Infocus Play Big SP777

Say “Hi” to the Big Boy

UFO fans will feel right at home: the oval design can as easily be taken for a spaceship as a futuristic death ray. But the only thing this guy spits out is a resolution of 1280 x 720 (720p),and the streamlined shape is only broken at the nose by the zoom lens (a seven-lens option allowing for customization), with inputs concealed behind a removable fender at the back.Connections include Component and BNC, two S-Video, and a Composite. An M1-DA adaptor (incorporating HDCP) allows connection of a DVI input and handles up to 1080p (convert-ing to the projector’s native resolution). But con-sidering the level of technology—from three individual Texas Instrument DarkChip 3s and enhanced Faroudja DCDI video deinterlacer processing, to a 5000:1 contrast ratio, to 2,000lumens—why not have a direct DVI or HDMI input?

Now Infocus says the SP777 is small for a 3-chip model, and they’re right, but it still hogs whatever stand it’s placed on––not to mention the strain of the 44 pounds it puts down. 

Setup

The initial setup is simple enough to avoid having to read the manual, so I set the SP777 where my Optoma projector normally sits, attach the DVI cable to the M1-DA adaptor, and power it up—the blue logo on the top lighting up momentarily. The projector is situated so there’s no need for keystone correction, and it’s high enough that the lack of leveling feet isn’t an is-sue. So all I have to do are some simple adjustments using the vertical lens shift, and then play a bit with focus.  

I run through the setup screens and don’t see any surprises. The projector comes preset for color, brightness, and contrast, and there’s no need to change these to start (with the exception of lowering contrast a tad since my screen has a high grain, and then tweaking the black level a bit).  

Bring on the Video

I’m used to being able to watch even with ambient light, and the SP777 performs up to snuff here. Of course, making it dark is the ideal way to go, but a powerful bulb can work wonders. Just be aware that this baby puts out a fair amount of heat—excellent for cold winter nights. 

I start with some standard-def discs. First up is the original Ghost busters. The mastering is not the best, and there’s a fair amount of grain:still, the image is quite viewable upconverted by my Oppo DVD player. The “look” is much improved now with the SP777—grain seems tighter and more contained, the images sharp without rendering that hazy “blur” effect that video noise can sometimes bring out. I also play an episode Warner sent me of the first Supermanserial, and I revel in the contrast and depth of the black-and-white. It’s better than I remember from when I was a kid, when they’d have retrospectives of serials like this and Batman. 

The 250-watt mercury bulb really blasts out the light, and colors are pinpoint clean. I did find that slightly boosting up the contrast improved SD broadcast TV and standard DVDs, but that’s the only adjustment I had to make.Everything looks good—so much so that I’m almost salivating with anticipation of playing an HD disc.

Here Comes the HD

Using the Toshiba HD DVD player, I start with1974’s Blazing Saddles. The film’s a hoot, but because of its age, there’s a fair amount of film grain and some contrast issues in the outdoor scenes. Normally, the sheen reflecting off of Cleavon Little’s head during the railroad scene would come off too bright and harsh; this projector mellows that out, without removing the sharp edge. The sky and clouds also seem to have a bit more depth and definition as com-pared to my own projector, and the overall appearance has more of a film-like look with a smoother color palette.  

Another older title, Apollo 13, affords a chance to watch the launch scenes again: There appears to be a greater depth and clarity, especially with all of the flying junk dancing about the flame during liftoff. Jumping back to the present with the more recent Firewall, starring Harrison Ford—the rainy scenes of traffic are less of a gray mist mixed with water and more of a distinct meshing of the two with real definition. 

My last test (for now) is Constantine, filled with CG effects in the opening scene, in which a guy gets creamed by a fast-moving car. This gets a gasp from my wife every time: “The detail and sharpness are so intense,” she says. Add to that the fine lines in china cups, details in water droplets, pebbles and rocks of the terrain—and now she’s as hooked on watching as I am.As far as high-definition discs go, this projector is definitely where it’s at.  

The Mundane Stuff

The fan does make a bit of noise, but it’s no more noticeable than what I’ve found in other units, and it disappears once the audio starts.Heat dissipates through the sides, so sitting be-hind the projector is not an issue, and there’s no light leakage to aggravate viewing. The re-mote makes handling all the chores simple, as it provides settings for everything normally re-quired: Besides the obvious Menu button, there are direct presses for brightness and contrast control, as well as for changing the aspect ratio, selecting a new source, re-syncing the signal, restoring a previously stored setting, or blacking out the screen. The remote might be a bit small, but it fits nicely into the hand, and the orangey backlighting is mild yet viewable.Since the SP777 has dual front/back receivers,it doesn’t matter where you stand to use it.

It’s the Tech

“You get what you pay for” might be a cliché,but it’s definitely true in the case of the SP777.The results come together, giving you some-thing great to look at—whether the projector is on or off. Your home theater will give it a Gold Star.

Specifications

Play Big SP777 1.44–1.80:1 Power Zoom and Focus, 1.25x Zoom 5000:1 Contrast Ratio 1280 x 720/720p Resolution 2,000 ANSI Video Optimized Lumens Dimensions: 28.4" (L) x 8.5" (H) x 23.7" (W) Weight: 44.4 lbs. Power Consumption: 430W Power Consumption/Standby: <2W MSRP: $14,999 (including most lens options) Infocus www.infocushome.com