SIM2 Nero 3D-2 Sharpness
I expected a very sharp, single chip DLP projector. I was not in the least disappointed. The image was extremely sharp, the combination of a single chip design (no panel convergence), and some really good optics. All projectors should look this sharp, as it rivals just about anything out there.
For your consideration, our usual close up images:
SIM2 Nero 3D-2: Bottom Line Sharpness
Sharpness is certainly one thing you won't have to think about at all, when considering this SIM2 projector. Excellent.
SIM2 Nero Light Leakage
I have not a single issue to report when looking for light leakage around vents and panels.
Coming out the lens is another story. There's definitely a fair amount of light exiting the light path, and hitting the screen and wall. It's mostly around the right hand side (projector upright), and mostly about a foot or so to the right of the rightmost part of the actual projection area.
If you have dark walls, you aren't likely to ever notice it, but, if your front wall is light, it will be visible on your wall, when you essentially have a black, or very dark image on the screen.
This could be better. However, this is hardly the first time we've seen light scatter outside the image area on very good projectors. An old favorite of mine, the InFocus 777, did the same thing.
In a dedicated theater, this light leakage really should not be any issue at all.
Nero 3D-2 Image Noise
It doesn't seem to matter what the price of the projector, single chip DLP projectors just seem to have a bit more image noise than other technologies. And as far as that goes, this Nero projector does have a bit more basic "mosquito" noise than many less expensive projectors. It does have the usual complement of noise reduction features, but I only looked at it using the default.
I had no issue with image noise, although if you really want to be picky - well, there is some. Of course, the amount of image noise is nothing compared to the noise due to the massive compression used by cable and satellite services. A close look at any DirecTV channel reveals compression artifacts that are downright ugly, and that's independent of your projector.
SIM2 Nero 3D-2 Audible Noise
Six different lamp brightness levels! At least 3 different fan levels. There is definitely a drop in noise as you reduce brightness from maximum (280 watt) or 270 watt, down to 260. By the time you are down to 230 watts, it's quieter still.
At full power (280 watt) this is not a quiet projector. It's up there with other single chip DLP projectors (the DLP projectors as a group are the loudest). I found this projector to be just slightly quieter than the Epson 5010, and noisier than the Sony VPL-VW95ES that were visiting the testing room at the same time as this SIM2.
For most, if you are sitting close to the projector, try the 260 watt setting for the lamp. You aren't likely to miss a brightness drop of only 10+ percent, but you may well appreciate the drop of a few decibels of audible noise.
