Sony VPL-vw1000 - Page 109

Get to postin'!

The Oppo I assume. Really time to get back to the 1000ES and go to the Oppo thread for the 103 in the Bluray player subforum .
Edited by mark haflich - 10/6/12 at 5:38am

Watched Katy Perry in 3D tonight! Heartwarming story. Looked pretty good at times too!

I watched the Baltimore/Texas MLB wild card game last night. Heartwarming story and look good all the time and I didn't even watch it on the 1000ES. Go figure.

Should we start a separate thread for what we watch each night on our 1000ES and leave this thread to substantive matters? Or should we post everything we watch here as well? I am perfectly willing to keep a log and post everything I watch here if that what this thread becomes.

On this thread is fine by me... if no one else cares.

I watched Zodiac the other night for the first time on the 1000 and I felt like I was watching through a window. Never saw this movie look so good.

The movie itself is an incredible film if anyone hasn't seen it.

To keep this thread balanced, please post what one has found to look bad on the 1000ES and whether it looks better on something else.

Say Yes to the Dress is unwatcheable to me regardless of the projector.

Yes to the Dress is unwatcheable to me regardless of the projector.
Always take the advice of consul!

Seriously, realizing the 1000 is the first Sony projector to include reality processing, I'm personally interested in seeing how close the 50 ES compares to the 1000.
Pick whatever dress you want!

I'm curious about what me and another owner noticed during an NFL game a few weeks back (the last game I watched on the 1000).

It was like it took the 1000 a half second to a full second to focus each time the control person switched cameras in the booth. It was very noticeable to me and the other poster. I may check out part of a few games tomorrow just to see if it does it again. Normally I watch the games in my bar with 4 tvs but kinda enjoyed watching the mixed channel with all the games on the screen too. I was able to have 8 games going on the 13' wide screen with good results after overshooting some of the logos to make each game a few inches bigger. Now that we are into the bye weeks 6 games should look even better!

I am not a big fan of RC on the 1000ES. I prefer it on but to me it is not a drastic improvement. I really am kinda mixed about it.

I've noticed that NFL broadcasts are all over the board, but I haven't noticed the particular issue that you're describing.

I recorded the 2010 Super Bowl (Packers/Steelers) as well as this past year's game. To my eyes, the 2010 Super Bowl blows last year's out of the water. It just seems much crisper and defined, and demonstrates fewer compression artifacts.

Through my unscientific observations, I prefer NBC NFL broadcasts the best, followed by Fox, and CBS. Lately, ESPN seems to be the worst, in my opinion.

One thing this projector does very well is point out the smallest flaws in video production. Alien (my favorite movie of all time) is a good example. I've probably seen that movie 20 times in every format imaginable-- VHS, LaserDisc, DVD, etc. and it always looked perfect to my eyes. On the VW1000ES, I saw three or four quick scenes that were ever-so-slightly out of focus. The exact same is true for a lot of television shows. Check out Breaking Bad season two on Blu-Ray. At least one of every two episodes has a scene that is out of focus. Never once noticed that on another TV or projector. Another great example is The Avengers on Blu-Ray. In the theater, the costumes looked great to my eyes. On the 1000, you can easily tell they're cheap plastic!

Once 4K becomes a little more ubiquitous, I'm sure we'll see film and TV production compensate.

LOL I was wondering if I was the only person to catch the cheap costumes in Avengers.

Yeah, I dont know if it was the broadcast or not with the NFL game as one would think that the cameras that the production room was switching to were very well focused before the switch was made upstairs so to speak. It was like it took the 1000 a second to adjust to the new image. It wasnt like it was just every now and then, it was every single time the cameras switched. Could very well be something going on in the production room/broadcast or whatever but just thought it was weird.

I definately agree that it brings out all the bad content just as well as it shows off great content but thats not the 1000's fault. Its just showing what its told to project.

Kinda ruined my thoughts of buying Alien on BD although I'm sure I'll grab it anyway. It too is one of my all time favorites. Bet I've watched it 3-4 times in past month on pay channels since they've been playing it so much because of Promethus.

