A couple of folks posted comments to this blog.  I had asked to wait until RonJ’s was up.  OK, bottom line, a couple of you, that I suggested post your comments on Ron’s blog, instead reposted on this one, but addressed to Ron.  Ron has no access to my blog, other than as a reader.  Please (Peter, and one other) repost on to Ron’s blog, at the address above.

Or if you prefer to jump to his blog’s homepage:  http://www.projectorreviews.com/projector-technical-blog/

Hi everyone,

It’s time for me to introduce another new blogger on our site.  Welcome Ron Jones, below he’s provided a brief introduction to himself, and tomorrow I’ll be posting his first serious blog on the technical side of projectors and related home theater.

I’ve asked him to write a short intro, for me to post here.  After that, I want to tell you a bit about what we’re up to, blog wise, and why Ron’s starting to blog for us.   So, here’s Ron:

Greetings all:

My name is Ron Jones and I am very pleased to have been invited by Art to contribute to Projector Reviews with a new blog focused on home theater video technology with an emphasis on new technologies, such as 3D, and associated issues/considerations.  My background is as an Electrical Engineer (MSEE) with 30+ years professional experience and as a home theater owner/enthusiast for 35+ years.  My home theaters have evolved through several generations of CRT front projectors to current micro-display digital projection technology.   I plan to start off the new blog with discussions on the transition to a 3D capable home theater and to the technologies involved. I hope to give readers an understanding of the unique factors, issues and limitations that need to be considered for creating a 3D enabled home theater.

And there you have it.  Ron’s very focused on 3D at the moment, I’ve already read a draft of the blog that will post tomorrow, which is definitely 3D.  To clarify, though, Ron will be taking on a wide range of topics, of which 3D is but one.  I expect, though, that 3D will dominate his first month of blogs.

Most of you know we  another new blog just a couple months ago, which looks at projectors for gaming, and other games related aspects.  I’ve got a plan, it seems, and that’s to grow a small network of bloggers to blog on related topics, and get some critical mass, as I can only do so many reviews, write so many blogs, and answer comments.  As a result, I’m (working on building up a select group of blogs and bloggers tied together primarily by home theater, and especially projector related.  This could mean as many as 6 new blogs this year, and probably that many next year.

I asked Ron Jones to blog for us, as he has the skills and background to take on some highly technical issues.   You all know me, I’m more of the subjective guy, techie at heart, but am more concerned about the bottom line – the end result, than the actual technical reasons.

Enter Ron, who in the past, has been one of the more active folks in terms of commenting on my blog.  One thing I admire, is that when he sinks his teeth into a topic, he seems impressively thorough at examining it.   Ron, like me, happens to be very into 3D, but he’s a detail guy.  I’ve been learning 3D as fast as I can for two years now, but Ron has consistantly managed to provide me helpful information, and he’s corrected me, or provided more accurate explanations than mine, a number of times, which you can find on old blogs of mine.  I recall in particular his understanding of polarization issues as it concerns screens for 3D.  Until I met Ron (online), my assumption was that if you take two “non-3D” screens, such as the Stewart Studiotek 130, and the Carada Brilliant white.  Very similar doing 2D, similar gain, etc., they would likely behave fairly similarly.  Ron pointed out, and explained why, that one of those screens could end up producing an image easily twice as bright as the other, with 3D content, because they are very different in terms of polarization retention.  I learned, readers learned.

Ron’s been active at providing good additional info, occasionally correcting me, for quite some time, and I simply felt that giving him his own blog, letting him answer your comments, would be a real plus for the overall worth of www.projectorreviews.com.

Point is, he’s into it, and has good stuff to share.  So, again, welcome Ron!

Remember, his first real blog – technical, will be posted here tomorrow, BUT, that same blog will appear on his own blog sometime this weekend.  As soon as he’s up and running with it on his blog, I’ll pull down the version on my blog, and replace it with a link to his new blog (you will also be able to find a link on our homepage in the BLOGS section (left-center column).

Over the next few months we’re going to be expanding our social networking options.  So far, we’ve been pretty minimal, so look for lots of ways to pass on the word about our site and blogs to your friends.

One last thing – we’re going to launch still another new blog – next week, if all goes well.  That one will be a second one relating to the gaming world and projectors.  More info in my next introduction, probably right after the 4th.

Hang in there, and enjoy the Fourth of July weekend (US), everyone else, hey, just enjoy!   -art

The ViewSonic VP3D1 3D processor earns our Special Interest Award!

Eureka! It works!

I’m talking about ViewSonic‘s VP-3D1.  What is it? What works? The VP3D1 lets you watch 1080p 3D content from Blu-ray 3D discs and other, including HDTV sources, on 3D projectors that aren’t currently able to do so.  It’s the magical device that changes the range of capabilities of those relatively low cost first and second generation 3D projectors sporting 720p and similar native resolutions such as WXGA. For lack of better terminology, let’s call the ViewSonic VP-3D1 a 3D processor.   That seems to make sense. and, that’s what ViewSonic calls it.

