ONfinity CM2 MAX

Price as Reviewed $1095.00

The ultimate plug and play portable interactive whiteboard solution…

ONfinity CM2 is a fully featured interactive whiteboard system that transforms any standard dry wipe whiteboard, flat surface (such as a wall) or plasma screen into an interactive whiteboard or touch screen. Its unrivalled feature lies in the unique Optical Position Detection Technology which requires no signal receiver device to be attached onto the projection screen/surface. A true plug and play solution!

Transform your office/classroom wall into a huge touch screen…

Used with a PC and a digital projector, all projected computer applications can be controlled with the special ONfinity E-Pen. Highlights, annotations, and drawings can be added on the screen under any applications using the E-Pen. All annotated applications, such as Work, Excel, PowerPoint, HTML pages, etc. can be saved on the PC for future review, printing, or e-mailing. It is the perfect presentation solution for front of class and whole class interactive teaching. Lessons and presentations are made much more alive and engaging. Moreover, ONfinity CM2 is the only existing interactive whiteboard system that supports interactivity on both hard and soft projection surface of any size up to an unrivalled 150”!

Communicate with powerful interactive presentations anywhere anytime…

ONfinity CM2’s superior portability and simple setup, and above all, its value for money, make it the perfect plug and play interactive presentation solution for business, education and professional use.

ONfinity portable Interactive Whiteboard System - CM2 Special Features and Designs

A design of cutting-edge technologies and unmatched features, ONfinity Portable is a fully featured interactive whiteboard system that transforms any standard dry wipe whiteboard, flat surface or plasma screen into an interactive whiteboard. Its unrivalled feature lies in the unique Optical Position Detecting Technology which requires no signal receiver device to be attached onto the projection screen/surface. A true plug and play solution!

Unique Features:

* Ultra portable and lightweight (only 250 g).

* Instant plug and play solution – simple USB connection to PC; no device attached to whiteboard/projection surface; no cable between whiteboard/projection surface and PC/signal receiver.Simple and convenient.

* No battery required for signal receiver.Easy installation in two options –

* Supports interactivity on screen of any size up to 150”.

* Works perfectly on soft projection screen; no need for standard dry wipe whiteboard.

* Advanced Optical Position Detecting Technology supports real-time interactivity under any PC applications.

* Unique triple button interactive E-Pen offers powerful interface for “touch screen” control of projected applications as well as smooth and precise writing and annotating capabilities.

* Pressure recognition feature supports application control via E-Pen tip.

* E-Pen ready for use any time – user-friendly as a mouse or a pen.Annotation tool bar automatically switches on under the pen mode for applying various annotation functions including colour and thickness of lines, clear, save, and virtual keyboard.

* E-Pen functions in both touch-screen mode (with pen tip touching the whiteboard screen) and non-touch mode (with pen tip at a distance of up to 10cm from the whiteboard).

* Two models of E-Pen – stylus E-Pen specially designed for writing and annotating; extendable pointer E-Pen specially designed for presentation on large interactive screen.

* Simple and user-friendly FreeBoard software enables annotations and writings to be recorded and replayed stroke by stroke. All annotated applications can be saved for further review, printing, and e-mailing.

* Supports Windows 98/2000/XP.

[+/-] Read moore...

[+/-] Back...

InFocus X9

by Hugo Jobling
Price as Reviewed $1,099.00

InFocus already wowed us with the launch of the X10 a short while ago, offering a great 1080p DLP projector at a fantastic price and it look set to do the same thing with the X9. The x9 sacrifices a Full HD resolution, being merely 720p (a.k.a. HD Ready), but by doing so comes in at a fantastic low price, and doesn't skimp much elsewhere, either.

The 1,280 x 720 resolution is provided by a Texas Instruments DLP chip and is backed up by a 6-segment colour wheel. InFocus claims the X9 has a 2,300:1 native contrast ratio and can produce a 1,800 ANSI lumens brightness, which is about in line with the X10 - so image quality should, resolution aside, be pretty similar.

Connectivity isn't a particular strong point of the X9, with a single HDMI port, Component connector, composite input and S-video in, as well as a VGA port. However, with a projector using an HDMI switch box and having a single cable running to the device is almost certainly a preferable option anyway, so the lack on inputs isn't exactly a problem.

[+/-] Read moore...

[+/-] Back...

3M Pocket Projector MPro110

by Daniel O
Price as Reviewed $359

Pack your pico projector and your netbook and go deliver that keynotes wherever you want. When it comes to choosing a netbook you have lots of options. They are all similar pieces of hardware under different brands. But choosing a pico projector is actually more difficult as there aren’t that many on the market.

3M have announced their newest product, the MPro110 (pocket projector) and the guys at Popsci.com have got their hands on one. Basically it’s a mini projector that plugs into most DVD players via a VGA cable and allows your movie to be projected nearly anywhere! In a dark room this could possibly replace your flashy home cinema system. It doesn’t come with speakers though, so keep the flashy ones for that. The MPro110 also comes with a composite jack cable to allow you to plug in and receive output from things like your PSP or iPhone. Priced at only $359 it goes on sale September 30th and 3M say they may incorporate it into cellphones next year too.

[+/-] Read moore...

[+/-] Back...

Toshiba TDP-XP1U

by Rich Malloy
Price as Reviewed $555.00 - $779.00

Toshiba’s TDP-XP1U looks rather pedestrian. And why shouldn’t it? With a suggested list price of only $779, it is clearly a budget model. The good news is that this value-priced projector is bright, boasts XGA resolution, and generates sharp and steady images.

At 4.8 pounds, the TDP-XP1U is not featherweight, yet it remains easily portable. And its easy-to-use features are limited to recognizing the current input (video or computer) automatically and adjusting accordingly.

The array of connectors on the back panel is rather sumptuous by bargain-projector standards. In addition to the standard input ports (VGA, S-Video, composite video, and mini audio), there are also output ports for a second display (useful for desktop users) and audio. There’s even an old-fashioned serial port.

The worst feature of the TDP-XP1U is its remote control, a tiny credit card–size device whose membrane-style keys had to be pressed repeatedly in order to get any response. Fortunately, only one key is highly useful (the On button) and that is repeated in a much more responsive way on the top panel of the projector.

On our lab tests, the TDP-XP1U performed quite well. It was the brightest XGA budget model we have tested, scoring 2155 lumens—almost 3 lumens per dollar. Other numbers were not so complimentary, however. Its contrast ratio was acceptable at 322:1. Its image size (37 inches diagonal at a 60-inch distance) was one of the smallest we have seen in recent months. Its warm-up and cooldown times were decidedly leisurely, particularly the latter at no less than 2 minutes.

The TDP-XP1U did much better in our qualitative tests, though, where it displayed very sharp and steady images. (Its main ease-of-use feature may be its ability to be easy on the eyes.) We were particularly impressed by its ability to resolve very dark and light grays. And, best of all, we appreciated its exceptionally quiet cooling fan. Indeed, in low-power mode, we could hardly hear it.

With an outlay of only $779, you can’t go wrong with the Toshiba TDP-XP1U. But consider that you will probably want to throw away the remote and replace it with a $60 laser pointer.

[+/-] Read moore...

[+/-] Back...

NEC NP41

by Rich Malloy
Price as Reviewed $999

In contrast to the sleek Casio XJ-S57, the new NEC NP41 is a white, utilitarian box. There’s no fancy lens cap here; an ordinary translucent plastic disk pops onto the lens aperture the way such items have always done. And, at 3.6 pounds, this model is the lightest projector in this roundup, but certainly not the lightest we have seen recently.

The connectors on the projector’s rear panel cover just the bare minimum: VGA (which doubles as the component video input with an optional cable), S-Video, composite video, and a mini audio socket. There is also a PS2-style round “control” port.

Although relatively large, the remote control has only a few useful controls. These include the somewhat standard but infrequently used digital-zoom buttons.

The best part of this projector is something that is missing: a focus ring around the lens. The reason? The focusing is done automatically and rather skillfully by the projector itself. The projector also automatically compensates for any trapezoidal or keystone image effects, but because such compensation usually degrades image quality, we turned this feature off via NP41’s on-screen menu.

