Macbook Pro looks BAD on projector (1 Viewer)

[crashkup]

When I use my Macbook Pro DVI out to HDMI in on my Sanyo PLV-Z60 projector, using the DVD player or straight off VOB files on my hard drive I lose all detail in the blacks and the falloff into detailless black happens quite swiftly -- in an average situation maybe 40% of the screen is black -- in a dark situation, it's almost all black. This does not happen when I play DVDs from my standalone DVD player - the Z60 looks fantastic. I've played with brightness and contrast on both the projector and the laptop to no avail. Also, going DVI-HDMI to my 24" computer monitor looks perfect.

I have the Macbook set at 1280 X 720 (Z60 native resolution) and at 60 hz.

Any idea how I may fix this?

 

[Sam Posten]

I'd calibrate the PJ to the macbook rather than the other way around.

 

[crashkup]

Yes, thanks. I have tried that. As well as the reverse. Although I found a certain amount of improvement -- I can brighten the Projector but only so much before the image is milky. No amount of calibrating has a significant effect on the black issue. This renders the computer to projector hookup unusable. I would think with 720p on the Macbook Pro there should be something better going going on here.

 

[Sam Posten]

I've connected my stock 13" Macbook to my Panasonic ae900u and it looked fine... Are you using the mode where both display at once or one at a time?

You have this connector right?
Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adapter - Apple Store (U.S.)

 

[Christian Behrens]

Why would he use VGA, when all he needs is a DVI-HDMI cable? Works like a charm.

I would check the various colorspace settings on the projector. I believe DVI uses a different one than HDMI does. Check out this thread over at AVS.

-Christian

 

[crashkup]

Thanks for the input. I was not using the mirroring. I have a separate profile for the projector display. I'm going to take a look at the link and see if there is anything helpful. I'll report what I find.

Do I have my question posted on the correct forum?

 

[Sam Posten]

Cause HDMI is voodoo =p VGA is how I would go just for flexibility if you intend to take the MBP on the road. EVERY PJ will support VGA and you wont need the 1080p out potential that HDMI brings.

 

[crashkup]

Sam, thanks for the input. It seems the Z60 is only set up to receive a computer signal with the VGA connector. The picture looks good when I go DVI-VGA. For whatever reason, it's beyond my comprehension, it is not possible to use DVI-HDMI and get a good picture. The PJ is just not set up to process a computer signal in the HDMI port.

Thanks everybody for the suggestions.

 

[Sam Posten]

Like I said, voodoo!

 

[Christian Behrens]

Well, just calling it voodoo doesn't really help. The Sanyo Z60 is a home theater projector, not a business projector. In addition, VGA looks far worse quality-wise than a direct digital connection, at least in my experience.

I have the Sanyo Z5, the predecessor to the Z60 and have not come across the problem described.

Danny, do you have any other sources you connect to the HDMI port on the PJ and don't see those problems?

-Christian

 

[crashkup]

Christian, yes, I connect my DVD player through the HDMI and it looks perfect.

I am now using my computer DVI-VGA because that is the only way I can get a tolerable image from the computer.

I was told that on the PLV-Z2 it was possible to reset the HDMI port to an RGB profile and then it worked to send a computer DVI-HDMI.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Christian Behrens]

Well, the Z2 actually had a DVI connector, not HDMI. It was early in the HDCP game, and as such it didn't actually work with quite a few HDMI/HDCP DVD players (I had a Z2 with exactly that problem, which is why I upgraded to a Z5).

I have to check again and see what options I have on the Z5 for the image, if I actually remember, since I only have HDMI sources connected to it at this point.

-Christian

 

[crashkup]

Christian, thanks so much. I have only had the PLV-Z60 and had heard about the Z2 second hand. If you gain any insight into whether there is a way to use a computer as a source with a digital signal I will of course be curious. I thought perhaps there would be a way to approach this from the Macbook end but if there is I can't figure it out. It seems like an oversight on Sanyo's part to not allow DVI-HDMI computer signal. Although it's not a huge one since I can use the VGA converter. Other than this issue I've been very happy with the projector.

-- Danny