Projector Reviews

Full-on/full-off contrast ratio: 206:1

The measurements here were made using CalMAN measurement software from Portrait Displays (www. portrait.com), together with a Photo Research PR-650 color meter, Minolta LS-100 luminance meter, and a Murideo/AVPro (Fresco Six-G) test pattern generator.

Pre-calibration measurements were conducted with the ViewSonic X10-4KE's Movie picture mode active. Post-calibration measurements were made in the User 1 mode. All measure- ments were made with the projector positioned approximately 65 inches from a 92-inch diagonal, 1.1 gain Stewart Filmscreen Cima screen.

The projector's full-on/ full-off SDR contrast ratio was measured with the calibrated User 1 Picture mode and Full Light source setting active. With this combination, black measured 0.092 ft-L and peak white 19 ft-L for a contrast ratio of 206:1. There was no change in contrast ratio In HDR10 mode with the same picture adjustments plus the Medium EOTF setting active.

Before calibration, the default 6500K color temperature preset in Movie Picture mode displayed a slightly blue bias, with the Delta E averaging out to 3.5. After calibration, that number improved to 1.0 with a high of 2.2 at 30 percent brightness. (Delta E is a figure of merit indicating how close the color comes to the standards, either D65 for the white point or the color coordinates for each of the primary and secondary colors that define the color gamut under test. Values below 3 are generally unnoticeable.)

With the default settings active in Movie Picture mode, the Delta E of the X10-4KE's measured color points averaged out to 6.8. Using the projector's color management system controls, I was able to improve the average color point Delta E to 3.0. Coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut measured 83.3 percent.

Post-calibration, gamma closely tracked a 2.2 target for the full brightness range with the 2.2 Gamma preset selected. In HDR10 mode, the projector's measured peak light output on windows ranging in size from 1 to 100 percent was a steady 63 nits. Picture uniformity was good, with white full-field test patterns showing only minimal brightness drops between the center and edges of the screen and no color shifts. Our suite of video processing tests revealed average performance, with the ViewSonic failing to process HD 2:2 pulldown patterns—a common occurrence with projectors.

Input lag with a 1080p source measured 63ms in all picture modes, making the X10-4KE an average option for high-def gaming.—AG