Anyone Watching Hi Def Cable TV on a Projector?

Cwlondon....I was thinking along the same lines as you as far as the plasma thing goes. If I can escape with a $1k projector with a 165 inch diagonal screen that plays a hi def picture, I'll feel like I've just pocketed a $10k savings by not having to buy a big plasma display.

Do HD cable boxes have a digital audio output that will play back in 5.1 or DTS?

you will enjoy the HD picture, non HD if digital will be ok but flaws will be pretty noticable and if you get cable god forbid you will have to watch analog signals because they will make you pretty angry.
If you intend on watching alot of broadcast programing then go with Satelite as all there channels are digital.
DishNet has way more HD channels then DirectTV...go online and check out channel line-up, if you go with cable do make sure they have extensive digital channels. For a quick example my bottom 100 channels are not digital and even on my 30in HD they suck, on a screen your size I cant even imagine how bad they will look.

My cable HD picture on a 100" screen is soooo much better than my standard def stations that I rarely watch SD anymore. I'm using the HDMI out, but component is good too. I highly recommend you get HD. Yes, some stations are better than others, but the difference from SD to HD is much greater than that between stations.

My experience is similar to that of Cwlondon, using Time Warner cable in Minneapolis (now taken over by Comcast). Content is pretty good, offering all the commercial broadcast networks plus TBS, National Geographic, Discovery, public television and a few others. Premium channels like HBO have HD programming, too. Sound quality is a big bonus, with most of the HD programming in Dolby Digital. Many of the commercials are in HD and Dolby, as well--kind of fun on a 120-inch screen--but I skip 'em anyway, since the digital recorder box allows you to record the program, and begin watching 15-20 minutes later. This way you can fast-forward through all the commercials and still finish by the end of the program hour.

I will watch most programs on my old analog big screen tv. I just want to take advantage of the hi def capability of my projector for whatever programming that comes in hi def. If it comes in hi def, I'll play the projector. If it comes in standard definition, I'll just play the tv. Thanks again fellas...I'm going to order the service tomorrow.