Panasonic Launches New PT-AE4000U Full High Definition Home Theater Projector

[McBain]

Press release:

Panasonic Launches New Full High Definition Home Theater Projector

A Combination of New Exclusive Panasonic Projector Technology, Superior 1080p Video Performance and High Quality Craftsmanship at an Affordable Price Make The PT-AE4000U Value Proposition a Compelling Choice for Consumers!

SECAUCUS, N.J.--Panasonic Projector Systems Company, Unit of Panasonic Corporation of North America, today announced the debut of its newest LCD home theater projector with 1080p (1,920 x 1,080 pixel) native resolution: the PT-AE4000U. Designed for savvy home theater enthusiasts and audio video professionals who desire an immersive home entertainment viewing experience, the new projector delivers 1080p images with remarkable detail and clarity with 1,600 lumen brightness and 100,000:1 contrast ratio.

The new PT-AE4000U is the next evolution of its award winning predecessor, the PT-AE3000U, which has been widely accepted for its Hollywood tuned high picture quality and innovative features such as the Lens Memory, which prompted more users to use 2.35:1 wide aspect screens. The new projector further expands the way projectors can be enjoyed at the comfort of your own homes with the enhanced Intelligent Lens Memory, VIERA Link® and programmable 12V triggers. Bringing the original picture quality intended by Hollywood movie and television directors to consumer’s homes — AE series continues to deliver new ideas to the home theater market.

Beautiful Picture Quality with Increased Dynamic Range

The PT-AE4000U comes equipped with Panasonic’s new optical system that’s designed to display beautifully detailed images with a captivating 100,000:1 contrast ratio and 1,600 lumens of brightness. The new and exclusive Red-Rich Lamp increases the overall luminance efficiency of the projector, thereby realizing 50 percent brighter Cinema Picture modes compared to its predecessor. When producing desirable color purity/balance required for rich color reproduction, the lamp's red luminance determines the level of brightness output. The newly engineered lamp successfully embodies added red luminance, enabling the projector to produce significantly brighter images with excellent color reproduction. In addition, the refined Pure Contrast Plates effectively aid the polarization filter to block unwanted light leakage creating deep blacks and fine shadow details.

Together with a host of carefully engineered Panasonic technology, including the high precision optical lens unit, Dynamic Iris, Pure Color Filter Pro, and Smooth Screen Technology, the PT-AE4000U truly distinguishes itself when compared to other home theater projectors.

Powerful Digital Processing Engine with Professional-Level Features

Frame Creation interpolates an additional frame by analyzing the characteristics of adjacent frames, creating sharp and clear images of fast moving scenes in sports and action movies. The new Frame Creation 2 feature now incorporates blur reduction technology that decreases motion blur even further for faster moving objects. For crisp motion images with high resolution, users may set their frame count preference to 120 frames/1 sec from 60 frames/1sec for 60Hz video signal input, while 24 frames/sec (24p) signals are quadrupled to 96 frames/1sec by interpolating three additional frames to allow natural frame-to-frame transitions.

Panasonic’s proprietary Detail Clarity Processor 3 has also taken a leap forward. The new engine now has an advanced image analysis capability which allows the projector to distinguish the type of image it's receiving with exceptional accuracy. This enables the projector to optimize the processing applied to different parts of the image to bring out fine details and three dimensionality for natural, life-like images with excellent clarity. The new LCD projector also comes equipped with several professional-level features that let users calibrate and personalize the images they see on the screen to match their viewing environment. For example, the projector’s Advanced Gamma Adjustment allows the users to freely control the output and input level of the gamma curve. The PT-AE4000U Waveform Monitor —seen mostly on professional video and film equipment, measures the level of brightness from a given video signal source. This feature automatically verifies if the source device is outputting at full dynamic range, and quickly makes adjustments to optimize viewing for your home theater environment while making it easy to see a graphical representation of any changes made to the color settings.

Flexible Installation and Easy & Smart Operation

Many Blu-ray discs and DVD discs come in aspects that are even wider than the projector’s 16:9 aspect ratio to match the image size (2.35:1) seen at movie theaters. The new Intelligent Lens Memory feature makes it possible for users to easily program up to six different zoom/focus positions. Automatic switching between 16:9 and 2.35:1 video contents is made possible thanks to the new signal aspect detection capability on the PT-AE4000U.