On our tests, this projector scored quite well. Its brightness of 2210 lumens was just a tad shy of the advertised mark of 2300. In our checkerboard contrast test—a more realistic analysis than the industry-standard full-on/full-off test—the NEC scored a ratio of 534:1, which is one of the higher marks we have seen, and the highest in this roundup.

We really appreciated the speedy warm-up and cooldown times, the latter being an impressively short 14 seconds. Subjectively, we like the color capabilities, especially some nice bright yellows, which is rare for DLP projectors. The cooling fan was a bit noisy, however, even in low-power Eco mode.

With a price tag of $999, including a two-year warranty, the NEC NP41 is one of the lower-priced XGA projectors capable of more than 2000 lumens of brightness. Add in the automatic focusing feature, and it becomes a real bargain.

[+/-] Read moore...

[+/-] Back...

Panasonic PT LB60U

Price as Reviewed $1,195.00 - $1,383.99

This small LCD projector's Daylight View 2 feature caught my eye - literally. The projector has a built-in sensor that measures the ambient light, and then adjusts the halftone colors and brightness level accordingly, giving sharp "true colour" images no matter what the light conditions. Combined with XGA (1024 x 768) resolution, 3200 lumens, a 400 to 1 contrast ratio and a weight of 5.5 pounds, this LCD projector makes giving worry free presentations in a variety of venues easy.

Understanding Front-projection TVs - LCD

LCD and DLP are very close in terms of performance, and even LCD's ability to produce good blacks has improved quite a bit. DLP still enjoys a slight edge in contrast ratio, however, mainly because its projectors can get a bit brighter than those of LCDs. The screen-door effect, which appears as a fine grid of pixels overlaying the screen, is also more noticeable on most LCD projectors. As we mentioned above, however, 720p LCD projectors still enjoy more features than their budget 720p DLP competition, including highly desirable items such as horizontal and vertical lens shift. No consumer-priced 1080p LCD projectors are currently available.

Upside
Can get extremely bright; decent uniformity; generally better black-level performance than LCD.

Downside
More expensive than similar-resolution LCD models; rainbow effect.

Forecast
Already the most popular technology for home-theater projection, new less-expensive 720p versions will make DLP even more desirable.

[+/-] Read moore...

[+/-] Back...

BenQ PB6200

Price as Reviewed $1106 - $1795

At 5.6 pounds, this DLP projector is not an ultralight, but it has the combination of features and price to make up for the extra weight. XGA resolution (1024 x 768) and 1700 lumens brightness provide images clear and bright enough to be seen in a normally lit conference room. A 2000:1 contrast ratio makes the images crisp. Add a lamp life of 2000 hours and you have a portable projector that's a true road warrior for mobile presenters.

* 12" DDR DMD DLP™
* Native Resolution - 1024 x 768
* Compatible up to 1280 x 1024
* Brightness - 1700 ANSI Lumen (maximum)
* Contrast Ratio - 2000:1 (peak)
* HDTV compatible supporting up to 1080i
* 8 Preset modes

Pros: I chose this specifically for showing DVD's and HD TV. I have it set up on my ceiling and I have a 110" screen (2.4m wide) at a throw distance of 4.5 metres. To tell you how good it is, my visitors mouths drop open in amazement the moment they see the screen image. Noone is prepared for what they see. When I evaluated DLP projectors I realised that they probably source their DLP engines and the lenses because most projectors in a price range have identical output specifications. The only thing that seems to be unique to projector manufacturers are the input processors. I like my Benq because it has a simple and intelligent input processor. The picture is bright and sharp when using Component Input. The machine can be used on most voltages and automatically senses PAL 50Hz or NTSC 60 Hz so I can play DVD's purchased from other countries (using my miltizone Toshiba DVD player). I found the differences in picture quality using S-video (soft images) and composite (colour bleeding) reported by other reviewers to be confirmed - except that using Cable TV on Cartoon programs gives excellent results. I see no evidence of the dreaded rainbow effect often attributed to DLP projectors. I used it to watch the Athens Olympics using my Set top box in Standard Definition mode. The Lord of the Rings is specacular, as is Cher, The Coors and U2. It is such compelling viewing that walk in visitors just drop to the chairs when they see the shows of larger than life people on the screen.

Cons: The machine is very fragile so it is not a good idea to have it on a coffee table if kids are around. They have no idea. It is also not a good idea to position it where people could look into the lens - there are strenuous warnings about the dangers of staring at the light source. You can't just turn it on and off to watch the news. You need to structure your viewing to have a block of time set aside. Be prepared for late nights! The fans are slsightly audible during quiet movie sequences. The complexity of formatting the picture when switching inputs is disruptive if I am trying to put on a show for my friends: The 16 by 9 format is automatic for HD TV from my DG-TECH 2000A+ receiver. Most music DVDs are 4 x 3 Most DVD movies are in Letterbox format. My VCR and Cable TV are in 4 x 3 format via composite input only. The only way to set the screen format is via a menu using the remote control. Since the PB-6200 automatically senses the input source and the input signal, it would help if it also could sense the input screen format. It was very fiddly to set up. I found that matching equipment is the biggest challenge - and that applies to all systems it is not just a problem with this machine. But for example, I have a Denon amp which only switches S-Video. So I had to buy a game switch to be able to switch the component outputs. When buying a new DVD player to get component output, I did not realise until later that I could have bought one with progressive scan - which would have improved my picture. While the Benq can play NTSC, my TV cannot, so I have to retain my old DVD player which converts NTSC to PAL for the TV. I chose a 10 metre S-Video, and a composite cable from my Benq supplier. But I spent weeks figuring out which cables to choose to run to the ceiling. I found Jaycar electronics the most helpful and best priced people for cabling. In the end I used a 10m VGA cable, a male to female adaptor, a VGA to RGB BNC plug with RCA converters - which doubles as the component plugs for the Benq. Sound ridiculously complicated? Well - it was a choice to do this, or pay 3 times as much for an integrated system and for a professional to set it up.

Overall: It is absolutely fantastic value for money and brilliant for people who don't want to pay for workplace features which they don't need (such as laser pointers, multi input processing, speakers, timers etc). I compared the specifications with similar machines from Electroboard, Optoma, Panasonic etc. The Benq 6200 has a 200w bulb which I think makes it brighter. I would need to spend more than twice as much to get a better projector. My family and friends love it! And best of all, I am the only person who knows how to operate it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We don't use it during the week but from Friday night to Sunday night we run it extensively.

[+/-] Read moore...

[+/-] Back...

NEC NP50

Price as Reviewed $1,181.57 - $1,191.99

It's easy to save time and money on presentations with NEC's NP50 multimedia projector. Almost fully automatic, this projector starts up, focuses, corrects keystone, and shuts down on its own. All you really have to do is plug it in and get down to business. The eye-catching design, small footprint, and light weight of the NP50 is complemented by its incredible functionality. The NP50 also comes with integrated features to improve color accuracy, white/black levels, provide wall color correction for projection on non-white surfaces, image magnification, and lamp protection with direct power off.

Dimensions (HxWxD) 246 x 72 x 177 mm
Weight 1.6 kg
Projection technology DLP
Contrast Ratio 1600 : 1
Max. resolution 1024 x 768
Brightness (lumens) 2600 ANSI lumens
Projection distance 1.4 to 13.4m
Projection image size 33- to 300-inch
Aspect Ratio 4:3
Estimated lamp life 3000 hours

[+/-] Read moore...

[+/-] Back...

Epson EMP 765

By Brian Nadel
Price as Reviewed £ 1649

Packed with features and able to blast more than 2,000 lumens of light in a large conference room, the Epson EMP 765 is worth the money if you want big projector power in a small package...

It's far from the lightest or smallest business projector on the market, but the Epson EMP 765 squeezes the abilities of a conference-room projector into a remarkably portable case. With more than 2,000 lumens of light, it's bright enough for a lights-on presentation or a digital classroom lesson, and it's packed with features, including wireless networking, the ability to run a show from a memory card and LAN management for IT administrators. The 765's £1,649 (ex. VAT) price tag is a bit steep, but it's worth it if you need the power of a large projector in a small package.

