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3LCD posts

Epson's WUXGA HTPS-TFT Panel hints at ultra-bright, high-contrast PowerLite projectors in September

by Thomas Ricker, posted Jun 11th 2009 at 4:50AM


As a leader in home cinema systems, it's always a good idea to keep tabs on Epson's core technologies as a preview of what's coming up in next generation home theater projectors. Today Seiko-Epson announced the start of volume production for its 0.94-inch HTPS-TFT LCD capable of a WUXGA (1920 x 1200 pixel) resolution for 3LCD projectors pushing 1080p. The panel supports a brightness of 5000 lumens (or more!) using Epson's D7 process technology while achieving "higher than ever contrast" through its C2 Fine inorganic alignment layer tech. What this means is simple: expect to see a new brightness and contrast champion PowerLite Home Cinema projector announced at the end of Summer, as CEDIA tradition dictates, with product shipping by end of the year.

Epson EH-TW5000 75,000:1 contrast ratio projector available

by Richard Lawler, posted Jun 8th 2009 at 4:28PM


Slotted for those who want a top of the line 1080p projector and aren't afraid to pay extra for it, the just-launched Epson EH-TW5000 manages a dynamic contrast ratio of 75,000:1 and 1600 ANSI lumens from its 3LCD technology. Matched with an HQV chip capable of 12-bit image processing, 4-4 pulldown, support for ultra-widescreen lenses, ISF certification and a mere 22db of noise it should garner consideration in any home theater setup, About Projectors says it can be found for around $5,299.

[via About Projectors & Crave]

Sanyo's LP-WXU700 projector is first to stream HD video over 802.11n WiFi

by Thomas Ricker, posted May 12th 2009 at 7:37AM

True, Sanyo's LP-WXU700 is limited to a WXGA (1280 x 800) pixel image. But it's still the world's first to transmit that video over 802.11b/g/n (draft 2.0). Grabbing wireless video off your Vista PC is a snap thanks to the projector's Windows Embedded CE 6.0 software with Video Streaming Function that links back to Vista's Network Projector Function. Spec-wise we're looking at a 0.74-inch 3LCD panel capable of projecting a 100-inch image at a distance of 2.5 to 4-meters at 3,800 lumens with a 500:1 contrast ratio. Sanyo even tosses in a single HDMI jack in addition to the usual analog inputs. While, it's targeted at offices and schools, it wouldn't surprise us to see this ¥62,790 (about $642) projector show up in make-shift home theaters and gaming rooms when it launches in June.

Update: Oops, dropped a 0 from the price. It's actually ¥627,900 or about $6,445 according to the native English press release but even that doesn't sound right.

[Via Akihabara News]

Christie's LW650 projector tilts and shifts itself out of less-than-ideal placement

by Steven Kim, posted Apr 22nd 2009 at 3:18AM

Christie LW650 projectorA little bit of keystone distortion during a PowerPoint has never bothered us too much, let alone an off-center placement, but if your boardroom won't tolerate such things then Christie wants to show you its new LW650 projector. The 1366x800 pixel, 3LCD beamer delivers 6500 lumens with a 2500:1 contrast ratio, but its real calling card is the lens shift technology (motorized, we assume) that will allow users to achieve undistorted images without resorting to any resolution-wasting digital corrections. Christie is promising a wide range of lenses that span several throw distances, so it's safe to assume that at least one short-throw option will be in there so you can hop on the bandwagon. Ping your Christie rep for a quotation, as retail pricing info hasn't been released.

Sony's VPL-FW41 projector don't need no darkness to shine

by Darren Murph, posted Mar 27th 2009 at 7:10PM


Sony's certainly got lots of cheaper, higher-res options out there for folks who've already sealed out all of the light from their downstairs den (er, "home theater room"), but if you're looking for something to cut through ambient light, search no more. The VPL-FW41 WXGA 3LCD beamer sports an expected 1,280 x 800 native resolution but impresses with its 4,500 lumens of light output -- or enough to make The Sun look like a faraway glow in comparison. All kidding aside, Sony's newest PJ should do wonders for rooms with oodles of sunshine seeping in, and the 12-bit 3D gamma correction circuitry, HDMI socket and 3D digital comb-filter should keep most everyone happy. Unfortunately, you'll be paying for all that brightness, with the MSRP sitting at $6,710.