VP3D1 - brings Blu-ray 3D, and 1080p 3D HDTV to low cost 3D projectors

The VP3D1 has an MSRP in the US of $299, but street price seems to be mostly around $249 based on a quick online search.  That makes it a very reasonably priced add on to your system, considering the benefits delivered.

The Viewsonic VP-3D1 addresses several issues that have limited what you can do with these projectors when it comes to 3D.  Mind you the Viewsonic VP-3D1, isn’t the only device of it’s kind.  Optoma‘s been shipping their similar 3D-XL, to do the same thing.  Strangely, the Optoma device has been available in the EU for many months and is just arriving here (or has arrived), but Optoma hasn’t had review units yet.

So, here comes the VP-3D1.  What does it really do?  First, it has two HDMI inputs – and they are HDMI 1.4a.   HDMI 1.4a is the newest HDMI standard, and the thing that matters – the Blu-ray 3D standard, for all Blu-ray 3D DVDs requires HDMI 1.4a.  The VP3D1 also supports Side By Side, but I haven’t looked into that yet – stay tuned.  I’m also planning to put on and watch/listen to a bunch of those 3D music videos I’ve been recording for months from DirecTV.

I know many of you will say that the Sony PS3 now in it’s 3rd or 4th year, can play Blu-ray 3D since firmware updates many months ago.  How do it do dat?   The Sony PS3 is a powerful computer essentially.  It’s upgradability by firmware is downright revolutionary, and as a result, yes, it simply has the horsepower to emulate any HDMI 1.4a features needed for viewing Blu-ray 3D.

Both of my PS-3′s and my Panasonic HDMI 1.4a Blu-ray player typically have no problem with the Blu-ray 3D discs.

720p projectors like the Optoma GT720 – a machine geared for gaming, or for that matter any of perhaps two dozen 720p and other lower resolution WXGA projectors that are 3D capable, however, mostly lack HDMI 1.4a, and also the programming to work with that 1080p 3D content.

Without the ViewSonic VP3D1, these projectors can typically handle a variety of 3D, including some of the channels on DirecTV and cable.  But they are primarily designed to work with game machines and PC’s rather than 3D DVD or 3D HDTV.  The VP3D1, changes all of that.

The VP3D1 converts 3D up to and including 1080p down to an HDMI 1.3 720p 120 hz signal which is the standard for 3D on the lower resolution 3D capable projectors, lots of them!

With the ViewSonic VP3D1, therefore, these low cost projectors can now handle a range of 3D content rivaling the very expensive 1080p 3D projectors like the Sony‘s (about $4K, and $10K), JVC‘s, Sharp XV-Z17000, etc.

There are still a number of current standards (and “optional” modes) to do 3D, and so far, only one projector I’ve worked with, for example has been able to work with all three 3D channels DirecTV puts out.  And that includes the pure 1080p 3D projectors.

But back to the VP-3D1.  This was so easy.   I set up the GT720, plugged it in, fired up my Panasonic Blu-ray player, but instead of running the HDMI cable from the Panasonic, to the Optoma, instead, the cable goes from the Blu-ray player to the VP3D1 HD 3D processor.  The VP-3D1 has two HDMI inputs, I should note, that can be switched from the front, each with discreet buttons.

The next step is to run a second HDMI cable from the VP-3D1 to the 3D projector, in this case, the Optoma GT720.

Firing up everything, I put in my favorite all purpose Blu-ray 3D DVD, Ultimate Wave, 3D Tahiti.

Here’s the cool part.  That was it!  I put on the active shutter 3D glasses that Optoma sells for their projector, and bingo, Ultimate Wave 3D plays beautifully in 3D, from Blu-ray 3D.  No muss, no fuss!  Out came the Ultimate Wave disc, and in, Tron Legacy!  Tron Legacy also played great in 3D.  (a very fun movie to demo to friends, that Tron).

The next step was to try one of my two PS3s.  I simply pulled the HDMI cable out of the Panasonic player, put it into my PS3, and Tahiti kept on playing in 3D.

Audio.  I need to look into audio a bit later.  I can tell you that the audio from Ultimate Wave, made it from Blu-ray player to VP3D1, to the GT720, and the sound played fine through the Optoma’s small speaker.   I also played the audio through my room’s sound system, but I already pull the audio out via digital optical cable, not HDMI, since I don’t use my AV receiver to switch the video, only the audio. As that’s not the way most folks do it, I will report whether one needs to treat audio any differently when the VP3D1 is hooked up,  than without the VP3D1 in the system.

Update:  Not a problem.  I outputted the audio via digital optical from the Panasonic, to my AV receiver, while sending the video to the VP3D1.   It works fine.  Same when using the PS3.

