Please assist me on the issue of placement of the Sony VW-60 projector. My understanding is that the VW-60 is quite flexible in placement, but that if it is ceiling-mounted, it has to be about a MAXIMUM of 6" above the top of the screen from across the room ( OR LESS), e.g., it could be even w/ top of screen or somewhat below the top of the screen??? Thanks for your response !

PS. Liked the separate LCOS/SXRD section.;)

According to the manual (which I viewed online at sonystyle.com), for a 16:9 screen, take the screensize times 11/32 which will give you the maximum distance from the center of the lens down to the center of the screen. There is a table on page 14 for some common screen sizes.

Assuming that by screen size Sony means diagonal:confused: which is not specified, if you were considering a 100 inch 16:9 screen, 100 x 11/32 = 34.375 inches maximum between the center of the screen and the center of the lens. A 100 inch 16:9 screen is 49 inches tall. Sooooo, if I correctly did the calculation, subtracting half the height of the screen (24.5 iinches) from the 34.375 = 9.9 inches above the screen to the center of the lens.

IF I did similar calculations for a 92 inch screen and they were correct, it would mean a max distance from the center of the screen to the center of the lens = 9.1 inches

BUT, if by screen size, Sony meant width, the max distance above the screen would be substantially less -- perhaps somebody else will clarify that from experience.

You need to verify my calculations from page 14 of the manual found on the SonyStyle.com Web site since I don't trust me.

OTOH, I have read a rule of thumb being 5% of the screen size above the screen which is more conservative than that above which was found in the manual.

Good luck

Mike

I'm certain that Sony means width when discussing screen size. Very few manufacturers use diagonal dimensions as it means nothing unless you also know the aspect ratio.

Thanks for the information. I wanted to make sure that my 7.5' ceiling and ~14' throw would work for a 92" diagonal screen (80"X45" viewable). This will help.;)

Thanks for the information. I wanted to make sure that my 7.5' ceiling and ~14' throw would work for a 92" diagonal screen (80"X45" viewable). This will help.;)

I have the same concerns since I am also blessed with a 7.5 foot ceiling iin my HT under construction. IF Sony, in their reference chart in the manual as linked on the Sonystyle.com web site, means width, then they state that for an 80 inch wide screen, the center of the lens can be no higher than 25.5 inches above the center of the screen which IF I correctly did the math, would mean the center of the lens could only be 3 inches above the top of the screen and that still works for me and hopefully for you.

Mike

I'm confused - why would low ceiling hight matter here? I'd assume that the top of your screen will actually be closer to the ceiling if you have low ceilings? And the projector would be lower?

Or by "max distance" is does this mean *below* the top of the screen, not above? I would think the projector would work perfectly if placed from the center of the screen to somewhere slightly above the top of the screen?

(Newbie FP person here - trying to learn more...)

I'm confused - why would low ceiling hight matter here? I'd assume that the top of your screen will actually be closer to the ceiling if you have low ceilings? And the projector would be lower?

Or by "max distance" is does this mean *below* the top of the screen, not above? I would think the projector would work perfectly if placed from the center of the screen to somewhere slightly above the top of the screen?

(Newbie FP person here - trying to learn more...)

You are correct -- a low ceiling height means that the projector must be placed higher up and the screen must also be placed higher up as a result. The question is how high can the projector be placed above the screen and some projectors can be placed higher as well as farther to the left or right than the Black Pearl -- such as the JVC RS-1/HD-1 which is far less restricted. With the Sony limited to a very few inches above the screen, there would not be as much wiggle room in regards to how high or low the screen could be placed for that particular person's circumstance.

No expert here on FP's -- am learning as much as I can before choosing and purchasing one about Christmas time when my HT room should be ready and had been reading a lot about both the Black Pearl and the JVC RS-1/HD-1 as well as auditioning both of them at separate dealers.

Mike

But they all (generally) should work fine if placed below the top of the screen, and in the center (left/right)?

(I just assumed for a 7.5' cieling, the projector would always be below the top of the screen?)

The general rule of thumb calculation for Sonys is the lens center can be no higher than 0.15 times the vertical viewing dimension, so if you have a 49" x 87" screen (100"D) you should go no higher than 7.4 inches above. For a 110 inch D (54" x 96"), the max above the screen to the lens center would be 8.1 inches.

