Optoma UHD65 4k Projector Added

I’m enjoying revisiting my Blu-ray collection since I’ve installed this $1500 factory refurbished Optoma UHD65 HDR 4k projector. I’m finding that the upscaled 1080p video has taken on a newfound amount of sharpness and detail. Even though it uses a native 2716x1528 DLP imager chip, its pixel shifter allows a full 3820x2160 (8.3 million) discrete, addressable pixels on the screen for a very affordable price. The downside to pixel shifting projectors is the pixels overlap a bit compared to a native 4k imager chip projector. Still the picture is stunning compared to a HD 1920x1080 projector. To me, the Achilles heel of the projector is the amount of noise it makes. It can be distracting during quiet scenes. I must have been spoiled by the low noise of my JVC RS40 but at this price point I can live with it. I would also say the black level isn’t super deep, but adequate considering how bright this projector is. Overall it puts me one step closer to my goal of having the best seat at a live concert and a welcome improvement in picture quality over my JVC. Sorry no screenshots, I only have a smartphone camera and its difficult to get exposure and resolution to represent what I see in person!

Measuring Projector Light Output

The newer JVC projectors appear to have an issue with bulb life. Some bulbs have been known to dim and or explode after a few hundred hours. I decided to get a cheap meter ($13) to measure the light output and monitor under consistent conditions as I accumulate hours. There is a test pattern in the service menu that throws a white screen with 9 circles that I use for placement of the meter sensor. Pictured is the center circle. The average of the 9 spots are 134.8 lux with 20 hours on the lamp in normal mode. Now I have a reference which to base future measurements. Normally this is a two handed operation, but I had to hold the camera too!

New projector for the system

I picked up a new projector. A JVC RS40, B-stock from AVScience store for $1779. This is going to be a huge improvement! JVC's LcoS implementation (D-ILA) operates much like a 3-chip DLP only instead of mirrors it uses liquid crystals over a mirror substrate. A great explaination of LcoS is HERE.