Major
System Components |
Sony HS-10 Projector |
The Sony VPL-HS10
is an easy to use tabletop Home Entertainment Projector. This projector
utilizes newly developed Sony Wide p-Si TFT LCD Panels optimally designed
for DVD-Video movie viewing, which due to their very nature create a smooth
and seamless image.
The VPL-HS10 projector
maintains the minimalist design concept but utilises 3 x wide XGA LCD
panels with a total of over 3 million pixels; ideal for viewing high-resolution
JPEG images using the projector's built-in Memory Stick slot. MPEG1 movies
recorded using a Sony camcorder or Sony digital still camera can also
be easily replayed. Brightness on this model is an improved (1200 ANSI)
as well as black level reproduction (by 1.5 times) for an overall superior
performance.
This unit also has
2 sets of video, s-video, and component inputs, not to mention 1 DVI input.
This DVI input, along with the projector;s maximum resolution of 1366x768,
makes is especially nice to use along with a HTPC.
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Sony STR-DA555es A/V Receiver
|
This
receiver includes:
- 24-bit Dolby Digital,
DTS and Dolby Pro Logic Decoding
- Dual 32-bit DSP
Engines for Digital Cinema Sound
- 120w x 5, 120w
x 2 (8 Ohms)
- A variety of inputs
and outputs to handle nearly any situation.
The only things missing:
DVI and Component switching. |
Sony DVP-C600D DVD/CD |
This DVD/CD carousal
was Sony's 1st 5 disc carousal player - and the price was commensurate.
Component and S-Video outputs along with its own 5.1 Dolby Digital processor
makes this unit somewhat unique. It has been a steady component in
my setup for years. |
Sony SLV-575UC VCR |
An oldy, but a goody.
This is a 4-head VHS player that was great for its time. It still
cranks alone, but gets little use today. |
HTPC |
This HTPC includes
an ASUS P4PE motherboard with an Intel P4 2.4 GHz processor, 512 MB of
RAM and 320 GB of hard drive space. Not state of the art by today's
standards, however, for HTPC purposes, going with a solid, proven system
is the way to go.
At 9GB per hour to
record HDTV broadcasts and the 12GB per hour used to capture DV recordings
of Elissa, the 320GB of storage gets used quickly. |
MyHD MDP-120 HDTV Card |
The MDP-120 is a PCI-based
card for enjoying both Digital and Analog TV on a PC. The MDP-120
receives ATSC, NTSC and Cable TV programs, It can display programs
on an existing PC monitor and/or a high quality HD display monitor.
Lastly, it also supports record and playback of HD broadcasting programs.
This feature in particular, is currently unique to an HTPC setup. |
ATI Radeon 7500 Video Card |
This a an entry-level
card by today's standard. However, for purposes of HTPC's, this
card works fine. DVI outout, maximum resolutions well beyond necessary
for this purpose, support for AGP 2x/4x slots, supports dual video output
concurrently.
Certainly not the
best card for gaming, but who has time for games. |
70" 16:9
Screen
|
This was perhaps the
best value of the system. With about $50 spent on materials, this
screen has delivered a great return on investment. It is simply an
off-white canvas-like material purchased from a local fabric store, wrapped
around a piece of backer board (normally used as an underlay for tile floors),
surrounded by some nicely painted molding to match the room. I also
cut out a 16x16" hole in the backer board, so I could mount my flat
panel center channel speaker. The output goes right through the fabric. |