Built around three 0.7-inch LCD panels, the silver-and-grey Epson EMP 765 has an XGA native resolution and weighs a light 1.8kg. Its 27.6cm by 19.3cm by 7cm dimensions are typical for the portable-projector class, and with the included padded case, remote control and key cables, the 765 hits the road at a total weight of 3.2kg. The Epson EMP 765 can fill a screen as large as 12.1m and can project a surprisingly big image from a short distance away; we filled a 30in. screen from just a metre away. We really like the automatic keystone correction, which displays a perfectly square image regardless of the angle you're projecting from. With the ability to support both 4:3 (the PC standard) and 16:9 (the DVD standard) pixel arrangements, the 765 can handle standard and high-definition video formats.

Although it lacks an HDMI connector, the Epson EMP 765 is a well-connected projector. It features both USB A and USB B ports, so you can plug in a notebook or pull images and video from a camera, a flash key or an external drive. There are also ports for VGA, audio, S-Video and composite video.

The Epson EMP 765's control panel is on top of the projector, and the buttons are large and intuitive. There are dedicated controls for manual keystone correction, volume and menu navigation, as well as status lights for lamp life and overheating. Atop the projector are controls for manually adjusting the focus and zooming up to 1.2X -- both easy adjustments, thanks to protruding knobs. The included remote lets you adjust volume, input selection and digital zoom, among other things; however, it lacks a laser pointer.

It's the 765's Type I/II PC Card slot that sets it apart from the crowd. You can use it with the included Wi-Fi card to monitor the projector over a LAN or to show images stored on a network drive or a nearby notebook -- no Ethernet cables needed. The downside is that before displaying slides or digital images over the network, you first need to convert them with Epson's EMP SlideMaker 2. In our tests, the projector worked like a charm with a variety of flash cards and USB memory drives but balked at a 2GB PC Card hard drive. When connected to a network, you can take advantage of the 765's EMP Monitor software, which can change the image source, make minor image adjustments from afar, and even send email when the lamp burns out or is in danger of overheating.

Make no mistake: with the ability to deliver 2,148 lumens of light in Presentation mode, the 765 is among the brightest projectors in the portable XGA class, although it's slightly off Epson's advertised 2,500 lumen rating. Theatre mode reduces the brightness level by 25 percent; the low-brightness setting delivers 1,616 lumens, which is the equivalent output of the BenQ PB6110 at its high-brightness setting. With all this brightness comes a downside, however: when maxed out, the 765's fan is among the loudest we've encountered, even if it's not quite overwhelming. The low-brightness setting reduces the noise to an acceptable level. The Epson EMP 765 has an average brightness uniformity of 75 percent, although we noticed a hot spot in the centre. Unfortunately, the projector's colour temperature shifts from one side to the other, giving the image a pink cast on the right and a blue one on the left.

Like those of other LCD projectors, the Epson EMP 765's measured 204:1 contrast ratio can't match the 500:1 ratio that's common on DLP projectors today. On the plus side, its images were rock solid, without any ghosting and with only occasional flicker. It displayed some of the sharpest type and images we've seen, making it great for text-heavy presentations.

Firing up the Epson EMP 765 and putting an image on-screen takes only 23 seconds -- just long enough to make sure your notebook is powered up and connected. The 765 shuts down, cools off and is ready to be packed up in a miraculous 4 seconds. Most projectors, such as the Hitachi Performa CP-RS55, take more than a minute.

Maintenance for the Epson EMP 765 is easy: we love the pull-out air filter and the ability to quickly cool down the 170-watt lamp and change it with a screwdriver. Bulbs are rated for 3,000 hours in low-brightness mode, which is about 500 more hours than we typically see, but replacements cost a princely £349 (ex. VAT) each.

Epson's on-site warranty for the EMP 765 covers parts and labour for three years. Epson's Web site features troubleshooting advice, software downloads, detailed FAQs and manuals. If you need personal attention, you can use the dedicated email link, chat online with an Epson support expert or talk to a tech-support representative by phone. Epson's support line, which is charged at national rate, is open on weekdays between 9am and 5.30pm (9am to 6pm on Saturdays and 10am to 5pm on Sundays).

[+/-] Read moore...

[+/-] Back...

InFocus X10

By John Archer
Latest Price £907.68

Once in a while a product comes out of nowhere and blows out of the water any preconceptions we might have of the AV market. Cue the InFocus X10 projector...

This is a pretty bold start to a review, I guess. But I promise I'm not being sensationalist just to keep you reading. The X10 really does rewrite the rulebook, completely shifting our established frame of reference when it comes to evaluating other projectors in the future.
The key to our excitement about the X10 lies in the following, simple facts: it's a Full HD DLP projector selling for under £900.

This totally demolishes the previous lowest price point of any other Full HD DLP projector we've seen; even Optoma's ‘cheapo' HD80 still costs you around £1,750 new.

Our searches did uncover another Optoma DLP model, the 8000X, going for around £1,000 - but we've seen absolutely zero marketing for this product, and it also seems to be available through extremely limited distribution channels. So it hardly seems poised to make the same sort of waves we're predicting the X10 will. Having said that, rest assured we're already doing our best to get hold of an 8000X for review.

Anyway, getting back to the X10, its price also seriously upsets the Full HD LCD applecart. For instance, we struggled to find Panasonic's good Full HD PT-AE2000 or Epson's disappointing Full HD EMP-TW1000 going for less than £1900 as we put this article together.

In fact, from what I can gather from InFocus representatives, one of the reasons InFocus has been so aggressive with the X10's pricing is that it really wants the model to boot LCD out of the home cinema projector market altogether.

But you know, it's hard to resist the thought that its price is so low it might be in danger of making it tough for any projector maker - including InFocus itself! - to make any sort of margins going forward. Time will tell, I guess.

Still, in the short term at least these sorts of concerns aren't really our problem as punters at all. In fact, such price-slashing madness is amazingly good news for the reams of people out there who'd love to indulge in home cinema in its most large-scale form but never thought they'd be able to afford the necessary high-spec projector.

And believe us, the X10 really is high spec, despite its lowly price. For starters, as well as that key Full HD pixel count, it's got all the connections you'd expect of a projector costing many times more, including two Deep Color-compatible v1.3 digital inputs (one HDMI, and one all-purpose M1-DA input for which the necessary HDMI adaptor is provided).

The X10 also claims a very respectable 2,500:1 ‘native' contrast ratio - as in, a contrast ratio which, unlike the figures quoted by most LCD projectors, does not depend on a brightness-reducing dynamic iris system to achieve its full extent.

Even better, though, the X10 does have OPTIONAL manual iris adjustment that you can select from its onscreen menus, complete with various settings. With this you can expand the projector's claimed contrast ratio to 7,500:1 - a really outstanding figure for the sub-£1k market.

Also rather remarkable for the X10's price is its claimed maximum brightness of 1,200 ANSI Lumens, making it bright enough to deliver the key ‘D65' colour standard calculated to produce the most natural results when watching video footage.

There's a much wider selection of video adjustments at your disposal with the X10 than you might expect too, including multiple gamma presets; optional overscan removal (an essential item on a Full HD projector); colour space, temperature, gamut and control tweaks; a flesh-tone adjustment; the software part of Texas Instruments' BrilliantColor system; and even, incredibly, all the facilities you need to have the projector professionally calibrated to suit your particular living room conditions by a certified Imaging Science Foundation engineer. This latter feature was once deemed as a premium trick for only the most discerning of buyers. Not any more, it would seem.

So far the X10 has done nothing but massively surpass the expectations raised by its price point. And for the most part this continues into its ease of use, too.

To help you set it up, for instance, its unusually large, matt black body is positioned on a swivelling, tilting foot mount, making it a doddle to get the image in the right place on your screen. Further assistance comes from digital vertical image shifting and keystone correction, and there's a passable amount of optical zoom, too. Though I do have a bit of a gripe here, for oddly the lens is a slightly long-throw affair, meaning it requires quite a large room to deliver a really big picture - not, perhaps, an ideal situation for a budget model.

Before we get into seeing how the X10 delivers on its seemingly remarkable specification level, it does have one potential Achilles' Heel lurking among all the facts and figures: a DarkChip 1 (DC1) DLP chipset.

In case you're not familiar with the DarkChip story, some of the very latest projectors, including InFocus's own IN83, are starting to use DarkChip4 technology, and we've been through DarkChip2 and Darkchip 3 along the way. So you can get a sense of how relatively ‘over the hill' the X10's core DLP engine is, at least on paper.

