coldmachine
06-26-07, 08:16 AM
Sorry for the delay on this report but circumstances overtook me for a while, but better late than never I suppose. My Theatre construction is complete except the cosmetics and acoustic treatment so it was time to carry out an equipment check to ensure that everything was operating correctly and that there were no compatibility issues. This would also allow any last minute structural issues to be addressed. Total project cost has run to $750,000
The theatre equipment comprises the following:
1) Sim2 HT5000
2) ISCO III and motorized sled
3) 14ft Stewart Vistascope screen
4) Genelec 3xxx 7.1 surround with dual HTS6 subs
5) Arcam AV9 processor (stand in till new formats supported by suitable units)
6) Audyssey processor ( to tame the untreated room and as a demo) to be swapped for a Dolby Lake.
7) Kaleidescape, the HD option will be fitted when available
The "room" is 26ft wide and 40ft long includinga separate projection/equipment room, this has needed to have an HVAC zone added just to be sure. Screening room id 26x31. I won’t waste any time on discussing remote control, lighting and any other home automation stuff as its not relevant here but pm me if interested. Crestron if you're interested.
On the day of the test all the equipment had arrived with the exception of the screen. This was a blessing in disguise as we were able to test different screen fabrics. The space for the screen had been boarded, skimmed and painted to act as a faux screen and I must say, did a very good job. Screen fabrics were tested at various stages and are of no real relevance here.
Whilst the installers got on with the PJ and sled, others made the final connections for the audio. The Genelecs are an active system but with remote amplification. All the speakers are tri-amped, and comprise
1) 324A fronts
2) 324A centre
3) 324A surround
4) 324A rear
5) 2x HTS6 subs
I had intended to use the smaller 3xxx speakers but the room volume was at the upper end of their spec so I opted for the headroom this choice gave me. I could have mixed the rears but felt that as I’d gone this far I should take the extra step.
The installation and set up of the system was carried out prior to the speakers being finally bolted in as problems now could be addressed before the cosmetics were applied. An iPod of all things was used as a basic stereo source. This was no problem so 5 and 7 channel modes tested all the speakers. SPLs were checked and incrementally pushed as far as was bearable and beyond. Surround audio was initially tested using the JM Jarre “Aero” album on DVD. In a 26ft wide room there can be some serious rear localization issues but using a 7.1 arrangement and PLIIx processing yielded fantastic results. Panning smoothness and localization using software were identical to the front with no collapse to the side when off the sweet spot. Audio on my souces was outstanding. The analog outs on the XA2 are worth special mention, giving superb detail. I await a processor to handle new formats digitally before I'm totally happy.
In terms of audio clarity and fidelity, the AV9 is a standout performer. Its not as well known here but should be. Its noise floor in particular was an utter revelation and the installers and Genelec guys were more than impressed. I also use 2 AVR350s on my smaller PJ set ups, this is easily the best sounding receiver available atm. The AV9 is a stand in till there are hi end units handling the new codecs properly. An Arcam solution will be top of my list to audition. Be aware when setting speaker levels that the PLIIx algorithm requires some rear surround speaker adjustment. Its the same on the 350. Surround rears need a bit of a boost to provide equal output. 3db in this case. Testing properly, using tones, in PLIIx mode rather than straight output requires a test disk using properly steered tones. The installer used a custom disk of his own. This cant be done using the internal noise generator on this unit or the AVR350. When this is corrected, and its very simple, rear pans are a revelation. In a large room this can even be done fairly well by ear as the dip in the rear surrounds compared to LR surrounds is detectable when PLIIx is engaged. If you dont have the software or test equipment to do this properly, try a 3db boost. This applies to some other units too.
I don’t wish to go further with the audio as the system obviously was not fully calibrated and adjusted, this will be carried out after the room is finished along with all the ISF video calibrations. Suffice to say the system has exceeded all my expectations in terms of transparency, fidelity and raw SPL. The Audyssey seemed to be doing some reasonable work at making the room disappear. Its actually not up to this level of install and a Dolby Lake processor will be looked at
By this time the projector was up and running and was adjusted to the screen size. It may seem a small point, but it was a relief to see that the lens choice was correct for the throw and screen width. Test screens were flying all over the place whilst adjustments and measurements were taken. The first impression I had when seeing the onboard screens was of serious brightness, uber ANSI and flawless uniformity.