Please don't let my comments dissuade you from purchasing Alien on Blu-Ray. 99.99% of the time, it's absolutely gorgeous. The long, desolate hallway shots are among the best images I've seen on this projector-- almost 3D in its presentation. And the out-of-focus shots aren't significant or severe, just one of those things that make you stop and say, "wow, I've never seen that before."

Hi All,
Just got my new VW1000 installed and adjusted. All I can say is WOW!, and I thought that my VW200 was great.
Still tweaking the adjustments.
I thought that I may have to upgrade my screen, but the Di-lite Cinema Vision 133" 16X9 screen looks great. Don't think that I need any more gain as 3D looked just fine.
Don't see any banding so far, convergences is spot on, focus is sharp.
The version of this unit is an ES1
Looking forward to watching Football tomorrow.
I am driving it with a Directv THR22 TiVo and an OPPO 103 through a Onkyo TX NR5009.
The one thing that I noticed with the OPPO 103 is when I play a 3D disk, I have to set the OPPO to 3D as in auto detect, I get a message that one of my devices is not 3D compatible.
If Sony comes out with a VW2000, I don't want to hear about it as this unit is going to be in service for a long time.
I noticed that Sony eliminated the composite video and S video input witch is understandable.
The only reason that I would need a S video is for my Sony ED Beta 9500 VCR. Will just use my DVDO Iscan VP50 Pro to up convert the S video to HDMI.
Thank You to everyone that has posted in this thread, I have followed this from with great interest from the start.

Congrats on your purchase and welcome to the club!

I am pumped on doing another presentation of Dexter tonight. This time with a full crowd I am planning to use Bright Cinema. I worked out some good settings for it this past week. I have also tweaked my football settings which are looking better than ever thanks to the Oppo 103. More on that later.

Oh and Congrats Bobcat.

That was just that one broadcast. I've watched plenty of football before and after that (including old DVR recordings) and haven't seen it except for that one time.

Speaking of that, using a Lumagen POP with the 1000ES using the full width of my CIH 2.40 screen so the images are not distorted in ratio is awesome too. So each image gets over 6 1/2'. Came in handy for football and baseball at the same time Sunday.

Ok, spill the beans. I will still read your review.

I have not yet seen this projector in person, but I am very intrigued.

I would be replacing a Runco RS-1100. I have always liked the level of light output from the Runco. It is rated at 1650 lumens - not sure what it measures by instruments.

One concern I have with the Sony is light output. I know it is rated at 2000 lumens, but have been disappointed in previous viewing of Sony models. I would appreciate any comments of owners on brightness levels.

Owners' general comments all seem positive - very encouraging. Very expensive, so I am cautious.

It isn't like other Sony models.

Besides that, it still isn't a xenon bulb. But it is high wattage.

You haven't really given us a lot to go on, viewing environment, screen size, do you replace bulbs now before they die because they are too dim, etc.

I can light up a 13.5' CIH AT screen with it at 16ftL post calibration (and this was at 600 hrs on the bulb). But that is at minimum throw. 3D is not nearly as bright, but still works fine in my environment.

I have a fairly small HT. 103" screen. Viewing and projector distance about 11'. And yes, I usually replace Runco lamps at about 1500 hours or so because they start to dim beyond what I enjoy. HT is not totally dark, but mostly. A little light bleed over the top of drapery rods during the day.

I don't have a light meter, so not sure what measurement I am getting now.

I previously viewed Sony projectors at dealers and at CES, but was mostly disappointed at their brightness levels. I think they were rated below 1000 lumens. The 1000 is rated at 2000.

I would love the picture quality everyone raves about in the Forum. Only concerned about brightness. I think I will be right at the minimum throw distance.

With this size screen it's hard to believe that the 1000 would not give a very bright pic.    (What is the gain of your screen?)    I think can easily expect the 1000 to put out at least ~1500 lumens after calibration.

That's about my size screen, 1.3 gain, and projector distance is about 13 feet. I have about 700 hours on it, and its still as bright as I would ever want it.

.95 gain Screen Research screen. But I am thinking about replacing the screen with a Stewart at the same time. Any screen recommendations?

Thanks. That is helpful.