Which just goes to show how pointless it is to judge something ‘on paper'. For in reality, the X10 doesn't perform like a DC1 projector at all. In fact, remarkably, its pictures have more in common with a few DC3 models we've seen.

Also nothing short of remarkable is how bright the picture looks. DLP projectors at the X10's sort of price point traditionally struggle to give images any real dynamism, but there's dynamism aplenty on show here, even during the dark scenes that make up National Treasure 2's final half hour in the Olmec caverns.

Of course, brightness alone does not a great video picture make. But don't worry; while the best picture quality on the X10 is achieved with the iris slightly closed (I personally set it to between 64 and 73), the resulting loss of brightness isn't at all severe in the context of the benefits you reap in terms of black level improvement.

With the iris slightly closed the black levels you can achieve are simply in a different world to anything - repeat, ANYTHING - else we've seen anywhere at anything like the X10's price.

And still we're not even close to being done with the good news, for the X10 is also streets ahead of its price point with its colour saturations. They're both radiantly rich - as is spectacularly apparent during the HD Disney logo that precedes the National Treasure 2 presentation - and, even more remarkably, terrifically natural in tone. For instance, all the faces on show in the lecture theatre where Ed Harris's character drops his historical ‘bombshell' are rendered with emphatically authentic toning, even though this scene is, by its nature, rather dark. There's not a PC-biased colour tone in sight.

For starters, the X10's picture is almost unbelievably sharp. While watching the nice-picture-shame-about-the-movie Blu-ray of National Treasure 2, the definition in the actors' faces during the bright White House egg hunt sequence is little short of jaw-dropping. There's exceptional fine detailing, total crispness, and a complete absence of video noise. What's more, the outstanding detail levels also help generate a terrific sense of depth to the image, revealing every last subtlety of focus as the image trails into the distance.

Actually, the detailing here is so cute that it slightly reveals the shots of the White House for what they actually are: a special effects addition achieved through the miracle of blue-screen…

I'd really doubted that a projector as cheap as this one could deliver the full benefit a 1,920 x 1,080 pixel count can bring to an HD movie. But as well as the detail and lack of noise already noted, I was also struck by the purity of colour blends, as the X10's extra pixel density does away with the vast majority of the ‘colour banding' problem that can afflict budget projectors.

Finding any explanation at all for how InFocus has managed to make the X10 so cheap is a monumental effort. In fact, I couldn't find one. The bottom line is simply that if the X10 were £500 more, it would still look like a bargain.

This is not meant to imply, of course, that the projector is perfect. Thankfully for the rest of the projection market there are two or three areas where you can get improvements if you spend more.

Potentially the biggest problem is the X10's susceptibility to DLP's rainbow effect. This refers to stripes of pure red, green and blue that can flit about for a split second in your peripheral vision, or over very bright parts of the image, as a result of the machinations of DLP's colour wheel mechanism.

I was definitely slightly aware of this happening on a few occasions while watching National Treasure 2, especially during the dark scenes toward the film's end, where bright points of light stand out against predominantly dark backgrounds.

You can reduce the rainbow effect's impact on the X10 by closing the iris to limit the image's brightness, and personally I consider the issue a small price to pay for all the remarkable things the X10 gets right. But I know some people are more susceptible to the rainbow effect than others, so it's definitely something you need to be aware of. Maybe you should try and get a demo of the unit before you buy, just to see if the rainbow effect is particularly bothersome for you.

A far less troubling issue is some extremely low-level grey pixel noise over very dark parts of the picture, though this is seldom if ever distracting. In fact, you might not even see it at all if you don't go looking for it. Which of course you will now that I've mentioned it here. Sorry…

A final point would be that motion doesn't look quite as fluid or crisp as we'd ideally like. But again, this is seldom a distracting issue, and I'm almost embarrassed I mentioned it at all given that we're talking about a Full HD DLP projector costing under £900.

[+/-] Read moore...

[+/-] Back...

Mitsubishi XD520U

By Alex Kidman
Price as reviewed $1688.50 - $2704.17

At AU$2199, the XD520U DLP projector sits at the top end of Mitsubishi Electric's new "Leo" range of DLP business projectors. The XD520U performs a little bit better than its specifications might suggest, but you do pay a noise penalty in return.

Design and features
To look at the XD520U, you could be mistaken for thinking it was a slightly under-designed home theatre projector, rather than a business projector. While most business projectors opt for no-nonsense plain styling — presumably because the bean counters won't approve a projector that looks in any way interesting — the XD520U is decked out in white plastic, giving it something of an iPod feeling. Mitsubishi Electric denotes the XD520U as a portable projector, but with dimensions of 332x102x250mm and a carrying weight of 2.9kg, you wouldn't want to have to lug it around too much.

Keeping portability in mind, the XD520U comes with a carrying bag large enough to accommodate the projector, its remote control and connection cables. As projector bags go it's not the thickest we've ever seen, and we can imagine it degrading over time, but as an included extra, it's not too bad.

The remote for the XD520U is a basic affair that cements this projector's status as a boardroom tool. A basic VGA and composite cable is provided, along with a thick multi-lingual safety manual; the product manual is supplied as PDF on CD-ROM.

The AU$2199 XD520U DLP Projector sits at the top end of Mitsubishi Electric's new "Leo" range of DLP business projectors. If your budget is tight, the range also includes the AU$1899 XD510U and AU$1599 XD500U, although you'll take a hit in lamp brightness and lamp life respectively.

For those who hate noisy projectors, it's worth noting that the cheaper XD500U dimmer bulb gives it an average claimed noise rating of 26dBA, compared to the XD520U's 29dBA. On the specifications front, the XD520U claims 3000 ANSI lumens brightness, a contrast ratio of 2000:1 and a lamp capable of running at up to 280W. Resolution tops out at 1024x768. As you'd expect for a lower-cost projector, both focus and zoom are manual affairs.

Inputs are functional, with 2 D-Sub connectors, 1 composite and 1 S-Video connector, along with 1 RCA Audio and one 3.5mm stereo input. There's also a single D-Sub output port, and another 3.5mm output audio jack.

The XD520U utilises a six-colour wheel for -- so Mitsubishi claims -- enhanced colour accuracy. For those interested, the two additional colours are yellow and cyan. The bulb on the XD520U is rated for 3000 hours operation in economy mode, or a more sedate 2000 hours in standard mode.

Setting up the XD520U was particularly easy, with a single pop-out front leg for basic angle adjustment. Focus and zoom are handled from the physical front wheels, which feel moderately sturdy.

Verdict
We tested the XD520U with a variety of material and across all of its input sources &mdahs; although with a unit with this few inputs, that's not a difficult task. Calibrating and testing with DisplayMate Multimedia Edition showed good onscreen geometry but a very slight tendency to wash colours out at the lighter end of the spectrum. That's less likely to be a concern for a projector showing static slides, but if you do require the use of embedded video, you might find it a little more noticeable.

Speaking of things you'll find noticeable, the 29dBA output of the fans on the projector are certainly not the most circumspect of critters. Loud, in other words, and for some of our test material that included sound, often nearly as loud as the XD520U's inbuilt and undeniably tinny speakers.

The XD520U's unremarkably remote worked well. Replacement bulbs cost $549 each, which works out at 27.45c/hour in standard mode, or 18.3c/hour if you can get by in economy mode.

The XD520U isn't a stunning system, and it's priced accordingly; while it's possible to get cheaper business projectors with essentially the same raw specifications, many of those do suffer more than the XD520U when it comes to absolute colour precision. At the same time, many other units aren't quite so noisy.

Connections

* Composite
* Yes

* S-Video
* Yes

* DVI
* Yes

* VGA
* Yes

Display

* Screen resolution
* 1024 x 768 pixels

* Mininum projection size - Diagonal
* 1016 mm

* Maximum projection size - Diagonal
* 7620 mm

General

* Dimensions (H x W x D)
* 102 x 332 x 250 mm

* Weight
* 2.9 kg

Image

* Aspect ratio
* 4:3

Lamp

* Lamp brightness
* 3000 cd/m2

Projectors

* Projector system
* DLP

Sound

* Noise level
* 29 dB

* Speakers
* Yes

[+/-] Read moore...

