3D Projector Reviews

Full-On/Full-Off Contrast Ratio: 324:1 (avg)

All measurements were performed in the Cinema picture mode through an HDMI input. In the ECO lamp mode after calibration, the peak white level was 28.14 ft-L and the black level 0.089 ft-L, giving the contrast ratio shown above. In the Normal lamp mode, these numbers were 41.74/0.126 (321.1). Using an AEMC CA813 illuminance meter to measure the values directly off the projection lens, the full-on/full-off contrast ratio was 325:1.

The auto iris was noisy, but so enabled, the dynamic contrast ratio averages 1,072:1. In the Normal lamp mode, peak white is 42.12 with a black level of 0.036 (1,170:1). In the ECO mode, those numbers are 28.24/0.029 (974:1).

The pre-calibration RGB Balance shown in the chart was taken in the Cinema mode and the –1 color temp mode. Before calibration, the image is lacking blue, especially with darker images. Delta E values in this mode averaged 11.14. After calibration, there’s a slight push with blue in the mid-tones, but overall, it tracks close to the D6500 color temperature. The Delta E post-calibration averaged 3.39, with a high of 5.54 at 50% brightness. (Delta E is a figure of merit that indicates how closely a display adheres to the Rec. 709 HD color standard. Experts generally agree that levels below 3 are visibly indistinguishable from perfect color tracking.)

Before calibration, red, green, blue, yellow, and cyan all measured slightly off the Rec. 709 standard. Gamut luminance fared better, with a pre-calibration Delta E average of 2.65 (green being the only far break from the mean, at 8.96). After calibration, only magenta was notably improved, gamut-wise. Gamut luminance, though, became an exceptional 0.21. Overall gamma was roughly 1.87 before and after calibration.

Interestingly, there was noticeable image retention when static bright images were left on screen for extended periods. Though I knew this was theoretically possible, it’s the first time I’ve seen it with an LCD-based display. Like image retention with other displays (plasma, OLED), watching other content for a few minutes wiped the retained image clear.—GM