More theater automation (i.e., lighting, motorized screen, etc.) is possible with the PT-AE4000U as it comes equipped with two programmable 12V trigger terminals and VIERA Link®. The VIERA Link® realizes seamless operation of multiple VIERA Link® compatible Panasonic devices by controlling them via the PT-AE4000U remote control with back-lit buttons.

The PT-AE4000U is equipped with three HDMI™ inputs (supports x.v.Color™ and Deep Color), so multiple HD sources can be connected without an HDMI switcher.

Initial setup and installation are quick and simple, as the 2.0x zoom can cast a 120-inch diagonal image from as short as 3.6 meters (about 11feet) to 7 meters (24 feet) from the screen. The projector’s lens shift capability enables 100 percent vertical adjustment and 40 percent horizontal adjustment so that viewers can suspend the projector either close to the ceiling or on wall mounts. The lens-centered design and maintenance features such as the replaceable side filter and top lamp, make the projector easy to install and maintain.

Eco Friendly Intelligence

In addition to its outstanding features, the new PT-AE4000U is also an ecologically conscious product. The intelligent power management system within the projector reduces the lamp power to the exact required level of brightness depending on what content is displayed. Panasonic’s advanced built-in digital circuitry intelligently determines the necessary power output by analyzing more than 3 billion different image patterns. This advanced analysis process reduces the main power consumption by as much as 10 percent when the dynamic iris function is in operation thus saving energy.

Other ecological considerations include an off-timer that reduces wasteful power consumption, as well as an extremely low standby power consumption of 0.08 W1, which is the lowest in its class2.

The Panasonic PT-AE4000U 1080p high definition home theater projector is made in Japan and will be available in the United States this month from authorized dealers with an MSRP of $2,499.

To learn more about the new PT-AE4000U projector, please visit; http://panasonic.net/avc/projector

About Panasonic Projector Systems Company

Panasonic Projector Systems Company is a prominent supplier of projectors and presentation systems in the United States. It is a unit of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation, a worldwide leader in the development and manufacturer of electronic products for a wide range of consumer, business, and industrial needs. The company's shares are listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and New York (NYSE:PC) stock exchanges.

1 Up to 220 V.
2 For 1080p home theater projectors as of October 7, 2009.
VIERA Link® is a new name for EZ Sync Not all VIERA Link® features are usable with earlier VIERA Link® and EZ Sync compatible products.

[seigneur_rayden]

I've been waiting for this news since the stupid rumor that the AE 4000 was not coming to the US.

MSRP of $2400!!! Is it a mistake or is it real. I hope it is real. Count me in if it is.

[kpkelley]

Panasonic has just announced its plan to bring the AE4000 to the US market at a price of $1,999.

We have completed the review of the AE4000 and it is posted on the home page. This product was under wraps until today, so we were unable to say anything about it. But we've been shooting it out against many of the other new home theater projectors we have in house. We are busy preparing notes on the comparisons between them, so competitive data will follow soon.

Review

[Propellarhead9]

Well i know whats going in my theater room when I build it, unless I splurge for something really high end

[Drew664]

Wow, that's inexpensive for what you get.

Good trend though!

[igotcabada]

The fine people at ProjectorPeople.com anticpate getting the AE4000 in by the end of the month

[VDogger]

I bought the PT-AE3000 last night and it should be at my buddy's place by the time I get home.

My first PJ, so I think it'll do as a starter. A few years down the road I may decide to upgrade. Maybe.

V

[Fors*]

Wow, this thing appears to be the "Kuro" of projectors....very impressive!

And congrats VDogger!

[J.Seb]

That price & review just made my day!

Just hoping the final pricing in euros will be set accordingly to the US…

[Swede]

Yeah this is great news, not only for the ae4000 but for everyone looking for a new HT projector!! I would be really surprised if Sony, Epson and JVC will keep their current prices after this, since the difference in price after this announcement are pretty huge! This SHOULD affect both low & highend projectors as well since most people still consider value per dollar.

It just got a great review on Projectorcentral.com, even though it was missing quite a lot of info, hopefully they will update the review or make some interesting comparisons with other projectors in the class.