Finally, I had mentioned the Optoma 3D-XL.  The two are similar, but, the Optoma has an additional capability, even if few will use it.  You can pair two low cost projectors with 2 3D-XL’s polarizers, etc. and create a system using passive glasses.  My take on that, too expensive, with things changing so quickly, but that is a difference.  Another difference is that the Optoma is a full $100 higher MSRP, and close to that difference when both are discounted.

Break time around here!  When I come back, I’ll report on how the VP-3D1 performs as I try it on 3D HDTV content.  I’ve got content recorded from all three DirecTV channels, two of which have only worked on one projector so far.  The plan is just to add to this blog (within 24 hours of the post), rather than split up the info on two blogs.  That way we can keep all the comments on one blog.

And of course, after I finish this blog on the VP-3D1 3D processor I’m starting on the full review of the GT720, which I will try to post by next weekend.  Also of note, while doing both, I am writing up my thoughts on Carada’s Masquerade CIH masking system, designed to work with most fixed wall screens.   It’s a busy week.  At the same time, I also will post a one page review on the legendary Studiotek 130 from Stewart Filmscreen.

So, it’s a busy week, but I’m having fun today and tonight with 3D.

Look for this blog on the VP3D1 Processor to be added to, and finished within 24 hours.

Update:  Ok, folks I forgot to update.  I’m just getting back to it now.  I’m done playing.  The Optoma GT720 is going home to Optoma and for the moment, I’m out of 720p 3D capable projectors that lack HDMI 1.4a.

But, I did want to bring up one topic, and that’s compatibility with my PS3s.   I originally reported that I switched while watching one Blu-ray 3D disc, from Panasonic Blu-ray player to one of my PS3s, and no problem at all.

However, Ultimate Wave 3D Tahiti seems a little more forgiving than some other Blu-ray 3D detecting discs.   Over repeated use, I’ve found that one of my PS3 players doesn’t always like the VP3D1/Optoma combination.  On occasion, I’m getting messages that there is no Blu-ray 3D compatible device, and the discs are kicking me out.  Most times it works just fine, sometimes not.  It seems that if I have one such disc working, then the next one will too.  Problem is, I haven’t figured out why a few discs don’t always work, or rarely work.   I’ve tried all dozen plus Blu-Ray 3D’s  in my collection.  From FIFA soccer, Tron Legacy, to Monster House all have worked on the PS3/VP3D1 projector combination.  Just a few times I get the 3D display compatibility error.

Bottom line – Using a PS3 should be just dandy, but perhaps not 100%.  I have been able to get every Blu-ray 3D disc to work, but not every time.  Of course one of my PS3′s is real old – one of the first two months production?  When I visited a forum about the 3D1, all mentions of using the VP3D1 with a PS3 are positive, with no issues reported.  So I’m the only person reporting any issue.   BTW I suspect cables.  Not all of my cables are wide bandwidth HDMI, and I run some longer lengths.  I plan to upgrade several of them.  Frame packing 3D apparently requires about 2X the bandwidth of 2D?  There is a question raised about Top-Bottom 3D, being an issue.  I did not specifically identify any top-bottom 3D content.  I am going to ask Viewsonic about that.

Mind you I will have other projectors arriving, that can use the VP3D1, so when they do, I’ll try some more.  Is the problem being caused by the projector?  Or is it the combination of the VP3D1 and the particular projector model, or just related to the VP3D1 in certain circumstances, or more likely – a PS3 issue?

But remember, my Panasonic Blu-ray player with HDMI 1.4a (the first Panasonic with it), works flawlessly.  Not once did the Panasonic tell me that the display isn’t compatible, so the PS3 is at least part of the issue.

While there were some issues with the PS3, note that there was no such problem with 3D content coming over my DirecTV box with the VP3D1 and Optoma.  Content from all 3D channels worked as advertised.  Note, that included ESPN 3D’s X-Games, concerts in 3D from Guitar center (there’s a whole series of them, with great artists), L5: First City in Space, China Revealed, and National Parks, all on 3net, and Adventures in Animation, and Vancouver 2010: Olympic Stories, from the n3D channel.

Artifacts:  Overall, pretty clean, but I have no comparable 720p projector that doesn’t need the VP3D1, to do side by side 3D comparisons with.  This opportunity may present itself in the near future.  The only noteworthy, annoying artifact I noted, turned out to be a left right issue, which with most 3D projectors is easily correctable.

So, bottom line – other than some once in a while issues with using a PS3, the VP3D1 looks pretty good.   Until I can find me a proper 1080p 3D projector I can live with, I expect I’ll probably be using the VP3D1 or a competitor’s with one of these low cost 3D capable projectors until my dream projector arrives to replace my now aging JVC RS20.

