just a quick question. Ive read every thread on the rs-1 and still can't quite figure out...is it brighter than a similarly calibrated ruby , or not.? just thinking of replacing my ruby on my 139inch wide hp. thanks for any replies men..

Personally I wouldn't replace. Not that in many ways the RS1 isn't better, but, it is a subtle difference and you are going to lose your shorts on the Ruby.

I agree with Jason. We compared the Ruby with the RS-1 in an A/B setting, and even with nearly 400 hours on the Ruby bulb, it was very close to the RS-1 in brightness. The RS-1 is slightly better in a few areas (already discussed in the threads), but the Ruby holds it's own against the RS-1, and looks better with some material (see Bob's posts, I agree with him).

You will lose a bunch to "upgrade" (for what is, IMO, only minor improvements).

Jim

As a Ruby owner I figure when I upgrade the projector I assume it will be for something a whole lot better. Not just a bit better. From all the early reports they are close. Sure if I was buying or say upgrading from a lot less projector;this seems to be the one to get.

It depends a lot on your wants too. If better black level is your only consideration it might be worth it. Of course your room also has to match this level of performance. Dont upgrade and put this new projector in a white room with lights on. To really see and or appreciate the differences you better have a cave.

lower operating cost too. But that of course would likely be irrelevant if you take a bath on your Ruby sale.

if i could sell the ruby for about the cost of the rs-1, i'd only be taking a shower.

True, but the operative word is "if". That may be harder than you would think.

True, but the operative word is "if". That may be harder than you would think.

Agreed, IIRC, a forum member took awhile selling his "new" replacement Ruby (with a new bulb?) and he had it listed for $5k on the forum. Don't know the final selling price. Of course that was being sold at a time when it was speculated that the RS-1 would blow away anything below $10k, and some above. Granted, it has impressed in many areas, but the Ruby is still a solid performer so perhaps you might be able to get that price.

Jim

i' pretty happy with the ruby at almost 500hours., but only after alans #44 brightness tweak. With the normal setting its a bit too dim. If you couldnt make a similar adjustment on the jvc I'd say it wasn't even an option (for me)

Like Jim, I own both a Ruby and a RS-1. I really love both of these projectors but for different reasons. If I didn't own either, I would buy the RS-1, as overall I prefer its picture quality, but if I owned a Ruby (and I do), I wouldn't rush out to sell it at a huge loss to buy the RS-1. Each projector has its own strengths and weaknesses, which in short are:

RS-1 strengths:

Very sharp image
Great native on/off CR
Higher intra-image contrast than Ruby
Low cost lamp
Very flexible mounting

RS-1 weaknesses:

Lacks good color controls
Not as much dark detail in low APL scenes (as Ruby)
Could use some better or customized gamma curves

Ruby strengths:

Great dark detail in low level scenes
Sharp picture (though not as sharp as the RS-1)
DI provides improved gamma processing.
Looks better than RS-1 on less than pristine material
Edit: Even though CMS is not the best, it has much better color control than RS-1

Ruby weaknesses:

High cost of lamp
Lower native CR than RS-1
Brightness compression when DI is used
Not as flexible in mounting

Another consideration is the type and quantity of the material you will be watching. If you will be primarily concerned with HD-DVD and/or Blu-ray, then the RS-1 will be the better performer, but if you watch a lot of OTA and satellite HD (not the best quality for sure) and standard upscaled DVD, then the Ruby performs better in a significant amount of cases, though not always.

Both units are great projectors, but neither is perfect. If in spec, both have about the same initial brightness, so screen considerations should be similar. I like each of them better for different applications, so I have decided to keep them both and mount them in a vertical stack! :D

Another consideration is the type and quantity of the material you will be watching. If you will be primarily concerned with HD-DVD and/or Blu-ray, then the RS-1 will be the better performer, but if you watch a lot of OTA and satellite HD (not the best quality for sure) and standard upscaled DVD, then the Ruby performs better in a significant amount of cases, though not always.



Bob, great summary.

