The Augustine Theater Experience
Sharp XV-Z9000U SMART Calibration

This is the story of how I used the SMART system to improve my Sharp XV-Z9000U DLP projector's contrast ratio. For detailed information about how to improve your projector's performance using SMART, visit Steve Smallcombe's web site: http://home.pacbell.net/steve367/ I will reference specific pages of Steve's site throughout. For conversation regarding my calibration, read the Sharp 9000 and SMART method thread at the AVS Forum.

Table of Contents

Step 1: Build A Detector
Step 2: Set Up Detector
Step 3: Test Photocells
Step 4: Record Current Projector Settings
Step 5: Detector Calibration Run
Step 6: Bias Improvement
Step 7: Gain Improvement
- Results (No Filter)
Step 8: Adding A Filter
- Results (Filter)

Gain

I improved contrast ratio by accessing the Sharp's service menu and increasing gain for each color -- red, green, and blue. SMART measures color balance before gain is increased and then helps you return to that balance afterward.

Without a filter, increased overall contrast ratio by 5.575%. (See Filters below.)

Bias

Contrast ratio can also be improved by lowering bias for each color. I grew frustrated with this process and returned to the factory default bias settings. Read Step 6 for the details.

Filters

Black level can be improved through the use of filters. The SMART spreadsheet did not recommend a CCR filter. Unlike the Sony LCD projector the spreadsheet was designed for, my Sharp's red gain setting didn't end up much higher than green or blue. But after looking at my SMART spreadsheet, Steve Smallcombe recommended I try a CC20R filter.

The filter and new settings increased overall contrast ratio by 47.88%! The difference is dramatic. Combined with my Stewart Firehawk screen, blacks are deep black and images have more depth. The tradeoff is brightness. The picture is dimmer.

Is the increased contrast worth the loss in brightness? Not to me. I spent a week watching movies with the filter on. Then I spent an afternoon doing A/B comparisons, switching back and forth between my filter and non-filter set ups. The increased contrast the filter provided was nice, but the picture was too dim. And with my Stewart Firehawk screen, blacks are pretty black, even without the filter.

With the CC20R filter, Green became my limiting color, not Red. Should I try a CC10R filter that allows more Green through? Would it provide a compromise between increased contrast and loss of brightness? Steve Smallcombe's response: "The light loss with a 10R would be similar to the 20R as much of the loss is from reflections and that would be the same with both filters... As long as you haven't had to turn the green down too much, and as long as green is right of the edge of maxing out, then that's the best you can do. Having green limiting is actually the ideal, as green is what the eye sees as brightness or luminosity, and therefore it is the most important factor in the contrast ratio. Ideally you want the same contrast for each color, but green is clearly the most important."

My recommendation is to try a CC20R filter and decide for yourself whether the increased contrast is worth the loss in brightness. Those of you with smaller screens (mine is 16:9 110" diagonal) or with white screens that don't improve contrast (like my gray screen does) should definitely try it.

Set Up

Sharp XV-Z9000U DLP projector
Build date: August 2001
Original firmware version: Z901819 (Status menu screen)
Firmware version after upgrade: Z901Z25 (Status menu screen), Z9000[011225b] (service menu)
Used component Input 1

Panasonic RP56 DVD player
Progressive mode
Component output, so I set...
Black level in "Action" video menu to Darker

First Step >>