I like your Brady Bunch style split screen, that’s a good way of showing the calibration differences. Looks like a nice little unit and this is only V1. These lifestyle projectors are are almost like soundbars vs traditional set ups, tech is catching up
Soundbars are still inferior (quite a lot inferior) to a real Atmos surround setup. This projector seems a bit noteworthy since it can actually trade blows with dedicated HT projectors, true.
You realize the Hisense C2 Ultra is the same projector? Identical specs, identical menus. The only difference is the EBL. I'm assuming Hisense is going to push that feature in a future firmware update. They are probably working on getting it to work with the Dynamic Iris (which the C2 Ultra has btw) and that is probably the same reason the Valerion Max is delayed until May.
AT screens do have that perforation in order to let audio through, so it's not uncommon that triple lasers interact with those and give some weird artifacts like moire. I also don't really think they had AT screen in mind when they made this unit, necessarily.
I hear you. Sometimes, I remember a scene I watched before and I go back just to see how it looks on this. I did it a few hours ago with Silo on Apple TV. Season 1, Episode 3, the first scene after the intro is a very dark scene and I could see all kinds of details on the Pro 2. It might have to do with Dolby Vision and tone mapping, but the brightness and EBL help I'm sure.
One thing I'm curious about with this is fully zoomed out it has a minimum throw distance of 0.9. That's closer than you sit to a 16:9 screen. If the vertical lens shift on the max works well you could in theory ceiling mount this in front of you. That should increase brightness quite a bit and mean you don't get blinded when you stand up without it having to turn itself off. I would prefer to see a ceiling mount that uses the other holes too though. If this thing falls on your head.. rip. Mostly though I'm hoping the technology on display here makes its way into the AWOL Vision Max. An ISF calibrated 3500 max with this EBL would be something to behold.
You mentioned the visible lines on the AP screen (I use the Elite Screens 135” AcousticPro UHD material), so did you find there to be any visual issues like moire effect while watching movies, games,etc…?
Great review, Joe. Thank you! You mentioned you also have the AWOL, I know it's a different tech but how does it compare vs AWOL + ALR screen for black level, picture quality etc? I currently have the AWOL and I'm wondering if I should jump on the Kickstarter or not.
The AWOL LTV-3500 Pro is very bright and it's amazing how well it works with the lights on with a CLR screen. The black levels are pretty good but EBL on the Valerion Pro 2 seems to work better for some reason. It also has dynamic tone mapping unlike the AWOL. It comes down to whether you want to watch it with the lights on or if it's for a dedicated dark room.
Great review! Very concise, I like how you show as much data as you can with the tools you have. About the moiré pattern - did this only happen on AT screens? Have you tried other Elite screens like the Cinewhite UHD-B? I'm guessing it was laser speckle showing on the Cinegrey? Usually these 4x shifters don't show much of the pixel structure so that surprises me, it would be great to see an ISF 4k pattern and something like 4k quick brown fox patterns close up to compare with other projectors.
The Cinegrey was most likely speckle. The pixel structure isn't typically that noticeable until you're up close. I think the sharpness makes it more obvious which is likely why I was seeing moire.
@@joentell I noticed you said it wasn't visible on paper. Is that because it was slightly out of focus or related to the AT screen? What gain is that AT screen you're using?
@@joentell Just to be clear the moiré pattern did not show up on the paper even after it was focused? Maybe it is the lasers interacting somehow with the pattern of the AT screen?
Hello. Nice review. Unfortunately I bought a Benq ht4550i 5 months ago and I'm satisfied but the contrast is not so perfect :( Unfortunately I have white walls and a screen from elite screen white matt 1.1. Could you please advise me some screen that would improve the contrast of my projector in the evening? For example cinegrey 5D would help ? Thank you very much for your early reply.
Would it be a bad idea to upgrade my Epson 3800 to a 5050UB at this point? I see a lot of buzz about this projector but it’s hard to tell if everything promised will actually be delivered. I kinda feel like waiting another year to see how this projector shakes up the market.
Were you able to determne if this projector can be controlled by universal remote like Logitech Harmony 950? Does it use a standard IR contorller or something more fancy like blutooth?
The only issue I currently see is the throw distance. If you place the max model 5m away from the screen, the smallest image possible is 150" in diagonal 😅 Good news is that Valerion is still working on an optional Lens kit for longer throw distances and also on Lens Memory function 🤞
@@1drchak I have LTV-3500 Pro in for review and it is a light cannon. It's great even with sunlight and all my lights on. Part of that is due to the CLR screen. The black levels are much better on the Valerion though. It's also sharper and more color accurate out of the box.
I bought a Valerion Vision Master Pro 2, and I’d like some advice on which screen to choose. First of all, I’d like to know which type of screen is more suitable: white, gray, or with ALR technology. The room has low lighting. Then, once the type of screen is decided, I’d like to understand the best screen size for my room. The room dimensions are 4x3 meters; I will be sitting about 3 meters away from the screen, while the projector will be positioned approximately 3.5 meters away. The wall where the screen will be mounted is 3.8 meters wide. Additionally, I’d appreciate direct purchase links to get an idea of the options available. I’m in Italy, so it would be great if the suggestions are for the European market.