Interesting that the Ruby handles satellite HD and standard DVD better. Do you have an explanation? Would this also be true of cable HD?

Additionally, have you compared the Ruby with the Pearl - do you see the Ruby being much better because of the Xenon lamp? Everyone with a Ruby seems to feel it is a huge improvement over the Pearl, however, non-owners generally seem to feel they look very much alike.

Interesting that the Ruby handles satellite HD and standard DVD better. Do you have an explanation?
Please note that this is the case some of the time, not all. For some reason (maybe the lower MTF of the Ruby), the Ruby masks faults in poor quality material where the RS-1 is brutally honest and reveals all of the artifacts. As a result, lower quality material looks better to me on the Ruby than on the RS-1. The higher the quality of the source, the better it will look on the RS-1.
Would this also be true of cable HD?
I don't know...I don't have cable.
Additionally, have you compared the Ruby with the Pearl - do you see the Ruby being much better because of the Xenon lamp? Everyone with a Ruby seems to feel it is a huge improvement over the Pearl, however, non-owners generally seem to feel they look very much alike.
I've calibrated both and IMHO once calibrated the differences in colorimetry are insignificant. If I had a choice of buying a Ruby and a Pearl at the same price, I would buy the Pearl. The advantages of the Pearl over the Ruby are:

1. Lower lamp cost
2. Accepts 1080p24 over HDMI
3. Better DI algorithms
4. Better cooling system

Once again it is a matter of what you already own. Since I already own a Ruby I wouldn't sell it for the Pearl, but if I didn't own either one, I would buy a Pearl.

The Pearl is brighter than the Ruby, so are you guys saying the Pearl is also brighter than the RS1/HD1?

Sorry, haven't had the pleasure of seeing an RS1...yet:D

(P.S. - We're talking calibrated to D65 here)

The Pearl is brighter than the Ruby, so are you guys saying the Pearl is also brighter than the RS1/HD1?
Hi Dave,

I have no definitive answer as yet. The three projectors I measured, all at the same throw, size, and properly calibrated, measured as follows on a new lamp:

Ruby - 593 lumens
RS-1 - 513 lumens
Pearl - 430 lumens (but the panel drivers have not been optimized as yet)

In theory both the Pearl and RS-1 should have more lumens than my Ruby, but with my particular samples this was not the case. If all units met specs then the RS-1 and Pearl should both be brighter than the Ruby.

Well stated Bob.

Analytical and of course informative posts Bob.

Hi Dave,

I have no definitive answer as yet. The three projectors I measured, all at the same throw, size, and properly calibrated, measured as follows on a new lamp:

Ruby - 593 lumens
RS-1 - 513 lumens
Pearl - 430 lumens (but the panel drivers have not been optimized as yet)

In theory both the Pearl and RS-1 should have more lumens than my Ruby, but with my particular samples this was not the case. If all units met specs then the RS-1 and Pearl should both be brighter than the Ruby.

Thanks Bob. That does seem low for the Pearl:confused: The pearl I had was a lot brighter than the Ruby.

So would you or anyone say that, taking into account that they were both optimized, cal'd and met factory specs that the Pearl and RS1 were the same brightness or that one is considered brighter than the other?

Reason I ask is that when I temporarily went back to a Ruby in my theater, with a new lamp, it seemed dimmer than the Pearl it replaced. I would like to maintain the Pearl brightness with of course the RS1's incremental upgrades. If it is more in line with the Ruby's brightness I may not yet go with the RS1.

If everything were in line, I would expect the RS-1 to be brightest, the Pearl just a tad dimmer and the Ruby a bit dimmer still. But in real life you never know what you are going to get for lumens, so if you got a bright Pearl and a slightly dim RS-1, the Pearl might end up being the brighter projector. But we are talking a maximum of 100 lumens difference between the brightest and dimmest of the bunch, and 100 lumens isn't all that much.