[+/-] Back...

Sony VPL-FE40

By Christian Harris
Price as reviewed $4,156.99 - $4,332.99

The VPL-FE40 is an ideal projector for showcasing presentations, video and images in medium- to large-sized meeting rooms and auditoriums. The only downside is the cost, both to purchase and run, which will limit the VPL-FE40 to large organisations with big budgets.

Sony's VPL-FE40 is a large projector measuring 53.2cm wide by 14.5cm high by 35.2cm deep and weighing 9.8kg. It's an installation-type unit that's designed to sit confidently in a modern boardroom, projecting a typical range of business applications. That's not to say the VPL-FE40 isn't up to the job of running video, for example; however, its design, features and price are aimed squarely at large organisations.

Featuring a new design and improved LCD panel reliability, the VPL-FE40 can project images of up to 4,000 ANSI lumens, making it usable in a wide range of lighting conditions. It also delivers exceptionally clear images thanks to its native SXGA+ (1,400x1,050) resolution, while its built-in network capability enables images from a PC on the same network to be projected. An HDMI interface provides support for uncompressed high-definition video and 8-channel audio.

The VPL-FE40 uses three 0.79in. inorganic high-temperature polysilicon (HTPS) LCD panels. The LCDs also incorporate Sony's BrightEra technology, which uses an inorganic alignment layer to produce a stronger bonding of molecules. This makes the panels more resistant to damage from ultraviolet rays, increasing their reliability.

A 1F inversion panel drive doubles the panel's drive speed to produce images without line flicker. The projector also uses 12-bit gamma correction circuitry to deliver uniform image colour and brightness across the entire screen-viewing surface. These models are not equipped with a lens, but three optional lenses are available that allow them to meet a range of needs -- from long-throw projection in large auditoriums to short-throw rear projection in museums or training facilities.

As businesses become more dispersed, the VPL-FE40 helps to extend the horizons of presentations by enabling broadcasts to be conducted over IP networks. Up to five projectors can be networked, with the image from a single PC projected on each. This is a useful feature in large venues or when images need to be projected to various locations. Also, thanks to a built-in ID function, multiple projectors can be set up and operated independently from a single Remote Commander unit.

Installation is easy due to a centred lens and power zoom, focus, and shift functions. The projector can be ceiling, floor or rear-screen-mounted, and two units of the same model can be stacked for applications requiring twice the light output.

Maintenance is straightforward, as various functions can be performed over the LAN via a web browser. For example, the system can be set up to send automatic email reports to designated recipients for scheduled maintenance, including projected lamp life and error reports. The lamp is accessible from the side of the unit and the filter from the front, so replacement and cleaning does not require the projector to be disconnected.

A single cable to the HDMI interface allows you to enjoy high-quality video and audio. HDMI also provides automatic format adjustment, enabling devices to display content in the most effective format. An impressive range of other inputs are also supported, including component and composite video, S-Video (Y/C), and two analogue D-Sub signals. There are even five BNC connectors, along with 10/100Base-TX Ethernet, stereo and mono audio inputs, and an RS-232C port for remote control. Strangely there's no DVI input. A regular monitor output (15-pin D-Sub) port lets you simultaneously view the same image on a monitor that's being projected. There's a built-in 1.8W speaker (stereo) too, but you'll want to connect an external sound system for the best results.

Supported video signals include RGB/component (50/60Hz), progressive component (50/60Hz) and DTV (480/60i, 575/50i, 480/60p, 575/50p, 720/60p, 720/50p, 1080/60i, 1080/50i, 1080/60p, 1080/50p). Colour systems supported are also comprehensive: NTSC, PAL, SECAM, NTSC4.43, PAL-M, PAL-N, PAL60. The 4:3 native aspect ratio is a little disappointing -- we'd have preferred a 16.9 ratio given the large array of video inputs signals. In terms of screen coverage the VPL-FE40 is capable of producing images of between 40in. and 600in. (measured across the diagonal).

Built for a variety of applications, including education and business, the VPL-FE40 is an ideal projector for showcasing presentations, video and images in medium to large-sized meeting rooms and auditoriums. The 3-LCD engine delivers excellent colour fidelity, while video is accurate and smooth. The versatility of this projector also makes it ideal for a number of digital signage installations, while the excellent networking functionality makes the VPL-FE40 extremely versatile and customisable to virtually any application environment. The variety of mounting options and image sizes are further testament to the VPL-FE40's capabilities.

The only downside is the cost, both to purchase (AU$8995) and run (a replacement lamp costs $895), which will limit the VPL-FE40 to large organisations with big budgets. Also, the generally sleek design is marred somewhat by having all of the cables exit from one side.

[+/-] Read moore...

[+/-] Back...

Sony VPL-CX155

By Christian Harris
Price as reviewed $1,954.99 - $2,102.00

Sony's VPL-C series of LCD projectors includes six models, each designed to meet specific presentation requirements in mid-sized conference rooms and classrooms. But although the company has made great strides to integrate flexibility, from connectivity and security to advanced networking, image quality has taken an unfortunate hit.

The models in the C series -- VPL-CW125, VPL-CX155, VPL-CX150, VPL-CX125, VPL-CX120 and VPL-CX100 -- are all based on 3LCD technology with Sony's Advance Crisp Focus glass lens, which is designed to display sharper and clearer images, with minimal aberration, on a screen's entire surface. Unfortunately the VPL-CX155 reviewed here struggled with text in our tests, while its general performance was below par.

The 3,000-lumen VPL-CW125 delivers a WXGA resolution, ideal for presentations from a wide-screen source such as a WXGA PC or high-definition video with a 16:9 aspect ratio, while the other models in the series feature native XGA resolution (1,024 by 768 pixels) with a range of brightness levels from 2,700 to 3,500 lumens. The VPL-CX155 (29.8 by 37.2 by 9cm; 4.1kg) that we looked at has a brightness of 3,500 ANSI lumens, which is acceptable for demanding business use in a brightly lit room. Having said that, we could only get the best from the projector in a dimly lit room, which is far from ideal considering the unit isn't designed for movie watching.

The projector accepts a practical variety of input signals, including composite video, S-Video (Y/C) and analogue computer signals up to SXGA+. This flexibility allows it to be connected to a variety of sources and peripherals, but we were disappointed at the lack of component video or even a DVI port -- especially as many modern notebooks include the latter as standard. The projector has a monitor output and audio inputs and outputs (so you can link the audio output connector to an external speaker system to enhance the user experience), as well as an RS-232C port for remote use and a 10/100 Ethernet port for connection to a wired network. There's no Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, though.

The VPL-CX155 is well built and its stylish silver casing would enhance any modern office. It's also relatively quiet in operation, and the front-panel alerts you when the lamp needs to be replaced (to reduce maintenance time, filter cleaning is also recommended at the same time as lamp replacement). The lamp, which should be good for around 3,000 hours, is accessible from inside the rear cover, while the filter can be reached from the front of the projector. This means that lamp replacement and filter cleaning can be performed without uninstalling the projector. Network capabilities mean you can deliver presentations over an IP network; a number of functions can also be performed remotely via a web browser, and the projector's current status can be verified and simple controls operated, such as powering the unit on or off.

Another neat feature is that up to five projectors can be connected to a network and the image from a single PC can be projected by each unit -- this could prove useful in large venues and multi-room applications in which images need to be projected from various locations. By manually registering a PC's IP address, images can also be projected across the country or even internationally for distance learning or long-distance communications. Furthermore, the network capabilities allow automatic email reports to be sent to remind you of scheduled maintenance, or alert you to errors and projected lamp life.

The VPL-CX155 has a built-in ID function. This enables it to be controlled independently using a single Remote Commander unit, which is useful for multi-projector installations in a single room, and during installation and operation. Also noteworthy is the fact that the full-size remote (the CX150, CX120 and CX100 come with a card-type controller) has buttons for direct input selection, so you don't have to toggle through the entire range of inputs to select the desired one. You can adjust such settings as digital zoom and audio volume, or activate auto pixel-alignment, picture-muting and picture-freeze functions. Other core features include vertical and horizontal keystone correction, and direct power on/off. For classroom or office settings, security features such as a control panel key lock, password authentication system and a built-in security bar or Kensington lock help to prevent unauthorised use and theft.

