Digital Trends

InFocus X1 Projector

October 19th, 2003 | by Chris Swanberg

Use and Testing Continued...

The on screen menus are logical and easy to navigate. Adjustment can be made in color (Red, Green and Blue), black level (brightness), white level (contrast) and sharpness. There are preset settings for “Presentation” (business display - higher light output, obtained by turning on the white segment of the color wheel), “Film” and “Video”. Several "user settings" can be designed and recalled using the onscreen menu. The overall image color tonality can also be adjusted between "warm" and "cool". For ceiling mounting, or use as a rear projector, menu settings automatically invert or reverse the image. Display aspect ratios can be adjusted between 4:3, 16:9 and “native aspect.”

The remote control's buttons and layout are ergonomically friendly (something remote control makers seem to have forgotten as a rule these days). With the prospect of a ceiling mounted projector, the remote control takes on added importance. One nice feature is the "effect" key, which can be user programmed to any single function. During the test, it was set up to alternate between the three aspect ratio displays.

The projector is a native 4:3 device (as the 800x600 pixel display would suggest). The display can be changed between 4:3, 16:9 or "native aspect" using the remote. It was found that the projector in the 4:3 aspect ratio would automatically scale the widescreen 1.85:1 (16:9) and 2.35:1 (Panavision) images properly on the screen when fed a 480p component input (for maximum DVD playback resolution though, set the DVD player to 16:9 and the X-1 to 16:9 and no scaling occurs within the X-1). However, since the test screen was 16:9, a 4:3 image displayed in 4:3 ran off the top and bottom of the screen. The "native resolution" aspect ratio setting rescued the overlarge image and displayed 4:3 with pillars on each side within the confines of the 16:9 96-inch diagonal screen. The slightly smaller image was more pleasing, since most 4:3 material is either SDTV or videotape - both of a lower resolution than DVDs. One thing newcomers will discover in front projection onto a large screen is the old computer adage: "garbage in — out", except in this case the garbage is magnified. This, and virtually all home theater front projectors, delivers their best images when given clean, high quality signals. A signal that is inferior will result in a projected display that can make one think something is seriously awry with his/her projector setup. Fed a 480p signal from a DVD optimized for a 16:9 display, the X-1 will display it in 800x450 resolution, producing an astoundingly beautiful picture. The first time one sees it it's hard to believe that this diminutive projector that cost under a grand is the source of such a great image.

Of the dozen or so viewers of this projector and the image it displayed during this test, at least one decided to buy one of his own. The universal reaction was one of awe and amazement, not only of the picture quality but of the price as well. All that is needed is a light controlled room with about 15 feet of depth so the projector can project an acceptably large image (80 to 90 inches diagonally would be about the optimal maximum for this projector, although it can go much larger than that.) Given an image size suited to the light output, this projector will put a rear projection television to shame - for much less money. Of course the screen cost must be factored in, but for the "do it yourself" folks, a suitable screen can be made for under $100, or the image can be projected onto a wall until a commercial screen can be afforded to add to the setup.
 

Conclusion

The X-1 has, in its own way, revolutionized the move to front projection home theater. What was once in the realm of the super wealthy and movie moguls has slowly been working its way down the economic scale and into the realm of the everyday video enthusiast. With the arrival of the X-1, front projection home theater has finally reached an affordable level for a large segment of the consumer market. For the money, or even twice the money, it is hard to beat the image quality the X-1 delivers. It is rumored that the X-1 will undergo changes in the next model due out after the first of the year, including the loss of the excellent Faroudja DCDi de-interlacer. Add to that the extended 3 years on the 2 year warranty for purchases made before 10/31/03, and the advice becomes - Don't walk, but RUN to the closest dealer and test drive the X-1 before then. It's that impressive and that great a bargain.