The Switch… η JVC HD1 vs Marantz 15S1

[GeonX]

The Switch…

…τα όργανα στην Αμερική ξεκίνησαν και προφανώς ο πόλεμος τώρα αρχίζει…ο πρώτος κάτοχος του Marantz 15S1 μιλά για της εντυπώσεις του στο avsforum.gr το ενδιαφέρον είναι ότι είναι πρώην κάτοχος του JVC RS1/HD1 ακόμα πιο ενδιαφέρον είναι και όσοι ενδιαφέρονται για την 15S1 είχαν η έχουν των DiLA… ακόμα πιο ενδιαφέρον για το πρώτο switcher είναι ότι έκανε την αλλαγή για το μαύρο του Marnatz…

Περισσοτερα στο thread του avsforum.com http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=886859&page=8

Alright guys, more impressions:

Keeping in mind that I am an absolute black freak I spent a lot of time looking at absolute black, black levels/low APL, looking for ANSI CR pop and 3d effects. I did also notice color and fan noise, but I really was bent on figuring out relative brightness and blackness.

Also, I was watching the HD1 with a 128" diagonal 2.35 image while I was watching the 15s1 on a much smaller 2.35 image of a 105" diagonal 16:9. I dont know if the end result will be that the 15s1s image should be relatively brighter or dimmer when expanded to fit the 128" 2.35 image, but that should definitely keep that in mind.

Some things im pretty certain of:

The RS1 is an awesome projector. The RS1 and the RS2 will still be kings of simultaneous contrast and brightness. The 15s1 doesnt beat it here.

The RS1 is significantly brighter than the 15s1 in both their best contrast modes.

ABSOLUTE BLACK LEVEL and very low APL scenes:

The absolute black of the 15s1 is darker than the absolute black of the HD1 EVEN with an ND4 filter. That means that despite the ND4 filter, the RS1 is still brighter than the 15s1.

Now, for those who want black blacks they would probably prefer the 15s1, assuming of course that it was bright enough for them. In my case the 15s1 is bright enough for me, however, I worry if 200 to 500 hours into the lamp that I might have to shift into normal lamp or a different iris setting.

Based on what I saw, I believe my HD1 would look better in absolutel black/very low APL scenes with an ND8. Without the ND4, it wouldnt even have been close in the darkest scenes. If I was assigning a grade on the darkest of scenes, Id say 98 for the HD1 (with an ND4) and 100 for the 15s1.

Those grades probably meet as time gets put on both lamps and probably flip flop at a certain time point in the future. The HD1 would get better (more black) while the 15s1 would get worse (too dim eventually, or not as black because of setting.)

ANSI CR pop and 3D effects:

The difference is definitely more noticeable in the brightest of scenes. With the ND4 filter the HD1 seems to have several instances of 3Dness/ANSI pop to me but in all those instances and then some the 15s1 provides more noticeable 3dness.

I believe that the absolute black and perception of black both play a part in the 3dness of the image. ANSI CR definitely gives the edge to DLP projectors in brighter scenes but I also think thats why the HD1 and CRTs in general perform better, than other projectors, in low APL scenes.

In the case of the 15s1, I think because it has both a lower absolute black and higher ANSI CR, plus is plenty bright enough for now, it seems to produce more 3d and pop moments.

An ND8 filter might make the absolute black of the HD1 darker, but then an ND2 could probably work pretty good on the 15s1, too.

If I scaled the 15s1 a 100 on all scenes, I would rate the HD1 a 98 in the lower APL scenes and a 90 in the brightest of scenes (both with HD1 +ND4.)

Its hard to quantify the differences in terms of numbers. We expressed them in the numbers based on how large we felt the differences were. A 98 of course would express not much of a difference, except to say that one was more black than the other, and a 90 expresses a noticeable difference that still looked pretty damn good, anyways.

To be honest, we always preferred the image of the HD1 because it was larger (size matters!) but we kept going back to scenes where we looked for, or noticed these differences, because if we broke it down to just the blacks or 3d pops we could get past that we just loved the scope image so much better.

In the end, if I had to live with my HD1 I would not be at all disappointed but given the choice the 15s1 seems to provide me with the absolute black levels that I strive for, with ample brightness, and does provide the better overall look so Ill be keeping that one. 8)

If however, I had a larger screen, that was not a highpower, the larger it got from 128" 2.35, the more inclined I would be to prefer the HD1. It looks like my screen is in the sweet spot for the 15s1.

NOISE and COLORS:

In regards to noise and colors, both were noticeable if I looked for them, but when I wasnt both looked equally capable. The 15s1 definitely makes more noise, but I doubt you would be noticing it unless it was right behind your head. The HD1s colors looked just a very small smidge washed out compared to the 15s1s, but I guess that should be expected at color -20. 8)

Overall though, neither was a factor for me.

Absolute black, black levels, ANSI CR and 3d pop were all that I worried about.

Thanks for getting the projector into my hands so quickly, Dan.

I wish I was able to give you guys measurements tonight. I cant wait to read a real review from Greg, Jason, or Ekkehart with those numbers, but if we dont have them next week Ill ask my installer to bring a light measurement device.

Hey Bill,

I started out by saying that the RS1 is an awesome projector because everytime that we would switch over to the RS1 I would be in awe at how well it was hanging with the Marantz in the mid to high APL scenes. I actually expected to prefer the RS1 better than the Marantz in the lowest APL scenes, but the Marantz surprised me there, I think mostly because I really love that black black black and the RS1 is just so damn bright in its best contrast mode(which is a good thing with brightness to spare and ND filters.)

Last night we only went back and forth on two movies, "300" and "Martix Reloaded," which I selected for black/brightness because I wanted to know what I was gaining versus what I was giving up in the area that I believed was the RS1's realm. I will throw in Bournes, POTOpera, and will pop in Star Wars III and some LOTR SD material, among others today, to see how those do.

You should definitely go check out the 15s1, depending on how much brightness is sapped by the ND4, you could be at 16-18 ftl on the 15s1.

Im glad you found it useful. 8)

Randall, the 15s1 performed very well on my 10' wide screen. 8) It definitely has the black black of the 12k with a lot more brightness and has that DLP pop. To mitigate many concerns regarding brightness, I would recommend the Tapework Texas Mack Warranty and the 2 bulb replacements. 8)

Since I really only use my HT for movie viewing and the occasional sporting event, my hours probably dont even rack up to where I would need to use the bulb warranty but for $300 - 400 ish its definitely a good insurance product to have, but remember has to be bought within 30 days. 8)

I might just do that. Does Frys sell those CA813 light meters? Where do you get it from? Ill read that thread after I respond to Bob's post. (its probably in there) 8)

Hey Bob,

I knew you were just as interested in the relative brightness (in best CR) of the PJs. It looks to be much brighter than the Sharps, but not as bright as the RS1. You definitely should check it out, as assuming the colors are accurate enough for you, it definitely fits the bill on everything else EVEN CR, which I know is as important to you, and brightness.

Despite what appear to be differences in our preferences, we have OWNED and loved the same projectors: the Sharp 12k, the Sony Ruby, and the RS1. Now your romance with your RS1 ended a lot earlier than mine did, as mine still goes on (your probably does to deep down inside - seeing that you still watch in on your big screen and havent replaced it yet 8).

Knowing me, you probably will likely know just what those thoughts are. Be careful what you ask for. 8) I can just see your PM from Tom, "NOOO!" 8)

 

[takisot]

Mε το καλο να τον δουμε και απο κοντα Γιωργο..