INSTALLATION AND INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

My projector and its mount arrived with a little "extra" surprise - a Runco ViViX PFP-7 Processor(more about this later). I chose the standard "close throw" lens option for my CL-710 (they also make a long throw version) because the installation specs closely matched my old projector.

Before permanently mounting the Runco I decided to run a few informal A/B tests with my Sony VW10HT LCD projector. I temporarily set up the Runco on a makeshift table under the Sony and was able to run a few comparisons in split-screen fashion. As satisfied as I had been with the Sony LCD projector the Runco was in another league in regards to picture and construction. For one thing, the CL-710, out of the box produced a picture at least as good or better than a fully tweaked VW10HT. I had spent considerable time extracting every bit of performance out of the Sony with the help of many other early adopters and had finally achieved a viewing experience that exceeded my expectations. And now this Runco was outperforming my Sony without even breathing hard. Even in the somewhat distorted environment of a makeshift A/B viewing this was obvious.

Once I was sure that the Runco was working properly I decided to remove the Sony mount and boxed up the projector for delivery to my daughter and her own future home theater. I had seen enough. I was able to install the Runco mounting bracket in approximately the same location as the former Sony mount. Actually the lens on the Runco is 12'8" from the screen where the Sony lens had been 13'3" from the same screen, but this was close enough to be able to use all the existing wires with no modifications necessary. And the Runco has a full complement of inputs, not only duplicating the Composite Video, S-Video, Component (interlaced) and RGB inputs of the Sony, but also adding DVI w/HDCP and RS-232 as well for additional flexibility.

The installation went smoothly, and I attached my Dish Network HDTV receiver (Model 6000U) to the RGB inputs (progressive) and my DVD players (Denon 2900 and Panasonic RP-91) via my pre/pro to the interlaced Component input. The LD player went to the composite video input and all other video sources were routed through my pre/pro to the S-Video input. The only thing that was a little more difficult on the Runco in comparison with the Sony was attaching all the wires. On the Sony the jacks are located out in the open on the right side of the unit, while the jacks on the Runco are located on the back behind a sliding door. While you can access them from above (in a ceiling mount orientation) reaching them to attach the jacks firmly - especially the BNC connections - requires a bit more maneuvering. However, the payoff in the Runco is that once the wires are attached you can close the sliding door for a neater looking installation.

A couple of other things are different on the Runco in comparison with the Sony. The Sony has a lens cover and the Runco does not. I doubt that this is important, since the Runco lens is located deeper inside the case than the Sony and therefore less prone to dust and fingerprints. Besides, this is one fewer piece to keep removing and replacing (and one fewer piece to misplace). Also, the Sony incorporates a focus and alignment grid that makes it convenient when zooming the picture to fill the screen. It also helps when tightening the mounting bracket. The Runco does have a "blue screen" (or a white screen if you choose that option) to help with the alignment and it also displays the aspect ratio and input information in the lower right hand corner of the screen that can help with the focusing when no input is applied. The Sony does not display this information on the screen and now that I have used the Runco I find it very useful.

I couldn't help but notice the solid feel of the CL-710 when compared to the VW10HT. Where the Sony used plastic, the Runco uses metal. And the focusing and zoom features on the Runco also had a more solid feel. This is not to imply that the Sony is a lightweight, but one clearly gets the impression that the Runco is built like a tank. I've experienced this several times before where a particular piece of equipment is clearly more solid than another one. For example when I compared the feel of my SONY DLP-9000ES DVD/SACD player to my Panasonic RP-91, the latter seemed like a featherweight. Whether this translates into greater durability is something that can only be determined in the long run, but the confidence level was higher with the 9000ES. And this also goes for the CL-710.

So now that the Runco was installed, how did it PERFORM? (Click to continue)