Projector Help - Lumens
Discussion
Hi All. Hope someone out there in PH land can help me out a bit here. I've been told that I should get a projector with as many lumens as possible for my home cinema project, but I'm getting a little confused.
I've looked at the Sony offerings, and the one that seems to be very well acclaimed, Sony VPL-VW95ES is shown as having 1000 lumens. A much lower priced offering, the Sony VPL-FX35 is shown as having 5000 lumens.
So, are all lumens equal?
Budget for the project is good, I will most likely be going for Artcoustic audio alongside the video. The room is being purpose built, 6m long by 4.6m wide internal dimensions. Minimal windows, with good quality blackout.
I've looked at the Sony offerings, and the one that seems to be very well acclaimed, Sony VPL-VW95ES is shown as having 1000 lumens. A much lower priced offering, the Sony VPL-FX35 is shown as having 5000 lumens.
So, are all lumens equal?
Budget for the project is good, I will most likely be going for Artcoustic audio alongside the video. The room is being purpose built, 6m long by 4.6m wide internal dimensions. Minimal windows, with good quality blackout.
I did a bit of reading before I got my Optoma. It has 1800 Lumens and in my room (very little ambient light) it's fine.
ANSI Lumens are the ones. Standardised testing process so any with that tag should be equivalent.
This is interesting http://www.projectorpeople.com/resources/lumen-gui...
P.S. I just looked at the two projectors you listed, the first looks like a home projector the 2nd looks more like a specialist office/high ambient light machine not a home cinema projector.
ANSI Lumens are the ones. Standardised testing process so any with that tag should be equivalent.
This is interesting http://www.projectorpeople.com/resources/lumen-gui...
P.S. I just looked at the two projectors you listed, the first looks like a home projector the 2nd looks more like a specialist office/high ambient light machine not a home cinema projector.
Edited by Bullett on Friday 18th October 11:09
Essentially the two projectors are designed for two different jobs - I have a VW95ES, and it is a superb home cinema projector, designed to project in normal to low light conditions. The FX35 is an installation projector, in that it is designed to be installed in offices/exhibitions to project into high or harsh lighting conditions.
I also have a purpose built room, with one window that has full blackout, walls and ceilings the same colour and full dimmer control of the lighting in two zones, and the VW95ES is more than adequate even when the lights are full on, so I would not worry about the lumens
.
I also have a purpose built room, with one window that has full blackout, walls and ceilings the same colour and full dimmer control of the lighting in two zones, and the VW95ES is more than adequate even when the lights are full on, so I would not worry about the lumens
.Had a good look on that site Bullett - many thanks. Very interesting video on there showing three projectors running side by side with different lumen ratings, and very different contrast ratings.
Matt - thanks for your reply - how does the VW95ES perform with ambient daylight? It is likely that the room will be used to view sport as well as movies. Often during the day. Is it wise to close all blinds to use it, or can it be used without?
Next question.... I have been proposed a JVC 4K projector by my installer. Would this be the best route to take or better to buy HD only now, and leave that side for a few years?
Also regarding the screen - my installer has suggested a Screen Excellence screen - is this a worthwhile addition?
Cheers, Mark
Matt - thanks for your reply - how does the VW95ES perform with ambient daylight? It is likely that the room will be used to view sport as well as movies. Often during the day. Is it wise to close all blinds to use it, or can it be used without?
Next question.... I have been proposed a JVC 4K projector by my installer. Would this be the best route to take or better to buy HD only now, and leave that side for a few years?
Also regarding the screen - my installer has suggested a Screen Excellence screen - is this a worthwhile addition?
Cheers, Mark
Demo, demo, demo...
You have to make your own call and much will depend on your preferences and budget, I'm an audiophile so as much as I enjoy a cracking image I would balence my budget towards the audio system. I mention this simply because products like JVCs X35 at around £2,300 are very, very good and would meet or exceed most peoples expectations. 4k?, there's no need for it unless you decide the projector is offering a superior image, as there's no 4k content (YouTube excepted) I feel this is not a critical decision. Black level, colour rendition and a smooth image come first in my book - 1080P is plenty good enough as long as your viewing distance / screen size is sensible (1.5:1ratio or greater). Screen Excellance are very good, as are Screen Research and a few others. SE are UK based and there's not much need to look elsewhere. With regard to higher levels of ambient light most decent video systems will still work we'll in environments with higher light as long as there's no direct light source on the screen. You can design to improve this but remember that a step taken to better high light performance will potentially effect low light performance. Such is the technology and process it's tricky to do both. Focus on low light and test with higher light, you'll probably find Sony, JVC etc. are all fine even with a 1.0 gain screen.
Good call on speakers. Spitfire range? These are great fun. Sounds like a cool project, enjoy,
You have to make your own call and much will depend on your preferences and budget, I'm an audiophile so as much as I enjoy a cracking image I would balence my budget towards the audio system. I mention this simply because products like JVCs X35 at around £2,300 are very, very good and would meet or exceed most peoples expectations. 4k?, there's no need for it unless you decide the projector is offering a superior image, as there's no 4k content (YouTube excepted) I feel this is not a critical decision. Black level, colour rendition and a smooth image come first in my book - 1080P is plenty good enough as long as your viewing distance / screen size is sensible (1.5:1ratio or greater). Screen Excellance are very good, as are Screen Research and a few others. SE are UK based and there's not much need to look elsewhere. With regard to higher levels of ambient light most decent video systems will still work we'll in environments with higher light as long as there's no direct light source on the screen. You can design to improve this but remember that a step taken to better high light performance will potentially effect low light performance. Such is the technology and process it's tricky to do both. Focus on low light and test with higher light, you'll probably find Sony, JVC etc. are all fine even with a 1.0 gain screen.
