Bias lighting for my HDTV...

steveinaz

I bought the Cinema Quest Ideal-lume 6500k light for bias lighting my 50" DLP. I'll post pics and impressions once I have it mounted.

More info: http://www.cinemaquestinc.com/ideal_lume.htm

szhleppy

I got the same thing a couple weeks ago. I'm impressed with the improvement it makes for movies when you would normally watch in the dark.

The mounting options are loops or velcro. I started with the velcro to be able to move it around and find the best location for the light. Once I found the right location, I went to Lowe's and bought a couple strips of velcro (industrial strength sticky on 1 side) to replace the strips that I had reused several times.

The company is great as well. I got an email from the president of the company when my shipment was delayed a couple days because of the major blizzard going through Denver before Christmas. I thought this was a class act.

steveinaz

Court
Did you attach to your TV or to the back wall?

Gaara

Dam thats a good idea. I have two of these and the old one was thicker and they gave you brackets to attach it to the wall...which never fit right and were hard as hell to use. You had to attach them to the wall, then slide the unit down, then twist the little brackets. Not a good time. I'm going to Home Depot after work to pickup some heavy duty velcro.

Jared

Humanoid

I'm considering this too can't wait to see some pics:)

szhleppy

I ended up attaching it to the back of the TV. It seemed that the wall was the obvious choice, but it produced way too much illumination with my setup regardless of the adjustments I made.

I also tried along the flat side on the back of the TV, but this provided too much illumination either towards the floor or along the top of the wall towards the ceiling...depending upon where I positioned it and how I adjusted the bulb. This was really distracting and I was just going to get rid of the light.

Then I tried along the angled top portion of the display (see the first pic), and this ended up being the best solution. With this, it illuminates just a little below the display from the sitting position, and just a little above the display. The second picture is to show the black "film" on the bulb. This is how the bulb is adjusted, by turning the bulb to show more or less light.

The 3rd picture is just a gratuitous picture of the HT since I've been too lazy to create a system showcase. I'll try to get a decent pic of the illumination in a dark room this evening.

steveinaz

Thanks bud for the pics, outstanding!

szhleppy

Here's the light in action. I didn't realize how drastic the bottom shadow was until I took these...guess I'll be moving it again!:D

I personally thought this whole idea was a joke when I first got the new TV. Then we put up the Christmas tree (a few feet directly left of the TV) and I noticed a significant difference when the lights were plugged in. Next thing you know I'm ordering a $50 light fixture and bulb.

wingnut4772

I have one of these but it's in the closet as I did not really like it.

Humanoid

wingnut4772 wrote:

I have one of these but it's in the closet as I did not really like it.

Could you comment on why you didn't like it?

Humanoid

szhleppy wrote:

Here's the light in action. I didn't realize how drastic the bottom shadow was until I took these...guess I'll be moving it again!:D

I personally thought this whole idea was a joke when I first got the new TV. Then we put up the Christmas tree (a few feet directly left of the TV) and I noticed a significant difference when the lights were plugged in. Next thing you know I'm ordering a $50 light fixture and bulb.

Looks good and has to be easier on the eyes. Maybe just drop it down 4" more. I have the XBR2 and it should fit the same way.

szhleppy

wingnut4772 wrote:

I have one of these but it's in the closet as I did not really like it.

Did you try it for quite a while before you stashed it? I by no means am on the illumilight bandwagon, but only ask because I was almost in the same position as you before I found a placement that works in my room.

I'm still not a fan of using this thing all the time...only when we watch an occasional movie and turn the lights out to set the mood.:D

wingnut4772

Yes.. I just prefer my set up without it. It was too bright for me even set at its lowest.

maingey

If you decide to get rid of it PM me!
I bought a light from HD a few years ago but it was the wrong colour temp, and the bulb was way too big, I'd try again tho.....

steveinaz

Got my Cinema Quest light, initial impressions are vey favorable--but--my DVE disk is currently loaned out, so I can't calibrate the white intensity until I get it back.

This light definitely reduces "watching fatique" in a dark room, and appears to make colors more vivid. Worth of every cent of the $44 I payed for it.

Pic's coming soon...

Humanoid

steveinaz wrote:

Got my Cinema Quest light, initial impressions are vey favorable--but--my DVE disk is currently loaned out, so I can't calibrate the white intensity until I get it back.

This light definitely reduces "watching fatique" in a dark room, and appears to make colors more vivid. Worth of every cent of the $44 I payed for it.

Pic's coming soon...

I'm very interested in purchasing one. What set do you have it on and do you have any pics.

Thanks!

disneyjoe7

Since I enjoyed to past photos I'm look forward to any new pictures, Thanks guys.

steveinaz

It's a Samsung DLP, 50" HL-S5086W. Pic's tonight fellers. here's a pic of the mounting, I scrapped the velcro because the lamp fell off twice, and opted for ty-wraps:

disneyjoe7

Steve,

So what you're saying the mounting scheme that they provide didn't work right?

steveinaz

Well, they give you stick-on velcro and wall mounting hardware. i didn't want to wall mount because the light was working perfectly from the back of the TV. The velcro wasn't strong enough to hold the light, so I used a couple of ty-wrap strap downs.

disneyjoe7

Thanks for the info, looking to do this myself down the road when I mount my Plasma TV on the wall.

szhleppy

steveinaz wrote:

It's a Samsung DLP, 50" HL-S5086W. Pic's tonight fellers. here's a pic of the mounting, I scrapped the velcro because the lamp fell off twice, and opted for ty-wraps:

I'm surprised you had problems with the velcro. The velcro I got with mine seemd to hold very well, even after peeling it off and moving it several times. However, I still replaced it with some new stuff that was labeled "industrial strength" just to be sure.

I guess I could see it not holding very well if it was in the curved portion where you have the lamp located now rather than the flat part...otherwise maybe it was just a peice of defective velcro.:p

steveinaz

The velcro stuck to the TV really well, it was the velcro "connection" that wouldn't hold.

Lsi9

I have one also, I put mine behind the TV but at the base/bottom, looks cool but the generic home depot light is more cost effective, I know the light temperture won't be exactly 6500 kelvin but then again I don't think it makes much of a difference.

steveinaz

Agree, I think the 1st big thing is to get some form of backlighting.

steveinaz

Tried to get some pics last night, but my digital camera doesn't do well in low light. I'll try again tonight with minimal lighting.