Suitable for ceiling or rear installation, or portable use, the VPL-CX155 offers the flexibility to work where and how you want, along with the extra benefits of network capability. It also has some useful user-friendly features, such as the ability to display the image simultaneously on a large screen and on an additional monitor (via a 15-pin D-Sub connection), so you can face the audience and still see the information being shown. Our only criticism is that the projector's 3LCD panels don't live up to the unit's potential. The overall image isn't very bright, while text quality is really quite poor -- we struggled to read Word and Excel documents from as little as three metres away. Videos and photos looked better (the colours were good), but this is little consolation given the VPL-CX155's target market. Overall, we were left wanting more from a business projector with such a high price tag.

Connections

* Composite
* Yes

* S-Video
* Yes

* VGA
* Yes

Display

* Screen resolution
* 1024 x 768 pixels

* Mininum projection size - Diagonal
* 1016 mm

* Maximum projection size - Diagonal
* 7620 mm

General

* Dimensions (H x W x D)
* 298 x 372 x 90 mm

* Weight
* 4.1 kg

Image

* Aspect ratio
* 4:3

Other

* Other Features
* For more information see the Sony Website

Physical features

* Power consumption
* 285 W

Projectors

* Projector system
* LCD

Sound

* Audio output
* 1 W

* Speakers
* Yes

[+/-] Read moore...

[+/-] Back...

Panasonic PT-AX200E

By Zennith Geisler
Price as reviewed AU$2749.00

The Panasonic PT-AX200E replaces the PT-AX100E projector. The new model keeps the excellent picture quality and ease of use that impressed us on its predecessor, and drops the price AU$550.

Design
This is not a portable projector. At 395mm by 300mm by 112mm and weighing almost five kilograms, the PT-AX200E, like its predecessor, is one of the larger projectors around. It's big, boxy and its white chassis lacks the stylish sophistication Apple has achieved with its pale-hued electronics.

The lens controls are on the front of the unit, with other controls, including the power and menu buttons laid out across the top. Inputs are accessible from the back of the unit. We do like the removable cap which protects the lens -- a legacy of the PT-AX100E design.

Features
The PT-AX200E has the same basic specifications as the PT-AX100E, only including an additional HDMI port, bringing the total to two, and a "game mode" which claims to improve gradation in saturated areas to show detail in dark areas that would otherwise be unviewable.

Claiming itself as a High Definition projector, we were disappointed to discover the PT-AX200E only offers 720p resolution, not 1080p full high definition as expected. However, the picture quality is impressive and unless you're dead-set on going full-HD, you probably won't notice too much difference.

As with the PT-AX100E, the PT-AX200E boasts high brightness, with a claimed rating of 2000 lumens, making it easy to view with the lights on, and even in sunlight to a lesser degree.

The 2x optical zoom, horizontal keystone function and mechanical lens shift make adjusting the image and focus a simple process -- we only wish the vertical lens shift was a little more flexible. If placed on a low surface such as a coffee table or entertainment unit of similar height, you'll find the projected image fairly low to the ground. In addition, due to a lack of vertical keystoning, unless directed squarely at the screen, the image will be somewhat skewed.

Given this, as well as the unit's bulk, this particular model is probably best suited to a ceiling-mount or a permanent position set-up.

The PT-AX200 comes with a remote that has big buttons that can be illuminated to avoid straining your eyes trying to adjust the settings in a darkened room.

Performance
The PT-AX200E is straightforward and easy to use while offering good control over its settings. The image quality is the same high standard shared by previous models, impressing viewers and all but erasing the dreaded screen door effect common in 3LCD projectors. The effect is barely visible and then, only in very bright areas at a close distance.

The unit also gets quite hot in the space of an hour or two, but we didn't notice this effect the projector functions or image quality.

Although it offers both vertical and horizontal lens shift, as stated earlier, we wish it went a little further, so there could be more flexibility when adjusting the size of the image and position of the projector.

Despite its impressive image quality and ease of us, the PT-AX200E fails to make a notable improvement on the PT-AX100E. If you don't already own a similar model and aren't concerned about portability or futureproofing your projector with full 1080p high definition, the PT-AX200E is a pleasing projector at a decent price.

Connections

* Composite
* 1

* S-Video
* 1

* Component
* 1

* HDMI
* 2

* VGA
* 1

Display

* Screen resolution
* 1280 x 720 pixels

* Mininum projection size - Diagonal
* 1016 mm

* Maximum projection size - Diagonal
* 5080 mm

General

* Dimensions (H x W x D)
* 112 x 395 x 300 mm

* Weight
* 4.9 kg

Image

* Aspect ratio
* 16:9

* Picture presets
* Standard, Dynamic, Movie, Game, User/custom

* Contrast ratio
* 6000 :1

Lamp

* Lamp brightness
* 2000 cd/m2

Physical features

* Power consumption
* 290 W

Projectors

* Projector system
* LCD

* Lens shift
* Vertical, Horizontal

* Projector installation
* Table, Ceiling, Front, Rear

Sound

* Speakers
* No

[+/-] Read moore...

[+/-] Back...

Sim2 Domino D10

By Alex Kidman
Price as reviewed £1357.45 (Exc VAT)
£1595.00 (Inc VAT)

Design

Sim2's projectors have always had style that befits their premium price tag. While nobody is likely to spend anywhere near as long staring at the projector as they are its projected images, it's still nice to know that the tens of thousands of dollars you've spent on, say a Sim2 Domino 80 or Sim2 HT3000E went on some spiffy design features.

So what then, of the D10, Sim2's entry into the budget space? Well, before we start, we should point out that Sim2's definition of "budget" might not match up exactly to yours; the D10 will still cost you one dollar shy of four grand. It is budget, however, compared to a top-of-the-range Sim2 projector such as the C3X 1080. To give it some perspective, for the price of one C3X 1080, you could buy no less than eleven D10 projectors.

The D10's casing is matte black and rounded at the corners, and there's no mistaking that this is a simpler, cheaper unit than the usual glossy Sim2 offerings. There is a plus side to this simplicity; it's all rather easy to set up. Within minutes of unpacking our review sample we were watching crystal clear images projecting before us. Like the projector that it controls, the remote control for the D10 is plain and functional.

Features
The D10 is a DLP projector with a top resolution of 1024x768, or in layman's terms, 720p. It can handle 1080p content, but will scale it down. The projector uses the Texas Instruments Darkchip2 chipset; not quite as spiffy as the Darkchip3 you'd find in the D80.

Yet, the feature that places it above the competition is a full implementation of Texas Instrument's BrilliantColor technology. Whereas most DLP projectors will use a three-colour wheel (RGB) arrangement, BrilliantColor adds another three segments -- cyan, magenta and yellow. The effect of BrilliantColor should be to accentuate colour differences, leading to more realistic and richer colours.

We'd love to give you a brightness rating for the D10, but nowhere in the documentation -- or on Sim2's Web site -- is it stated. Perhaps they forgot. The contrast ratio is rated at 2000:1, however.

The D10 offers a full range of inputs, including S-Video, composite, component, D-Sub, DVI and HDMI. That makes it obviously suitable for high definition video -- not quite "full HD", but close -- as well as a myriad of other projection chores.

Performance
We've yet to be disappointed by a Sim2 projector, but then, given the average asking price for one of their little black boxes of wonder, we'd be very upset if the performance failed to live up to expectations. Things change once these products enter the semi-budget arena, though -- and we're somewhat tougher critics. So, first up are our criticisms of the D10. In full performance mode, the fan is noticeably noisy, even in a large display area. We were also somewhat surprised at how long the fan-assisted shutdown took.

Other than that, we were impressed at how good a 720p signal looked coming out of the D10 -- especially during the more rigorous Displaymate video tests. The D10 delivered excellent visuals with good and subtle contrast -- especially considering the relatively meagre contrast ratio it offers.

We were impressed with the D10's video performance -- arguably more than one could expect to be from what is only a 720p projector. Still, we can't overlook the asking price, and it leaves us wondering-- can Sim2 actually make a true "budget" projector, or is it beyond them?

