My Ruby produces at 48Hz (DVI) a noticeable softer image than at 60Hz – too soft for my taste I might add!

I also noticed that - as opposed to when running at 60Hz - it does not allow me to access advanced settings to increase e.g. the sharpness level (I am not talking about the service menu here, just the plain vanilla setting menu.)

Can anyone confirm this? And more importantly, is there a way to achieve at 48Hz an at least equivalent sharpness level than at 60Hz? If so how?

My source is a VP50, processing BR (PS3) and HD-DVD (A1 and XA2) signals. While those HD sources produce an inherently sharper image, I have also noticed it when I connected my HTPC directly with SD-DVD material and switched between 60 and 48Hz. Therefore I do think that it is a VP50 issue.

I appreciate your feedback!
Thanks!
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Axel

When feeding the Ruby 48 the projector thinks its a PC signal and turns off several features. This was corrected in the Pearl. The brightness level is also increased so you will want to send the Ruby PC level video output when feeding it 48hz.

Alan;
Got it - Thanks! And yes I have noticed the brightness levels change.

Now what about the softer image. Is there anything I can do about it? Have you noticed this as well?

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Axel

Yes it is softer as its bypassing all sharpness filters. I am guessing you are using a HTPC other wise using a video processor of some kind would have its own sharpness control. If using a PC are you able to use Dscaler. I think that has a set of filters including several selections for sharpness.

Alan;
Are you saying that for 60Hz input the Ruby applies already some sharpness filters even if the settings are left at default; while for 48Hz it does not?
Further, for 48Hz there is no way to increase the image sharpness at the Ruby itself in order to bring it at least to the same level as for 60 Hz? (IIRC, for 60Hz I actually have left the sharpness setting at default.)
So the only way to increase the sharpness level is at the sources side. In my case this is a DVDO VP50. Hmmm, I played with the VP50 sharpness control a bit a while ago, but I did not get it anywhere close to what I already have when running at 60hz :(.

Am I missing anything? I hope I do...

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Axel

You have it right, when it sees 48 hz you will still not be at the same sharpness as when it sees 60hz with the sharpness off. It is well known the Ruby adds some edge enhancement even with the sharpness set to off. When it sees 48hz the signal is bypassing all sharpness circuitry so you are stuck using the sharpness of an external box and using the sharpness from an external scaler still does not looks as good.

Thanks Alan;
Unfortunately, not want I wanted to hear :(
I'll probably stay with 60Hz and may switch to HDMI in this case.

I have read in a different post that you still use your Ruby (and even got a PS3). Do you use 48Hz? Do you have VP connected? If so which one?
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Axel

Pitty to use 60 hz, when you are able to get a much better movement in 48 hz!

I have changed the gamma a bit in powerstrip, but indeed prefer the 60 hz image!

I am thinking of replacing the Ruby, but I like the silk image of the Xenon lamp, and a VW 200 is out of my budget!

Just another angle on this: gregr commented on the Ruby DVI input appearing softer in comparison to the HDMI input in general but his comments may have been more in the realm of conjecture. But I do think I recall him saying it looked like the HDMI input is being sampled at a higher frequency than DVI. I tried finding the post but locating things on this forum isn't easy. It may be in the original WSR Sony VPL-VW100 Review thread.