I have the 4550i and am debating whether to back the Kickstarter. I'm generally happy with the 4550i, including its dark scene performance, but it seems like the blacks are indeed "significantly" better on the Valerion that would make it a worthwhile upgrade. Would you agree? Also, on your at around 4:40 on your video you show a comparison of the 2, including a calibrated version of the Valerion. To my eye, the Benq looks the best. Seems like some of the improvements could only be realized with a calibration? Thanks for your review.
I can't make the decision for you, but everything you've said is correct IMO. The biggest difference I can tell is overall better contrast on the Pro 2 due to the dynamic tone mapping, higher perceived brightness, lower black floor, and EBL and other processing. It's also a lot faster to navigate the menus, turn on/off. If you prefer the pre-calibrated aspect of the HT4550i, that's tough to beat unless you calibrate a projector yourself or have someone do it which adds cost.
I am planning on using the max model with a CineWhite Acoustic 8K from EliteScreen. Was this the screen model that showed the moire effect or did you use a different model? Cheers
So the benq has a lower black floor and better colors out of the box, what exactly was it that persuaded you to replace the benq with the valerion? I am a max backer but was going to purchase the benq initially.
The BenQ HT4550i has more accurate colors, but the Valerion has a lower black floor. What convinced me is the color volume which they claim is 110% of REC2020. The BenQ needs to use it's wide color gamut WCG mode which applies a filter and reduces brightness significantly. Dynamic tone mapping and Dolby Vision means I can use something like an AppleTV 4K, Zidoo, Dune HD, or anything with the Dolby VS10 engine, to remap SDR, HDR and HDR+ to Dolby Vision. I made a video explaining why I like that. ua-cam.com/video/ZpI6Y_9YbJg/v-deo.htmlsi=guS7Ko9XwWnnMjKU Don't get me wrong, if I had to go back to my HT4550i, I would still be content watching movies, but I'm a bit spoiled with the picture quality, MEMC for sports, and fast startup/shut-down times. It's important to note that I also spent a night calibrating this thing to the best of my abilities. The colors out of the box aren't horrible, but they aren't great either.
@@dbambrick996 I have to be honest that the picture quality is so impressive on this already, although I'm excited to see what the dynamic iris adds, I'm more interested in the possibility that they come factory calibrated out of the box. That's a big time saver for lots of people using this more seriously in a dedicated theater.
Thanks for the review, do you think you could use your classic ceiling mount using the central thread (1/4) and also the 2 rear legs being threaded, that is, 3 anchor points instead of just 1 central one?
They said the 1/4" thread is mounted to a metal plate and not the plastic, so that's good. I was able to find a screw that fit perfectly through my old projector mounting point and into the Valerion. It doesn't move and I wouldn't ever expect it to.
I appreciate that your reviews are quick and to the point, but I was hoping for a more direct comparison to your BenQ, especially around contrast. Maybe "20% better than the typical DLP" and that the Valerion has replaced your BenQ is all that needs to be said. Doesn't matter I guess because I ordered the Max after watching TheHookup review. Will see for myself how it compares against my venerable HT 2050. Just have to wait until May unfortunately. Your comments about moiré make me happy that I have a super smooth spandex screen.
The HT2050 was the first projector I ever purchased and I was extremely happy with it. It was a light cannon. These new laser projectors are really a step up in all aspects as you would expect from the price difference. I think you're in for a treat when you get your Max. You can see a pretty significant difference in my side by side comparison. It looks like that to my eyes also. A lot has to do with the dynamic tone mapping with HDR content. For SDR, the difference is less noticeable.
Thanks, out of the box image looks little weird in your comparison shot wondering what all image settings you end up doing to make the picture to your liking?
I don't know if I would recommend someone use my settings because my method of calibrating is very unconventional. I don't use a colorimeter, but instead, I calibrated my camera to be accurate and I use that with some scopes to set white balance.
Im in a battle betwee the exact benq & this valerion. The main concern for me is always black level. The more black is better for me. Since you are using the exact two PJ that im considering. Which one you think is better for black level? With the valerion enchanced black level on. I see in your video the black level of the benq still better from youtube. Thank u joe
The black levels is better on the Pro 2. The overall image on the BenQ HT4550i was just darker, but black bars on a movie are closer to black on the Pro 2.
Thanks for the review, im a Max backer and can't wait to get my hands on it 😉 One questions though You mentioned that Elitescreens Cinegrey shows some speckle, i currently onw Cinegrey 5D, could you please, please upload some shore video showing how much laser speckle is visible on Cinegrey material, PLEASE Additionally, my viewing position is around 3m away from the screen. Does the visual perception of speckle dissappear the further from the screen you are. Its impossible to find anywhere video about this specific combination, please be the first one LoL Im battling myself to open my piggy bank for another screen, but not knowing, seeing how much this issue affects the picture is a hard call Thx
I would like to know if the Visionmaster Pro 2 would be a significant improvement over my Optoma GT1080 Darbee projector in terms of contrast, colors, and level of detail, or would it just be an okay improvement?