Connections

* Composite
* 1

* S-Video
* 1

* Component
* 1

* HDMI
* 1

* DVI
* 1

Display

* Screen resolution
* 1280 x 768 pixels

* Mininum projection size - Diagonal
* 1270 mm

* Maximum projection size - Diagonal
* 6350 mm

General

* Dimensions (H x W x D)
* 1450 x 347 x 316 mm

* Weight
* 4 kg

Image

* Imaging technology
* 0,65� DarkChip2 DMD

* Aspect ratio
* 16:9

* Contrast ratio
* 2000 :1

Other

* Other Features
* Memories/Overscan, Full BrilliantColor technology

Projectors

* Projector system
* DLP

* Projection Lens
* High quality optics with manual zoom and focus adj.

* Colour Wheel
* 6 x

[+/-] Read moore...

[+/-] Back...

Sanyo PDG-DSU20B

by M. NURRIZQI PUTRO UTOMO
Price as reviewed $470.00

This Sanyo PDG-DSU20B is a multimedia projector designed to work with a lap top and screen so you can do presentations or whatever where you want your computer screen projected. I also use it connected to a TV and VCR so you can project the image onto a larger screen, for showing to a whole room full of people.

It costs GBP233 (about $470) at the moment from the BT shop - that's the cheapest price I can find at the moment - I used mine at work, so I don't know what the one I used actually cost.

It is a portable projector, so you and your latop can go anywhere, and bore people to death by powerpoint slide, on a global scale.

It weighs a little over 6lbs, which is not bad, but if you can get the bloke in IT to set it up for you and carry it over, then I'd do that if I were you.

It is a fabulous example of the genre.

Firstly it's intelligent. It recognises when you've plugged something into it and you don't have to press a dozen buttons just to get it to talk to your laptop. I have a system with multiple things plugged in quite often and when you switch one of them on, it knows you've done that, it knows which one and it goes straight there! Oh joy! It is arguably more interactive than the bloke in IT, becasue it never scratches its head, sucks its teeth and says, "Oh my goodness what ever did you to do to this then?" in a patronising male tone.

Secondly it is very bright and you can adjust the contrast, and it has a big lens so you still get a reasonable size of picture even if the projection screen is a long way from the actual projector. If you do a lot of mobile projecting you'll know how often you walk into a room which has no black out blinds and one piddling table about half a mile from the screen, with a plug through a window on an extension cable that is precisely two inches too short for the task.. Or maybe that's just me. And the bloke in our IT department.

So all in all - it is quick to set up, and almost idiot proof; projects well and you can adjust all the stuff like the contrast, the keystone etc so you get a good picture without having to lug a 150 page manual in Swedish along with you and spend three hours failing to work out how to switch it off.

[+/-] Read moore...

[+/-] Back...

Epson Pro Cinema 1080 UB

by Evan Powell

Price as reviewed $3,999.99

Epson has been making LCD-based home theater projectors for over five years now. The line started with the industry's first 1280x720 resolution model, the TW100, which was released in the summer of 2002. That unit has been followed by a line of newer, better, and cheaper projectors that have appeared periodically ever since.

Epson not only makes projectors, but they also manufacture the LCD panels that go into them. That puts Epson in a unique competitive position in the marketplace, since other vendors like Panasonic, Mitsubishi, and Sanyo all use Epson LCD panels in their products as well.

Epson home theater projectors have traditionally been good and dependable, but never quite leading edge in terms of price/performance. I've always had the feeling that they were holding back a bit in the design and marketing of their own home theater projectors, perhaps so as not to undermine the wider distribution of LCD panels to their corporate clientele. If that was indeed Epson's thinking, that strategy appears to have changed with the recent release of the Pro Cinema 1080 UB, the Home Cinema 1080 UB, and the entry level Powerlite Home Cinema 720. These three units are without question the most formidable competitors ever released by Epson in the home theater projector market, and they are right there on the leading edge of price/performance.

Differences between Pro 1080 and Home 1080

This review focuses on the Pro Cinema 1080 UB and includes notes on the Home Cinema 1080 UB. For all practical purposes, these are the same physical projector internally. But they are packaged, priced, and distributed differently. We have used a sample of the Pro version for this review. The actual differences between the Pro Cinema 1080 UB and the Home Cinema 1080 UB are as follows:

• The Pro version is black, and the Home version is white.
• The Pro is priced at $3,999.99
• The Home is $2,999.99
• The Pro comes with a ceiling mount and spare lamp, whereas the Home does not.
• The Pro has a 3-year warranty, and the Home is 2 years.
• The Pro model features an Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) certification.
• The Pro model is sold by resellers who are trained to install, calibrate, and support the unit. The Home model is sold by resellers who typically do not offer this level of support.

Product Overview and Observations

The Cinema 1080 UB is a relatively small home theater projector with a form factor that is wider than it is deep (almost 16" wide and 12" deep). Fan exhaust is out the front left corner as you face the unit. The design makes it particularly convenient for mounting on a rear shelf.

The projector has manually controlled vertical and horizontal lens shift. Vertical lens shift allows a total movement range of almost three picture heights (2.9 by our measurements). This is more than ample for both rear shelf mounting, and for most ceiling mount situations. It is about as much vertical shift range as we ever seen on home theater projectors.

[NOTE: In the review as initially posted, we erroneously reported a vertical shift of two picture heights, and noted that this range was restrictive in ceiling mount situations. We also noted that the vertical lens shift range was less than the Panasonic AE2000 and JVC-RS1 in the comparisons with those units below. In fact, all of these units offer about the same vertical shift range. This review as been updated with the correct data as of 1/23/08. EP]

A key advantage is that the Cinema 1080 UB is a very bright projector, and that it has a range of brightness options so you can adopt it to your particular room, screen size, and intended use. It is rated at 1600 ANSI lumens, and believe it or not, in its brightest operating mode ("Vivid") we measured exactly 1600 ANSI lumens, with the lens set to its widest angle configuration. I can count on one had the projectors that have measured at or above their rated lumen spec since we started reviewing projectors in 1999.

The Vivid operating mode is fine for a Super Bowl party, but as usual you trade color accuracy for extra brightness. If you want better color, opt for Cinema Day or Cinema Night modes. Cinema Day produces a whopping 800 lumens, and Cinema Night delivers a still very bright 470 lumens. These measurements are, again, with the lens in wide angle position.

The Cinema 1080 UB has a long zoom range, 2.1:1. The good news is that it gives you great flexibility in throw distance for any desired screen size-you can light up a 120" diagonal screen by placing the projector anywhere from 12 to 25 feet from the screen. The bad news is that when you move it to maximum telephoto, you sacrifice about 45% of the projector's maximum light output. For example, Vivid drops from 1600 to 870 lumens just by shifting the lens from wide angle to telephoto. That's not unusual for a 2x zoom lens, but it means that installation of the projector must be done with consideration for the screen size and operating mode that is anticipated. If you are going to be operating in Cinema Night mode, the use of the extreme telephoto end of the zoom will drop light output from 470 to about 260 lumens. That in turn would limit the screen size you'd want to go with, and/or it may argue for the use of a higher gain screen.

Therefore, despite the added complications of ceiling mounting, you may indeed wish to opt for a ceiling mount to get the projector closer to the screen rather than setting it back on a rear wall. If this sounds a bit confusing, professional installers can help sort it all out for you, which is one of the benefits of buying the Pro version from them rather than buying the Home version and doing it yourself.

Without a doubt the most sensation specification on the Cinema 1080 UB is the 50,000:1 contrast ratio-at this writing, this is the highest contrast ratio claimed for any home theater projector on the market. This is achieved with the action of an auto iris, which changes from scene to scene-in a bright scene the iris opens to boost highlights, and in a dark scene it closes to achieve deeper blacks. The native contrast spec on this unit is 4,000:1, which is the contrast range it can achieve within any given image frame.

The important question is, what does it really look like? The answer is that it looks remarkably good. The combination of the latent contrast and action of the auto iris delivers much more apparent contrast than we would have imagined possible. In Cinema Day mode, overall apparent dynamic range comes within a hair of matching that of the JVC DLA-RS1 when viewed side by side. Of course, the DLA-RS1 is a pricier projector with a much higher native contrast rating, so the fact that the Cinema 1080 UB can compete so well against it was surprising and remarkable.

