Runco is the latest high-end projector manufacturer to launch an LED projector. Using a solid state light path and no lamp, the new QuantumColor Q-750d has an indefatigable life span, which promises to make things a lot easier for demanding PJ owners. It’s also relatively affordable (at least in the rarefied atmosphere that Runco traditionally operates in) at just under £18K. But can an LED projector with a limited light output compete with high-end DLP, D-ILA and LCD alternatives? After spending some time with it, I would say so.
Serious cinema
The Q-750d certainly looks like a serious piece of kit. It’s a huge piece of equipment that will not sit unnoticed in most viewing rooms. I asked why the 22.4kg projector was so large. Surely LED offers an opportunity to downsize?
‘It’s possible that future generations might get smaller,’ said Holger Graeff, the man in charge of the brand’s Speciality Home Theatre Displays. ‘I can see a saving of up to 25 per cent in a few years. However, much of the size can be attributed to heat and noise management. This is an exceptionally quiet machine. And generally, most pro-installations which include Runco projectors hide the PJ from site, in a special area or booth. So it’s probably not going to be a big issue.’ 
Colour redefined
The Archilles heel for LED is traditionally cited as brightness. They are not light cannons compared with LCD models, which are able to display watchable images in even moderately high ambient light. The Q-750d, like other comparable LED machines, is rated at a mere 800 ANSI Lumens. The big selling point for LED projection is ultimately colour reproduction. And it’s here that the Runco shines. Devoid of noise, but capable of rich, vibrant hues, it effectively redefines what we can expect from projected colour. LED, unlike other technologies, allows the user to moderate colour balance with hitherto unparalleled control. And the Q-750d has plenty of settings to tweak. While maintaining lifelike skin tones, you can boost the red or plump up the green. And provided you are working in a dark room, the dynamics are terrific. There are deep blacks and intense white peaks.
I ran through a variety of material on the Q-750d, and was very impressed. An American football match looked extraordinary. The pitch had a green intensity I’ve never seen before, but the players and banners remained hue-perfect. The glorious blacks of The Dark Knight were inky smooth, with tantalising detail, yet not compromised by sudden explosions that were rich in yellows and oranges.
Rival Vivitek also has a comparatively-sized LED projector which is around five grand cheaper. But that does not ship with an outboard processor, like this Runco. The DHD Controller is the picture processing heart of the system, with a host of inputs and the ability to maximise aspect ratios and fine-tune sources. If you take the projector with its optional Anamorphic lens then the DHD will map and tweak the image for the best possible clarity.
Overall, I’d rate the Q-750d as darn impressive. The form factor will obviously limit its appeal outside of the custom install market, and it does need a totally blacked-out space to work, but it does bode well for the future development of LED projectors. High-end PJ fans should watch this space…
Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited
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Ripsnorter (not verified) - 18 December 2009 - 12:38pmAn interesting article, especially considering this is Runco becoming 'affordable' for the common man! Steve, regardless of the technology involved, could you say a few words about how the Q-750d stacks up against similarly priced models from other manufacturers, such as SIM, Sony et al? Not that I have the money for any of them, of course.
I'm interested how this
KelvinS1965 - 22 December 2009 - 4:59pmI'm interested how this stacks up against the JVC HD990 as I consider this is probably pretty much a reference machine in the under £10,000 catagory. The price difference could probably buy a lot of lamps for the JVC, so does the extra cost of the LED give gains in terms of contrast ratio, ANSI contrast and motion?
It would be nice not having to keep recalibrating a UHP lamped projector though....my HD350 drifts over time and needs an occasional 'tweak' to keep the gamma upto 2.2 for example.
I don't get it. For years
Shadez (not verified) - 27 December 2009 - 1:29pmI don't get it. For years now, specialists, enthusiasts and to some degree high-end manufacturers have been telling us to strive for accuracy, as accuracy is what delivers a high quality picture. Now all of a sudden it's supposed to be a selling point that you can steer the picture AWAY from accuracy? Who cares about "vibrant hues", I want to see the freaking movie. The projector should deliver the picture as it is created, as closely as possible. Reviewers are increasingly bashing flatscreen manufacturers for having oversaturated primaries, now because some high-end manufacturer starts using a technology that has the "advantage" of seriously oversaturated primaries, it's supposed to be advantagous? Look, there's nothing about oversaturated primaries on this Runco that we don't already have on high-end flatscreens, where we are struggling to get rid of it again, because it actually DEGRADES the picture, not improves it. Don't believe the hype. LED is a magnificent technology for a DLP projector for a lot of reasons, oversaturated primaries is not one of them.
£18k
bruce lee (not verified) - 29 December 2009 - 9:55pmLOL £18k "affordable" the guy who wrote this probably cant afford this PJ.
Just Go
Alan Smithee - 13 February 2010 - 2:48pmI read the releases then went to see a demo. Gentlemen the picture was borderline sexual. This from someone that is very hard to impress. Bottom line, just go see it.