Projector Reviews

SIM2 Nero 3D-2 Projector Review

The SIM2 Nero 3D-2 Home Theater projector is one of SIM2’s premium single chip DLP projectors. SIM2 offers their projectors through a collection of higher and high end “dealers”. SIM2 is one of those high end companies that stresses customer support and product quality.

SIM2 Nero 3D-2 Projector Highlights

  • A projector designed for a dedicated home theater
  • Brighter than average “best mode”
  • Beautiful post calibration color
  • “Out of the box” color is good, but cool. It is unlikely though that the projector would not be calibrated
  • Ultra high contrast projector
  • Choice of 3 lenses for maximum placement flexibility
  • Adjustable vertical lens shift
  • PureMotion for smooth motion (CFI)
  • Very stylish design – looks great on your ceiling, even when off
  • Supports an anamorphic lens, with or without sled

SIM2 Nero 3D-2 Projector Overview

The Nero 3D2 projector is one of three Nero models, all featuring 3D capablity. In addtion to the Nero 3D-2, there is the lower cost 3D-1 and the 3D-HB. The line-up plays out this way: The base model is the 3D-1. That SIM2 projector is the least expensive of the three, offering 1600 lumens brightness and a basic 10,000:1 contrast ratio.

The 3D-2 projector claims a brighter 2000 lumens, and a boost to 30,000:1 contrast for better blacks. The 3D-HB offers the same contrast but is the brightest of the three with 3000 lumens. I should note I had requested the brighter HB version, but only the 3D-2 was available.

The Nero series are all single chip DLP projectors. SIM2 offers higher end 3 chip DLP projectors as well, with prices into the stratosphere.

We received the Nero 3D-2 but only had it for about 10 days. Mike immediately calibrated it, and I did get to spend a lot of time watching it.

The Nero 3D-2 is a projector designed for the dedicated home theater. It’s not a light canon by any means. In my own theater with all its dark surfaces, the 3D-2 had plenty of lumens for movies and sports, but more on that in the appropriate pages.

Above – nothing like sports on a projector. The image above from DirecTV’s NFL Game Mix. When it’s on four screens, each is roughly the size of a 50 inch LCDTV. Even at 8 screens, when I watch that, you can really see what’s going on – with each game (the way I set it up) being over 35″ diagonal.

The Nero 3D-2 is designed to be a relatively seamless projector. It seems to lack any rough edges. Just as I’ve described some other very good projectors, the Nero is pretty invisible. Which is, not doing things that call attention to the fact that you are watching a projector, instead letting you be immersed in the content.

In the pages that follow, we’ll cover a lot of territory, but to start, below are some highlights, and the basic specs. The last section of this page goes through a number of “special features”.