I am unfamiliar with that projector. I have never tried an Optoma myself, but if it's a few years old, I think you'll see a big difference because the tech has advanced pretty quickly in the past few years.
Great review, Ive never been interested in numbers just what does the films look like on it 🤣. One question I have, as you ceiling mounted yours, you should be able to answer. Valerion in many replies have variously said the mounting screw thread is M6 yet in others have said it a standard tripod 1/4" thread, then another said they are the same. They are not the same (for instance 1/4" is slighly thicker than M6 at 6.35mm). Can you confirm what it actually is. Thanks
The numbers are important though because it helps to determine how films look on it. If they weren't then the difference between an M6 and 1/4" wouldn't matter, right? 😉 I just tried it with an M6 and 1/4"-20 thread. The 1/4"-20 went in nice and smooth and the M6 did not.
@@joentell Thank you, yes if its 1/4" then the M6 will not fit well as not only is it less diameter its pitch is different as well. Well I think there is a difference between the physical dimensions of a screw thread and the difference between nits, black floor, lumens, contrast etc, as i dont think you can say if one is higher "better" than another that the film will definately look better as that is very subjective to the person, but I can be certain if the size of a screw thread is different then it either will go in or not there is no subjectivity to it. 🤣
Hey Joe. Can I just confirm that's a ceiling mounted Valerian in the vid? There's a couple of people on FB saying it doesn't ceiling mount which seemed odd to me. Thanks for the great concise video!
I k ow it’s early and you haven’t had a ton of time with it but how does it compare to the benq4550i? Looking and getting the benq but I’ve read a lot about firmware issues and now thinking maybe this is something to wait for?! Thanks in advance
@ I have a question about ceiling mounting. The pro 2 does not have any lens shift so I am curious as to what the offset is on the unit upside down. If the lens is level with the top of the screen, does that work? Not interested in any of the throw distances or anything, just need to know what height works for ceiling mounting. Thanks
I forgot to hit the more button to bring the rest of it up. Sorry. I did have the max pre ordered but unfortunately can’t get it just yet now but it will be the next projector I get for sure
Interesting review, especially because you compare it to the BenQ. - Some questions: does it support 24p? - does it have frame interpolation for 4K and also for 3D? - Do you think the rainbow effect is less or more than on the BenQ? - Any idea on 3D quality compared to the BenQ?
Hi, algorithm brought me here… brother Joe- does your audio calibration disc work on rigid surround systems like the Sony theater quad? Thank you and god bless.. From DUBAI with ❤
It depends on what the Sony will enable you to adjust. If you can even set levels and delays, it can help with that. If you can adjust crossovers or apply EQ, it can assist even more. A lot of people like it just to get a better understanding of what their system is capable of.
@ thank you very much for the prompt response brother Joe… consider me a customer; though if I can burden you with one last enquiry: if I purchase the digital version due to ease of use- how exactly does it fire up, as I’m assuming one would pop the memory stick with the audio files downloaded in it- in the tv usb interface .. I ask because once again- the Sony theater quad control box unit does NOT have a usb port to accept inputs in order to run audio sweeps from.. thank you again and God bless..
@@H-2-O If your TV or streaming media player or blu-ray player has a USB port, you should be able to use eARC to get the audio to your Sony system. Just make sure your player or TV can play mkv or m2ts files with lossless audio. The spatialcd.com site has a list of known compatible players.
Great question. I haven't tried it. I did notice that having a small menu option on the bottom didn't enable to turn on, so it's possible that subtitles might affect it also. On the Zidoo and Dune HD player, there are options to change how the subtitles show up, so it may be possible to use a grey text instead of white.
How is the cooling performance of that machine? Is it effective at preventing overheating? I heard that many dead pixel issues caused by the 0.47 DMD chip are due to inadequate cooling in the machine.
I can't really tell because I haven't had any issues. From my experience, a fan ramping up constantly is a sign of a poor cooling design, but this stays at a low fan speed nearly all the time.
The Benq has 3200 ANSI lumens, while the Valerion has 3000 ISO lumens, which should be roughly 3500 ANSI lumens. So the valerion, at least in theory, should be a bit brighter. I had the Benq 4550i at home, which i really enjoyed, but hated the operating noise. If the Valerion gives me a similar picture, while being a bit more silent, that's good enough for me. I backed the Valerion Max, and hope that they implement good 3D by then. The Max supposedly comes in May 2025.
I think this one is bright enough to give a satisfying HDR image. It won't be as bright as a TV or my phone that does over 2000 nits, but I wouldn't want that amount of brightness on a 120" screen. Anyway, most of those high nit numbers are for specular highlights. I hear you though.
You're going to notice a huge difference! There was already a big jump in brightness going from the HT3550i to the TK850. Going up to the HT4550i was another big jump and to Valerion Pro 2 was yet another!
@ Thanks for the feedback Joe. I’m glad to hear that. I’m really looking forward to seeing it. It will be nice not having to worry about bulb life as I currently run my pj on eco mode for that reason.
A lifestyle projector is portable and fits itself to different use cases. For example, you can take it outside and project at an angle and it will auto fit itself to whatever you're doing. This one also happens to just be an incredibly good projector for its price point so could also be used as a fixed unit in a home theatre.
