Every figure in a SpykeVision review comes from the same bench protocol, so results are comparable across projectors and reproducible by anyone with similar equipment. This page documents that protocol in full. If a review deviates from it, the deviation is stated next to the measurement.
- Meter: calibrated lux meter (NIST-certified), mounted on a tripod.
- Stray light control: the sensor sits inside a velvet tube (velvet both inside and outside) to minimize stray reflections. The sensor is always fully illuminated, and the angle is chosen so no shadows fall inside the tube.
- Picture modes: unless stated otherwise, measurements use the manufacturer-calibrated modes, typically ISF Night / D65 or Movie.
- Thermal stabilization: the projector warms up before any reading is taken.
Laser projectors throttle. On a sustained full-white field, light output can start decaying after about 2 minutes and keep dropping for 10 to 15 minutes before it stabilizes. I've measured drops of over 12%. You won't notice this with real content, but it ruins measurement consistency. So every reading is taken within 90 seconds of the pattern appearing. Each review also documents the throttling behavior itself: how soon decay starts, how deep it goes, and when it stabilizes.
Brightness is measured across the full zoom and iris range, not just the spec-sheet sweet spot. That's how you find out what the projector actually delivers at your throw distance, and how much light the "best contrast" configuration really costs.
Full-field on/off contrast, measured at every zoom and iris combination. Black levels are read with the same tube-shielded sensor, and the protocol keeps those readings well above the meter's noise floor so the ratios are trustworthy.
Standard checkerboard pattern, measured in two lens configurations: centered and shifted to the vertical extreme. Lens shift measurably changes ANSI contrast on many projectors, and most published numbers silently use whichever position flatters the product. Here both are reported.
The headline metric of these reviews: the full contrast curve across Average Display Level (ADL), from on/off through 1% and 5% up to the 50% ANSI point, measured at several zoom positions in the projector's maximum-contrast configuration. On/off and ANSI are just two points on it; the ADL curve is what your eyes actually get across real scenes. You can explore and compare these curves yourself in the ADL Calculator.
Dynamic contrast features are measured, not just eyeballed. Laser dimming and highlight brightness are measured separately, across a defined set of film scenes spanning a wide range of ADL values. The result is assessed as a function of scene ADL: how active the system is, how much it dims, and what the real contrast multiplier looks like, with particular attention below 5% ADL, the perceptually most sensitive zone for black level. Activation behavior, speed, and the content that defeats the system are documented alongside the numbers.
- Sharpness: resolution test patterns across the frame and the zoom range.
- Distortion: checked against a laser level.
- White-field uniformity: full-field maps at multiple zoom positions, including color tint shifts across the frame.
- Lens shift: image quality across the shift range.
- Laser speckle: evaluated on the screen surfaces used for testing.
- Fan and system noise is assessed per picture mode, including the acoustic side effects of features like anti-RBE.
- Power consumption is measured per mode.
- Input lag and motion are tested with real gaming content across the projector's game-mode options.
The pattern, instrument, and conditions are documented alongside each chart, so any measurement can be reproduced. Spotted something off? Let me know through the contact form. Corrections are published openly.