Which of course would make moving to an RS35 very tempting to an RS20 owner, such as myself.
Therefore, if I have a choice, I’ll do the RS35 before the RS15.

Still the RS15 will be another evolutionary upgrade. While there are a few competitors to the RS10/15 – Sony VW85, InFocus’es new 8602? the Planar 8150, etc., most likely the new projector with be just a tad better, than the RS10, which means, if the RS10 is a good choice, the RS15 will be just a touch better choice… And of course, I’m awaiting the 8602 to come back in, and the Sony, etc.

So, basically I need to get done a number of “higher end” models before I complete picture can be painted. Certainly I’d like to get both JVC’s done by mid-January, and I only have time slots for about 5 projectors between now and after CES in January (mid-month).

Yes, closing down an iris does improve contrast and therefore should slightly affect black levels. That said, when I do that (close down the iris on the RS25) for the images I took (will be posted soon) showing both projectors, I’ve also viewed both projectors with irises wide open. I’d still have to say that the RS25 is a tad better, despite lack of a “spec” improvement.

Keep in mind that even if I closed down the RS25 iris all the way, we’re talking about a drop in brightness of only about 60%, and that’s about an f-stop, not enough to make a significant difference. So, forgetting all the variations from one unit to the next, I’ll stick with my guns – that there is a very slight improvement in black levels. And that, at the RS25′s range of performance, even very slight is a good thing.

The mandatories: PT-AE4000 (in progress), Vivitek H1080FD ($999), Mitsubishi HC6800, Sony VPL-VW85, JVC RS15, and if I can find one, BenQ W1000.

With the JVC, although the RS15 is more important, I might just do the RS35 first if available. (In part because I am considering one for me!)

Either way, I’m going to try to have the RS15 here within 4 weeks. If nothing else, I could look at RS10 – RS15 differences, and get out a useful “first look” blog.

Hey, it’s crunch time around here. Usually the JVC’s aren’t even available until January (and often the same for Epson. This year everything is available earlier, so more “crunch” in my life, but the big 1080p comparison report should be earlier this time around, because of it. -art

Wish her good luck with the play.

About the black level; your RS20 has an older lamp so you probably use it with the iris more open.
Isn’t that givingf the RS25 the bennefits
(Some other reviewer wrote about doing so)
If you put in a new lamp and the iris is the same as the RS25, would it be still better.