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Reviews (1)
31 July 2008
Quality HD Projector for Budget Buyers
15 of 15 found this helpful The Panasonic line of HD projectors cannot be beat for price and performance. The 900 series projector is 2 generations old at the time of this review.
While there are many specs that can be compared, most common users like myself compare the basics:
1. How easy is it to hook up
2. How clear is the picture
3. How bright is the picture
4. How noisy is it
Other than that, the extra features are simply, well, extra.
So let me tackle the basics.
1. The projector was as simple to connect as any DVD player. Plug it into the wall and run your preferred cable from the source to the projector. There is a set up menu on the projector that allows you to fine tune the color and brightness, and even this was very straightforward and simple to use.
2. The picture clarity varies. If you are using the built in zoom to make the picture very large then the clarity and brightness will be reduced. Not so reduced that you wont like what you see, but if you bring down the zoom from 100% to about 70& you really see a brighter and clearer picture. Again, this is more of a tip than a negative aspect of the projector. The picture is quite clear running 1080i from my cable box from approx. 10 feet away with a 8 foot wide screen.
3. Brightness is effected by zoom as stated above. There are also 2 settings for the bulb, normal and economy. I am running the machine now on economy mode, which is supposed to prolong the life of the bulb. Even at this setting, this baby can pump out some light!
4. I watched Spiderman 3 last night with this projector running 3 feet from my head, and I never knew it was on. The fan is super quiet which makes this a great home theater projector even for small rooms.
All in all if I had to choose a projector that gave the most bang for the buck, this would be my first choice. The only features that I would like to have that this particular model does not would be 1080p (available on newer models) and auto/electric zoom and focus. The zoom isn't even a big deal if you plan to have this projector in a static location, zoom and focus once and leave it alone.
I rated this product good (4/5) only because it is 2 generations old and the newer models have some of the features that many people will want in a projector, such as 1080p, multiple HDMI connections, auto/electric zoom and focus, etc. Keep in mind that the only 1080p sources available at this time are Bluray players. Most all other HD sources are 720p or 1080i, both of which are handled by this projector, and handled quite well.
As a side note, there are 2 models for the 900 series, the PTAE900E and the PTAE900U. The difference is that the U is the United States version and the E is the European version. That means that the 900E has a SCART connector in place of the second component connectors. Otherwise they are identical and completely compatible with input formats.
If you are considering adding a HD projector to your Home Theater I would absolutely recommend the Panasonic PTAE900.