panood! 

Haha! Parang mini-EB na. Sige, hintay natin si doc! 

naka-copy ata si doc nung last meetup namin ..

[XXXyzledge]

naka-copy ata si doc nung last meetup namin ..

yan na ba yung pixel-free version? 

[ninjababez®]

yan na ba yung pixel-free version? 

yezzir ..
well .. dvd9 quality sya eh 

[streetsmart]

It’s been a long time since I’ve written something sensible for this thread. Mostly kalokohan ang posts.

I thought it might be time to provide an update on what I’ve done to improve my HT, in sequential order of acquisition.

Ever since alvinthx2 first calibrated my projector, I had always desired to get my own spectrometer and calibration software. Alvin’s calibration had resulted in much more accurate colors. Thus, clouds were white, not bluish-white while black was black, not reddish-black. This color accuracy can be seen in all aspects of a film, including skin tones of course. It thus provides a much more realistic image. Furthermore, when white is white and black is black, the contrast ratio improves, thus providing more pop to the picture. Combining these with the video processing done by the DVDO VP50Pro results in a picture which has a 3D quality.

A few months ago, Paul Chin posted a link to a fantastic article on video calibration:

http://www.curtpalme.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10457

To my surprise, it turned out that the cost of video calibration sensors and software had gone down significantly so I decided to get an EyeOne Pro spectrometer and Calman video calibration software.

Calman  software: http://www.spectracal.com/



Before the equipment arrived, I spent several hours reviewing the article on video calibration. Over a weekend, I then spent several more hours trying out the calibration. Little by little, I came to understand the process and by my third try at calibration, I thought I had a decent output.

Several weeks later, I had the opportunity to assist John, the ISF-certified technician of AV Driver, in doing a more refined calibration of the projector. Our main objective was to increase the gamma, which was then too low. Gamma is more or less a standard which defines the proper intensity of gray at various levels of light output. It improves shadow detail. After working with John for more than 2 hours, we were able to significantly improve gamma, thus further improving the 3D quality of the image. Our work is not complete, however, and I hope to use a special software called “Image Director” to get the best gamma possible.

[streetsmart]

Having seen alvinthx2 do video calibration, I was aware that one of the inconvenient issues with my HT was that when you do the calibration, you have to be right in front of the screen, while handling the remote for your source. You use the source to project images of shades of gray, from 0% to 100%, in increments of 10%. The problem is that my sources (DVD, BD, etc) are about 20 feet away from my screen. Thus, you have to run back and forth each time you change an image.

Fortunately, through a Pinoydvd member (I forget now who), I learned about a device that can transform your normal IR remote into an RF remote – the “Next Generation Remote Control Extender.” Thus, you can be anywhere in the room and the remote will work:



This was a great help in calibration.

[streetsmart]

When Paul Chin was in my HT once, testing out his Oppo 983, in preparation for a shoot-out we were going to hold, he laughed at my more than 10 remotes and showed off his universal remote.

I thus decided to get one of the most popular universal remotes, which is the Harmony One:



Fortunately, I was able to get this through still another Pinoydvd member, at a reasonable price. For various reasons, however, including the need to send an internet connection to my HT, I still haven’t fully programmed the remote. With the coming holidays, I may have the chance to do so.

[streetsmart]

I had the great misfortune of destroying my Denon 2808 AVR. I still don’t understand what happened but the DSP chips blew and to replace it would cost a fortune. I decided to get a Denon 3808, similar to the AVR of Munskie.



The Denon 3808 has several improvements over the 2808, including the following:

1. It has a fabulous Graphic-User-Interface (GUI), in other words Menu, which pops up over the picture. This is unlike the 2808, wherein you need to stop playback in order to see the Menu on the screen. The GUI is also more user-friendly. I often manipulate my AVR (and projector and video processor) for individual films so this feature is very useful. Some of the typical adjustments I make with the GUI are:

   a. Tone controls. I often watch films at a bit below reference level. Because of this, I need to increase bass and treble a little bit because one’s perception of the low and high frequencies diminishes more rapidly than the mid-frequencies, as the volume is decreased.

   b. Surround set-up. I normally watch movies with a 6.1 set-up. Concerts are another thing. I find that quite often, a stereo output is better. At other times, a Dolby Prologic IIx – Music Mode is better.

   c. Audyssey mode. The 3808 utilizes Audyssey MultEQ XT, a room correction technology which is pretty much state-of-the-art. The normal Audyssey mode has a slight roll-off starting at 2 khz. For concerts, it is preferable to select a flat Audyssey mode, which has no roll-off.

2. Digital to Analog Converters (DACs). The 3808 has much better DACs than the 2808. There is a distinct improvement in audio quality.

3. Extra set of surround speakers. Ever since I built my theater in 1999, I had always dreamed of having 2 sets of surround speakers because the room is quite long (30 feet). The 3808 allows you to have 2 sets of surround speakers – set A and set B. The incredible thing about the 3808 is that you can calibrate each surround speaker individually and as a combination, using Audyssey MultEQ XT.

4. Greater amp power. The power amp of the 3808 is rated at 140 watts per channel, while the 2808 is rated at 110 watts.

The 3808 also has networking capability but frankly, I haven’t bothered to try this out yet.

You can also add a cool new Audyssey feature called Dynamic EQ and Dynamic volume, through an on-line download. However, I have decided not to do this because the process isn’t perfect and if for some reason, the upgrade is not done right, you have to send the unit to Denon USA.