On the test unit we had, the factory default settings in the various color modes were quite inaccurate, with all of them pushing green to a greater or lesser extent. None of them were acceptable out of the box. However, the system offers extensive controls for calibration, including the ability to adjust hue, saturation, and brightness on RGBCMY in each of the six preprogrammed color modes. These adjustments give you the control needed to balance out the projector. In addition, there is a skin tone control in the menu which should be used with caution. It can be set from 0 to 6, with 3 or 4 being the factory defaults depending upon the color mode you select. But use it judiciously, with the understanding that it has an effect on most colors in the spectrum, not just skin tones. The good news is that, once it is tuned up and properly calibrated, the Cinema 1080 UB is capable of delivering beautiful, natural, well balanced color.

In general, the factory defaults on our test unit for color saturation, contrast, and sharpness were overdriven for our taste. Color was simply too intense, and reducing the saturation control yielded a more naturally balanced color. Highlights had too much of an artificial glow, and pulling the contrast control down a few notches solved this problem. Finally, the picture looked a bit too sharp and too digital at the factory setting for sharpness. Reducing the sharpness control a few pegs yielded a more filmlike image without compromising image acuity. However, this is a personal preference-some people really like the appearance of the absolute sharpest possible image. If that's what you want, the Cinema 1080 UB definitely has the juice to deliver it.

As far as fan noise is concerned, in the less bright operating modes like Cinema Night, there is very little. But setting the unit in Cinema Day not only boosts light output substantially, but it raises the fan noise to a noticeable level. I wouldn't call it loud, but it is more noticeable than competing home theater projectors in their high lumen modes. If one were opting to run in Cinema Day mode on a regular basis, we would suggest positioning the projector as far from the seating area as is practical.

Epson Cinema 1080 UB vs. Panasonic PT-AE2000

This is an interesting comparison. Both projectors are extremely good, and both have distinct advantages over the other.

The Cinema 1080 UB clearly trumps the AE2000 in brightness and dynamic range. On a black screen with white credits, the Cinema 1080 shows both deeper black and whiter white. But in most film/video scenes with a lot of mid-tone values, black level on the two units is for the most part comparable, and on occasion slightly deeper on the AE2000, the differences being due, we would guess, to the different behavior of the auto irises on each unit. Highlights are invariably slightly brighter on the Cinema 1080, but overall picture luminance and snap are similar when viewing scenes with average light levels.

As far as lumen output is concerned, the Cinema 1080 UB is about 25% brighter in comparable calibration modes for dark room viewing. On the other hand, the AE2000 produces a bit more lumen output in its Normal mode (about 900 lumens), than does the Cinema 1080 it is comparable Cinema Day mode (about 800 lumens).

At factory default sharpness settings, the Cinema 1080 UB looks a bit sharper than the AE2000, and it accentuates more detail in facial features. However, as noted previously, the factory sharpness setting is somewhat overdriven on the Cinema 1080. Meanwhile, the AE2000 is factory preset at close to its minimum, so sharpness can be boosted if the user desires.

While the Cinema 1080 UB shows stronger performance in black level, dynamic range, lumen output, and perhaps a slightly sharper image, the AE2000 has advantages of its own. First, it shows less digital noise. This is true in both standard and high definition material, but it is most noticeable in SD. Even with its noise reduction filter off, the AE2000 shows less noise than the Cinema 1080 with its filters on. The result is that the image on the AE2000 has a smoother, more filmlike characteristic.

The AE2000 has no pixelation due to the SmoothScreen filter. The Cinema 1080's pixelation is a bit more apparent. However, at 1080p resolution, we do not consider the pixel structure on any 1080p projector to be an issue of concern at normal viewing distances.

The AE2000 has quieter fan noise in all operating modes. In low lumen modes, the Cinema 1080 fan noise is low and unobtrusive, but the AE2000 is virtually silent. In the brightest modes, the AE2000 is still extremely quiet, whereas the Cinema 1080 puts out some noticeable audible noise.

The AE2000 has greater connectivity, offering three HDMI ports and two component ports, compared to the Cinema 1080 two HDMIs and one component. However, the Cinema 1080 has a 12-volt trigger which the AE2000 does not have.

The AE2000 has a vertical stretch mode to accommodate an anamorphic lens, whereas the Cinema 1080 does not, at least in HDMI.

Finally, the AE2000 has several features that don't exist on the Cinema 1080-its split screen calibration is unique, it has a waveform monitor onboard to assist in calibrations, and it has a learning remote that enables you to control several devices in your theater from the one remote control.

So the bottom line is that the head to head competition between the Cinema 1080 UB and the Panasonic AE2000 is a toss up. There is no clear winner as neither outperforms the other in all ways. The decision to go with one or the other depends on which among the various features and image characteristics offered by each projector are the most important to you.

Epson Cinema 1080 UB vs. JVC DLA-RS1

This side by side shootout was quite fascinating as well. First and foremost, the question was which would show better black levels and dynamic range? The RS1 has a native contrast rating of 15,000:1, whereas the Cinema 1080's native rating is just 4,000:1, but it is assisted by an auto iris that clearly improves its actual performance.

The results of our viewing were that the RS1 has just a slight edge in performance on these characteristics, but the Cinema 1080 UB is surprisingly close. In a number of scenes there was no practical difference. We were very surprised to see the Cinema 1080 show so strongly against the RS1, considering the huge difference in their native contrast ratings.

Of course, the Pro Cinema 1080 UB has a price advantage. Not only is it selling for a thousand dollars less, but the price includes a spare lamp and ceiling mount. And the Home Cinema 1080 UB has an even more radical price advantage, selling for at least two thousand dollars less at the moment. So if you want contrast and black level performance that is almost equal to the RS1, but don't want to spend the money, the Cinema 1080 models will get you there.

We found it much easier to get to an ideal color calibration on the RS1, starting from that unit's factory defaults. The Cinema 1080 required more extensive manipulation, and for most users a professional calibration will be needed to get the most from it. (We say this based on our experience with one early test sample. Epson could alter the factory defaults at any time, so it is possible that customers will have better luck with out of the box color performance than we did.)

The RS1 is a D-ILA based projector, which is JVC's version of LCOS. One of the attractive attributes of LCOS technology is the lack of pixelation. Accordingly, the RS1 has less apparent pixel structure than the Cinema 1080 UB when viewed up close. But as noted previously, we don't find anything to complain about as far as pixel structure on the Cinema 1080 goes-it is not visible at normal viewing distances unless you have the eyes of Superman.

The Cinema 1080 is much smaller and lighter than the RS1, actually about half the size and weight. That makes it easier to shelf mount, less bulky to ceiling mount, and in general less visible in the room when not in use. If you are planning an installation in a multi-purpose room and you don't want your video system to be seen in the room when you are not using it, the Cinema 1080 is the more unobtrusive choice.

Connectivity on these two units is almost the same. Both have two HDMI ports and one component port. However, the Cinema 1080 also includes a VGA connection and a 12-volt trigger as well. The Cinema 1080 is HDMI 1.3 compatible whereas the RS1 is not.

In their brightest operating modes, there is some fan noise on both units, but the RS1 is a bit quieter than the Cinema 1080. In lower lumen modes, fan noise is a non-issue on both of them.

Neither of these models offers a vertical stretch aspect ratio to accommodate an anamorphic lens.

In short, the Epson Cinema 1080 UB competes extremely well against the RS1. Once it is tweaked up, it is capable of delivering a picture that comes very close to matching that of the RS1, and it does so for a lot less money.

Conclusion

The Epson Pro Cinema 1080 UB is a beautiful projector once it is calibrated. And in buying the Pro version you are likely to get some assistance with the calibration. The overall package is fairly priced, and a highly competitive value proposition. If you want to budget about $4,000 for your next home theater projector, it would be difficult to find a better choice than the Pro Cinema 1080 UB. We can give it our Editor's Choice Award with great enthusiasm.

Since we have not yet seen the actual Home Cinema 1080 version, we will reserve further comment on that particular model for a later date. For those who are adept at video display calibration and who prefer to do everything themselves, the Home version may be the better choice from an expense perspective. More on this to come ......

[+/-] Read moore...

[+/-] Back...