Official JVC RS40/X3 Owners Thread - Page 293

For question 1 above: you need to use a level to make certain the projector is absolutely level both left-to-right and front-to-back. Also the projector must be "squared up" with the screen. By that I mean the front and rear surfaces of the projector cabinet must be parallel to the screen. The problem you are having is typical when you have not properly leveled and squared up the projector. Only after you have done the above then turn on the projector and use vertical and horizontal lens shift and zoom to center the image on the screen and to set the image size to fill the screen. Do not move the projector in an to attempt to center the image

As for getting started with calibrating your projector: a good starting point is to read the calbiration for dummies guide - HERE. Its somewhat dated and doesn't specifically cover the ChromaPure software but it has a lot of excellent information on calibration. Also see the thread I started a year ago on calibration of the RS40/X3 projectors - HERE.

I'm considering a B stock refurb from AV Science, but this thread is making me hesitate. I realize people with issues are far more likely to report them and that often skews the owners threads with reports of problems.

Are there people out there with high bulb counts and no issues?

I'd be going from an Epson 8100, so this would be a big jump for me, but at least the 8100 works. I don't want to jump to something that has chronic issues.

I was in the same boat and just ordered a bstock yesterday. I called avs and they told me that jvc has gone through 3 bulb changes, the refurbs are shipping with the latest bulbs which really havnt had a long enough time to be tested yet, but they are jvc is claiming its fixed. Also, they've as much as admitted the bulb problem by now and aren't hitting people with the 90 day bulb warranty anymore, it's hour based and they are extending it quite a bit. They didn't give me a specific number but indicated its more of a case thing, people with 500-700 hours have gotten free replaces.
All in all they made it sound like jvc is standing behind it. But call em and ask some questions. I called 2 times with lists of questions before ordering.

They didn't give me a specific number but indicated its more of a case thing, people with 500-700 hours have gotten free replaces


Meaning an issue with the case or on a case by case basis?

These may be the safest rs40's to buy. It's nice to know that jvc is taking responsiblity for the bulb issues.

Man if the picture wasn't so great most would have probably jumped ship by now. By as it is, it's pretty much a one of a kind product.

Here here..I couldn't have said it better!
I would be one of them jumping ship. But I'm not going to kid myself as to think I can find a better 2D image. This is the only show in town for my needs at the moment. So I'll be holding on to mine till something better comes along.

Yah, they might have a patent on some of the design aspect that gives them such high native on/off, still I'd love to see a mild dynamic IRIS added just to increase those blacks a bit more. In 3D mode because of the dimming effect, the blacks truly do look like black ink.

Even the $25,000 Sony is only like 20,000:1 native on/off I think, but it is brighter.

I can honestly say overall you cannot beat the JVC image, this B-stock deal is a killer deal and it is the best deal ever had by AVS IMO.

Whats this bstock deal AVS has going on? PM me if specific amounts are involved.

they list the price right in the thread

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1397127

These guys measured theirs @ ~7k with the iris open.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...8#post21657718

this is why I'm curious to see it in person to see how it would compete with my RS55 @ -13 on a predominantly dark movie like Underworld.

Well I am taking the plunge on the AV Science B-Stock deal. Hope this is the right choice...but this should be a HUGE step up from my 8100

You're all good and covered for 2 years just like the rest of us that paid double, and at that price you cannot go wrong.

Not much of a plunge. More like a dip. I thought these were going to be gone in a few days.

Wear a Scuba Tank...tie a Rope around your waist, and look out for Sea Monsters because your in dangerous deep waters.

I'm a liberal Guy who is decidedly "not" brand loyal. I gave 3 different X3's shots at satisfying people, and I got 3 X3s that have required a total of 7 Bulb replacements between them, Focus issues on two, and one that has been sent in 2x before they replaced it with...a Re-Furb.

Used to was...I was gung ho on JVC and their products, but they have slopped around and slipped up so badly, I gotta wonder how much longer it will take until all the bad press finally sinks into people's heads.