Products like the VP3D1 can take your basic 3D projector to the next level – with 1080p support and Blu-ray 3D support.  A device like the VP3D1 combined with a low cost 3D projector (and a more expensive 2D one) makes for a tantalizing, and practical alternative to dropping a big bundle on todays higher end 1080p 3D projectors all of which seem to be over $4000 at the moment!  In other words, if your 3D is only occasional, this way, you can wait for the expensive ones to move to 2nd or 3rd generation 3D and get brighter.  -art

Hope that helps folks. Again, any owners – feed us all back!  thanks -art

I mentioned it, so let’s get that out of the way.  It was reported that the VPL-HW30 will sell for $3699.

The price point should shake up the young field of 3D ready home cinema projectors.

The Sony VPL-HW30ES projector is claiming 1300 lumens – the same as the three more expensive JVC 3D ready projectors, but the one JVC we received for review was very disappointing in terms of brightness.  We would expect this Sony HW30ES to do a lot better.

Contrast (using a dynamic iris) is 70,000:1.

The  HW30ES handles up to 240hz, a definite plus not found on many lower cost 3D projectors.  Sony’s new active shutter glasses (apparently not included), are $129.  The real news is the weight, which is an exceptionally light 59 grams – just over 2 ounces.

Apparently, the emitter for the 3D glasses is optional at $79.95 and outboard.  A small savings for those not into 3D, or at least not yet.  Still an emitter and four to six pair of glasses, will be a nice little additional dent into your credit card.

I can’t wait to lay my hands on this Sony projector.  I’ve got the content all ready and waiting.  Come on, Sony!   -art

The officially “unannounced” HD33, and also, I expect, an HD3300 for the local and big box dealers, look like this:
Optoma HD33
1800 lumens
4000:1 contrast
3D ready, uses active shutter glasses
3D Compatibility:
120Hz Frame Sequential 3D for Resolutions Up to 720p,
60Hz Field Sequential 3D for Resolutions Up to 480i

HDMI  1.4a (2), Blu-ray 3D compatibility
Roughly 14.2×12.25×4.5 inches
7.7 pounds
1.2:1 zoom
30/28 db noise levels
230 watt lamp
0.65 Darkchip2 DLP
Lamp Life 4000 / 3000 hours
Lens offset is 116% – similar, I believe to older Optoma’s

The HD33 I expect, will launch (pretty soon, see below), with a 1 year parts and labor warranty, as that has been consistent for Optoma on their lower priced projectors for several years.

If there’s an HD3300 that turns out to be a similar projetor, for the local dealers – that might come with a longer warranty.

Optoma HD33 Price tag?  Unknown.  Sorry about that!   I realize that’s a key piece of info, but I couldn’t find any indication anywhere.   If someone has some knowledge… let me know and I’ll share the word.

Meantime, the HD33 sounds like Optoma’s idea of a 3D replacement for (or step up from) their HD20, which is one of the most popular home projectors of all time!

Some of the info also on the original blogs I found, indlcated a ship date in the July – August time frame for the HD33, and also for the HD8300.  That’s pretty soon, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Optoma doesn’t formally announce this projector in the next week or so, especially since it seems the cat is out of the bag (word leaked.)

This is exciting.  Optoma usually takes good care of me, in terms of a getting us review units in the first batch to go out.  That means I’m making sure I can review the HD33 immediately, when it shows up here.

Optoma also indicates on that pre-launch data sheet, that the HD33 projector is targeted to gamers as well as the usual movies, sports and general TV viewers.

Let’s go Optoma, the word’s out, give us the rest of the info, especially price points and delivery dates!!!

PS. That datasheet has a photo as well.  They show the lens on the right (looking from the front), usually Optoma’s lens is on the left.  That said, reverse the HD33 projector’s image and the HD33 looks a lot like the HD806 and its siblings.  These dimensions don’t match anything else in the Optoma line up, of Optoma projectors I have reviewed.

More on the Optoma HD33 when I know it.  -art

VPL-VW90ES - 2D and 3D Projector

I’m back in 3D projector heaven, thanks to the arrival of the Sony VPL-VW90ES, Sony’s $10,000 replacement for the VW85.  The VW90ES brings you 3D in a package claiming 1000 lumens.  It doesn’t deliver on all of them, coming up typically short (few companies hit their claims).    No matter, here’s a taste of what I’ve learned.

First, no question about it, with the same setup, this Sony VPL-VW90ES, was significantly brighter than the JVC DLA-RS60 we had here a couple of weeks ago.  Of course that projector was expected to be brighter than the Sony VW90ES, since it claimed 1300 lumens.  We sent it back thinking we got a bad one, but so far, still waiting on JVC for another.  I kept the screen size small so far, for 3D viewing, to about 80″ diagonal, for 3D viewing, and it wasn’t bright, but it was definitely good enough for some really impressive viewing.  I’ve yet to see if the Sony’s bright enough to fill my 106 inch screen (same Carada Brilliant White surface, up in the theatre. (1.4 gain).

