Tomorrow the 285ES is going back. But before it left I wanted to watch some content on it tonight. I ended up watching Life (2017). It looked excellent on the 285ES. No real gripes with overall image quality. I think most people who purchase this or the 385ES will enjoy the projector. As I've said many times, in the $3000+ market, it's next to impossible to make a wrong decision. All of these projectors throw a gorgeous image. It's really only when we want to nitpick and compare two of these projectors is when we see some of the minor faults these projectors have. At times I wish my JVC had the seemingly effortless analog look this 285ES has. I also wish my JVC could match the Sony with motion. While motion is only marginally better, it is something I can see as a positive attribute on the 285ES. But of course, the Sony has it's faults too, which most of you are well versed in now after reading countless tirades by me. At the end of the day, choose what works best for you. At the moment, for me, it's a JVC. If Sony fixes the issues that bother me, I honestly think a 4K Sony will be my main projector. Native contrast results on the 385ES look very promising. I can't wait to see what these SXRD models can do in 12-24 months. I could easily live with ~25000:1 native contrast projector with a good DI, which all Sony's usually have. Added with SXRD's typically higher ANSI contrast, better motion and the more organic looking image it would be something hard to pass up. I anxiously await a revised .74" SXRD panel!
What are you going to test next ?
Would you be able to get your hands on a VW885ES for a review when they're released?
Just order one from Amazon, and then return it when your finished !
That is indeed what I did with this 285ES. Over the years, I've lost out on plenty of money to see these projectors in my own theater. Lately I've been taking advantage of generous return policies. Amazon should adjust their return policy if they feel too many people abuse their system. But not all of these projectors are available on Amazon so sometimes I need to risk losing some money selling them after I'm done playing around. The main reason I don't go to CEDIA is that I know the vast majority won't be set up to my liking with a reference screen material or with video content I'm familiar with. It almost seems like a waste of time. The feeling I get every year from attendees is that they never really get to see these projectors in the best light and most of them are pre-production hardware/software anyways.
Saw the 285 at a local dealer this week. It was during a public HT oriented event and being used in a room demoing Kaleidescape. So I didn't get to do much focused on the 285 itself, but the one thing that did jump out to me was black levels that looked fairly bright. I've been using the JVC RS500 so I've become accustomed to much better. I posted previously that I was strongly thinking of selling the JVC and grabbing a 285 but now I'm not so sure. My main issue with the JVC is that 3D is annoying due to being forced to use the 1 model of glasses that have the correct polarization, and aren't very comfortable. Of course, sadly less content is going to be 3D as I start adding movies in UHD versions.And I have to say, that Kaleidescape server is really nice, very slick interface and so much nicer to watch a movie from that as opposed to a disc with menus and warnings to navigate. But the cost, and the proprietary nature of the downloads are big obstacles to me.
I wish I had the cash for one myself. Sadly, at this time, I do not.
My main issue with the JVC is that 3D is annoying due to being forced to use the 1 model of glasses that have the correct polarization, and aren't very comfortable. Of course, sadly less content is going to be 3D as I start adding movies in UHD versions.
Sounds like you just need to get a screen that doesn't retain any polarization.
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