@@paulc5389 that just sounds like every other portable projector with apps. So the difference here is that it may be slightly better quality than the cheap ones. I don't see how that warrants being called a lifestyle projector lol. Besides marketing of course.
Rewards aren't guaranteed. Your pledge will support an ambitious creative project that has yet to be developed. There's a risk that, despite a creator's efforts, your reward may not be fulfilled. We urge you to consider this risk prior to pledging. Kickstarter is not responsible for reward fulfillment or refunds.
Correct. I also don't take responsibility. My job was to review what was sent. I even mentioned that I don't know the long-term reliability of this, because only time will tell. My honest opinion is since this is a sister company to AWOL Vision, it's more likely they will follow through. If it were a company I've never heard of, it definitely would be more risky. I think these companies don't even need the Kickstarter, but it's useful as a marketing tool. Normally, a company assumes all the risk of creating a new product, as it is capital intensive. Using Kickstarter minimizes their risk while increasing consumer awareness.
@joentell Weird. That's like having a 4k display but saying you don't use 4k, just Blu-ray. Or stereo over 5.1 or Atmos. I'll take Avatar 1/2 in 3D, which blows the 4K away. As do hundreds of other titles where a flat 4k is a downgrade. Oh well, to each their own.
@@KimStinson-cf7vx I have glasses, but I just never found it very satisfying. I heard Avatar is great though, since it was filmed that way. I will give it a shot.
I actually think there are better 3D titles than Avatar out there. I also wear glasses but the 3d glasses fit comfortably over them with no problems. Ditto for a couple friends with glasses. Never been an issue; didn't even need to use the clip-on lenses available.
this is one of your best reviews yet. Really like the way you put this together.
Hey, thank you for saying that! 🙏
Danke!
I like your Brady Bunch style split screen, that’s a good way of showing the calibration differences. Looks like a nice little unit and this is only V1.
These lifestyle projectors are are almost like soundbars vs traditional set ups, tech is catching up
Soundbars are still inferior (quite a lot inferior) to a real Atmos surround setup. This projector seems a bit noteworthy since it can actually trade blows with dedicated HT projectors, true.
I ordered the Max and May feels like a really really long time from now.
You realize the Hisense C2 Ultra is the same projector? Identical specs, identical menus. The only difference is the EBL. I'm assuming Hisense is going to push that feature in a future firmware update. They are probably working on getting it to work with the Dynamic Iris (which the C2 Ultra has btw) and that is probably the same reason the Valerion Max is delayed until May.
@@badpuppy3well we will see from what I’ve seen they’re not the same
AT screens do have that perforation in order to let audio through, so it's not uncommon that triple lasers interact with those and give some weird artifacts like moire. I also don't really think they had AT screen in mind when they made this unit, necessarily.
Yeah, I get it. I just wanted to give a heads up to anyone thinking of using it with an AT screen.
Uuuuuuuugh I want mine! I am getting so impatient. I have literally watched every video on UA-cam.
I hear you. Sometimes, I remember a scene I watched before and I go back just to see how it looks on this. I did it a few hours ago with Silo on Apple TV. Season 1, Episode 3, the first scene after the intro is a very dark scene and I could see all kinds of details on the Pro 2. It might have to do with Dolby Vision and tone mapping, but the brightness and EBL help I'm sure.
@joentell sooooo have you tried Stremio on this? Does it work 👀
Haha same here. But I am still tussling between this valerian projector and ultra short throw projectors. What yall think?
Lol, same. I hope it arrives before Xmas.
@@Mrblobbster Im still intimidated about the kickstarter thing. What does it mean? Is it safe?
One thing I'm curious about with this is fully zoomed out it has a minimum throw distance of 0.9. That's closer than you sit to a 16:9 screen. If the vertical lens shift on the max works well you could in theory ceiling mount this in front of you. That should increase brightness quite a bit and mean you don't get blinded when you stand up without it having to turn itself off.
I would prefer to see a ceiling mount that uses the other holes too though. If this thing falls on your head.. rip.
Mostly though I'm hoping the technology on display here makes its way into the AWOL Vision Max. An ISF calibrated 3500 max with this EBL would be something to behold.
Agree with everything you said
You mentioned the visible lines on the AP screen (I use the Elite Screens 135” AcousticPro UHD material), so did you find there to be any visual issues like moire effect while watching movies, games,etc…?
Great review, Joe. Thank you!
You mentioned you also have the AWOL, I know it's a different tech but how does it compare vs AWOL + ALR screen for black level, picture quality etc? I currently have the AWOL and I'm wondering if I should jump on the Kickstarter or not.
The AWOL LTV-3500 Pro is very bright and it's amazing how well it works with the lights on with a CLR screen. The black levels are pretty good but EBL on the Valerion Pro 2 seems to work better for some reason. It also has dynamic tone mapping unlike the AWOL. It comes down to whether you want to watch it with the lights on or if it's for a dedicated dark room.
