Official JVC RS40/X3 Owners Thread - Page 320

Wow. This is discouraging. Doesn't the manual say something like 2000 or 3000 hours? Well mine's got 800 and still going strong, but I thought the bulbs were improved now.

Originally Posted by Craig Peer 

Projectors are ( IMHO ) the Lamborghini's of the video display world.

Originally Posted by Craig Peer 

Forget JVC for a moment - lets talk lamps in general. They are like tires on a car - estimated life is only a general estimate. I have never gotten the stated life out of any lamp - including the 1st one on my SIM Lumis ( a pricey one at that ). They get too dim. So you get another one. If lamps cost you 25 cents to 50 cents an hour, it's still worth it, eh? Projectors are ( IMHO ) the Lamborghini's of the video display world. And if your tires on your Lamborghini wore out at 30K miles instead of the rated 50K miles, would you sell it and get a VW Jetta? No, you would get a new set of tires.

Originally Posted by Dave Vaughn 

Steven,

I almost did the same thing, but decided to stick with the RS40 through the end of this year to see what is coming from CEDIA. I figure I'm already going to take a bath on it with all of the negative publicity regarding the lamps and keeping it longer term wasn't going to cost me much. All that being said, the third generation lamps are a HUGE improvement over the first two and I'm at over 700 hours now and I'm still getting over 12ftL. At 600 hours on my first two generation bulbs I was down to 5!

Originally Posted by wingzz 

Hey guys
Is AVS still a good (Read Cheap) place to get the replacement bulbs for the RS40's??
and if so who is a good person to contact?

Thanks

Mike

Originally Posted by mark haflich 

I could.

Originally Posted by Craig Peer 

Forget JVC for a moment - lets talk lamps in general. They are like tires on a car - estimated life is only a general estimate. I have never gotten the stated life out of any lamp - including the 1st one on my SIM Lumis ( a pricey one at that ). They get too dim. So you get another one. If lamps cost you 25 cents to 50 cents an hour, it's still worth it, eh? Projectors are ( IMHO ) the Lamborghini's of the video display world. And if your tires on your Lamborghini wore out at 30K miles instead of the rated 50K miles, would you sell it and get a VW Jetta? No, you would get a new set of tires.

Originally Posted by curlyjive 

I agree that lamp life estimates are just that...estimates. But no one can argue that the RS40's (and others from that model year) had SIGNIFICANT lamp issues that go beyond the normal variance. With a 3000 hour rating, I would only expect 1500-2000 useable hours....and I would be quite happy with that.

My AVS B Stock with 002 lamp failed at 450 hours (projector was 8 months old)....thats pretty bad and in line with what most people here have experienced with the 002 lamps. Fortunately, AVS is very good to their customers and got me a replacement 003 lamp very quickly with no issue. That lamp is only 150 hours old. Has it dimmed a bit, yep, but what I would consider normal. I am hesitant to measure as I'd just rather not know if I can't tell by watching! Problem is if the new one fails at under 500 hours, that would be two lamps with the same issue and if I can't get another free replacement, then I am about $400 into the cost of a new projector that has reliable lamp life. That's unacceptable would mean a new lamp every 8-12 months. If I can even get 1000-1500 usable hours, that's at least acceptable....still not great though.

I just hate the feeling that JVC offloaded these B stocks knowing full well the issues with the lamps and figured at worse they'd give out one free replacement and then tell you to buy a new PJ if you didn't like the lamp life. Just reeks of total contempt for the customer. Now if the 003's are really the fix, I'll be happy with my RS40 until 4k and/or LED/laser light sources are affordable and commonplace. I really don't feel anything else puts out the same PQ at this price and going back to an IRIS would suck now that I am so used to the native "miles deep" contrast and black level of the JVC.

The Lamborghini comparison is a bit unfair because there are cheaper projectors with better lamp life, and more expensive TV's with no lamps to blow. Not to mention that kind of car is not a stock item, such as a projector Plus projectors are become more and more common in the home ( not to mention YEARS of business use), where I doubt Lamborghini is increasing their sales much.

Bottom line, I don't think you can argue that The RS40's don't (hopefully we can say didn't) have an issue with their lamps dying way too early.

Originally Posted by pdxfj 

Of course JVC sold them as referb. units knowing of the lamp issues. Anyone who bought one them them had to have known the supplied lamp would pop around 500 hours if it was a 002 series. I bought one knowing it would happen and even referred a friend who bought one after I told him there was nearly a 100% chance the lamp would pop around 500 hours. The ace in the hole is having bought them from AVS and their excellent customer service. His 002 lamp did blow and he's now approaching 1000 hours on the latest 003 lamp with no issues.