For sure the IQ of the JVC PJs will always be tempting....but then so is a bottle of Sleeping Pills and some Jack D, after so many arguments with people blaming me for making a bogus choice for then that resulted in more down time than Movie watching.

Wear a Scuba Tank...tie a Rope around your waist, and look out for Sea Monsters because your in dangerous deep waters.

I'm a liberal Guy who is decidedly "not" brand loyal. I gave 3 different X3's shots at satisfying people, and I got 3 X3s that have required a total of 7 Bulb replacements between them, Focus issues on two, and one that has been sent in 2x before they replaced it with...a Re-Furb.

Used to was...I was gung ho on JVC and their products, but they have slopped around and slipped up so badly, I gotta wonder how much longer it will take until all the bad press finally sinks into people's heads.

For sure the IQ of the JVC PJs will always be tempting....but then so is a bottle of Sleeping Pills and some Jack D, after so many arguments with people blaming me for making a bogus choice for then that resulted in more down time than Movie watching.

I'm all for a Mfg stepping up and addressing issues, but really....at the "list" price point, the raft of issues is just too much. A "bargain" that doesn't live up to the ideal behind it being a bargain ain't no bargain at all. (...and it being a "bargain" just might say it all...)

All that being so...and said, I still hope your one of the Lucky ones. I used to think I was but now damage control is a steady job .



All that being so...and said, I still hope your one of the Lucky ones. I used to think I was but now damage control is a steady job .

That's while I'll keep the 8100 around for a few months and a few hundred bulb hours. Worst case, I can unload it on ebay probably close to what I am paying now. It's a calculated risk, but that gives me an out with minimal loss.

Not sure what you mean!

Well, because it's priced rightly, it'll be hard to lose much on the "bargain".

...except the excitement you shouldn't have to sacrifice in place place of disappointment. Sorta like a Dangled Carrot you snatch up and bite into only to find it's all mushy and stinky inside.

But Hey! It's not gonna happen this time...right? I really hope not...it's just I'm simply not used to being snookered so badly over my own choices.

There is a premium operating cost to pay for the JVC, but at the price of the b-stock it doesn't matter, and many of us are willing to pay that premium anyhow. Most of us are/were aware of the lamp issue when going in (except the first early buyers of the RS-40), but unless you put thousands of hours on the projector, the lamp cost is not likely to get excessive since in the majority of cases JVC is gladly replacing the lamps if they do not last long enough, and they are re-itterating this fact about the B-stock even more so.

I'll just say again that if you are a "weekend user" as I am I think you'll be very happy. I've had mine 13 months and just now have 333 hours on it. No problems, but obviously I haven't hit the number that most start to report problems with.

But if necessary I'll pay the once a year or so bulb price for an image this good, I just LOVE mine. Honestly, I project a very large picture on low power (except for 3D of course) and with a well mastered Blu ray it looks like a 35mm film image in a theater - all I could ask.

BUT if you want "plasma like" brightness and so watch it on high power and like a TV have it on 3 or more hours a day? Well then I think I'd stay away.

S A M 33

This is a fantastic projector, for the price you cannot beat it, I have had $15000.00 Marantz pjs and the rs40 kicks its ass, and all I have read is about the 3 to500 bulb issue. People JVC has been around for a long time, they stand behind their products 100% , people please stop posting about the bulb issue, just keep getting free ones from JVC. They will send them to you until they get one that last 2000 hours, my JVC hd350 bulb lasted over 2000 hours. People get over it..let's start using this for other reasons, this is also a help thread ,,keep watching this fantastic projector.

It's not that easy. They don't just send out free bulbs, I already invested much time in trying to get a new free bulb but JVC support just tells me somebody will call me back and than that doesn't happen.