@@joentell thanks for the response! My room is a mixed-use spare room and we watch in both daylight and at night although I have some light control
@@adeolabarika You can't beat a UST and CLR or ALR screen combo for a mixed-use environment
If you already have the UST at least wait for the Vision Max to be released to see if it gets the EBL being used here.
Thanks for reviewing, If possible can you share your color calibration? I know it can be subjective but I find it can help
Great review! Very concise, I like how you show as much data as you can with the tools you have. About the moiré pattern - did this only happen on AT screens? Have you tried other Elite screens like the Cinewhite UHD-B? I'm guessing it was laser speckle showing on the Cinegrey?
Usually these 4x shifters don't show much of the pixel structure so that surprises me, it would be great to see an ISF 4k pattern and something like 4k quick brown fox patterns close up to compare with other projectors.
The Cinegrey was most likely speckle. The pixel structure isn't typically that noticeable until you're up close. I think the sharpness makes it more obvious which is likely why I was seeing moire.
@@joentell I noticed you said it wasn't visible on paper. Is that because it was slightly out of focus or related to the AT screen? What gain is that AT screen you're using?
@@tbob2224 the screen is 1.0. I used it on a thin paper also. I used a large poster board in the video to make it more obvious.
@@joentell Just to be clear the moiré pattern did not show up on the paper even after it was focused? Maybe it is the lasers interacting somehow with the pattern of the AT screen?
Great review
Hello. Nice review. Unfortunately I bought a Benq ht4550i 5 months ago and I'm satisfied but the contrast is not so perfect :( Unfortunately I have white walls and a screen from elite screen white matt 1.1. Could you please advise me some screen that would improve the contrast of my projector in the evening? For example cinegrey 5D would help ? Thank you very much for your early reply.
Would it be a bad idea to upgrade my Epson 3800 to a 5050UB at this point? I see a lot of buzz about this projector but it’s hard to tell if everything promised will actually be delivered. I kinda feel like waiting another year to see how this projector shakes up the market.
Were you able to determne if this projector can be controlled by universal remote like Logitech Harmony 950? Does it use a standard IR contorller or something more fancy like blutooth?
The only issue I currently see is the throw distance. If you place the max model 5m away from the screen, the smallest image possible is 150" in diagonal 😅 Good news is that Valerion is still working on an optional Lens kit for longer throw distances and also on Lens Memory function 🤞
I hear you!
does this projector need an ALR screen to maximize its output or does look good on an ordinary white screen too ?
Great video! I'm debating between this projector and ultra short throw projectors. What do you recommend?
Depends if you plan to watch with lights on. If so, a UST and CLR screen are the way to go.
@@joentell Thank you. It's in the basement, not much light. But is the valerion better than UST for picture? Which UST do you recommend?
@@1drchak I have LTV-3500 Pro in for review and it is a light cannon. It's great even with sunlight and all my lights on. Part of that is due to the CLR screen. The black levels are much better on the Valerion though. It's also sharper and more color accurate out of the box.
I bought a Valerion Vision Master Pro 2, and I’d like some advice on which screen to choose.
First of all, I’d like to know which type of screen is more suitable: white, gray, or with ALR technology. The room has low lighting.
Then, once the type of screen is decided, I’d like to understand the best screen size for my room. The room dimensions are 4x3 meters; I will be sitting about 3 meters away from the screen, while the projector will be positioned approximately 3.5 meters away. The wall where the screen will be mounted is 3.8 meters wide.
Additionally, I’d appreciate direct purchase links to get an idea of the options available. I’m in Italy, so it would be great if the suggestions are for the European market.
I have the 4550i and am debating whether to back the Kickstarter. I'm generally happy with the 4550i, including its dark scene performance, but it seems like the blacks are indeed "significantly" better on the Valerion that would make it a worthwhile upgrade. Would you agree? Also, on your at around 4:40 on your video you show a comparison of the 2, including a calibrated version of the Valerion. To my eye, the Benq looks the best. Seems like some of the improvements could only be realized with a calibration? Thanks for your review.
I can't make the decision for you, but everything you've said is correct IMO. The biggest difference I can tell is overall better contrast on the Pro 2 due to the dynamic tone mapping, higher perceived brightness, lower black floor, and EBL and other processing. It's also a lot faster to navigate the menus, turn on/off. If you prefer the pre-calibrated aspect of the HT4550i, that's tough to beat unless you calibrate a projector yourself or have someone do it which adds cost.
I am planning on using the max model with a CineWhite Acoustic 8K from EliteScreen. Was this the screen model that showed the moire effect or did you use a different model?
Cheers
Mine was the Elite Screens AcousticPro 1080P3. Yours might be better.
So the benq has a lower black floor and better colors out of the box, what exactly was it that persuaded you to replace the benq with the valerion? I am a max backer but was going to purchase the benq initially.
