Hi all,

I moved into a house which has a ceiling-mounted VPL-VW100 in the theater.

Unfortunately, the fan and sheer volume of air being moved makes the unit extremely loud, noticable in all but the loudest passages.

I'm very surprised by this, noticing that in threads in this forum people have talked about it being a very quiet unit.

I've checked the settings and made sure that it's not on High Altitude Mode (which makes it even louder.)

What are my options? Is this abnormal? Could a new fan help (is that even an option?) Are there other settings which control fan noise? Anything else I can do to help the noise become quieter or less distracting (short of building a hushbox?)

Thanks for any help, guidance, or opinions.

Hi all,

I moved into a house which has a ceiling-mounted VPL-VW100 in the theater.

Unfortunately, the fan and sheer volume of air being moved makes the unit extremely loud, noticable in all but the loudest passages.

I'm very surprised by this, noticing that in threads in this forum people have talked about it being a very quiet unit.

I've checked the settings and made sure that it's not on High Altitude Mode (which makes it even louder.)

What are my options? Is this abnormal? Could a new fan help (is that even an option?) Are there other settings which control fan noise? Anything else I can do to help the noise become quieter or less distracting (short of building a hushbox?)

Thanks for any help, guidance, or opinions.


That loudness is unusual unless it is overheating somehow. How close to the ceiling? What is behind it and around it and how close? I can barely hear mine about 4 ft from my ears, even in quiet passages.
A hush box has its problems with heat dissipation even more so.

It is possible to get bad heat distribution. This can lead to hot air taken into the projector to cool it. A viscious circle so to speak.

sorry;
This does not sound normal.

What is your room/ambient temperature?
How many hours are on the Ruby and lamp?

____
Axel

Thanks for the responses.

The ambient temperature of the room is probably 74-75 F. The projector is probably mounted 5-6" from the ceiling.

It sounds very much like my computer when it's running at fairly high CPU load actually. It's not whiny, just loud fan and the sound of a lot of air moving. Unfortunately, we're seated directly under it (probably 4 feet directly below it) so it's pretty distracting.

Is the fan variable speed (meaning that it slows down when it's cooler?) If so, would somehow lowering the ambient temp of the room cause it to become quieter?

What about replacing the fan with a quieter one... is that a viable option?

Thanks for the responses.

The ambient temperature of the room is probably 74-75 F. The projector is probably mounted 5-6" from the ceiling.

It sounds very much like my computer when it's running at fairly high CPU load actually. It's not whiny, just loud fan and the sound of a lot of air moving. Unfortunately, we're seated directly under it (probably 4 feet directly below it) so it's pretty distracting.

Is the fan variable speed (meaning that it slows down when it's cooler?) If so, would somehow lowering the ambient temp of the room cause it to become quieter?

What about replacing the fan with a quieter one... is that a viable option?

Most likely the others will post more appropriate info. I sit under it as well, 10ft ceiling and it is lowered by a lift with lots of room behind and room is cooler, 68-69deg. Not sure if it has auto speed control as temp increases but if I remember from earlier posts, it must, besides the altitude mode.

Yes, try cooling the room and see if that helps. Do you have lots of room behind the ceiling? So close to the ceiling may also be an issue in this case, not sure.

Have you checked that the intake (front above the lamp – if ceiling mounted) is not obstructed in any way, e.g. the filter is clean?
Have you tried setting it to high altitude mode, if so does the fan speed increase? It should if it is not already running at higher speeds anyway.

Thanks for the responses.

The ambient temperature of the room is probably 74-75 F. The projector is probably mounted 5-6" from the ceiling. Warm air usually rises. Any chance it is (a lot) warmer around the PJ?



It sounds very much like my computer when it's running at fairly high CPU load actually. It's not whiny, just loud fan and the sound of a lot of air moving. Well, the good news is that it does not seem to be the lamp. Unfortunately, mine had recently developed a high pitch buzzing sound – rather annoying.



Is the fan variable speed (meaning that it slows down when it's cooler?) If so, would somehow lowering the ambient temp of the room cause it to become quieter? Yes and yes.


What about replacing the fan with a quieter one... is that a viable option?I do not think so.
I believe the only options you have here are:
A. lower the amp. temp,
B. move the PJ farther away from your ears
C. get a hush box or
D. get used to it.

_____
Axel

Try to search on this problem since it has been discussed before. It is also difficult to know what loud is to someone that might be very sensitive to sound.
If air circulates so that hot air gets used to cool the projector you need to lower the projector or move it away to have more free space. Too close to the ceiling is not good.

Warm air usually rises. Any chance it is (a lot) warmer around the PJ?
Axel


I have an 18ft entry hall, somewhat open balcony to the 2nd floor. I measured temperature at ground floor level, at the 18ft level and in-between. The max temp I measure was 3 degrees, maybe 5 at the top, surprisingly.

I think its probably to close to the ceiling which is causing it to over heat. I sit directly under mine about 2 feet from my head and mounted about 1.5 feet from the ceiling and can barley hear it in high alt and cant hear it at all in normal mode. I do need to have one or both of the fans cleaned or replaced though because they are making a dull high pitched sound intermittently that sounds like an alarm clock is going off in a room on the other end of the house. I just hate the idea of shipping it even though I just bought a 3yr extend warranty from SONY. I would try lowering it at least a foot and then send it in if that doesn't fix it.

Justin,
it might not be the fans but the bulb, strange as it might seem. Mine was making a weird
noise and after replacing the lamp it went away.

Sorry, your VW100 is very close to the ceiling; if it is close to the rear wall too and if the increased noise does not start immediately when you power on, but after a few tens of minutes, the mounting is what is wrong (the Sony User Manual instructions are wrong :mad: ) .
Initially, I had the same problem with my VW100, as explained in details here (http://archive2.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6817577&&#post6817577), but the noise problem disappeared when I lowered my VW100 about 10" from the ceiling.
Hope this helps.

I noticed mine seemed loud one day and after checking in the menu I saw that somehow I put it in High Altitude mode. :eek:

the noise problem disappeared when I lowered my VW100 about 10' from the ceiling.

Wow, how tall are your ceilings?


:)

Justin,
it might not be the fans but the bulb, strange as it might seem. Mine was making a weird
noise and after replacing the lamp it went away.
Noise started a couple months before I changed lamp and has continued to get worse now. Im going to take it down today and try to clean it real good inside and inspect the fans.

Wow, how tall are your ceilings?

:)
Surprisingly, barely a few inches above my feet... ;)

Wow, how tall are your ceilings?


:)


If you recheck his post, it does say 10", not 10' :)

It is set to hi lamp mode and/or the filter is dirty.

If you recheck his post, it does say 10", not 10' :)

Sure, now it does. :P

Sure, now it does. :P

How dare he change that on me :eek: :D