A: Our projectors are video projectors, as defined by video system standards. Please see next question for a definition of ‘video system standards’. Most other display devices are optimized for the technology behind them. They are DLP or LCOS or LCD projectors. We do video, not DLP, LCD or LCOS.Back To Top
A: Our video communication system is based on a canvas that is partially defined by the capability of a CRT. A committee called the SMPTE committee defined the video canvas in the early 80’s. Even though CRT displays are almost a thing of the past, the video system is designed to look good on a display that has some of the CRT’s characteristics. Many of the important characteristics are not shared with the other, newer display technologies. They have to be made to conform to the system standards. Often time this means lowering the light output capability or narrowing the color capability, things that DLP, LCOS and LCD manufacturers don’t want to do. They don’t make ‘video’ devices by definition. Their displays don’t conform to the requirements of the video system. If they did they might look as good as ours. Back To Top
A: The projector follows CRT characteristics in gamma; transfer function of video signal in versus light out from the display, primary colors of red, green and blue, and gray scale. We exceed a CRT’s capability, while staying within system specifications in resolution and flat field uniformity. (Achieving image uniformity is partially dependent on the screen so we are particular about screen quality.) We include all three sets of primary colors defined for various color video systems in the world. We excel at image focus and far exceed the CRT’s ability to maintain image shape; astigmatism, and geometry. Back To Top
A: We can start by telling you that the DLP technology is the only all digital display technology. It’s the only one that can do 1080p from a 1080p display. The rest are analog, despite attempts to make you think otherwise. That’s important because analog circuits tend to roll off frequency response at the upper end of their bandwidth. In many of the technologies the roll off starts at 1/3 the bandwidth of the system. The reality of some of these technologies is you need a 4K display to do a good job of 1080p. Back To Top
A: Many DLP projectors have ‘image enhancement’ circuits that distort real resolution. That image enhancement can not be removed. The next limitation is the lens. In many cases it is not good enough to show you what the DLP chip can do. Back To Top
A: Getting a good picture is about the entire system, not just the projector. The best way we can ensure that full advantage is taken of our JKP Endorsed product capability is if people we’ve trained are installing them. Back To Top
A: What you see in picture quality is highly dependent on the choice of the screen and the quality of the signals driving the projector as well as proper setup of the projector itself. Our dealer training is as much about the entire system as it is about the projector. Getting a good picture is all about getting everything in the system right. Back To Top
A: We’ve gone to a lot of trouble to make our projectors some of the best video display devices that exist. Most screens have a visual surface that adds ‘noise’ to the picture and or hot spotting which takes away from the uniformity of the image and or a color shift, which hurts the color fidelity of the image. We’re not interested in sacrificing the projector’s capability to a poor screen. In effect the screen has to be invisible, not adding its own signature to the image. Few other projector manufacturers seem to notice that the screen is hurting their image capability. Or at least if they do, they aren’t concerned enough to let their customers know about it. Back To Top
A: Yes, but it is far more important to higher quality devices. It’s one more point that sets us apart in the world of imaging. We recognize and talk about the importance of every part of the system in showing the best possible picture. Back To Top
A: This is known as throw distance. For the SP-A800 and A900 projectors it is 1.7 to 2.2 times the width of the screen. For best performance we recommend something in the order of the longer throw distance. Back To Top
A: The lens of the projector needs to be anywhere from 5% above to 5% below the screen. We recommend that the lens be somewhere in the vertical dimension of the screen, not using the 5% extension above and below the screen. It needs to be centered on the width of the screen as there is no horizontal shift in the lens. Back To Top
A: This was a design choice on the part of the manufacturer, and will be addressed in future products. Back To Top
A: Unlike most displays that come factory set to compete with other displays on the show floor, there is no need for such a condition in our projector because is only handled by well qualified installers. The projector is calibrated at the factory to meet video system standards. The major difference in the factory calibration from that done in the home is that the screen is added to the system and all of the source devices are checked. The projector is a long way from being absolutely correct out of the box but calibration in the home includes getting everything else right. That can’t be done at the factory. Back To Top
A: We do check every projector before it goes out to the dealer. If the installation is using one of our recommended screens, we can pre calibrate it for that screen. Back To Top
A: We feel a professional who is trained in the product and video systems should calibrate this projector. Reasons for this include the method of calibration is completely different from that used on most displays, there are options in the service menu that can seriously damaging the lamp, and the total system is important to the quality of the image you see. Back To Top
A: We suggest one of several Photo Research spectroradiometers or the Minolta CS-200. We’re in the process of looking at other instrumentation in use by calibrators to see how well they might work with our projectors. Back To Top
A: The analog and digital component video system is designed so that the Tint control should never be needed. Adding it, as is done on many sets, places an additional complication in the video circuits. The Tint control is functional for composite and S-Video signals, as is required for those formats. Back To Top
A: Our video system is based on acquiring and displaying the three primary colors of light, red, green and blue. The voltages representing red, green and blue on the creative side of program production are converted to the component video domain, Y Cr Cb, for transporting the video signal to the viewer. If the viewer is using the correct colors of red, green, blue and gray in the display and the display is decoding the Y Cr Cb back to RGB properly, all secondary colors will show up as they are supposed to be displayed. Adding secondary color correction to the Y Cr Cb to RGB conversion process almost always introduces color errors into a properly functioning display. We feel the presence of secondary color correction is an indication that the display itself is not functioning according to the rules of the video system. It is not a video display device. Back To Top
A: There is no independent gray scale calibration needed in this projector as the color of gray is calculated from the choice the viewer makes of primary colors, SMPTE-C, HD or EBU. There is however an ability to compensate for gray scale errors in any source video coming into the projector. As an example, this is almost always required for analog VGA signals. Back To Top
A: We’ve found the color stability of the bulb over its useful life is usually far better than most people’s ability to recognize any change in the color of gray. We do recommend that the projector be recalibrated every time the lamp is changed. Back To Top
A: The specification of the 300 watt UHP lamp is 2,000 hours to the 50% point of its light output. Reality is and always has been something else for every manufacturer using UHP lamps. Sometimes it’s better and sometimes it isn’t. We warrant the lamp to not reach its 50% point in the first 500 hours. Back To Top
A: We are asking dealers to make the lamps available to you at a cost far below what other manufacturers are charging for similar lamps. Our position is you should not be as concerned about how much you use this great projector. Enjoy it a lot, knowing it won’t cost as much when it comes time to replace the lamp.