This sure is a GREAT time to look for a new PJ, right on time

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by Swede

Yeah this is great news, not only for the ae4000 but for everyone looking for a new HT projector!! I would be really surprised if Sony, Epson and JVC will keep their current prices after this, since the difference in price after this announcement are pretty huge! This SHOULD affect both low & highend projectors as well since most people still consider value per dollar.

It just got a great review on Projectorcentral.com, even though it was missing quite a lot of info, hopefully they will update the review or make some interesting comparisons with other projectors in the class.

This sure is a GREAT time to look for a new PJ, right on time

You can say that again. However, I just got my new pj this past Monday. But since it is my first, I'll get accustomed to this one before stepping up to something like the ae4000.

[Another_Dude]

Great deal.

For those of you looking for a new PJ this news means you should also keep your eyes on the pricing for the AE-3K which offers 95% of what this model does, and the AE-2K which is an amazing 1080p projector that doesn't do the lens memory or 120hz features.

When the 4K hits shelves, people looking for a great first 1080p projector should be able to find the 3K and 2K dirt cheap.

[Blown 4.3]

no doubt. this is FANTASTIC news for pj consumers !!! can you imagine what will be coming in the near future

[mnfish]

So it doesn't do v-stretch? It just zooms for different aspect ratios? Is that correct? That wouldn't seem like a good thing? A v-stretch is better. I'd rather get all the pixels with a v stretch and anamorphic lens than zooming it to cut off the bars?

[Swede]

Originally Posted by mnfish

So it doesn't do v-stretch? It just zooms for different aspect ratios? Is that correct? That wouldn't seem like a good thing? A v-stretch is better. I'd rather get all the pixels with a v stretch and anamorphic lens than zooming it to cut off the bars?

Well, the Panasonic's are actually the ONLY models out there right now that does 'anamorphic lens emulation', which essentially works the same way as a "real" anamorphic lens but you save a couple of thousand dollars on buying the extra lens. Also there are a lot of debates whether you actually gain all that much with a "real" anamorphic lens, as blu-ray's are not encoded in 2.35:1 format anyway, so you don't REALLY gain any pixel resolution by using an emulated mode. You may gain some brightness, but even that is debatable.

The point though is, spending that much on an anamorphic lens on a less than $5000 projector doesn't really make any sense, so for normal high-end $2000-$2500 projectors an "emulated anamorphic mode" definitely gives you the best value if your'e going with a 2.35 screen.

[Swede]

Originally Posted by Another_Dude

Great deal.

For those of you looking for a new PJ this news means you should also keep your eyes on the pricing for the AE-3K which offers 95% of what this model does, and the AE-2K which is an amazing 1080p projector that doesn't do the lens memory or 120hz features.

When the 4K hits shelves, people looking for a great first 1080p projector should be able to find the 3K and 2K dirt cheap.

I'm not so sure about those 95% numbers. The AE4000 actually seems to add quite a few better features and improved picture quality. It has about 40% better contrast ratio, according to projectorreviews.com it also has better black levels, color accuracy and up to 40% better brightness in cinema modes. It has the new red-rich lamp, better CFI, better anamorphic lens emulation and last but not least a new anti-dust system, which in itself would be an excellent reason to choose the new model instead of the AE3000, so I would think twice before picking up the ae3000 on a "closeout sale"...

[J.Seb]

It definitely sounds like a bargain!

I am planning to import the US version (it's half the euro price)

Does anyone know if they are 220V friendly?

[ryoohki]

MAP price is now annonced at 1999$USD, vs 2499$ that the US version was MAP'ed when first released...

[Swede]

Originally Posted by ryoohki

MAP price is now annonced at 1999$USD, vs 2499$ that the US version was MAP'ed when first released...

And yet it was possible to get the AE3000 for as low as $2200 with some mail-in rebate around black friday of last year, so it's gonna be interesting to see how low the ae4000 will go this year

[ryoohki]

Originally Posted by Swede

And yet it was possible to get the AE3000 for as low as $2200 with some mail-in rebate around black friday of last year, so it's gonna be interesting to see how low the ae4000 will go this year

But.. but imagine the AE4000 with a rebate. Panasonic always give goodies in US.