I want to thank MM for his input. If I had MM's experience I'm not sure I would be so kind. I tooooo put in an order for the JVC B stock projector. I trust that both AV Science and JVC will stand behind this projector as stated. There are a lot of great reviews for the JVC. I hope (nervous & excited) things will work out, if not I'll be voting for MM for president. All this makes me consider keeping my old HC5500, but I'll lose $400 a friend was going to give me for it. Now this JVC may cost me the same as the 5010 ($150 diff). I've seen Epson 6010 and the JVC X30 side by side, but on different screens (1.1 grey Stewart something for the Epson, 1.4 grey Black expensive something for the JVC at Paradyme in Sacto, CA), I liked the Epson a little better. I don't know how close this comparison will be the JVC B stock and 5010 I was considering. I believe they are pretty close. I was told neither projector was calibrated. My head is spinning, to buy or to cancel... to JVC or not to JVC... any comment, thoughts?

I watch 90% movies (almost all in 1080P), 10% sports in a light controlled room with dark walls, on a 110" screen (white 1.1 G, 13' T), and I have no real interest in 3D. I have a 3D TV and don't watch 3D, just don't enjoy it, maybe in time that will change? I am anticipating a big improvement over my HC5500 and I am excited. I just hope/trust I don't become a carrot all mushy and stinky inside.

All that said I'll probably stay with the JVC, sell my HC5500, and hope things work out.

Thank you all for all the reviews and comments, I have read too much and posted too little. Then again, I don't have near the experience you guys have.

Add me to the list of those purchasing one of the B stock RS40 projectors. Other than the well documented bulb issue, are there any other glaring issues with the RS40?

I've been in this continual wait mode for years since building my current home. I installed an electric Da-Lite dual masking Cinemascope/HDTV screen (119/148" diagonal) HP (2.8) screen during construction, but haven't had a projector to light it up with yet.

I remember thinking when this generation of projectors came out, I was looking at the RS50 model to get the CMS. Although I've not owned a front projector yet, I am picky about color accuracy and thought that would be the way to go. It seems however from following the numerous threads that in the end the CMS implementation in the 50/60 models was problematic and in the end, the RS40 actually had the most accurate color of the family. Is that about right? I know there was hope that JVC would correct the CMS issues with the 50/60, but eventually I stopped following those threads when factors prevented me from pulling the trigger at the time.

Of course, if I could, I would have bought the RS55 to get lens/focus/shift memory to handle the Cinemascope screen zoom, but I have other system upgrades that will be required and have to take this incrementally. I purchased also at this time a Denon 3312CI to replace a very old non-HDMI Yamaha receiver. I've been using the analog inputs to it from my Sony BDP-550 with very good results, but with dual displays I wanted a better way to set this up to ease switching between my current HDTV and the JVC.

My thinking is to go with the RS40 to get my feet wet and show my wife what my vision has been all along. I plan to replace the Sony Blu-ray with an Oppo 93 or equivalent when my wife settles down from this purchase. At that point, I believe I will then be in a position in a couple of years to purchase either something like an RS55/65, or whatever JVC or other brand 4K capable product is current. Maybe even available as another B stock sale!

Well it looks like there will be a bunch of us that bought the AV Science B-stock's posting here! Hopefully we'll be a happy bunch.

Like I said earlier, if they don't work out, they can probably be sold on ebay for close to or even more than we're paying. So the risk is minimal, but the potential gain is great. That's how I decided.

I hope to hear from you guys as we get our units and try them out!

I understand AVS has a little over 50 to sell, so 50 of us...

Normal, dead lamp. I can't answer your warranty question, however.

I have an extra lamp with cage, new from JVC if anyone needs one..fits our projectors..I purchased 2 extras , I am keeping one. This is a lamp from JVC...OEM..not an after market..pm me

I purchased one of these units too. I hope they didn't oversell on the weekend. (Real time inventory?) I'll feel much better when it is shipped.

I've seen the RS45 and RS55. Both give GREAT pictures. If this gets me the 2D performance of the RS45 I've seen, at this price, I'll be VERY happy!

Do we need a new thread for the JVC RS40 AV Science B-Stock Club

Do the new rechargeable JVC 3D glasses work with the older models?