Actually, I’m not hopeful.  Oh, it will likely be adequate with a nice, new lamp, but after 1000 hours on the bulb…  Brightness is going to be a concern with all 3D capable projectors until the manufacturers start mostly tripling the typical brightness of today’s home theater projectors.  The Sony’s brightest measurement was just about 800 lumens.

But, the Sony is first, and foremost a 2D projector, and while I’ve watched only minutes, so far, in 2D, it seems to be very much like my recollections of the VW85, but a bit brighter.  And that’s a very good thing (especially for 3D).  Black levels are again, very “ultra high contrast” and while  still not a match for the JVC competition, the 90ES should pretty much be able to hold it’s own with all but a very few of the other ultra high contrast projectors.

Nothing wrong with the Sony’s blacks, so if the roughly 50% brightness advantage (measured) of the Sony (compared to the JVC)  turns out to be accurate, I do believe most people wanting 2D and 3D, will opt for the Sony over the JVC, with sheer horsepower for 3D trumping a black level advantage.  Of course, if the JVC’s turn out to be brighter than our first look… meantime, there have been mentions by owners of RS50 and RS60 (or their HD series equivalents), on the web also reporting low brightness measurements.  We’ll get it all sorted out.

I digress.  If we forget about the 3D for a moment, and you want to learn a whole lot more about the VW90ES, try our full review of the Sony VW85 last year.   The VPL-VW90ES review will publish next week – target date is March 14th!

That’s it for now.  Got to finish writing up the Runco LS-10d review.  -art

PS.  Although 3D is still rough around the edges, I have to tell you I’ve been watching some spectacular and interesting 3D content of late.  I’ll recommend the Blu-ray 3D Tahiti disc.  Not just great looking footage, but lots of surprising high quality 3D graphics you would never expect.  Very cool.  As to the surfing shots, try standing 4 feet from the screen with your glasses on… whoa!

Let me say, this is a strange year.  Normally by the later part of October each year, I’m knee deep in new projectors – for home theater, to review.  This year, seems we’re off to a late start.  Of the new projectors reviewed so far – the Mitsubishi HC4000 projector, the Sanyo PLV-Z4000 projector, and the Epson Home Cinema 8350 projector, are all updates from those projector manufacturers’ key  projectors in last year’s line-up.

On the other hand, there are a number of essentially new projectors to review this fall, in which I’ll include any home projector that is 3D ready.   Coming up, when available, will be projectors from JVC’s new 3D RS projectors, the RS40, RS50, and RS60, as well as the HD250 which should be most similar to the older RS15.

Epson will have their R series projectors (no, not 3D)- all new, but like the JVC projectors it’s probably a few more weeks before those are available to reviewers.

So, you ask, what’s next:

This weekend the last of the pico projector reviews goes live – the AAXA P1 Jr. – at only $119.  Tony will start a review of the new, 2nd generation InFocus interactive projector, the IN3916 projector.

Though I was hoping to work in some other projectors before tackling another Epson, an 8700UB arrived at my door yesterday, and went into my theater last night.  It literally is sitting on top of the Epson 8350 projector who’s projector review posted about a week ago.   I’ll just say this for now.  The 8350 projector, may have improved blacks compared to the older 8100, but it’s definitely not a match for the 8700UB.  That should answer a huge question many of you have been waiting for.  I was watching Iron Man 2 and switched from the 8350 to the 8700UB.  The difference in black levels is still dramatic.  End of that conversation for this blog.

People I’m still slowly writing about 3D.  I’ve got to get a couple of short 3D focused reviews – actually more informational than review focused – since I’m not sure a real review is in order – considering the state of 3D and projectors in most segments – especially home.  Those projectors include the LG CF3D, which is more commercial projector than home, but it is equipped with HDMI 1.4… and it is 3D.  It works.  The other is less a projector, than the Lightspeed system.  Those guys seem way ahead of the curve compared to the other DLP projectors using active glasses, and their system… well, wait and read…

That said, I’m dying to get one of those 3D JVC’s in here, and, since I have a bit of content, I “can’t wait”.

Panasonic: Panasonic has had me stumped for quite some time, as to what’s going on this year.   Panasonic reorganized back in April.  My contacts simply haven’t been able to give me a good feel for what’s going to happen in home theater projector space, this fall.  Finally, I have something informative to say.  Yesterday I was told, one thing, I already knew – that the PT-AX200U projector is “end of life” that is, it’s going away.  There is no announced replacement, and if one does surface, I’d be surprised (if still 720p), if it resembles the AX200U (that’ just a guess).  They just put too many features into the PT-AX20u projector for it to compete price wise with the competition.