That's exactly the way I figured it Bob. Thanks for your confirmation. Your input on these RS1 threads have been a HUGE help to us lowly folk who don't have one yet:)

Now I really wish I would have made it out to CEDIA and CES this past year:(

Hi: Does your High Power screen improve the brightness of your Ruby Projector. I have the same projector, shooting onto a 135" diagonal grayhawk screen. What percentage do you think the H P screen would improve my image. Thanks

Hi: Does your High Power screen improve the brightness of your Ruby Projector. I have the same projector, shooting onto a 135" diagonal grayhawk screen. What percentage do you think the H P screen would improve my image. Thanks
It certainly should, assuming you take into consideration the mounting requirements for the HP. If you do, though, it will be much much brighter than the Grayhawk (2.8 vs. .85ish).

Thanks Bob. That does seem low for the Pearl:confused: The pearl I had was a lot brighter than the Ruby.This is confirmed to some extent by Projector Reviews (http://www.projectorreviews.com/sony/VW50Pearl/performance.asp). Read half into the page, within paragraph "Sony VW50 Projector - Projector Brightness". Interestingly, the reviewer was initially somewhat disappointed by the Pearl's brightness, but then found a way to yield even a whopping 1,157 (though non-D65) lumens from his machine.

nibus...i origionally had a 1 gain screen and switched to the hp with my ruby. the difference was VERY dramatic!! You do have to keep the projector height as close to your head as possible to get the full gain. mine is behind a wall just above my head, in a batcave, at almost full throw. its plenty bright. why more large screen hp's arent used i don't know. unless you'll be viewing from 45degrees, where its half as bright.

The key thing with HP is making sure you have the proper projection vs. viewing position. If not, there is little benefit from that material.

I still LOVE my Ruby! ;)

Hi: Does your High Power screen improve the brightness of your Ruby Projector. I have the same projector, shooting onto a 135" diagonal grayhawk screen. What percentage do you think the H P screen would improve my image. Thanks
I went from a STEWART FH to a SILVERSTAR a while ago and did not notice a huge difference then, but now with over 1200 hrs racked up and the RUBY still bright enough for me, its definitely paying off. Don't get me wrong, I still think the FH is the better screen with a sharper image and better blacks and no visible texture. If they ever make an affordable projector with 2000 D65 Lumens and the same PQ as a RUBY or RS1, or I mean when they make it, then I will go back to a FH. The STEWART screens are very high quality in every way IMO. The SILVERSTAR fit my needs best at this time with where my projector is mounted. Good luck.

ok ok ok i'm gonna keep the ruby! just finished watching casino royale, sd version. the combo of the ruby, hp, and image put out on the toshiba hd1 made me think to myself...hey, these guys are right...this can't get too much better in this price range. the first third of the movie by the way was great.

ok ok ok i'm gonna keep the ruby! just finished watching casino royale, sd version. the combo of the ruby, hp, and image put out on the toshiba hd1 made me think to myself...hey, these guys are right...this can't get too much better in this price range. the first third of the movie by the way was great.


I've heard that Casino Royale is a top tier SD DVD. I'd stick with the Ruby also.

I've heard that Casino Royale is a top tier SD DVD. I'd stick with the Ruby also.

It is also top tier for Blue Ray and looks stunning on my Ruby :)

i bet it looked good in hd since it looked damn good in sd. i'm just waiting for the 499 bluray

I've calibrated both and IMHO once calibrated the differences in colorimetry are insignificant. If I had a choice of buying a Ruby and a Pearl at the same price, I would buy the Pearl. The advantages of the Pearl over the Ruby are:


2. Accepts 1080p24 over HDMI


Once again it is a matter of what you already own. Since I already own a Ruby I wouldn't sell it for the Pearl, but if I didn't own either one, I would buy a Pearl.


Is there, will there or can there be a software update for the Ruby to make it accept 1080p/24 on HDMI?
It will on component but then not sure if any HD player will output this on component. What crazy choice on Sony's part?

i bet it looked good in hd since it looked damn good in sd. i'm just waiting for the 499 bluray

You can have that today... I bought a PS3 strictly for playing back Blu-ray discs and it does a fantastic job. It should even get better with the rumored SD up-conversion upgrade.

