CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[WanMan]

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Late last June I purchased a B-stock JVC DLA-RS20 with full factory warranty and a clock counter of zero. I mated this projector with a Seymour Center Stage XD acoustically transparent screen.

The decision on the screen went beyond any consideration for any other single component in the mix. The type (acoustically transparent or not), format (1.33, 1.78, 1.85, 2.35, 2.37 or 2.4), and material all had a bunch of unknowns. The room itself has a finished width of only 12'4" (length of 26'4" and height of 8"8"), and the concern with adjacent walls being close, of color and finish of their own leading to an inexact variable of the overall picture brightness in perception.

Well, yesterday was the first time I had vacation without having other plans and finally plugged everything in. I can say that with the RS20 in Normal (not High) lamp mode, on what is probably going to be a brand new lamp, with Star Trek Blu-ray playing from an equally discontinued BDP-S350 player the zoomed 2.4-ish presentation at 10' wide (yes, that's 120 inches!!) was more than sufficient to both my eyes and those of the wife.

Before the wife got home from work, I played an un-zoomed 16:9 presentation of Season 6 of House, M.D. and the image was simply fantastic.

NOTE: My impression is based a) only previous digital projectors from 5-7 years ago, and b) from my previous use of a GE Imager 601 (straight PG6) CRT projector. I can say that from what I have personally used in the past this projector beats those experiences hands down.

Now, the Benjamin Moore Regal Select in darkish tone definitely did a number in controlling light-reflection at the screen's extreme condition as the adjacent walls came within a foot of the walls. In fact, the semi-gloss on the mock columns about three feet farther out from the wall had a more hot-spot-tish condition than the wall itself.

I purchased the projector from [ask me] and I had them to an initial calibration. Iris is set to zero and I wonder after I get use to playing around with the controls if I should increase this to increase contrast. While the intra-scene CR seems fine, this could also be me and my brainwashing from the last three years of plasma TV only viewing conditions.

I have no real measuring/calibration equipment so I cannot be specific on the technical performance. I could post a screen capture, but I am not sure that could ever be taken as of value. All I can say is that the wife and I are happy, amazed by the ten foot image on the screen, and that I now need to find that new subwoofer.

BTW, the perceived amount of brightness compared to the GE Imager was at least equal to or more than the 601. I am comparing this between the 80" wide Draper M1300 screen used with the CRT to the 120" wide Seymour Center Stage XD. I knew the M1300 was marketed as a screen with 1.3 gain, and the Seymour that was probably 1.0 at best, but the JVC more than made up for that. Guessing I will go High Lamp mode in about 500-600 hours from now, but considering this is a dedicated (ahem, Blu-ray only) setup that is fine.

[ecrabb]

Damn, you've had that projector and screen for at least a month or two, right? And you're just getting around to testing it now? Must be crazy busy... I'd have busted that thing out and had it sitting on a cardboard box to watch a few movies before I let it set in the box for a month or two!

Interesting to hear your experience, too. I think you'll definitely want to turn the DI on... I don't see how you'll be happy with the blacks and on/off without it.

The Draper was over-rated IIRC, and I think the Seymour was actually measured and confirmed at close to the 1.2 gain Seymour claims. I bet the M1300 and CenterStage XD are pretty close, actually.

I've been really impressed with the JVC machines, too - even the older RS2. I could easily be happy with one if my G70 died... Especially if I could go to a scope screen.

You'll have to snap some pics for us! Just general room/setup pics at least.

SC

[Spanky Ham]

Ok, who did you buy the pj from? I hope you didn't pay to much, as you could buy the RS40 from AVS for around $3500.

And Crabb, ease up on him. I haven't turned on my G90 in three months.

[WanMan]

Steve, this Summer has been more than a little weird for me. But keep in mind I wouldn't turn on something unless all the components were in place. I do not needs to be artificially misrepresented by testing early and I had to wait on the screen, its proper mounting, etc. but I do agree I move like a Carnival Cruise ship after and engine fire--stink and all.

Now I'm holding off enjoying the room more because of the subwoofer deficiency. I gave consideration yesterday to the eD you recommended to me a couple of month back, but I think they work from a build-on-order scheme and that is a showstopper for me. Of course this is matched by fools in so called boutiques claiming to sell XYZ and then do not have demo's and lack inventory for immediate buyer fulfillment.

[greg_mitch]

[Bucketfoot]

I don't know which eD you are considering, but I've got an A7s-450 that I absolutely love. But if I were looking today I would have to give serious consideration to one of the Chase Home Theater subs.

You might want to check them out as well if you don't want to wait on an eD.

[greg_mitch]

[Bucketfoot]

[WanMan]

Well, the wife has a few weeks of heavy work load and finally had enough time to actually sit down and watch a movie. We put up WALL-E and she loved the presentation. That was enough for her to go into 'learn' mode and get use to the new remotes (not come up with a consolidated solution yet), and then she sat down for two more movies.

Personally, I'm holding off until the new sub arrive (tomorrow!) and then I am going to start watching some action movies to really beat the woofer out of me.

[CIR Engineering]

[HogPilot]

[WanMan]

I figured that by the time 500 hours rolls about I would have watched +200 Blu-ray movies in this dedicated space. At under $300 for the lamp, and with a decent cleaning as Hog pointed out, and maybe even use of High lamp mode, then I should be fine. Mind you I never set my expectations high--only as high as I could afford--and the wife's expectations were lower than mine. Win-Win.

I also thought about buying a calibration system if one could be had ~$3-400 and trying to extend the lamp to about 800 hours, but trying to find a solution amongst the good, bad, and ugly might mean I should try just for the basics with lamp replacement. And the cost to have someone come in and hang, setup, and calibrate the XG1351 (w/new tubes) would cost me about 4 RS20 lamps, or an entry-level digital projector for just HDTV use.

[CIR Engineering]

[CIR Engineering]

[HogPilot]

[CIR Engineering]

[WanMan]

Hmm, I am usually very sensitive (aware) of such things, but I have not noticed anything yet. Maybe it is because I started using the projector so late into the season and the environment is usually <70ºF that none of these odors have made themselves present. In fact, I have not noticed any smell, pleasing or unpleasing.

[HogPilot]

I've never had any smell issues with any of my JVCs, although I've only owned 5 including the RS50 that should be on its way soon, so I don't have nearly the experience that Craig does with them. I will definitely be interested to see if this carries over to the new RS40/50/60 - not that it's a huge deal, but knowing how to fix it could be crucial for attaining acceptable light levels in 3D mode on the new models.

[CIR Engineering]

I may have over exaggerated stated the smell and sent you guys in the wrong direction. They don't really stink in a bad way, but the RS's have always smelled strongly of new plastic when they are new. That's all.

craigr

[ChrisWiggles]