[Via AboutProjectors]

Epson dishes up the 4,000 lumen G5000 projector

by Steven Kim, posted Feb 24th 2009 at 6:59PM

Epson G5000 projectorMaking sure to differentiate white and color output separately, Epson's PowerLite G5000 comes in with an even 4,000 lumen figure for both metrics. The 3LCD, XGA resolution projector also boasts some nice convenience features like 30-degrees of tilt and both horizontal and vertical lens shift so you can quickly get things set up when moving from the classroom to the family room. Available now for $2,499 -- but that lack of 1080 vertical pixels and only 1,000:1 contrast leave us a little cold while we look across other Epson offerings, even if they require a little more light control in the room. Still, if blackout drapes are just out of the question for your setting, those 4,000 lumens speak volumes.

InFocus IN5108 daytime-ready projector gets reviewed

by Steven Kim, posted Feb 8th 2009 at 4:07PM

InFocus IN5108 projector
The InFocus IN5108 might be just what you're looking for if you need a projector that can do duty as your primary HDTV display, at least according to the Good Gear Guide review. The industrial design might not win your heart over, but the real beauty to this beamer is the abundance of light that spills out of the lens and wash away the ambient light in your room -- the review says 5,000 lumens, but InFocus specs the unit at 4,000. Either way, it was plenty of candlepower to make all 1400x1050 pixels of the 3LCD projector watchable in a bright, sunlit room. Before you jump on this $5500 cannon, remember to set aside some money to replace the 2,000 hour bulb and keep in mind that it's big enough you won't want to be sneaking it in and out of the workplace conference room on a regular basis.
[Via ARN]

Christie LX1000 projector delivers 10,000 retina-searing lumens

by Steven Kim, posted Feb 3rd 2009 at 2:27PM

Christie LX1000 projector
Do you know when you don't need to worry about drawing the blackout shades and dimming the lights for projector use? When your projector cranks out 10,000 lumens, that's when. The Christie LX1000 is just such a beast, even though it looks to be a twin brother of the Sanyo PLC-XF71. For its part, the LX1000 is a dual-lamp, 3LCD setup with 10-bit image processing. The motorized lens shift and focus controls are to be expected at this level, but a nice 20,000 lumen surprise awaits you if you stack a couple of LX1000s. The good news is tempered somewhat by looking at the other LX-series models, which deliver 1024x768 resolution. Christie's not sharing pricing info, but this model has got to sit between the $18,000 LX900 and the $30,000 LX1500.

Hitachi introduces 3LCD CP-SX635 projector for lit rooms, boring areas

by Darren Murph, posted Feb 1st 2009 at 10:12AM


Sorry Hitachi, we really are, but there's no way consumers can squeeze a satisfactory amount of fun out of a SXGA+ projector. In fairness, the 3LCD CP-SX635 does boast a brightness of 4,000 ANSI lumens for showing up in even dimly lit areas, but the lack of 1080p just leaves us squarely on the fence. For those who aren't resolution junkies, this one also includes four optional lenses for various throw distances, a 2,000-hour hybrid filter, an inbuilt 16-watt speaker, network control capability and an HDMI input. Too bad we're not even given a price to ponder, huh? The full release is just past the break.

Continue reading Hitachi introduces 3LCD CP-SX635 projector for lit rooms, boring areas

3LCD celebrates a score, and by score we mean 20 years

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 8th 2009 at 9:00AM


Here lately, the aura of 3LCD has been somewhat overshadowed by the glitz and glam that seems to be intrinsically connected to DLP projectors, LCoS beamers and those other "new technologies." But regardless of the star factor, 3LCD has managed to hang around in a perpetually changing industry for 20 years now. Way back in 1988, the very first 3LCD projector started to ship with Kodak and Epson behind the wheel, and it took until 1994 for a 3LCD VGA PJ to see the light of day. 'Course, we all know what happened from there, but if you're the nostalgic type, head on past the break for a tear-jerking time line.

