Price as reviewed $3,995.00
As HD video content is increasingly displayed in corporate and education settings, the NP3151W widescreen projector from NEC Display Solutions of America has been designed to deliver home theater-level video quality for professional environments. The Test Center recently had the opportunity to evaluate this multi-featured projector and see what's under its hood.
At 4000 lumens, the NP3151W is certainly one of, if not the brightest, projectors to make its way into the Test Center. Weighing in at 16.1 pounds, its 15.7 x 5.9 x 14.1 inches build is also one of the largest we've seen.
If we had to choose one word to describe this projector, it would have to be connectivity. A glance at the rear of the unit reveals a dizzying array of connectors. For inputs the NP3151W supports Component (3 RCA), S-Video, Composite A/V (3 RCA), DVI, and Analog RGB (15-pin and 5 BNC). There are also three stereo mini audio jacks, a 9 pin serial PC control port, a 15-pin RGB output, and a USB port for a keyboard or mouse. Network connectivity is accomplished by way of an RJ-45 Ethernet port and a USB mounted 802.11 a/b/g Wi-Fi adapter.
Utilizing 17 calibration patterns in DisplayMate's testing suite, the projector aced all but the black level test, with a setting a little lower than optimal. (It should be noted that when black levels can't be adjusted, such as in this case, lower levels are preferred to higher).
Considering the size and brightness of the unit, environmental variables weren't unreasonable. After about an hour of use, the top of the projector measured 96 degrees Fahrenheit, while the output at the fan's vent was 149 degrees. Sound levels while operating were below the 55 dBA threshold of our meter although, curiously, when the device is turned off the exhaust fan speeds up for about 1.5 minutes, generating a sound level of 58 dBA. Power consumption remained constant at 402 watts while on and 17 watts when off.
Most of the NP3151W's adjustments are easily accessed via a browser-based control panel. Using any computer on the same network, the projector can be remotely powered on and off, and the input source can be selected. Other remote features include volume control, picture adjustments, and the status and remaining life the lamp and filter. In addition, there is built-in security by way of a password to protect against unauthorized use; and separate user accounts to limit the access level of available menu options.
Throughout all of our tests, which incorporated multiple input sources (including a Hi-Def session of GTA IV), the NP3151W stood up to the challenge. Video quality is above par with bright, vivid colors, and the two internal 5 watt speakers had enough volume for everyone in the lab to hear.
The included collection of software, called NEC Projector User Supportware 5, is a suite of five Windows applications (for W2K and newer) that helps make presentations simpler. The first, Image Express Utility 2.0, also has a Mac OS X version and allows anything on the PC screen to be sent to the projector via wired or wireless LAN. The other programs are Desktop Control Utility 1.0, which lets anyone use the projector to remotely operate a PC over the network via a USB mouse; PC Control Utility 1.0, with which the same adjustments as the browser-based utility (plus a few more) can be regulated; and a customized version of Ulead Photo Explorer 8.0 SE Basic, with added features specific to the projector.
A fifth program called Viewer PPT Converter 3.0, converts PowerPoint files into a file that, when saved onto a USB Flash Drive, and then inserted into the projector's USB port, can be displayed with the NP3151W's built-in viewer function.
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