I've been reading up on video processors trying to determine if my new dedicated home theater could benefit from having one in my system. It looks like the answer is yes, based on what I've read, but I would love to get advice from those that have been doing this a lot longer than I have as I'm very new to the scene.

My system consists of the following equipment and sources:


JVC RS20 on 16:9 125" wide screen
Integra 9.9 Pre/Pro
Input sources: HD DirecTV, Wii, PS3, XBox 360, DVD (blu-ray & SD), HTPC, Home movies (source material covers the entire range from SD to 1080P and lots of different frame rates)


If you weren't concerned about budget, but were concerned with creating the best experience you could in your home theater what would you do given the above equipment and whether or not to add a video processor?

If you think I benefit from a video processor, what would you recommend that I look at?

Thanks for any direction/advice here - I really appreciate it.

The Lumagen Radiance video processor has a full CMS (Color Management System) that does a great job of calibrating the color triangle on the JVC RS1, RS2, and now the RS20 projectors. Our products are in use on many JVC projectors to eliminate the fluorescent green grass and get nice skin tones.

The LumagenHDQ has a basic CMS system. This system can be used to mitigate the color issue on the JVC projectors. Many customers have reported that they are very happy with the results.

Randy Freeman
support@lumagen.com

I've been reading up on video processors trying to determine if my new dedicated home theater could benefit from having one in my system. It looks like the answer is yes, based on what I've read, but I would love to get advice from those that have been doing this a lot longer than I have as I'm very new to the scene.

My system consists of the following equipment and sources:


JVC RS20 on 16:9 125" wide screen
Integra 9.9 Pre/Pro
Input sources: HD DirecTV, Wii, PS3, XBox 360, DVD (blu-ray & SD), HTPC, Home movies (source material covers the entire range from SD to 1080P and lots of different frame rates)


If you weren't concerned about budget, but were concerned with creating the best experience you could in your home theater what would you do given the above equipment and whether or not to add a video processor?If you aren't concerned about budget, then get the Lumagen Radiance.

However, the RS20 already has very good scaling/deinterlacing built-in. JVC is also on the verge of releasing a firmware update that reportedly will make the RS20's built-in CMS functional. The built-in gamma and grayscale controls already work well.

I guess what I am trying to say is that the RS20 will benefit less from an external processor than a lot of other PJs. However, you should get it professionally calibrated whichever way you go. That will make a huge difference.

I'm not as sure as Tom that the RS20 pending changes will correct the CMS as much as predicted. Sounds like they are still using the HLS color space (as best as I can determine since I can not seem to get anyone to confirm this), which is not the way to do CMS in my opinion. It doesn't give the proper controls to correct RGB which all displays use (it is hue, and saturation instead of RGB). The HLS color space is a Cylindrical color space, and RGB displays (as all are) should be adjusted in RGB space. Mathematically the HLS is changing colors in a double cone, and a straight line through it is not a straight line through the RGB color space.

I'm not saying one can't improve the gamut in the HLS space. I am saying to have reasonable and intuitive control, and proper interpolation of changes throughout the RGB color-cube, color-gamut should be done in linear-gamma RGB color space. The Radiance uses linear-gamma RGB color space for our CMS for good reason.

FYI: Here is a link to a calibration done (albeit not with the anticipated RS20 CMS improvements) with the Radiance and a RS20:

www.cir-engineering.com/rs20.php

Not trying to start a long discussion on this. Only trying to explain why we do CMS the way we do and why I think it is the only appropriate way to do it.

It also will depend on how picky you are. Have you set up the system yet? Are you seeing something that bothers you. The difference may not warrant the additional money. If small changes make a big difference to you, then by all means add the processor. To illustrate, I just added a HDQ to my RS1 which has no CMS. I think the difference is huge. My wife sees only a small change. However, I would have both the projector and pre-pro calibrated. That I would believe make a big enough change to impress all.

Any updates now that we are post RS20 CMS FW update (v1.1)?
:confused:

Official JVC RS20 / HD750 Calibration and CMS thread (NEW FIRMWARE V1.1) - link (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1142828)
deandob question/post - link (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16362760#post16362760)
My comments - link (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16363038#post16363038)


So, given the new CMS FW update, what is the incremental value of the Radiance?

Like the original poster (Zigrivers) I can afford the Radiance, but if I don't see a difference vs. the new CMS FW update, what am I doing?

We all know the Radiance is a good product.
I think people acknowledge the theoretical benefit for calibration of a better CMS approach as jrp noted above.
Also, the Radiance has other features that can be useful including HDMI switching, etc.

Thanks.

Mike
(RS20 still on v1.0 - ISCOIIIL + CineSlide pending)
(Rec: Denon 5308CI, planned BR/DVD player - Oppo 83)

If you weren't concerned about budget, but were concerned with creating the best experience you could in your home theater what would you do given the above equipment and whether or not to add a video processor?

The controls on the RS20 now work well. The CMS seems to really be as good as the Radiance's, but the Radiance still has better (easier to use) greyscale and gamma controls. I wonder whether these differences would ever be seen on the screen.

The Lumagen's scaling and image processing will be better than the RS20's. This would make the biggest difference with SD material. If you watch a lot of SD material, the Radiance is definitely worth it. If you mostly watch HD, the difference will be more modest or maybe not noticable. I wouldn't buy the $5k MSRP Radiance solely for switching. Good switches would be much cheaper.

So, to answer your question, "if you weren't concerned about budget" then get the Radiance.

The controls on the RS20 now work well. The CMS seems to really be as good as the Radiance's, but the Radiance still has better (easier to use) greyscale and gamma controls. I wonder whether these differences would ever be seen on the screen.

The Lumagen's scaling and image processing will be better than the RS20's. This would make the biggest difference with SD material. If you watch a lot of SD material, the Radiance is definitely worth it. If you mostly watch HD, the difference will be more modest or maybe not noticable. I wouldn't buy the $5k MSRP Radiance solely for switching. Good switches would be much cheaper.

So, to answer your question, "if you weren't concerned about budget" then get the Radiance.

Lawguy -

Very informative and succinct summary.
Thank you.:)

Mike

JVC has released the firmware now so the CMS is actually quite good. That being said, the Lumagen Radiance will still help (any good video processor, especially such a high end one) is going to benefit, pending the price doesn't bother you.