Official Sony VPL-VW95ES Owners Thread - Page 2

Originally Posted by lovingdvd

RickAVManiac - thanks for the great impressions!

So are you keeping the VW95 and no longer looking for a better projector for the short term?

Exactly

If so I think that is the ultimate complement to the VW95, considering your quest for the best pj you can reasonably get on today's market.

It's not the best in every thing but the best overall for my taste

I have a RS20 and am very satisfied with the black level and fade to black. I have never seen the later generation models like the RS40 or later, so I cannot judge when you say the VW95 has black equivalent to the RS40.

Are you familiar with the black level in the RS20? If so, how does the VW95 black level compare to the RS20? If the VW95 is at least the same black level, then I will be satisfied with the VW95 especially given all its other advantages. I just don't want to take a step DOWN in terms of black level - that is my concern.

Black level will be slightly better on the RS20 (I have own a rs20)

Is it possible for you to measure your ftL from the longest throw? Many of us are looking for that reference point. We have the data for shortest throw, but need the longest throw so many of use can judge what brightness to expect before making a purchase decision.

I will do that today

How does your convergence look with a single pixel grid like the one on the HD 709 calibration disc? Was it necessary to use the convergence fine tuning?

No perfect but close enough. I did not make any adjustment. Yeah that good !

Did you do any viewing with the auto-iris and if so what are your impressions of it? Kraine and someone else I believe said they do not find it necessary to use. I would be surprised if I didn't use it - its perfected to the point where I would think it would only help and not distract.

The auto iris is invisible and noise free. The best on the market

You mention that the real strenght of the VW95 is for TV, sports, discovery channel, etc - that is exactly what I was expecting. Since I mostly watch that type of material I am giving the VW95 priority in this year's purchase decision.

However, I do occasionally watch dark movies. I just want to be sure that when I do, the blacks and contrast is still very acceptable and at least just as good as my RS20. My guess is that it would be. So if I can get the RS20 level of performance for dark movies, plus an exceptionally better level of performance with all other material I think I would be very happy with the VW95. That do you think? Thanks!

You would have to take a small drop in black level compare to the rs20 but if you do not plan a side by side comparasion, you may not notice it at all... On every other aspect, the upgrade will be worth it!

Originally Posted by Maestro J

Rick or Joe -

Any comments regarding the lens memory feature? Rick, you mentioned briefly owing an AE7000, can you compare how the lens memory feature works on the 95 vs. the 7k as far as speed and ease of use, etc?

Originally Posted by RickAVManiac

Ok here my impressions so far...

First, I am no expert, so it's only a personal opinion base on my specific taste and specific setup. Also, I am a french canadian, sorry for my english.

For reference, my last projector was :
- Panasonic PT-AE7000 (2 weeks only, sold but still in my room)
- Sony HW30 (Buy in September and sold, last week)
- JVC RS40 (Buy in May and sold 1 months ago)

Yeah, I know, I change often but I was seeking for a excellent 2D and 3D projector. I know DLP make good 3D but my goal and setup was really to use only one projector. DLP 3D projector can be hard to setup in my room and base on what is available right now, the 2D performance is not up to my taste.

Also, I would say up front that I will not talk about the Panasonic, I've been so disappointed with this projector, I will have to put my flame suite ON just to talk about it. So, my impression will compare only with the Sony HW30 and the RS40.


Positives :

- Sharpness freak...Meet your god. Wow this beast is sharp and clear. Sharper than the rs40 and the hw30. If you like to watch TV, sports, discovery channel kind of things, you will fall in love with the Sony 95. Every bit of detail is there. Of course blu ray film too are crystal but the biggest difference is perceived in high details programs.

- Image dynamic. Thats the major point I wish to upgrade on my HW30. The Sony HW30 is a great projector but the image dynamic on low light scene was not up to my taste. Problem solve with the Sony 95!

- Black level is very good. Better than the HW30 and equal to the RS40

- Grayscale and color "out of the box" is almost perfect

- The CMS works. No bugs. I repeat the CMS works. "What? A working CMS on a projector? Are you kidding me?" Yes, one last time : THE CMS WORKS !!!

- Image uniformity. No bright corner

- Motion is very good and excellent FI. Beat the rs40 easily.

- The best 3D projector I've seen! It's NOT perfect far from it, but it is awesome. For me, the HW30 was the best 3D so fare. The Sony 95 bring almost all the good of the HW30 : Pop-up, depth, good luminosity and vivid color. Also, the 95 bring is strength to the table : Image clarity, sharpness, dynamic and contrast. The image look way more natural, more dynamic and more 3D... So overall more convincing.

- Cannot explain technically why, but this is the less eye/brain fatigue 3D projector I've seen. Maybe related to the natural / sharp look, you dont have to force your vision or something like that... I dont know...

- The build-in 3D emitter is very strong and effective. Better than the HW30.


Negatives :

- Black level. Although the black level can compete with the best projector, it's not the best. The RS50 had better black in very low light scene. *By no mean this is a deal breaker. The black of the 95 are excellent and after reaching this kind of black, I am seeking for other advantages in a projector.

- 3D brightness. Could always be better. In my setup the HW30 was about 10% brighter. For now, the lamp is new so no problem (cannot really see the difference) but I have concern over time...

- 3D ghosting. Still present on the 95, you can spot ghosting here and there. By no mean it's a deal breaker but this machine will be incredible if the ghosting could be tame down (Maybe Monster glasses?)


That's it for now... Dont forget, first impression tend to change as we get use to the projector but so far I am very impress by the Sony 95.

Originally Posted by wes k

What is msrp of this machine?

Originally Posted by lovingdvd

Great, thank you so much. I am so curious to hear the results! My guess is that longest throw will be 23% dimmer than shortest. Please remeasure your shortest as well to account for any drop in the first x hours of the bulb, which could be substantial. This way we'll have at x hours a mark for shortest and longest throw.




Thanks. I am very sensitive to the black level so I suppose I probably will notice it. But at the same time I am also a sharpness freak and have always been wanting more sharpness with my RS1 and RS20.

Likewise I'm addicted to great motion handling thanks to my Samsung plasma, so I definitely want Sony's advantages there. Couple that with the fact that I mostly am watching TV, sports, video (discovery channel etc) and bright movies (with the kids etc) the Sony seems like a great fit. I just hope I don't miss the blacks too much on those occasions where I do watch a dark movie.

I appreciate the comparisons to the RS20 and its great you had one so you know the differences. On a overall scale of 1-10, what would you give the Sony and what would you give the RS20? This will help give me an idea of your opinion on how much better the Sony is.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by George Kouzev

Hey Rick, given how picky you have been with your projectors, this statement seems quite a testimony to the W95:

"So are you keeping the VW95 and no longer looking for a better projector for the short term?

Exactly"

I hope you can resist the temptation of buying the RS55 and doing a direct shootout yourself

Originally Posted by George Kouzev

"As for the black level, dont worry. I just check the beginning of Star Wars Ep. 3 and the black is fantastic. The image dynamic is just amazing. The Sony 95 is very good at showing detail in dark area. Since the graysacle are calibrate out of the box, you get the best right away!"

Rick, is majority of your movie testing with DI off? Was it on or off when you tested the Star Wars scene?

BTW, I have a Pioneer Elite Kuro plasma display which likely spoiled me when it comes to black level (and accuracy in general). I hope the Sony is close enough.

Originally Posted by misterkit

So what things on it DONT you like? There has got to be something (other than the black level)...