Epson 1080p Projector Under $3K

[McBain]

Press release:

Epson America Unveils Industry's First 1080p Resolution Front Projector to Break $3,000 Price Mark

Epson Builds Upon Leadership Position as Number-One Selling Projector Brand

Worldwide With Groundbreaking Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1080

LONG BEACH, Calif., March 26 -- Imagine the excitement of having a ten-foot high-definition display in your home that lets you, your family, and friends experience sports, movies, and video games in larger-than-life sizes with cutting-edge true 1080p native resolution, the industry's most cutting-edge video signal to date. Epson America today announced a new 3LCD front projector -- the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1080 -- that not only delivers amazing video performance and visual impact, but is the industry's first to do so at the price point of $2,999.

Epson is currently the number-one selling brand of front projectors worldwide(1) and this groundbreaking 3LCD projector builds on that leadership by giving home entertainment enthusiasts one of the industry's most advanced, high definition display products available. Designed to maximize the viewing experiences of virtually any high definition content, the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1080 can produce display sizes up to 120 inches, which is more than eight times the display area of a 40-inch big screen television. The primary objective for this projector is to produce an unforgettable high definition viewing experience with movie theater impact in virtually anyone's home.

Many single-chip projection products currently on the market claim to achieve 1080p resolution through the use of moving mirrors, sequential color, and virtual pixels that create the illusion of seeing 1,080 full time vertical lines of resolution. However, Epson projectors achieve true 1080p resolution by actually using 1,920 x 1,080 pixels on each of the projector's three LCD chips, resulting in full-time color and full-time resolution that give viewers higher levels of rich, vibrant image quality. This technology further maximizes the visual benefits associated with today's most advanced multimedia entertainment devices such as HD cable and satellite tuners, HD-DVD players, Xbox 360 and 1080p-based technologies that include Blu-Ray and the Sony PLAYSTATION(TM) 3.

"Without question, this projector is poised to make a profound impact on the home theater market and it won't take long for movie lovers everywhere to recognize that this projector represents the next must-have display," said Aaron Marinari, senior product manager, Epson America. "The Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1080 is an amazing breakthrough projector that pushes the limits of technology by delivering cutting-edge blacks, rich colors, depth, detail, and all in true 1080p native resolution."

The Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1080 features new, and in some cases exclusive, video technologies that are designed to deliver an unparalleled home theater experience. These include:

* Sharper image detail made possible via the projector's true 1080p
resolution (1,920 x 1,080 pixels)

* Industry-leading connectivity -- Epson is currently the only projector
manufacturer to offer HDMI 1.3 connectivity with Deep Color support on
1080p native resolution projectors

* Brighter, more accurate colors are achieved through the use of 3-chip,
3LCD technology

* Wider range of black tones and up to 12,000:1 contrast ratio contribute
to increased visual depth via Epson's C2Fine technology

* Superior optics -- Epson's exclusive AccuCinema lens system takes
advantage of 14 lenses, including two aspherical lenses, to maintain
superior picture integrity across the entire image from corner to
corner

* More installation options -- the projector's lens shift capability
(96-degree vertical, and 47-degree horizontal) is currently the best on
the market, which makes it more adaptable to a wide range of room sizes
and install situations that may require unusual setup angles

* Stylish pearlescent finish and compact size allow the projector to
visually blend in better with rooms that have white ceilings

The Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1080 will be available in April 2007 through authorized Epson projector dealers and select retail outlets.

About 3LCD -- "A Better Way to See"
3LCD technology uses three individual LCD chips to project images with smooth, rapid motion video that is free of artifacts. It works without a moving color wheel and offers accurate color registration, assuring detailed video and data images that are crisp and rainbow-free. Epson 3LCD produces the best possible viewing experience with more detail and accurate
colors.

[ay221]

That is a fantastic price point.

Do you have a link? Thanks.

[bluearth]

Wow this is great. 1080p/12,000-1 contrast ratio is unreal for a projector of that price.

By the time my current projector's bulb dies this should be around $2,500 and I will most certainly pick it up

edit: what's up with only up to 120"?? My current projector tops out at 300" and my current screen is 155"....

[slaizer2000]

Epson's website has it listed with a MSRP of 4999.99.

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/c...s&oid=63066957

[McBain]

Originally Posted by slaizer2000

Epson's website has it listed with a MSRP of 4999.99.

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/c...s&oid=63066957

That's the Pro Cinema 1080, this is the Home Cinema 1080. I don't think it's on Epson's web site yet.

[jermwhl]

Anyone know the lumens output for this model?

[blitz6speed]

I use the Home Cinema 400 (720p) and it is just AMAZING, so i imagine this will be one heck of a projector.

