Runco Lightstyle LS-7 Projector Review-2

Bottom line, I don’t have any useful calibration settings for you, but do have good measurements of brightness. Unless you buy one used, you aren’t likely to buy an LS-7 without the dealer or their favorite calibrator, working on it. That is, unless you can convince them that you have the calibration gear and skills, yourself. It’s just the nature of a $15,000 projector, the costs of calibrating it will be slight compared to the benefits, and the overall theater costs, so, one way or another, it’s going to get calibrated. Thus, you won’t need our settings anyway.

One last thought before we get going. The LS-7 is rather awesome. I know it’s lower resolution than my RS20, and while it has excellent black level performance, it’s not quite up to my RS20, but despite those two things, the LS-7 looks great, virtually as sharp as my RS20, plus the huge lumen boost, has me telling Runco: If you’d like to have a used RS20 in exchange for this sample LS-7, “let’s talk.”

There, that should have gotten your attention.

LS-7 Projector Highlights

• Gorgeous color
• 3 chip DLP design (yes, just like the movie theaters)
• Brightest best mode home theater projector we’ve seen in years!
• Excellent black levels (uses dynamic iris)
• 720p resolution
• Relatively quiet projector
• Cable cover

Projector Specs for Runco LS-7

MSRP: $15,495.
Technology: 3 chip DLP
Native Resolution: 1080p (1920×1080)
Brightness: 2000 lumens – claimed 1708 @ D65, measured: 1451 lumens
Contrast: 10,000:1
Zoom Lens ratio: 1.3:1 ( zoom and focus motorized)
Lens shift: Vertical and Horizontal (motorized)
Lamp life: 2500 hours in low power (which is only 12% less power than full)
Weight: 40.8 lbs. (18.5 Kg) (without lens)
Warranty: 2 Year Parts and Labor, advanced warranties available

Click for more complete projector specifications of the Runco LS-7 projector.

Runco LS-7 Special Features

3 Chip DLP Projector

Well, 3 chip projectors are so rare in our reviews that they merit a posting here, so I can provide some comments. For a decade 3 chip DLP projectors have dominated the high end of home theater, and, of course, almost all the digital cinema projectors in your favorite multi-plex, are also 3 chip DLP projectors. Interestingly, the other technologies used in projectors; LCD and LCoS, are 3 chip devices and relatively inexpensive, slugging it out with single chip DLP projectors.