The BenQ HT4550i has more accurate colors, but the Valerion has a lower black floor. What convinced me is the color volume which they claim is 110% of REC2020. The BenQ needs to use it's wide color gamut WCG mode which applies a filter and reduces brightness significantly. Dynamic tone mapping and Dolby Vision means I can use something like an AppleTV 4K, Zidoo, Dune HD, or anything with the Dolby VS10 engine, to remap SDR, HDR and HDR+ to Dolby Vision. I made a video explaining why I like that. ua-cam.com/video/ZpI6Y_9YbJg/v-deo.htmlsi=guS7Ko9XwWnnMjKU
Don't get me wrong, if I had to go back to my HT4550i, I would still be content watching movies, but I'm a bit spoiled with the picture quality, MEMC for sports, and fast startup/shut-down times. It's important to note that I also spent a night calibrating this thing to the best of my abilities. The colors out of the box aren't horrible, but they aren't great either.
@ thanks man, my only issue with the valerion is that I have to wait until May for the max haha. I hope you get one to review, thanks again man.
@@dbambrick996 I have to be honest that the picture quality is so impressive on this already, although I'm excited to see what the dynamic iris adds, I'm more interested in the possibility that they come factory calibrated out of the box. That's a big time saver for lots of people using this more seriously in a dedicated theater.
Thanks for the review, do you think you could use your classic ceiling mount using the central thread (1/4) and also the 2 rear legs being threaded, that is, 3 anchor points instead of just 1 central one?
They said the 1/4" thread is mounted to a metal plate and not the plastic, so that's good. I was able to find a screw that fit perfectly through my old projector mounting point and into the Valerion. It doesn't move and I wouldn't ever expect it to.
I appreciate that your reviews are quick and to the point, but I was hoping for a more direct comparison to your BenQ, especially around contrast. Maybe "20% better than the typical DLP" and that the Valerion has replaced your BenQ is all that needs to be said. Doesn't matter I guess because I ordered the Max after watching TheHookup review. Will see for myself how it compares against my venerable HT 2050. Just have to wait until May unfortunately.
Your comments about moiré make me happy that I have a super smooth spandex screen.
The HT2050 was the first projector I ever purchased and I was extremely happy with it. It was a light cannon. These new laser projectors are really a step up in all aspects as you would expect from the price difference. I think you're in for a treat when you get your Max.
You can see a pretty significant difference in my side by side comparison. It looks like that to my eyes also. A lot has to do with the dynamic tone mapping with HDR content. For SDR, the difference is less noticeable.
Thanks, out of the box image looks little weird in your comparison shot wondering what all image settings you end up doing to make the picture to your liking?
I don't know if I would recommend someone use my settings because my method of calibrating is very unconventional. I don't use a colorimeter, but instead, I calibrated my camera to be accurate and I use that with some scopes to set white balance.
Im in a battle betwee the exact benq & this valerion. The main concern for me is always black level. The more black is better for me. Since you are using the exact two PJ that im considering. Which one you think is better for black level? With the valerion enchanced black level on. I see in your video the black level of the benq still better from youtube. Thank u joe
The black levels is better on the Pro 2. The overall image on the BenQ HT4550i was just darker, but black bars on a movie are closer to black on the Pro 2.
@joentell thank u for the reply
what would be in your opinion a good choice for an AT screen that has no moire?
I wish I knew. I would have to test some others. You can order sample fabric from manufacturers also. I might try that.
Thanks for this in the review, I wanted to get an AT screen, now not sure. Please can test this and get some feedback for us. Or can you ask valerion.
Thanks for the review, im a Max backer and can't wait to get my hands on it 😉
One questions though
You mentioned that Elitescreens Cinegrey shows some speckle, i currently onw Cinegrey 5D, could you please, please upload some shore video showing how much laser speckle is visible on Cinegrey material, PLEASE
Additionally, my viewing position is around 3m away from the screen. Does the visual perception of speckle dissappear the further from the screen you are.
Its impossible to find anywhere video about this specific combination, please be the first one LoL
Im battling myself to open my piggy bank for another screen, but not knowing, seeing how much this issue affects the picture is a hard call
Thx
It was very shimmery. Just imagine how they make the vampires in Twilight look when their skin hits the sun. 🤣 It's not a good combo.
Compare to Hisense C1 are there big difference?
I haven't tried that one.
I would like to know if the Visionmaster Pro 2 would be a significant improvement over my Optoma GT1080 Darbee projector in terms of contrast, colors, and level of detail, or would it just be an okay improvement?
I am unfamiliar with that projector. I have never tried an Optoma myself, but if it's a few years old, I think you'll see a big difference because the tech has advanced pretty quickly in the past few years.
Great review, Ive never been interested in numbers just what does the films look like on it 🤣. One question I have, as you ceiling mounted yours, you should be able to answer. Valerion in many replies have variously said the mounting screw thread is M6 yet in others have said it a standard tripod 1/4" thread, then another said they are the same. They are not the same (for instance 1/4" is slighly thicker than M6 at 6.35mm). Can you confirm what it actually is. Thanks
The numbers are important though because it helps to determine how films look on it. If they weren't then the difference between an M6 and 1/4" wouldn't matter, right? 😉
I just tried it with an M6 and 1/4"-20 thread. The 1/4"-20 went in nice and smooth and the M6 did not.
@@joentell Thank you, yes if its 1/4" then the M6 will not fit well as not only is it less diameter its pitch is different as well.