To me higher end projectors are like an exotic sports car. They are expensive to purchase and maintain. Can be finicky and not always totally without issue. JVC projectors are in a league all their own as far as picture quality. Epson projectors are like a Corvette. Sturdy and reliable. JVC are more like a Lamborghini as Craig says. Just comes with the territory.

I figure if after 1000 or so hours the lamp has dimmed enough to effect PQ then I'll buy a new lamp. The lamp issues are nothing compared to the six Barco 1209's I use to maintain and all the issues they had.

Originally Posted by plissken99 

Fact is the JVCs use newer bulb technology than cheap brands, it's part of how they produce their excellent images. If you've ever accidentally bought a cheap Chinese replacement bulb and seen your image take on a blue cast and have the black level wash out, you know tech makes a difference. Likewise my back up projector is a cheap Epson, it weights maybe 1/3rd that of the JVC.

If its one thing I've learned in the little amount of time I've been alive, it's that 9 times out of 10, you get what you pay for. One day projectors that perform on par with the JVCs in the $900-$1500 range, but then there will be something even better in the JVCs current price range.

Originally Posted by plissken99 

Well I certainly I won't defend the RS40 bulbs, I got burned on that as well. However I owned the RS1 and RS2 before it, and their bulbs lasted me nearly 3,000 hours each(should have changed em waaay earlier, but they still worked and I'm cheap lol). As you say there are exceptions, I got my back up Epson 8100 for a song from a guy on the forums, it has a 10,000:1 dynamic contrast, I figured good enough for TV and video games, and it was. However it too had bulb issues, they wouldn't last more than 1100-1300 hours, and were rated for 3000 lol, I couldn't believe it. And the performance was nowhere near the JVC, we're talking Dynex LCD quality vs Pioneer plasma.

Point being, as I understand it, JVC was trying something new with the bulb, and obviously it wasn't ready for prime time. I've since moved on to the RS46, whose bulbs are rated for 4,000 hours in normal mode, and it comes with the best bulb warranty in the industry(thanks to the RS40 debacle). I've since ditched the Epson because the performance gap was too painful. The RS40 generation was an exception to the rule, the JVCs I had before were the epitome of reliability. And there is nothing wrong with cheaper projectors, just don't fool yourself tnto thinking your getting Porsche performance at VW prices. IMO you'd be wiser getting a used RS2 over any other lower end projector with a dynamic iris, they can be had for around $1500 these days. Coming from CRTs where black level is everything, there is nothing with a dynamic iris that can compete with the JVCs.

Originally Posted by zombie10k 

the issue with the lamps was likely related to air-flow. I've compared the old lamps and the new style (46/56, etc). There are obvious size differences in the output of the fan that is providing air. I have since verified that the RS46 fan is definitely larger than the 40/50/45/55, etc.



I did an experiment with my Rev 2 lamp (non-flapper) and ran the system on "high Altitude' since it was new. This lamp has been performing very well so far. The increased airflow is likely helping here. Perhaps the metal flap was introduced to break up turbulence in the air-stream.

I don't recall anyone complaining about a Rev 3 lamp with early dimming. The irony of running the RS55 in high altitude mode is that it's still a bit quieter than the current RS46/RS4810. In high lamp, those new style fans are getting a workout.

Originally Posted by curlyjive 

This is very interesting. Could be that the airflow is insufficient due to the smaller outlet or could be that the smaller outlet would direct air at a higher velocity. Can't tell without being able to run the PJ without the lamp...which you can't. But very good info! Thanks for taking the pictures.

Originally Posted by zombie10k 

The inlet on the new lamp housing is identical. The new lamp does not have the metal flap as seen on the Rev 3 lamp for the older models.

based on my positive experience running in HA mode and the larger fan + outlet opening on the new models, I believe much of the issue had to do with airflow.

The new models are surprisingly loud in 'High Lamp' mode, more so than the older RS55 with HA / High Lamp. I'm sure this is helping in addition to any lamp revisions.

** Notice the metal 'mesh' opening is larger on the new lamps (new lamp is on the right) which is letting in more air.

Originally Posted by Crescent 

Wow. This is discouraging. Doesn't the manual say something like 2000 or 3000 hours? Well mine's got 800 and still going strong, but I thought the bulbs were improved now.

Can anyone answer this question, even someone from AVS

Originally Posted by wse 

Love JVC, proud owner of RS2 and RS35U just wish they would come out with an LED or Laser light source!