Is there, will there or can there be a software update for the Ruby to make it accept 1080p/24 on HDMI?
It will on component but then not sure if any HD player will output this on component. What crazy choice on Sony's part?

It certainly appears there won't be:( A while ago there was someone from Sony on I think the official Ruby thread that said the hardware is incapable of doing it on the HDMI input.

You could still use 48hz on Ruby's DVI port.
____
Axel

It certainly appears there won't be:( A while ago there was someone from Sony on I think the official Ruby thread that said the hardware is incapable of doing it on the HDMI input.


Thanks.

That is curious as it takes the 1080p/60 but cannot reprogram for 24 frames that would be multiplied 2x or 3x.

Now, the hunt for a possible hi-def DVD player that will output 1080/24frames on the RGB. :eek:

Hi: Does your High Power screen improve the brightness of your Ruby Projector. I have the same projector, shooting onto a 135" diagonal grayhawk screen. What percentage do you think the H P screen would improve my image. Thanks

I see a night and day difference between the grayhawk which my local dealer uses to show thier Ruby on, and my Ruby on my Silverstar screen, which is eqevilant to the HP screen as I recal. Not to mention my dealers screen is much smaller than mine and I'm still brighter.

It certainly should, assuming you take into consideration the mounting requirements for the HP. If you do, though, it will be much much brighter than the Grayhawk (2.8 vs. .85ish).
Would the silverstar 123"diagonal be a better choice than the high power 123" diagonal in a room 26ft x l5ft with total light control. Thanks!

What is weird, is some comments I read on a french forum about guys who ordered the HD 1, who already owned a Ruby.

One particular guy found that the Ruby was buried. He thought that the HD1 was much sharper, as a filter was taken away. This is strange. I have seen once's the HD 1 at my home from a friend, and yes the sharpness, was "a little bit better", not dramatic, and really had to be compared side by side. With my HCPC, I had a better image on the Ruby. The blacks were darker on the HD 1, but the shadow-detail was gone. On "over the Edge", the scenes in the night, on the Ruby everything was visible, but the HD 1 darkened the scene too much. Obvious the HD 1 was not calibrated for my living room, I do not own a Home-theater.

Then I went to see a few weeks later the HD 1 in the home-theater of the sales-man. I have to say "woaw". Images were more 3 d like, depth was much better then I used to, colours were more lively (but not sure if they were as natural as the Ruby). Now for the sharpness, no doubt that they "looked" sharper! But...I wonder if that is not more the 3d effect in a dark room that give this impression, as if I looked at the background details I could not say that details were more visible. On pirates too, at the beginning of the movie, the officers hat is very contrasted. When I saw this back on the Ruby the same evening, i have to admit that image was more "dull", but the ferbes, details of the hat was more visible, was better, when on the HD 1, this was just "black".

I am beginning to think that the biggest difference between the two projectors are : the calibration! The Jvc has an image "out of the box" that looks more spectacular. The settings of the Ruby, are softer.

I liked the contrast of the Jvc, so I am still hesitating. Yesterday-evening, I calibrated the ruby, not a professional way, but a way that my memory guided me to come as close to the HD 1 as possible. I outputted 60 hz from my computer, used KM player (Km gives with Nvidia a much more contrasted image as let's say WMC, and is also less soft as theatertek). I used dynamic mode, softened contrast to 77 and the brigtness to 56. Played also with the gamma, I think I styed with "gamma 2", but am hesitating now, because I tried also Gamma 3.

Anyway, contrast was much better then I ever had, and keeping the shadow detail. Depth was better, I would not say that it was as "spectacular as the HD1.

So I am still hesitating to replace the Ruby by the HD 1. I would for these reasons:

Better contrast
More lively picture (but maybe colours a bit too oversaturated)
And main reason,: no auto-iris, but true contrast.

What makes me hesitate:

Loosing money on the Ruby
Prefer the software of the Ruby
Better scaling with Sd sources (I use sat)

I'm currious as to how it looks in person, but I know of NO WHERE that I can go see this projector (HD1) running in Southern California, anybody got any info on dealers in S. Cal area????