Well I think there is a difference between the physical dimensions of a screw thread and the difference between nits, black floor, lumens, contrast etc, as i dont think you can say if one is higher "better" than another that the film will definately look better as that is very subjective to the person, but I can be certain if the size of a screw thread is different then it either will go in or not there is no subjectivity to it. 🤣
Hey Joe. Can I just confirm that's a ceiling mounted Valerian in the vid? There's a couple of people on FB saying it doesn't ceiling mount which seemed odd to me.
Thanks for the great concise video!
What's the difference between pro 2 and max ?
I k ow it’s early and you haven’t had a ton of time with it but how does it compare to the benq4550i?
Looking and getting the benq but I’ve read a lot about firmware issues and now thinking maybe this is something to wait for?!
Thanks in advance
My entire video aims to answer this. What do you want to know specifically? Did I not answer that in the video?
@ I have a question about ceiling mounting.
The pro 2 does not have any lens shift so I am curious as to what the offset is on the unit upside down.
If the lens is level with the top of the screen, does that work?
Not interested in any of the throw distances or anything, just need to know what height works for ceiling mounting.
Thanks
Where are the links I can’t see them?
In the description
I forgot to hit the more button to bring the rest of it up. Sorry.
I did have the max pre ordered but unfortunately can’t get it just yet now but it will be the next projector I get for sure
Interesting review, especially because you compare it to the BenQ.
- Some questions: does it support 24p?
- does it have frame interpolation for 4K and also for 3D?
- Do you think the rainbow effect is less or more than on the BenQ?
- Any idea on 3D quality compared to the BenQ?
I didn't test 3D. It does support 24P. It does have MEMC interpolation, but I'm not sure about whether it can be turned on for 3D
Which external steaming device do you usually use ?
AppleTV 4K, Dune HD Max 8K, and Nvidia Shield Pro. It all depends on what I'm testing at the time.
What screen would you recommend for a basement with no lighting whatsoever all black walls in a confined room
Matte white screens. I use Elite Screens and Silver Ticket personally, but there are many others.
Hi, algorithm brought me here… brother Joe- does your audio calibration disc work on rigid surround systems like the Sony theater quad? Thank you and god bless..
From DUBAI with ❤
It depends on what the Sony will enable you to adjust. If you can even set levels and delays, it can help with that. If you can adjust crossovers or apply EQ, it can assist even more. A lot of people like it just to get a better understanding of what their system is capable of.
@ thank you very much for the prompt response brother Joe… consider me a customer; though if I can burden you with one last enquiry: if I purchase the digital version due to ease of use- how exactly does it fire up, as I’m assuming one would pop the memory stick with the audio files downloaded in it- in the tv usb interface .. I ask because once again- the Sony theater quad control box unit does NOT have a usb port to accept inputs in order to run audio sweeps from.. thank you again and God bless..
@@H-2-O If your TV or streaming media player or blu-ray player has a USB port, you should be able to use eARC to get the audio to your Sony system. Just make sure your player or TV can play mkv or m2ts files with lossless audio. The spatialcd.com site has a list of known compatible players.
@@joentellactually we rely heavily on the Apple TV 4K… but I get your point brother Joe…
Thank you very much- and god bless..
From DUBAI with ❤…
Lens memory for $3000 vs Epson ub5050 for $2700?
Can you comment on the performance with different screen types? Laser speckle and black levels and contrast with low/high gain or ALR screens?
I tried it with an Elite Screens Cinegrey ALR screen and it didn't look good. It was very "shimmery". The others I mentioned in my video.
Does the projector support wall/screen color adaptation like Hisense c2?
I didn't see a setting for that. Usually there's a manual setting if it has that feature
Sir, if you could choose or had to choose between a Sony STR-AZ5000ES or a Denon AVR-X4800H.... Which one would you go with?
Off topic, but I'm more familiar with Denon. What you can do with the $199 MultEQ-X app or Dirac can get you excellent results.
Wow. Some of those side by side comparisons were drastically different
Agree. In what ways did you notice?
@ in some scenes you could not see anything on the JVC but could make out the image on the Valerion
I don't have a JVC
@ was that the BenQ then? Whatever it was being compared to lol
@ElCidPhysics90 Yes, it was a BenQ HT4550i. I wish I had a JVC to compare it to.
Do you know if it automatically detects HDR? Or if you have to manually select Dolby Vision or Imax Enhanced?
It automatically detects it.
How does the pro 2 handle subtitles with EBL on? Does it throw off the algorithm?
Great question. I haven't tried it. I did notice that having a small menu option on the bottom didn't enable to turn on, so it's possible that subtitles might affect it also. On the Zidoo and Dune HD player, there are options to change how the subtitles show up, so it may be possible to use a grey text instead of white.
Thanks for the response! One thing I haven't seen covered is how is the motion compared to the BenQ?
Can you sale me this review unit?
Is epson the only company producing lcd chip peojectors now? I cant have any rainbow effect 😢
I think so
Does it Support German Language or only English ? Is it better than the Hisense C2 Ultra ?
I haven't tested those things.
Is it quiet as a jvc?
I can't speak on that as I don't own a JVC to do a direct comparison.
@@joentell did you mention or see rainbow effect?, thanks again.