But, it’s the 1080p side of Panasonic that everyone’s wanting to know, and finally.  Panasonic emailed me two important things, that I couldn’t be sure of till now:  1.  Panasonic fully intends to continue to be a major player in home theater projectors, and; 2.  Panasonic does have a new projector under development.  (Best I can tell, it’s months away.  I now suspect it may be announced at CES in January, but, that folks, is another guess.  Want one more?  Panasonic has always used Epson LCD panels in their home theater projectors, but it’s quite possible that Panasonic will go to Epson’s “R” reflective panels, or perhaps even DLP since they produce lots of DLP projectors on the education and business projector side.  Regardless, though, the good news is that Panasonic says they want to continue to be a major competitor, and that means more choices.  Amen to that.

Sony, as usual, is the hardest company to read, in terms of review units.  With them, it’s “not yet, not yet”, with most requests, but on the other hand, they occasionally surprise me with.  We can ship you one this week, just when I’ve given up hope for a while.  Nothing from them yet.

Gamers and 3D’ers on a tight projector budget – I just received the Optoma $399 3D adapter, the Optoma XP8000, that will allow you to take HDMI 1.4 Blu-ray 3D from your (new) HDMI 1.4 player (or upgraded PS3 – hooray), and convert it to 3D that can be accepted, most likely by most of the lower priced 720p and WXGA 3D projectors (from Optoma, BenQ, and several others).  Unlike big ticket 3D projectors like the new Sony and JVC projectors, those 720p projectors are mostly under $1000 – aimed at gamers – or the education market, but now can be real HD (ok 0nly 720p) 3D movie projectors.   I’m excited, and have machines here to test.  The Optoma XP8000 will make for a short, most likely one or two pages, but I hope to complete it this week, or during the move, next week. I could turn out to be a great new product, and offer additional 3D choices to many of us.

I’ll update when I have word on more for ya!   Meantime, as I stated, the next mainstream home theater projector to be reviewed will the the Epson Home Cinema 8700UB – because it has arrived, and of course I’ll discuss, the non-identical twin, the Pro Cinema 9700UB projector at the same time. -art

This $399 device lets the owner of an Optoma 3D 720p projector, hook up to, say a Blu-ray player with HDMI 1.4a (needed by both player and projector to view movies in the Blu-ray 3D standard).  The box not only handles the scaling of the 1080p image down to the 720p for the projector, but translates the HDMI 1.4a for the projector.

New 3D-XL Gives 720p 3D Projector Owners Compatibility with Blu-ray 3D Disks

ATLANTA | September 23, 2010 | This past week at CEDIA, Optoma^® Technology, Inc., the world’s #1 selling brand of DLP^® projector, introduced the breakthrough 3D-XL, the first converter box that lets 720p 3D DLP projectors play 1080p 3D Blu-ray disks.  As with all single projector 3D systems, active 3D glasses are required.  The 3D-XL is expected to be available later this year at a suggested end user price of $399.Editor: For a hi-res image, click here: www.roherpr.com/Optoma/3DXL-300dpi.jpg “The 3D-XL is an important product for the market right now,” said Jon Grodem, senior director of product and marketing for Optoma.  “It gives a large installed base a way to embrace 3D life without having to make a new, expensive investment.”  According to Grodem, the 3D-XL converts the HDMI 1.4A signal found in 1080p 3D players and down converts it to an HDMI 1.3 signal that current 720p 3D DLP projectors – those that operate at 120 Hz. – can understand and display in 3D.    The 3D-XL supports multiple 3D inputs, with two HDMI 1.4A inputs, 1 USB port and 1 RS232 port, and can accept common global video inputs and video formats up to 1080p (HDTV, EDTV, SDTV, NTSC, PAL, SECAM).  The 3D-XL weighs 2.4 pounds and comes with a one-year parts and labor warranty. Additional product details and specifications are available at www.optomausa.com

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About Optoma Technology, Inc.

Optoma Technology, Inc. is an award-winning developer of projection and digital display products for business and home.  The company manufactures multimedia projectors for mobile users, fixed installations and home theaters, as well as HD displays.  Optoma products combine superior image processing technologies with exceptional engineering and innovation to deliver images that are bright, crystal clear, and finely tuned for tone and color.  Optoma products are sold through the company’s global network of ProAV dealers, major consumer electronics retailers and Internet resellers.  For more information, visit www.optomausa.com. ©2010 Optoma Technology, Inc. Optoma names and logos are registered trademarks of Optoma Technology, Inc.  Other product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies and are hereby recognized.

I did attend a few seminars, in an effort to get a handle on all the 3D related issues.  I finally feel like I’m starting to at least get an idea of some of the limitations, and issues that have to be worked out.

I’ll be doing a piece for the main website, shortly, but I thought I’d mention a few of the things that have come to light.  Some of you may know most of this, but I might have something to surprise you guys too.  Almost all of these issues should work out, but there are some challenges along the way. Consider:

1. HDMI 1.4 – It’s been known a while, but HDMI 1.4 is the standard for the new blu-ray movies that will come out.  That’s right, time for a new, HDMI equipped blu-ray player.  If you are running a blu-ray player through your computer, I imagine there are ways to get those blu-ray movies out, but your 2009 blu-ray player hooked up to your AV receiver, or right into your projector isn’t going to cut it.

