Dialing in HDR on a projector

One of my biggest frustrations with my new RS520 is it's 4K HDR performance. Not so much that the projector isn't capable of producing a great 4K/HDR image... but there's no baseline setting that makes every film look great. The route of the problem is a lack of standards in the film industry... every disc presents itself differently. But, ultimately, it's the projector's settings that need to make up for the issue.

The baseline HDR settings out of the box are simply unacceptable. Images are generally way too dark... loaded with crush...and colors are dull and lifeless. My method of combating this has been to bump brightness and/or increase contrast.

It works... but I don't think it's optimal.

I'm wondering if there are some gamma settings that can be tweaked?

Anyone have any insights or methods they'e used to attack this?

Have you changed picture controls while watching HDR?

I'm fairly certain there's an easy answer. I reached out to my THX instructor to see if he has any insights.

My gut is telling me that some simple tweaks to gamma and running the lamp on high is the answer. But that might include bumping brightness (and altering contrast)

Hang on... looks like I might get some settings...

So am I. ;-)

Answered a few questions... just waiting to hear back!

I have all the gear and training to calibrate... just need to buy an add-on for HDR calibration.... It's looking like the answer has more to do with settings within Gamma. I'm hoping to get an answer from the guy that ran training when I received my LI/II THX cert. He had a few questions about screen size. I'll post back .

Gregg... I do know Michael, haven't asked him. But Gregg said the JVC PJs are very tweakable for HDR.

I know that last year's models had a user bulletin issued because of owner complaints. That addressed gamma settings. But I'm not sure if that was corrected with this year's models.

i had eyeballed some contrast and brightness settings to make a movie watchable last week... but then I watched John Wick 2 this past weekend and the settings didn't translate well at all. The lack of standards and film presentation definitely affects performance, especially with these projectors (which already struggle to achieve usable HDR).

Chromapure... the most recent version is compatible. The "add-on" isn't an add-on for the software, but something to use in place of the now outdated signal generator that I have. There's a guy selling a USB stick with HDR patterns... there's also disc that you can buy with test patterns. Neither are ideal, but I'm not itching to drop another $2,500 on a new signal generator.

Yup... the DVG-5000 is only suitable for Rec709 calibrations. :-/ I bought mine just months before it became apparent it was destined to be useless. That's a $2K hit that's left a bitter taste for sure! It's not upgradable.

Here's a link to the add-on disc:

http://rmadvancedcaldisc.com/rm-uhdhdr-10.html

It's a pain, tho, when used with Chromapure, because it doesn't integrate in an automated fashion like the signal generator.

I know... it's like going back to candlelight.

I just can't see any justification for spending several thousand for a generator that's going to basically sit on a shelf in my workshop. I guess if you were calibrating for a living it would make sense...or reviewing...but seeing as though we're really early in the WCG/HDR game, buying gear now is just setting up a situation for potentially outdated gear. This disc is cheap enough that I'll buy it (or a USB stick version). Not ideal, though.

No word, yet, from Gregg. But I did get a link to an AVS thread from Ralph Potts (who runs an RS500). I'm wrapping up a review at the moment and haven't had time to look it. But, he confirmed the baseline settings for the JVC HDR are junk...and I'm fairly sure he implied that several different gamma settings need to be installed in order to take advantage of HDR/4K. I quickly glossed over the info, and it looks like it involves downloading the JVC calibration software and using a meter.

How frustrating, eh?

So, didn't get a straight settings answer from Gregg (obviously it's really tough to get specific recommendations because every room, screen, screen size, bulb, etc are different), but he did confirm that the HDR Gamma D will help.

Here's a link to a help file posted by JVC for 2016 PJs:

http://www3.jvckenwood.com/english/...0r_xc6890r_xc5890r_rs600_rs500_rs400_uhd.html

Also, I did some poking around, and read that a reviewer measured THX mode as closest to reference standards for 1080p material... I'll confirm when I get to that magic number ;-) Just confirm that frame interpolation is off for that mode (it might be left on).