The image was blown up as large as possible to check for any panel misalignment. Center image was totally prefect and the extreme edge was small factions of a pixel. If this were a review, the machine would score 100% on alignment. The installer stated this was typical of the HT5ks he’d used. My installer said that Sim2 are also the only company that will issue an advance replacement , dependent on their relationship with the installer. You get the new one before you uninstall the defective unit. The Isco was motored into the path to check geometry. With my width and throw there was no issue, thank goodness as curved screens piss me off. I find them distracting. Chromatic aberration was totally absent . We used the sharpest patterns with the highest contrast and none could be induced. I’d have to say the ISCO is flawless. Once its set up it’s as if it’s not even there. Light loss is nil ( well below 1%).
This machine is bright, very bright. If you are using either extreme screen sizes or throws , a 2 lamp model is available and will hitting the streets around years end. Users must specify a 2 lamp unit upfront and suffer the dollar hit (I think around 10k, but you’d need to check). . This is excellent for constant lumen o/p over a long period of lamp life. The quoted on/off is >6000:1. Sim2 are probably the most conservative spec quoters out there. My unit measured a healthy 6200:1, again typical of the unit. Noise is around 40db @3ft. The ANSI was itro 700:1. I’ll post calibrated figures when everything is totally wrapped up. The chipsets for the machine are hand picked and individually tested as is the machine as a whole on completion. Mine had 20hrs on the lamp and this is normal. Im sure this adds a fair bit to the cost.
One of the main features of Sim2 machine across the whole range is the processing. Current machines negate the use of a VP . Tests that I myself and Allan Gouger have carried out show, at best, no improvement and in many cases a detrimental impact by having an VP in use. Sim2 write all their software “in-house” and this makes a big difference. For example, any algorithm not in use is not set to “pass through” but actually removed from the chain, akin to an audio “tone defeat”. There fully programmable AR setting with 3 programmable and 6 preset ARs per memory and there are 6 memories per source. Worthy of note is the sharpness control as it can go negatively as well. This is excellent for transfers that have been edge enhanced. All the memories can be renamed to illustrate their purpose and tied to a universal remote this is fantastic.
Grayscale OOTB was close to perfect and will be tweaked later. The unit has a large number of gamma settings as well as user adjustable. The Color management has been opened up recently so full adjustment is now there. I’ll go into more detail on this when I get fully calibrated. The machine also has an optical out. It will strip its own audio from the HDMI signal and pass back to the processor. I’ve only ever seen this on other Sims.
In terms of subjective experience, this unit is pretty much top of the food chain for its given market segment. The WOW factor on this machine defies words. Seeing Sin City in HD is something else, it’s as if this film was made to demo this machine. Native HD material shows an image depth and clarity that I’ve never seen before. Both new disk formats are handled with surgical precision and that can also bring issues. Movies where CGI is not perfectly integrated are immediately obvious. There are a few King Kong scenes that are particularly badly done. SD DVD is handled well and I’ve found the up scaling on the XA2 to be far better than expected. The image is as sharp as the new gen Sim 1 chippers due to exceptional alignment, and is well ahead of an LC based machine
All my sources are capable of generating a 1080i/p signal so I mainly use 1:1 pixel mapping. There are a few channels and some DVDs that have minor edge issues and a user memory on the 5k, selectable via remote, takes care of that. My sources are.
1) HD-TV
2) XA2
3) PS3 for BD temp till player arrives
4) 360
5) AppleTV
6) Alienware laptop.
With the 5K having 14 inputs, including 6 HDMI I am now able to connect ALL sources direct to the projector, removing another source of errors from the video chain. Each input will be calibrated when I have the installers back in next week to finish off.