The only 3D projector I’ve seen so far with HDMI 1.4 is the LG CF3D, which I’m working with right now, and it works fine with a Panasonic 3D blu-ray player (with 1.4), on the LG demo disc.  However, to give you an idea of the headaches involved, the Panasonic provided demo disc won’t work with either primary 3D methodology used by projectors. I tried it with the LG, and also with a BenQ W600, a typical 720p type DLP, 3D ready projector.

Apparently Panasonic only put on the disc, the content that plays only on Panasonic 3D LCDTVs and Plasmas.

Talking to DirecTV today, after I came to quickly realize that the first ESPN HDTV 3D broadcast (World Soccer, last Friday), wasn’t going to work on any projectors.  In fact according to them, there were only about 16 total 3D LCDTVs and Plasmas, that could work in 3D (with glasses of course).

Those consisted only of models from Mitsubishi, Samsung, and Panasonic.

Ultimately, all the drivers, etc. will be in place and broadcasts will end up encoded to support the various models and 3D types that they intend to support.  Things just might be a little slower for us projector folks, and maybe for some of the LCDTV brands as well.

As I write, other aspects that I learned, must be dealt with:

Sports – those long shots and even some close shots of football games are going to be a problem. When they do the distant shot of the teams lining up, the players are so far away, that there’s virtually no 3D effect.  And when they zoom in from those long angle cameras, the 3D becomes real, but flat, suffering from the fact that zooming in, isn’t being compensated for, so the depth is being compacted, and looks a bit unnatural.  No doubt those long angle 3D cameras will likely need optics that adjust the distance between lenses to compensate for these “issues”.

I’ll be set up for gaming shortly, with a fairly decent computer coming my way, set up for moderately serious (but not the real, 12 red bull a day hard core gamers – more of the 2 mountain dew a day types).

Sure, we will definitely see 1080p 3D home projectors this fall, at CEDIA. Whether it will be the right time to buy them (1st gen…), or not, will be different for everyone.  I’ll do my best to put all the key issues in perspective, so that we can determine whether to wait, to buy 2D today, and plan to switch in 2-3 years… start with a basic 3D system in addition to what you own…, and other scenarios.

There’s a product called Depth-Q which you can place in front of any projector and get 3D.  I have one inbound. It’s a very serious product, and may be the “intermediate” type solution.  I believe it will work with most projectors that support 120 hz (fps).   If true, then you could put one in front of your 8500UB, PT-AE4000, JVC RS20, or InFocus SP8602.  (Ok, that covers all three technologies.)

That’s today’s taste.

More in the article I’m writing for the main site.  -art

PS, neighbors, friends, and my 18 year old daughter’s friends, so far have all been rather blown away by the 3D I’ve been showing on the LG CF3D projector and my new 92″ Da-Lite Silver Screen – for 3D.

BenQ W600 – 720p, DLP and 3D ready projector!

Greetings sportfans!

What have we here?

The BenQ W600 (which they sent me despite my best efforts to obtain the W1000 that everyone has been asking for), is a 720p projector that is 3D capable.  It’s also incredibly bright!

It’s the first BenQ marketed as ready for 3D. Yep, 3D, and 3DTV is the big buzzword for 2010. Look for 3D content from ESPN and othernetworks to start showing 3D content, later this year, with ESPN, I think running their first 3D content in Q2 of 2010!

Before I go further, a couple of quick comments about projectors like the BenQ W600 and 3D. Like most of us, I’m learning as I go.  There are already several 3D ready projectors being marketed, and more coming. So far, it’s essentially a single chip DLP projector game, as doing 3D with 3 chip devices, like LCD and LCoS projectors (and also 3 chip DLPs) gets more complicated.  By fall, though, we’ll likely see 3D ready projectors using all three major technologies at the CEDIA, or so I think.

But what does 3D ready, or compliant, or compatible, or capable mean?  Does it mean you will be able to watch Avatar when it comes out (eventually) in 3D on Blu-ray?

Maybe, but don’t bet on it.  Most of the 3D standards relating to consumer access, are pretty new, or not even set yet. In the last two months, for example, both HDMI and Blu-ray groups have come out with their standards.  As an example, the HDMI folks are building most of the 3D capability into the HDMI 1.4 spec, so, it’s quite possible that much of the 3D content (like Avatar…) even when shipped, may not be 3D’able, if your projector has HDMI 1.3, not the new HDMI 1.4.  I haven’t yet seen a projector with HDMI 1.4.  Maybe soon?  I don’t know if some devices with HDMI 1.3 can actually be firmware upgraded to 1.4 or whether it calls for more hardware.