[McBain]

Details are now posted on Epson's web site:

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/c...egory=Products

Specifications

Projection System
Epson C²Fine™ 3LCD technology

Projection Method
Front / rear / ceiling mount

LCD
Three 0.74" wide, poly-silicon TFT active matrix

Projection Lens
F-number
2.0 – 3.17
Lens Shift Range
Vertical ±96%
Horizontal ± 47%

Lamp
170 W UHE E-TORL™ lamp

Screen Size: (Projected Distance)
100" (wide: 9.8' – tele: 20.9')

Brightness: (typical)
Up to 1200 lumens (Dynamic Mode)

Contrast Ratio
Up to 12,000:1 (Dynamic Mode)

Color Reproduction
Built-in Y/C separation and I/P conversion
Powered by Pixelworks™

Adjustment Function
Manual zoom
Manual focus
Zoom Ratio
1 – 2.1

RGB
Video Compatibility
HDMI, HDTV, Component video, S-video, Composite video, NTSC/PAL/SECAM, Analog RGB, D4/SCART

Video I/O
Video Compatibility NTSC, NTSC4.43, PAL, M-PAL, N-PAL, PAL60, SECAM, 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
Video Input Signal
NTSC, NTSC4.43, PAL, M-PAL, N-PAL, PAL60, SECAM, 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
Terminal Inputs
HDMI
3 RCA (Component)
1 RCA (Composite)
1 Mini Din (S-video)
1 Mini D-Sub 9 pin (RS-232c)
1 Mini D-Sub 15 pin (Analog RGB)
D4/SCART

Power Consumption
120V
Lamp On: 245W (Lamp high), 200W (lamp low)
Standby: 4W

Dimension
15.6" x 12.2" x 4.8"

Weight
12 lbs.

[ra1024]

Thanks for passing this along. I had initially been set on the Panasonic PT-AE1000u but I think this is now my top choice. I like the fact that it appears to support deep color which I think was the only sacrifice in going with the Panny.

Here's a review I found at projector central.

http://www.projectorcentral.com/epson_cinema_1080.htm

[jubaiweaponx]

I have never owned a projector but i`m now considering it ,how much do the screens run about?

[Banjo]

I bought it today.

Frickin' amazing. Even played a PS3 game on it... just couldn't believe what I was seeing.

I'm so glad I bought this.

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by Banjo

I bought it today.

Frickin' amazing. Even played a PS3 game on it... just couldn't believe what I was seeing.

I'm so glad I bought this.

Post some pix of the unit and of the displayed picture. I believe you can run 1080p24 with this unit as well, right?


fuad

[MatrixS2000]

^ I agree - I am looking to upgrade my projector!

[kikkomaniac]

Hi, do anyone knof if the powerlite home cinema 1080 is called "EMP-TW1000" here in europe??

Im asking because I cant find the epson anywhere, but I can buy the TW1000 which seems to have similar data

[baccusboy]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

I believe you can run 1080p24 with this unit as well, right?


fuad

That's what the review says

[Banjo]

According to the information stats on my projector, it does run both 24/60Hz in 1080p. :-)

Though I found it odd that it said 1125p (Can anyone explain this one?) while I was watching a movie, the aspect ratio was 1.85 but haven't checked with other movies of a wider scope. I'm pretty tech-savvy, however I'm still learning new stuff even though I've been familiar with the HDTV technology for the last 10 years. Not to mention that I did buy my first HDTV more than 6 months ago which was only a 768p display. Still look terrific though.

'Trading Places' looked terrific on it, but 'Pirates of the Caribbean' looked quite amazing on it. It's way better than being at the theatres! Quite an improvement over the 800x600 native Epson projector, an older projector in the household.

Quite a great product, so many options including 'Super-White', HDMI 1.3 and all sort of options. Can't list them here.

Not only to mention how easy it is to shift the lens without having to move the projector around to position the screen properly onto the wall. One of the most impressive features I've yet to come across, I have to say.

[Banjo]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

Post some pix of the unit and of the displayed picture.

When I get a chance, I will. :-)

[drwatson1234]

I saw this projector today for the first time. My brother just built a house and put this projector in his media room. The PQ is incredible. The colors are deep and the constrast was great. I would definitely encourage purchasing this unit to any of you in the market for a great product at an afforadable price.

[ryoohki]

Can't wait to see what Panasonic and Sanyo (most probably first 1080p) at CEDIA 2007 (September).. Competition is good my friend!

[Banjo]

Here's 3 pictures I took tonight. However, I need a new digital camera, this one is getting old. The picture quality on the screen is much, much better in person than it shows in the pictures.

But hope you like them.

I'm 6'2 tall just in case you were wondering.