Vidikron 40 HT manual Vidikron Vision Model 40 DLP Projector, Temperature, Color, Ire

G E A R G U I D E

Vidikron Vision Model 40 DLP Projector

C. The remote offers discrete input and aspect-ratio buttons that glow in the dark.

The Model 40 has five color- temperature settings: 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4. Of course, it also offers several aspect ratios: 4:3, letter- box, anamorphic, and Intelliwide. Vidikron designed the Intelliwide setting specifically for blowing up 4:3 material to fill a 16:9 screen, and it does so with a minimum amount of picture distortion, unlike many other similar imple- mentations of this sort.

I evaluated the Model 40 using a Panasonic DVD-RP91 progressive- scan DVD player in interlaced mode and Dish Network’s HD satellite feed on a 72-inch-wide Stewart Studiotek 130 screen. I obtained maximum contrast at a setting of +18, which is about two-thirds of the way across the menu’s sliding bar, before clip- ping or white crush set in. This produced an amply bright

tones looked a little too red on the “Montage of Images” section from the Video Essentials test DVD. The Model 40’s video pro- cessing is quite good. As I looked at the opening sequence of Star Trek: Insurrection, 3:2 pulldown was clearly evident, as the projec- tor rendered the bridge railing, canoes, and rooftops pristinely. The bouncing ball in Video Essentials’ Snell & Wilcox Zone Test Plate

test pattern was also

Vidikron Vision Model 40 DLP Projector

	7000
Temperature	6500
	6000
Color	5500										Color Temp - Before
											Color Temp - After
	5000
	20	30	35	40	45	50	55	60	65	70	75	80	85	90	95	100
								IRE
0.7
0.6				Green								Color Temperature
					Vidikron Green

0.5

0.4
					Vidikron Red
0.3			D6500 K		Red
0.2					DTV Phosphors
					D6500
0.1	Blue				Color Temp - Before
	Vidikron Blue				Color Temp - After
0
0.1	0.2	0.3	0.4	0.5	0.6	0.7

HT Labs Measures: Vidikron Vision Model 40 DLP Projector

The top chart shows the Model 40’s gray scale relative to its color temperature at various levels of intensity, or brightness (20 IRE is dark gray; 100 IRE is bright white). The gray scale as set by the factory, in the 2 color-temperature mode, measures slightly blue across the gray-scale range. After making adjustments using the Photo Research PR-650, the gray scale measures extremely well, within 80 Kelvin of D6500, the accu- rate color temperature, across the entire range. This is a slight improve- ment compared with the already-good performance before calibration. The bottom chart shows the gray scale (or color temperature) relative to the color points of the display’s red, green, and blue color-filter-wheel segments. Green (x=0.311, y=0.574), red (x=0.656, y=0.338), and blue (x=0.144, y=0.070) are slightly off those specified by SMPTE. Green is somewhat undersaturated, while red and blue are slightly oversaturated. This means that the display will reproduce most of the colors available in the system. The light output was approximately 13 foot-lamberts (on a 6-foot-wide Studiotek 130 screen). A brighter image is possible at the expense of gray-scale accuracy. The display has excellent DC restora- tion and a good color decoder. The Model 40 displays approximately 480 lines (per picture height) with NTSC sources and, using our Leader LT-446 HD generator, is capable of resolving DTV signals out to the limits of the 1,280-by-720 chip.—GM

picture (see the measure- ments box for our mea- surements using the Photo Research PR650).

Prior to calibrating the gray scale, I measured 6,150 Kelvin at 30 IRE and 5,975 K at 80 IRE. This is quite close to the broadcast-standard color temperature of D6500. The top end of the gray scale had a distinct magenta hue that I was able to completely elimi- nate with gray-scale cali-

C

bration. Post-calibration, the Model 40 measured a very impressive 6,500 K (x=0.313 and y=0.328) at 30 IRE and 6,450 K (x=0.314 and y=0.327) at 80 IRE. It’s clear that Vidikron made a serious effort to calibrate this projector’s gray scale, but I should note that your screen size and material will play a key role in achieving a linear, accurate gray scale. Your service technician will need to calibrate the whole system, which includes using your DVD player for the best results.

The Model 40’s color decoder is pretty accurate. After I set the color and tint with SMPTE color bars, I reduced the color level four clicks (from 34 to 30), as skin

exceptionally clean. My review sample’s

short-throw lens had some minor chromatic aberrations. Red was out by approximately one pixel, mostly in the horizontal direction. The lens also appeared to have a slight barrel dis- tortion at the top of the picture, which shows up as a very slight hori- zontal pincushion error. This was only visible on 2.35:1 material like Training Day. That said, the lenses on all of the

latest-generation one- chip DLP projectors exhibit some chromatic aberrations, and the Model 40’s are certainly not the worst I’ve seen. In fact, with regu- lar DVD and HDTV sources, I was hard-pressed to see these issues from my viewing position, which is roughly 10 feet from the screen. I also commend Vidikron for offering both a long- and short- throw lens option for added flexi- bility. In my room, I would have no choice but to opt for a short-throw lens, even with my relatively small 72-inch-wide screen.

If you look at the spec sheet, you’ll see that the company claims

112 Home Theater / November 2003 • www.hometheatermag.com