I have to put my hand on my heart and say that my expectations have been exceeded in every area with this install. I would thoroughly and without reservation recommend the HT5000 to any prospective customer. This recommendation is also fully extended to the Genelec 3xxx series .
The theatre equipment comprises the following:
1) Sim2 HT5000
2) ISCO III and motorized sled
3) 14ft Stewart Vistascope screen
4) Genelec 3xxx 7.1 surround with dual HTS6 subs
5) Arcam AV9 processor (stand in till new formats supported by suitable units)
6) Audyssey processor ( to tame the untreated room and as a demo) to be swapped for a Dolby Lake.
7) Kaleidescape, the HD option will be fitted when available
The "room" is 26ft wide and 40ft long includinga separate projection/equipment room, this has needed to have an HVAC zone added just to be sure. Screening room id 26x31. I won’t waste any time on discussing remote control, lighting and any other home automation stuff as its not relevant here but pm me if interested. Crestron if you're interested.
On the day of the test all the equipment had arrived with the exception of the screen. This was a blessing in disguise as we were able to test different screen fabrics. The space for the screen had been boarded, skimmed and painted to act as a faux screen and I must say, did a very good job. Screen fabrics were tested at various stages and are of no real relevance here.
Whilst the installers got on with the PJ and sled, others made the final connections for the audio. The Genelecs are an active system but with remote amplification. All the speakers are tri-amped, and comprise
1) 324A fronts
2) 324A centre
3) 324A surround
4) 324A rear
5) 2x HTS6 subs
I had intended to use the smaller 3xxx speakers but the room volume was at the upper end of their spec so I opted for the headroom this choice gave me. I could have mixed the rears but felt that as I’d gone this far I should take the extra step.
The installation and set up of the system was carried out prior to the speakers being finally bolted in as problems now could be addressed before the cosmetics were applied. An iPod of all things was used as a basic stereo source. This was no problem so 5 and 7 channel modes tested all the speakers. SPLs were checked and incrementally pushed as far as was bearable and beyond. Surround audio was initially tested using the JM Jarre “Aero” album on DVD. In a 26ft wide room there can be some serious rear localization issues but using a 7.1 arrangement and PLIIx processing yielded fantastic results. Panning smoothness and localization using software were identical to the front with no collapse to the side when off the sweet spot. Audio on my souces was outstanding. The analog outs on the XA2 are worth special mention, giving superb detail. I await a processor to handle new formats digitally before I'm totally happy.
In terms of audio clarity and fidelity, the AV9 is a standout performer. Its not as well known here but should be. Its noise floor in particular was an utter revelation and the installers and Genelec guys were more than impressed. I also use 2 AVR350s on my smaller PJ set ups, this is easily the best sounding receiver available atm. The AV9 is a stand in till there are hi end units handling the new codecs properly. An Arcam solution will be top of my list to audition. Be aware when setting speaker levels that the PLIIx algorithm requires some rear surround speaker adjustment. Its the same on the 350. Surround rears need a bit of a boost to provide equal output. 3db in this case. Testing properly, using tones, in PLIIx mode rather than straight output requires a test disk using properly steered tones. The installer used a custom disk of his own. This cant be done using the internal noise generator on this unit or the AVR350. When this is corrected, and its very simple, rear pans are a revelation. In a large room this can even be done fairly well by ear as the dip in the rear surrounds compared to LR surrounds is detectable when PLIIx is engaged. If you dont have the software or test equipment to do this properly, try a 3db boost. This applies to some other units too.
I don’t wish to go further with the audio as the system obviously was not fully calibrated and adjusted, this will be carried out after the room is finished along with all the ISF video calibrations. Suffice to say the system has exceeded all my expectations in terms of transparency, fidelity and raw SPL. The Audyssey seemed to be doing some reasonable work at making the room disappear. Its actually not up to this level of install and a Dolby Lake processor will be looked at
By this time the projector was up and running and was adjusted to the screen size. It may seem a small point, but it was a relief to see that the lens choice was correct for the throw and screen width. Test screens were flying all over the place whilst adjustments and measurements were taken. The first impression I had when seeing the onboard screens was of serious brightness, uber ANSI and flawless uniformity.