The general rule of thumb calculation fo Sonys is the lens center can be no higher than .0.15 times the vertical viewing dimension, so if you have a 49" x 87" screen (100"D) you should go no higher than 7.4 inches above. For a 110 inch D (54" x 96"), the max above the screen to the lens center would be 8.1 inches.

Above the top of the screen, or above the screen center?

Can some of the vw60 owners confirm whether the unit actual have a usable lens shift down (in the upright position)? The manual only showed that lens shift up is possible up to a max of 65%, but no mention of lens shift down.

you probably have to flip the unit upside down to get the large % shift down?

The general rule of thumb calculation fo Sonys is the lens center can be no higher than .0.15 times the vertical viewing dimension, so if you have a 49" x 87" screen (100"D) you should go no higher than 7.4 inches above. For a 110 inch D (54" x 96"), the max above the screen to the lens center would be 8.1 inches.

if i understood the OP correctly, he's asking what the MIN above the screen
to the lense centre. ((i'm curious as well)

The PJ can be anywhere within the screen plus an additional .15 X screen height above it.

So I guess a practical answer is "the lower, the better."

Also, I believe that the screen size referred to in the manual is the diagonal, not the width.

So I guess a practical answer is "the lower, the better."

The best possible result is with light output centered in the lens which in this case puts the PJ more or less centered on the screen.

Could you please elaborate a little more ? The menu suggested that the projector could be placed any where inside the screen but it was not clear whether the projector had to be mounted upside down if the centre of the lens is 10"-15" above the centre of the screen.

As long as the PJ is within the screen either orientation will work, but if you want the PJ above the screen (by no more than 15% of the screen height) the PJ must be inverted.

As long as the PJ is within the screen either orientation will work, but if you want the PJ above the screen (by no more than 15% of the screen height) the PJ must be inverted.

Are you sure about this?

Based on what I remember reading,and my own VW50 at home, I think ed_t may be right. The lens shift is primarily "upwards" (assuming the PJ is oriented upright). Thus for any significant "downward" shift from center the PJ must be inverted.

The more I research this the less certain things become. Greg Rogers review indicates a 50% downward shift , other reviews that address the issue indicate at least a 30% shift , a hands on measurement in the VW50 thread indicates a 25% downward shift, while Sony's manual makes no mention of a downward shift.

What does seem certain is that an inverted unit will work from screen center to above the screen by 15% or so.

When Sony ships me my PJ I will be able to say for sure only what MY unit does.

The more I research this the less certain things become. Greg Rogers review indicates a 50% downward shift , other reviews that address the issue indicate at least a 30% shift , a hands on measurement in the VW50 thread indicates a 25% downward shift, while Sony's manual makes no mention of a downward shift.

What does deem certain is that an inverted unit will work from screen center to above the screen by 15% or so.

When Sony ships me my PJ I will be able to say for sure only what MY unit does.

I passed on the Pearl last year for upgrade because of the lack of downward shift. In the running for upgrade this year is the VW60 and AE2000. AE2000 is ahead so far because of the flexible placement option. I need approximate 25-30% downward shift. I upgrade every year so it does not make too much sense for me to spend over 5k for each upgrade.

There is no reason to think that the vw60 is any different than the vw50 in this regard. The charts in the manuals are the same.

Here are the results for my unit. The numbers are the the maximum picture offset from center placement for a non-inverted unit as a percentage of total picture height.

Maximum downward shift 27%

Maximum upward shift 68%

These are consistent with the VW50 thread's 25% for downward and Sony's spec of 65% upward.

I sadly had to flip my unit upside down. Have 110 inch screen and have my pearl mounted IN the soffit at the back of the room. Because the soffit is about 9-10 inches above the top of the screen I have a bit of a problem with trapezoidal effect. I can almost correct for it but I may have to lift the screen and mount my center channel below it as opposed to above it.

Here are the results for my unit. The numbers are the the maximum picture offset from center placement for a non-inverted unit as a percentage of total picture height.

Maximum downward shift 27%

Maximum upward shift 68%

These are consistent with the VW50 thread's 25% for downward and Sony's spec of 65% upward.

Thanks. I was away for a few days and missed this post. 27% non inverted downshift worked out to be just a couple of inches shy of why I need it to be. I can make it work if need be but it will not be a comfortable arrangement. Guess that rules out the black pearl for upgrade. Shame.