Epson introduces 1080p EH-TW3000 projector

by Darren Murph, posted Dec 11th 2008 at 8:46AM


Epson's EH-TW3000 isn't much to look at, but we all know it's the innards that count. The 1080p beamer sports the company's 3LCD technology, a 20,000:1 contrast ratio, 2,000 ANSI lumens, a 10-bit video processing engine, whisper quiet design, twin HDMI 1.3 inputs and a 3-year warranty. In other words, it's housing everything you need to make your movies look great, but it'll cost you a stiff €1,614 ($2,084) in order to bring one home.

[Via AboutProjectors]

Sanyo's 4LCD PLC-XP200L projector gets reviewed

by Darren Murph, posted Sep 29th 2008 at 6:29PM


You're probably wondering if adding in a fourth panel to an LCD projector is really worthwhile. Actually, you're probably willing to bet your bottom dollar that it's a gimmick. Sound & Vision took the time to actually critique Sanyo's latest with an open mind, and believe it or not, it found the all new QuaDrive technology to be everything it was hyped up to be. To be fair, the PLC-XP200L isn't tailored for the home theater; the lowly 1,024 x 768 resolution and 4:3 aspect ratio sound downright appalling. However, reviewers focused more on the actual technology / image quality given that Sanyo already has a compact, quieter, 16:9 QuaDrive beamer slated for 2009. During a demonstration, critics found the new tech to be visibly better than 3LCD rivals, with the picture appearing "dramatically more vivid." Should you rush out and buy the XP200L? Probably not. But you may just want to delay your impending PJ purchase until that HT version hits next year.

Mitsubishi releases retina-searing HD8000 ultra-bright projector

by Steven Kim, posted Sep 6th 2008 at 3:10AM

Mitsubishi HD8000 ultra-bright projectorMitsubishi has released a real light cannon with its HD8000, a 1080p 3LCD model that pumps out 5000 lumens so you don't have to live like a video vampire that hides your HD-feeding away from the sun. With this kind of light output, picture quality (black levels, contrast) will take hit and bulb life might not be great, but we figure the target market of sports bars and restaurants won't mind that; what will be downer will be the lack of an HDMI input. To be fair, there is a DVI input and Mitsubishi even throws a DVI-to-HDMI converter in the box, but for $15,000 you shouldn't have to use dongles from day one.

Mitsubishi lets loose a trio of 1080P 3LCD projectors

by Steven Kim, posted Aug 31st 2008 at 11:35PM

Mitsubishi HC7000 projector
With all the projector introductions being made, you'd think that everybody was buying one. We suspect that's not the case, but Mitsubishi is doing its part to keep the model lists full by adding a trio of 1080P, 3LCD beamers to the mix -- the HC7000, HC6500 and HC5500. We heard about the whisper quiet HC5500 last month, and the HC6500 turns in a fine 15,000:1 contrast ratio performance, but the HC7000 is what lights our fire. We all know specs can lie, but this unit should leave your eyeballs and jaw on the floor if its 70,000:1 contrast ratio is accurate. Based on positive reviews of the predecessor HC6000, this projector could be a real winner, and the 5,000 hour lamp life might leave you enough time to pay it off before you have to change your first bulb.

Epson calls "game on" with its EH-TW420 projector

by Steven Kim, posted Aug 31st 2008 at 1:07AM

Epson EH-TW420 projector
We figure Epson just couldn't find a way to work "BFG" into its gaming-optimized 720P projector, the EH-TW420, due out next month in the UK for £650 ($1,200). It looks like a pretty standard 3LCD projector that shines 2000 lumens bright across 1280 x 720 pixels, but you can flip those panels into a 5ms response time "game mode" similar to that seen in Panasonic's PT-AX200. We're thinking gamer-oriented gear get a better reception with at least a different color scheme, but otherwise the features look ok: one input each for HDMI, component, composite and S-Video, and the unit packs a single 7-Watt speaker so you're not left in Marcel Marceau mode when you forget to bring your own to the next LAN party.




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