[virgodog]

Hi guys, just joined the forum. I have made my very first purchase of a digital projector. I read quite a few reviews on many models and the older EMP TW10H seemed to be a good starter in the field. However, after 60 hours of movie watching with faultless operation and great quality vision, the colour has suddenly turned a red/purplish tint and more noticeable in Theater / Theatre Black modes. Anyone else had or has this colour problem? Any ideas on how to fix?
I swapped the RGB component leads from my other system, checked the projector settings, even the lamp hours show only 127 hours. So I am stumped.
I can only think maybe the hours are not correct. I inspected the lamp and cannot tell if it has had much use. cheers

[ched]

Can you try some of the other connection options such as composite or s-video?
Are you sure its not the source thats producing the tint?

[virgodog]

Originally Posted by ched

Can you try some of the other connection options such as composite or s-video?
Are you sure its not the source thats producing the tint?

I have been through the other connection options including VGA (highest quality leads) from the Mac and get the same purple colour results. I hope the technician can tell if the bulb is truly at only 127 hours. For £18 diagnosis fee on checking the whole projector and bulb, it's worth spending that first. I reckon the bulb may possibly be the cause. After approx 15-20 mins viewing, the purple/red tinge does clear up a little. Dynamic and Living Room modes are perfect. cheers Ched

[ched]

Originally Posted by virgodog

I have been through the other connection options including VGA (highest quality leads) from the Mac and get the same purple colour results.

Virodog: I assume you get the same problem if you connect the projector to something other than your Mac?
I am guessing that if you dont get the tint problem on Dynamic or Living Room modes then it is probably an internal processing fault in the projector.
I cant see it being the lamp as the only difference between modes should be the brightness. Where as the internal processing is responsible for the colour, i.e when set to Theater mode the black levels improve and the lamp reduces brightness so it does change processing in different modes.

You say this is your first projector? It is an old model that is no longer made, I had one till Christmas. It was a great projector for SD material, I ran it for about 4 years. The first bulb lasted 3700hrs! mainly in Theater mode. I hope you didn't pay too much for either a second hand machine or an old model. New mine was £500 and I sold it on ebay for £150 (with 500hrs on bulb).
I replaced it with a Optoma HD65 at £475 (great deal before Christmas, prices have now gone up). This blows the TW10H well out of the water with SD and HD content, the difference is like night and day! Only 2 things that the TW10H was better at, 1. the zoom on TW10 was great, position projector anywhere and get a big image HD65 zoom is very small (a DLP limitation) and the fan noise. I used to run the TW10H in Theatre Black mode and it was quiet but the HD65 varies its fan speed when it feels like it, so instead of a constant noise it is generally quiet then the fan kicks in a bit more and it gets noticeable. But the HD65 image is simply stunning so positioning and fan noise doesn't come into it.

Hope you can get the TW10H sorted, is it not under guarantee?

[virgodog]

Originally Posted by ched

Virodog: I assume you get the same problem if you connect the projector to something other than your Mac?

Yes, my Pioneer DVD system is the main source (not a newbie either – Dual Pure Cinema Progressive DV-676A – bought it also for its SACD) and the Mac is the optional VGA source for TV and Sky, so the problem is coming from the projector. I paid £180 for it through private sale so no warranty. I am new to the world of digital projectors and bought this model based on its good reviews and bulb usage of only 54 hours! It' a late 2005 model. Will wait and see what the technician has to say. Will look up the Optoma HD65. Thanks for your replies ched. cheers

[timefortea]

Hi,
Did you get any further with your problem? My TW10H has had the same problem since not long after I bought it (new, four years ago) - it is a large purple/red tinged circular area in the middle of the screen. The circle would be up to about one third of the width of the screen and it would appear maybe once or twice a year and would perhaps get a bit smaller over time and suddenly disappear. I shouldn't say anything but I haven't seen it in some time - but this is what happens, it comes and goes. At first I thought the lens was dirty but I tried cleaning it, changing leads/sources etc. and it made no difference. I know it's the projector though, as it comes and goes. The last time it lasted for months (I only watch a couple of movies a week on it) and as I say it's been quite some time since it was last there, perhaps as much as 6 months. I expect it to return sometime soon though!

Another thing, the bottom edge of the screen is not straight, it curves/slopes slightly up on the left side. Keystone correction and other settings make no difference.

I have the projector upside down / ceiling mounted. I'll probably replace it with a hi-def one next year.

T.