Sony VPL-VW100 (Ruby) owners, where are you?

[Paul D]

After a quick search of the forums, i cannot believe there aren't more VW100(Ruby) threads.

This is one of the most exciting projectors around, yet so little discussion

Please post here with how you are getting on.(good or bad)

I saw it before Xmas, and was very impressed. (apart from some issues)

Infact i held back from buying due to these "issues".
I just couldn't understand how Sony could let it ship with the corner/halo problem.

Has anybody got one in the last few weeks?
If so, have they addressed the corner/halo problems?
(I know it has other minor issues, but i could live with them etc)

I decided to await the arrival of 3 chip 1920x1080 DLP, but i fully expect they to be "mega £££s" on their arrival.

If Sony has addressed the corner/halo issues, it might make me change my mind and change now.

The price dropping has already started, making it even more attractive!

[JohnWH]

Ones been hanging from my ceiling for getting on for a month now!

The non uniformity on a black screen is visible but isn't relevent to normal viewing, even on dark scenes it isn't that noticeable, really needing full blanked video before I pick it up. The crushed white arent really an issue either, although I have't really played with the iris settings yet,and generally have spent little time on calibration yet.

To be honest the biggest problem has been its tendency to show up problems in the source, to be honest I think a good quality scaler/processor is a requirement to get the best from it.

Summary is that it really is very good, a massive step up from my Sharp Z200. If it wasn't for DVD player coniptions I'm having at the moment I would pretty much just be sitting down and watching movies without the innevitable fiddling that almost always ensued with the sharp.

John.

[cosa]

We have all slashed our wrists after finding out the price of a replacement lamp nearly 2 grand for a BULB

[Paul D]

Originally Posted by cosa

We have all slashed our wrists after finding out the price of a replacement lamp nearly 2 grand for a BULB

That doesn't sound right?

Sony style (US) are selling them for $999(£573)

This place is selling them for $895(£513)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

I know UK prices may be higher, but it should be less than £999...

The cheapest i've seen one for is about $880 so they cannot be close to nearly £2000 over here?

[JohnWH]

Well thanks guys, I had been carefully ignoring that particular feature! Now whats the cost of watching a movie again...

John.

[Oakleyspatz]

Originally Posted by JohnWH

To be honest the biggest problem has been its tendency to show up problems in the source, to be honest I think a good quality scaler/processor is a requirement to get the best from it.

That will be the problem until 1080p Blue ray/HD DVD becomes available I think. Having such a high native resolution means the Ruby is always having to scale its source material up to that res. This can cause just as many problems as can downscaling High Def to a lower res. I mean people would scoff at the thought of downscaling High Def to a 480p projector not least of all because it introduces all kinds of video nasty artifacts yet the Ruby upscaling 480p DVD to 1080 lines can introduce just as many problems.
Until 1080p software is available or 1080i at the very least, the Ruby will never be able to show what it is truly capable of!

[ash]

What! Downscaling HD content (say 720p) to 480p/576p causes artifacts??? I was planning on a 576p PJ, to be hooked upto a HD-DVD player.

[Gary Lightfoot]

Most of the noise issues you will see are caused by mpg compression. With a good Hi Def source you don't see that kind of image noise at all. You shouldn't see image noise with scaling if it's done properly.

The same source problems are sometimes shown up by 3 chip DLP - give them good HD material and the image is excellent, but feed it a poor DVD and the image becomes considerably noisier.

Gary

[Oakleyspatz]

Originally Posted by ashmufc

What! Downscaling HD content (say 720p) to 480p/576p causes artifacts??? I was planning on a 576p PJ, to be hooked upto a HD-DVD player.

It will not be all that bad, but there may be some shimmering which is the usual problem. 720p down to 576p should be fine though

[Timbo21]

In relation to the lamp on the ruby IIRC, Alan Gouger on avsforum reported substantial dimming on the ruby after 100 hrs, but I believe he found a way to improve it somewhat.

[Edgeyboy]

Paul: How much have you seen it advertised for ?

Tom.

[Paul D]

Originally Posted by Edgeyboy

Paul: How much have you seen it advertised for ?

Tom.

UK dealer/stock PRICE INC VAT & DELIVERY £5,898.00 (cannot vouch for dealer though!)

[gandley]

the full on qualia bulb cost about $2k, so that may be the bulb price your getting @£2000.
But the ruby bulb is still not cheap and from an american owner i have been bashing with questions says his has dimed by a great deal at 200hrs.

Also judging how the hype as really died off in that other forum due to issues, im not surprised there are a few more cautious buyers now + some of the 1080p DLP projectors had a stunning show debut, so i for 1 will need to see them first before i jump in. I was really temted by the ruby though.

[cosa]

Originally Posted by gandley

the full on qualia bulb cost about $2k, so that may be the bulb price your getting @£2000.
But the ruby bulb is still not cheap and from an american owner i have been bashing with questions says his has dimed by a great deal at 200hrs.

Also judging how the hype as really died off in that other forum due to issues, im not surprised there are a few more cautious buyers now + some of the 1080p DLP projectors had a stunning show debut, so i for 1 will need to see them first before i jump in. I was really temted by the ruby though.

looks like you are correct on a website it states bulb for ruby is LMPH700 @ £1995 when in fact manual states ruby bulb is LMPH400 though both are quoted at 400w LMPH400 is not on sonys dealer price list yet but approx £800 will be price(thank god)