Sim2 Superlumis Review - 3D, Running Noise and Conclusions Review
3D, Running Noise and Conclusions
£37,000 burning a hole in your pocket?
Sections
- Page 1 Sim2 Superlumis Review
- Page 2 Picture Quality Review
- Page 3 3D, Running Noise and Conclusions Review
Sim2 SuperLumis: 3D Picture Quality
Given that donning active shutter 3D glasses invariably results in some pretty hefty loss of brightness with TVs and projectors, you don’t have to be Einstein to figure out that the huge amount of extra brightness at the SuperLumis’s disposal proves immensely handy when you’re watching 3D, helping it produce 3D images that look brighter, more vibrant, more detailed and more natural where their sense of depth is concerned than any we’ve seen before on a home video display.
What’s more, since Sim2 uses a 144Hz ‘Triple Flash’ 3D system the SuperLumis’s 3D images are completely free of the dreaded crosstalk ghosting noise that can be so disruptive to the active 3D experience.
They suffer less aggressively with flicker too – though if you’re watching in a blacked out room as you really should be with a projector, flicker isn’t much of an issue anyway.
Just as 3D is undergoing a bit of a rebirth thanks to the appearance of 4k screens, so the quality of 3D on the SuperLumis is so extreme that it reminds you in no uncertain terms that 3D when done right can still be worth the effort.
Other Things to Consider
While we love the design of the SuperLumis almost as much as we love its name, cramming so much raw projection power into such a relatively small body does present Sim2 with some challenges when it comes to dissipating all the heat created by the SuperLumis’s 350W lamp. There’s no denying that if you use the lamp at its maximum output – something you might be tempted to do at least for 3D viewing – the projector’s cooling fans start to sound intrusive unless your installer is able to tuck the projector into some sort of sound-proofing enclosure or can position the projector a long way from your seating positions. If you do find cooling noise bothering you, we’d suggest that you take the lamp output down in 10W steps from its maximum 350W level until you reach the level that delivers the best compromise between retaining the sense of exceptional brightness and making the running noise acceptable.
Should I buy a Sim2 SuperLumis?
Of course you bloody should! It produces by far the best picture quality we’ve ever seen from a home cinema projector, and owning one will put you in the same social league as Premiership footballers. With that in mind, what’s 37 grand between friends?
We would normally discuss potential rival products in this section too, but really there’s nothing in our review archives that’s in the same league. The only thing we can do in the interests of your bank balance is point you in the direction of some other brilliant but cheaper Sim2 efforts, like the Nero 3D-1 (£10,000) and the Lumis 3D-S Uno (a relative snip at £27,000).
Verdict
We fully expect the comments thread under this review to quickly fill with incredulity at the idea that any AV product could possibly justify a £37,000 price tag. But all we can say is that seeing is believing. So if you happen to be a serious cinephile who’s also a bit nifty with a football or a banker expecting another healthy Christmas bonus this year, we strongly suggest you get yourself a demo at your local Sim2 dealer and see how long it takes for the SuperLumis to make your bulging bank account 37 grand lighter.
Trusted Score
Score in detail
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Value 8
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2D Image Quality 10
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Features 9
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3D Image Quality 10
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Design 10