Excellence at Video Revolution
Visiting media professionals have said it is the best television picture they have ever seen. To me, it perfectly fit my objective of finding the highest value video per dollar spent. That was my request to the audio video pros at Video Revolution in Tulsa and years later, I remain a happy returning customer. Here’s why.
Maybe it's a Scottish thing, but I push for value when I purchase. In a television unit three years ago, I wanted a projection system for the living room of my downtown loft. I selected Video Revolution as my retailer for several reasons. They are locally owned, by Ron Witmer who once worked for a Tulsa television station as a cameraman. He found his true calling in retail, in part, because of a lifelong fascination with the latest in video and audio technology. Video Revolution specializes in equipment, installation and service. They are known for skilled installation, provide technical repair, video and film production.
Walking in their showroom, I have never seen so many televisions in one place anywhere. They also have a special room set aside to view projection units. I could not bring myself to consider a furniture retailer that sells televisions on the side or a big box retailer. I wanted advice from people who really knew what they were talking about.
Video Revolution consults rather than directs the customer. They asked questions about the space, my viewing habits, and other details on how the unit would be used. With their help, I selected the Sony VPL-VW40 which had a reputation as one of the very best of the lower cost 1080p projectors.
Yes, I double checked their recommendations with online reviews and found them right on target.
1080p is the shorthand identification for a set of HDTV video modes that are characterized by 1,080 lines of vertical resolution (1,080 horizontal scan lines) and progressive scan (meaning the image is not interlaced). The term usually assumes a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, implying a horizontal resolution of 1920 pixels. This resolution is similar to that of 2K digital cinema technology.
In the US, 1080p projectors can be found for less, but the Sony's strengths made it appealing to a critical eye with limited budget. It displays the High Definition and Blu-ray signals with stunning clarity and even regular broadcast looks good.
My usage is also for business and Video Revolution is an advertiser both on Tulsa Today and The David Arnett Show on KRMG. In web production and training meetings for Tulsa Today and other commercial web projects, the 92” screen provides a view that can be seen by everyone in the room. We use a laser pointer and each of our developers can see clearly rather than crowding around a computer in the writing office. For this usage, our main computer is hard wired to the projector and operated during presentations by a remote keyboard and mouse.
The installation team did wonderful work. They ran the wires and connected the various units of the system without flaw. They adjusted the color. Truth be told, I would most likely have become frustrated long before everything was wired if I had tried to do it myself – assuming I could have made it work.
It may be old-fashioned, but I don’t mind paying people to do what they do best so I can concentrate on what I do best. The team did say that most customers purchasing this system install it in a theatre room specially designed for movie viewing. They have installed similar units throughout northeastern Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri. My usage is more common and the environment more brutal.
The office/loft space is longer than wide and the unit is mounted to the south away from the windows and across the living space. What surprised me is how well it can be seen throughout the room even during the day. Of course for the best picture quality, ambient light should be reduced. Fortunately for our use in projection the only windows in the loft are “north facing” so there is little direct sunlight. What surprised me is how well the picture looks from the side – one significant advantage of flat wall projection units.
I purchased an additional lamp after about a year and a half. It is the most expensive single bulb I have ever purchased, but I worked the old one more than the rated 3000 hours at low power and 2000 hours a full lamp power. I run at full power and it operated over 3500 hours or about a year and a half. This in context is remarkable as the loft with 100 year old brick and a bachelor’s housekeeping gets a little dusty.
I also purchased the Sony Blu-ray Disk and DVD Player BDP-S350 which I am happy to own. Blu-ray is to High Definition what High Definition is to regular television. The increase in quality is easily discernable and significant even to the untrained eye.
Sony VW40 Home Cinema Projector: Basic Specs
Technology: 3 chip LCoS (SXRD)
Native Resolution: 1080p (1920x1080)
Brightness: 900 lumens
Contrast: 15,000:1
Zoom Lens ratio: 1.8:1
Lens shift: Vertical (motorized) and horizontal (manual, and very slight)
Lamp life: 3000 hours at low power, 2000 hours at full lamp power
Weight: 24.3 lbs. (11 Kg)
Warranty: 2 Years Parts and Labor standard
With my limited budget, I utilized my existing audio equipment. Video Revolution didn’t try to twist my arm on audio. They did recommend an upgrade, but I was able to compensate to my initial satisfaction for poor speakers and an old receiver using my 16-channel PA. With RCA output from the video system to the PA, I didn’t really notice how badly my old speakers were working. When the PA was temporarily unavailable, the receiver showed its age in how it divided sound to the speakers and the poor speakers themselves made the need for an upgrade clear. At first, I wondered if something was broken.
Video Revolution sent a repairman that said it wasn’t broken – just older than dirt. Newer movies and broadcast are using audio channels and dividing the sound in ways my system doesn’t recognize. Thus, I come to my next purchase from Video Revolution. I anticipate the same great quality from both equipment and service personnel at a competitive price.
They really are good at what they do and what Video Revolution does keeps expanding.
They rent televisions and other equipment for special events. They can transfer images into different formats. They can repair equipment. They can shoot and edit video and produce excellent broadcast quality material utilizing state-of-the-art equipment in multiple formats: Beta SP, DVC Pro, MII, Digital Video, S-VHS and 1/2, 3/4, 8 mm. They also specialize in non-linear editing tailored to both personal and business applications. In fact, they are the creative team producing the “Explore Tulsa” television show focusing on unique looks into the people, places, and attractions that make Tulsa and surrounding areas a great place to live, work, and raise a family. To learn more of that effort, see Explore Tulsa’s Facebook page (click here). To visit Video Revolution’s virtual store online, click here. For video and audio quality equipment and service, you will find it at Video Revolution.