If you are interested in 3D now, realize these first 3D projectors may only be able to handle some of the 3D currently out there (such as some K-12 programs, and some of those used for medical imaging).

Gaming, however, may prove to be different. There’s already some 3D content out there, driven, I believe mostly by PC gamers.

I will ultimately attempt to describe any 3D capable projector by what level of 3D capability and range of content it can support.  At this point, though, I’m still pretty much hunting for any 3D content. I’ve been in contact with several developers, and, of course the DLP.com folks, and the projector manufacturers.  I hope to land something, I can use, by end of next week.  I’m trying first for something run from a Mac, since that’s my most powerful computer.  Failing that, I may need to upgrade the graphics cards in my PCs…

But, back to the W600.

Let’s consider it, right now, as a regular projector, then talk a bit more 3D way down below.

The BenQ W600 is a light canon.  I do believe it is the brightest home projector we’ve measured, bu then, it really is a crossover type projector.  I say that, because one way to get more lumens out, is to use a slower speed color wheel, and the W600′s is a 2x I believe, as slow as it gets.  That means more people will be rainbow sensitive.  I know from my watching it, (I am moderately rainbow sensitive), I’m seeing far more rainbow action than say on any of the 5x or 6x color wheel DLP HT projectors.

Also, I should note, that 3D is a lumen killer.  Since you are using glasses and feeding one eye, at a time, basically, bye bye, half of your lumens.  Then there’s the inherent fact that the glasses themselves may block additional light, etc.  Some say, only about 40% makes it back to your eyeball, compared to a similar projector doing normal “2D”. When I get some content, and a proper setup, we’ll get some measurements.

So, lots of lumens would be a very good thing!  How many?  Mike measured a “dazzling” 2954 lumens in dynamic mode and 1522 in Cinema mode.

The W600 doesn’t have color temp adjustment controls, but there are several to choose from.  None is perfectly ideal, with the closest to 6500K that he found,  sporting color temps ranging from mid 6600K in the darker ranges, rising to the mid 6900K range for white and near white.

Overall, color was pretty good looking in Cinema mode, once we had it all set up, just keep in mind this is one of the lowest cost entry level projectors on the market.  Overall, the color in Cinema mode ended up still probably being better than the default setups on most LCDTVs being sold.  Getting into the brightest mode, as expected, color quality does deteriorate a bit. While the color temp readings aren’t really bad for a dynamic mode, the color balance is off.  There’s a yellow/greenish cast to dynamic, which is fairly common.

Mike says, out of the box, the best of the picture modes is Standard. (Cinema is very warm – red). Our final “best mode” consisted of setting up User 1 with Cinema as reference, Brilliant Color off, and Color Temp at T1.  Despite the lack of Color Temp controls the BenQ W600 projector does have a color management system for adjusting the individual colors something we normally do not get involved with.  The best “brightest” mode we put in User 2, using Standard as the Reference, and Brilliant Color on.

The W600 projector has the usual inputs, including HDMI and analog computer, component, etc. It as a very limited range zoom a mere 1.15 to one.  A small, low cost, DLP projector, the W600 lacks lens shift.  It’s remotes range isn’t bad, not overly long though.

I’m watching some of the pre-Olympics programming, have the lights up pretty high in my great room here (main theater), and the projectors doing a very respectable job of dealing with a healthy amount of evening ambient light (no sunlight just room lighting).

Kicking it up to User 2 – based on Standard, and with Brilliant Color on, and it’s even brighter.

If ever there was a family room projector, this BenQ is it.  It’s not afraid of some ambient light nor, I assume white walls.

Blacks are exactly what you would expect – this is your basic DLP projector, and basic DLP projectors several years ago, pretty much set the standard for acceptable black levels.  So, not great, but then, in a not fully darkened room, these black levels are certainly good enough!

So far, I’m rather impressed.  Not the highly tuned color I’m used to, but, last night 20+, mostly high school musical theatre kids sat around and watch Oklahoma on it.  They are normally used to my JVC or one of the other 1080p projectors that’s hooked up.  No one complained, hey, I doubt more than a few even noticed.

Did I mention it has a small, somewhat (as expected since it’s small) tinny sounding speaker.  Handy though if you just want to temporarily plop the projector down on the table and not have to hook up to a sound system, you’re covered. Having that speaker also helps make it a cross-over projector for business or education use.

I plan to do some side by side against the recently reviewed Epson 705HD.  I expect the BenQ to best the Epson at black levels, and be a bit brighter. I also suspect, though that the Epson is capable of slightly better color accuracy, and especially skin tones.  We shall see.  Oh, I almost forgot the Epson isn’t 3D anything ready.

OK, sorry folks, that’s all you get on the $799 BenQ W600, until I lay my hands on some 3D content.  Meantime I sit here, ready, my shutter glasses by my side…  Hopefully I’ll have more for you by the end of next week. -art