The image was blown up as large as possible to check for any panel misalignment. Center image was totally prefect and the extreme edge was small factions of a pixel. If this were a review, the machine would score 100% on alignment. The installer stated this was typical of the HT5ks he’d used. My installer said that Sim2 are also the only company that will issue an advance replacement , dependent on their relationship with the installer. You get the new one before you uninstall the defective unit. The Isco was motored into the path to check geometry. With my width and throw there was no issue, thank goodness as curved screens piss me off. I find them distracting. Chromatic aberration was totally absent . We used the sharpest patterns with the highest contrast and none could be induced. I’d have to say the ISCO is flawless. Once its set up it’s as if it’s not even there. Light loss is nil ( well below 1%).
This machine is bright, very bright. If you are using either extreme screen sizes or throws , a 2 lamp model is available and will hitting the streets around years end. Users must specify a 2 lamp unit upfront and suffer the dollar hit (I think around 10k, but you’d need to check). . This is excellent for constant lumen o/p over a long period of lamp life. The quoted on/off is >6000:1. Sim2 are probably the most conservative spec quoters out there. My unit measured a healthy 6200:1, again typical of the unit. Noise is around 40db @3ft. The ANSI was itro 700:1. I’ll post calibrated figures when everything is totally wrapped up. The chipsets for the machine are hand picked and individually tested as is the machine as a whole on completion. Mine had 20hrs on the lamp and this is normal. Im sure this adds a fair bit to the cost.
One of the main features of Sim2 machine across the whole range is the processing. Current machines negate the use of a VP . Tests that I myself and Allan Gouger have carried out show, at best, no improvement and in many cases a detrimental impact by having an VP in use. Sim2 write all their software “in-house” and this makes a big difference. For example, any algorithm not in use is not set to “pass through” but actually removed from the chain, akin to an audio “tone defeat”. There fully programmable AR setting with 3 programmable and 6 preset ARs per memory and there are 6 memories per source. Worthy of note is the sharpness control as it can go negatively as well. This is excellent for transfers that have been edge enhanced. All the memories can be renamed to illustrate their purpose and tied to a universal remote this is fantastic.
Grayscale OOTB was close to perfect and will be tweaked later. The unit has a large number of gamma settings as well as user adjustable. The Color management has been opened up recently so full adjustment is now there. I’ll go into more detail on this when I get fully calibrated. The machine also has an optical out. It will strip its own audio from the HDMI signal and pass back to the processor. I’ve only ever seen this on other Sims.
In terms of subjective experience, this unit is pretty much top of the food chain for its given market segment. The WOW factor on this machine defies words. Seeing Sin City in HD is something else, it’s as if this film was made to demo this machine. Native HD material shows an image depth and clarity that I’ve never seen before. Both new disk formats are handled with surgical precision and that can also bring issues. Movies where CGI is not perfectly integrated are immediately obvious. There are a few King Kong scenes that are particularly badly done. SD DVD is handled well and I’ve found the up scaling on the XA2 to be far better than expected. The image is as sharp as the new gen Sim 1 chippers due to exceptional alignment, and is well ahead of an LC based machine
All my sources are capable of generating a 1080i/p signal so I mainly use 1:1 pixel mapping. There are a few channels and some DVDs that have minor edge issues and a user memory on the 5k, selectable via remote, takes care of that. My sources are.
1) HD-TV
2) XA2
3) PS3 for BD temp till player arrives
4) 360
5) AppleTV
6) Alienware laptop.
With the 5K having 14 inputs, including 6 HDMI I am now able to connect ALL sources direct to the projector, removing another source of errors from the video chain. Each input will be calibrated when I have the installers back in next week to finish off.
I have to put my hand on my heart and say that my expectations have been exceeded in every area with this install. I would thoroughly and without reservation recommend the HT5000 to any prospective customer. This recommendation is also fully extended to the Genelec 3xxx series .