So I may be described as severely medicated for saying this, but I would never give up my DaLite HP 2.8 screen (no longer made, I think the current version is 2.6 gain). I'm using a 133" 16x9 screen from about 13 feet away (seating is about 13, projector about 16)

The main reason is 3D if this matters to you - the gain really creates a bright 3D image and I cannot imagine not having it even with the 1000. For 2D, I run in Normal lamp mode, with Limited or Manual iris, in Rec 709 color space. But by flicking a few settings, I can boost the brightness and watch sports with moderate room lighting and not be bothered at all...a nice change to always sitting in the dark.

HP has limitations - projector must be mounted as close to eye level as possible, not on the ceiling, and the viewing cone is about 20 or 25 degrees before there is some gain drop off (not that severe anyway given the width of most viewing setups).

I am sure that you can handle more medication than the average bear. But I will drive.

The new HP has a gain of 2.4, not 2.6. Actually the screen gain differences to ones eyes do not make much visable difference at the brightness levels you have. Ffor the Sony projector and your screen size, you need a high gain scren material though I would prefer the Stewart 1.5 gain for PQ though giving up some brightness. HP does not have the textural characteristics to make 4K sing.

As for the smaller sizes under discussion, PQ will take a big jump up with the reference quality Stewart Snowmatt 100. I have a 110" diagonal 16/9 and switching from studeotech 130 to 100 made a hugh improvement in PQ. Dramatic. 3D is a little dim though for me but liveable. My throw is about 15 ft.
Edited by mark haflich - 10/10/12 at 7:13pm

Thanks for the recommendations. 3D is not important to me. I never liked the loss of brightness, even in movie theaters.

I would like to see Mark's Stewart 100 screen, but I can also put in a plug for the new HP2.4 screen.    It is even smoother than the original HP2.8 material, and to me has absolutely no structure with the Sony1000's pic.    As I said though, I have not seen the Stewart100, so it is perhaps even smoother, but I would have to see it to believe it! 
(I also believe that Mark hasn't seen the new HP2.4 material, but am not sure.   Mark?)

Yes. I have seen it.


The HP screen is designed to solve a certain problem. A projector that is not bright enough to adequately light up a chosen screen with a normal screen gain. Reference quality screens are screens with gains near one with high uniformity in light across the screen and a smooth texture that has no bleed.

This screen will give you exactly what you project on it, nothing more or less.

The HP is designed to give viewers sitting in the right position a significant increase in gain. Compared to a screen with a gain of one, the HP 2.4 will look slightly more than 50% brighter to the viewer. Most comparing screens will prefer a screen that is 50% brighter than another screen.In a weighting factor, you eye tells you, rea the brighter one. more engaging. Don'y bother with all those other things a really critical viewer might care about. Hell you won't even see that stuff if you put on shades. There you go. Excuse me? There is more to screen quality than gain. Let's eliminate the viewing environment. A perfect non reflective black pit. Why not choose the higher gain screen material?. Particularly if you can't get 14 ft lamberts because of your chosen screen size and consumer class light output projector (even one that puts out say 1500 -1600 lumens). I mean its smooth, right. No hotspotting. No sparkelies. Many here say its perfect. It must be. So many say it is.

Paste a sample oif Snowmatt 100 on that HP fabric. Gosh golly, its not as bright. Your eye doesn't to get drawn to it. Dull. Lifeless in comparision especially when the bright HP is closing down your pupils a bit. But put up a high detailed pattern and examine the structure, the detail. Does the HP say to you II am looking through an open window or does it tell you I am looking at a bright screen. FU Haflich. All that matters is brightness. Brighter is better.

After comparing many many materials with a HQ 4K projector, what do I conclude. And what does my viewing panel conclude. It just looks more real. The screen disappears. Does the HP do that or are you aware that you are watching a screen?

HP 2.4t ain't bad. Its not a bad choice. But the screen never disappears, does it? Be honest.

Speak up boys. Screens are all a comprise.Me. I choose realism. Fool me that I am not looking at a screen and that involves a variety of choices including the projector and screen.
Edited by mark haflich - 10/11/12 at 5:44am