Good call on speakers. Spitfire range? These are great fun. Sounds like a cool project, enjoy,
Thanks ASK, a lot of valuable thoughts there. I will book a few demo's. The only one I've been to so far is at Artcoustic themselves - I have to say it was a very impressive couple of hours.
Speakers I believe being proposed are the 120-36 SL's, with the equivalent horizontal centre, and paired up to two of the cabinet mounted subs. The others will be in-ceiling Architects. There will be a TV on the wall for every day viewing - screen will be in-celiing and drop down.
So, anyone know of a reputable projector dealer in the Yorkshire area that would be interested in doing an extensive demo?
Speakers I believe being proposed are the 120-36 SL's, with the equivalent horizontal centre, and paired up to two of the cabinet mounted subs. The others will be in-ceiling Architects. There will be a TV on the wall for every day viewing - screen will be in-celiing and drop down.
So, anyone know of a reputable projector dealer in the Yorkshire area that would be interested in doing an extensive demo?
I'd recommend looking up IdealAV in Normanton.
http://www.ideal-av.co.uk/
I've never been myself, but know a few AVForums members who have recommended him highly. He has two demo rooms as well: One is the proper 'black pit' that a dedicated room ought to be aiming for and the other is a light coloured room more typical of a UK living room. He sells appropriate screens to suit either room too.
As for speakers IdealAV is a stockist of MK Sound speakers which I use myself (bought from the UK distributor as they are closer to me being down South as I am) and I feel are very good speakers for AV (when accompanied with a decent subwoofer). Artacoustic seem to be more geared towards looking more discrete as opposed to all out sound quality, but demoing should help you make your own decision since you have to live with them.
I've just bought the MP150 on wall front speakers and S150T tripole surround speakers as shown on this page which are £4.5K for a 5 channel setup,plus subwoofer (though there are alternatives at higher and lower cost):
http://mkloudspeakers.com/home-cinema-products.asp...
PS. Don't get too hung up on QUOTED lumens figures as they are sometimes misleadingly quoted in non accurate modes given a false impression that one is brighter than another: Classic case in point being Panasonic (whose projectors don't deserve anything like the reverence their Plasma TVs generate on here IMHO). They claim much higher lumens than the equivalent JVC or Sony models, yet in practice in anything like an accurate mode (and even less fully calibrated) they are noticeably dimmer.
Buying based on quoted specs is a route to disaster IMHO, but a decent dealer should point you in the right direction.
http://www.ideal-av.co.uk/
I've never been myself, but know a few AVForums members who have recommended him highly. He has two demo rooms as well: One is the proper 'black pit' that a dedicated room ought to be aiming for and the other is a light coloured room more typical of a UK living room. He sells appropriate screens to suit either room too.
As for speakers IdealAV is a stockist of MK Sound speakers which I use myself (bought from the UK distributor as they are closer to me being down South as I am) and I feel are very good speakers for AV (when accompanied with a decent subwoofer). Artacoustic seem to be more geared towards looking more discrete as opposed to all out sound quality, but demoing should help you make your own decision since you have to live with them.
I've just bought the MP150 on wall front speakers and S150T tripole surround speakers as shown on this page which are £4.5K for a 5 channel setup,plus subwoofer (though there are alternatives at higher and lower cost):
http://mkloudspeakers.com/home-cinema-products.asp...
PS. Don't get too hung up on QUOTED lumens figures as they are sometimes misleadingly quoted in non accurate modes given a false impression that one is brighter than another: Classic case in point being Panasonic (whose projectors don't deserve anything like the reverence their Plasma TVs generate on here IMHO). They claim much higher lumens than the equivalent JVC or Sony models, yet in practice in anything like an accurate mode (and even less fully calibrated) they are noticeably dimmer.
Buying based on quoted specs is a route to disaster IMHO, but a decent dealer should point you in the right direction.
Edited by OldSkoolRS on Saturday 19th October 14:11
bradders said:
Matt - thanks for your reply - how does the VW95ES perform with ambient daylight? It is likely that the room will be used to view sport as well as movies. Often during the day. Is it wise to close all blinds to use it, or can it be used without?
It is fine in ambient daylight, best if you have the lamp in high power mode, although I rarely have the blackout curtains open, instead having the lights on if we need to see to eat/chat.I don't have a screen, instead my whole projection wall is painted in ScreenGoo. I appreciate if you plan to have a TV in there as well that won't be an option for you.
For the audio I have an Arcam AVR400 driving B&W CM8 and CM Centre at the front with a REL sub, then B&W DS6 wall mounted for the rears. Would strongly recommend them, but as the others say you really need to demo, demo, demo both speakers and amps to get the best feel for what you want.
I think what Matt and my systems have in common is that we've used all matching speakers, which IMHO makes a huge difference. Mixing different surrounds isn't great, but a different centre is unforgivable as it totally destroys the front sound stage. I've gone one step further as my front three are identical since there isn't a specific 'centre' made in the MK 150 range.
But as Matt says; demo, demo, demo.
But as Matt says; demo, demo, demo.
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