@@excxflyr I tried to see it but couldn't
How is the cooling performance of that machine? Is it effective at preventing overheating? I heard that many dead pixel issues caused by the 0.47 DMD chip are due to inadequate cooling in the machine.
I can't really tell because I haven't had any issues. From my experience, a fan ramping up constantly is a sign of a poor cooling design, but this stays at a low fan speed nearly all the time.
Did you see any rainbow efect?
I'm not sensitive to that, so I haven't really seen it on any projector. My camera can catch it though.
The Benq has 3200 ANSI lumens, while the Valerion has 3000 ISO lumens, which should be roughly 3500 ANSI lumens. So the valerion, at least in theory, should be a bit brighter.
I had the Benq 4550i at home, which i really enjoyed, but hated the operating noise.
If the Valerion gives me a similar picture, while being a bit more silent, that's good enough for me.
I backed the Valerion Max, and hope that they implement good 3D by then. The Max supposedly comes in May 2025.
Oh interesting about ANSI vs ISO. I didn't catch that. Thank you.
I love the shilling thumbnail.
HA! I was trying to do the thumbnail and my wife saw me and made me laugh, and I just used that. At least my mouth is still closed! ;-)
if anyone is interested in getting one, I may go in with you and you can get a special price on the second one. We could split the savings.
DLP projectors give Rainbow Effects so be no good for my needs
Plus projectors are not able to do HDR properly
I think this one is bright enough to give a satisfying HDR image. It won't be as bright as a TV or my phone that does over 2000 nits, but I wouldn't want that amount of brightness on a 120" screen. Anyway, most of those high nit numbers are for specular highlights. I hear you though.
It's triple laser no colour wheel so its rainbow effect should be minimal to none existent depending on your sensitivity.
I always notice Rainbow Effects from DLP projectors, so prefer 3 LCD projectors, 1080p videos is alright from projectors, then watch 4K on a TV
I backed the Valerion Max to replace my BenQ HT3550 since I'll be upgrading to a 135" screen soon, I could use the extra brightness.
You're going to notice a huge difference! There was already a big jump in brightness going from the HT3550i to the TK850. Going up to the HT4550i was another big jump and to Valerion Pro 2 was yet another!
@@Carl-iw9sy hopefully doing the same - pro2 looks like it can directly replace the BenQ as the throw ratios are similar?
@ Thanks for the feedback Joe. I’m glad to hear that. I’m really looking forward to seeing it. It will be nice not having to worry about bulb life as I currently run my pj on eco mode for that reason.
@@gazdude23 I hope so but not a big issue for me.
I thought the Pro 2 was Elegant Gray. Yours is greenish which looks like a Plus 2
I think that just might be my lighting. It looks grey to my eyes. I was blasting it with a very bright video light.
Besides trying to sound special....wtf is a lifestyle projector, and how is this more than that....all I see is a projector
A lifestyle projector is portable and fits itself to different use cases. For example, you can take it outside and project at an angle and it will auto fit itself to whatever you're doing.
This one also happens to just be an incredibly good projector for its price point so could also be used as a fixed unit in a home theatre.
Correct. They also have built-in speakers that sound decent and streaming apps.
@@joentell so portable projectors are called lifestyle projectors?
@@paulc5389 that just sounds like every other portable projector with apps. So the difference here is that it may be slightly better quality than the cheap ones. I don't see how that warrants being called a lifestyle projector lol. Besides marketing of course.
DLP PROJECTOR, dead pixels and rainbow effects... Epson is the best
I don't see any of those things you just mentioned.
Rewards aren't guaranteed.
Your pledge will support an ambitious creative project that has yet to be developed. There's a risk that, despite a creator's efforts, your reward may not be fulfilled. We urge you to consider this risk prior to pledging. Kickstarter is not responsible for reward fulfillment or refunds.
Correct. I also don't take responsibility. My job was to review what was sent. I even mentioned that I don't know the long-term reliability of this, because only time will tell.
My honest opinion is since this is a sister company to AWOL Vision, it's more likely they will follow through. If it were a company I've never heard of, it definitely would be more risky. I think these companies don't even need the Kickstarter, but it's useful as a marketing tool. Normally, a company assumes all the risk of creating a new product, as it is capital intensive. Using Kickstarter minimizes their risk while increasing consumer awareness.
@joentell 🙏
Incomplete review. How was the 3D, particularly compared to the BenQ and AWOL.
Yeah, you're right. Others have covered those things though. I personally don't use 3D.
@joentell Weird. That's like having a 4k display but saying you don't use 4k, just Blu-ray. Or stereo over 5.1 or Atmos. I'll take Avatar 1/2 in 3D, which blows the 4K away. As do hundreds of other titles where a flat 4k is a downgrade. Oh well, to each their own.
@@KimStinson-cf7vx I have glasses, but I just never found it very satisfying. I heard Avatar is great though, since it was filmed that way. I will give it a shot.
I actually think there are better 3D titles than Avatar out there.
I also wear glasses but the 3d glasses fit comfortably over them with no problems. Ditto for a couple friends with glasses. Never been an issue; didn't even need to use the clip-on lenses available.