*Official* Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1080 *UB*

[Jones_Rush]

The Epson TW2000 that is being discussed in the Above $3000 forum, is going to be called in the US "Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1080 *UB*", it is going to hit stores in December, with a MSRP of $2699.

http://www.electronichouse.com/artic...under_3k/C157/

It is amazing that we are going to get such quality (4500:1 native CR!), for such relatively low price.

[avZen]

The link listed a Panamorph Anamorphic lens kit, wonder if that will be a kit designed for this specific projector or just use the same panamorph lens addons you can get today.

[Jones_Rush]

Personally I think that with a 1080p projector, there is no real need for anamorphic lens.

Anamorphic lens give you two benefits:

1. 25% More brightness.
2. Ability to do CIH.

For people who don't need the extra brightness, you can just use 1446x817 of the panel's resolution (more than 720p!), in order to present 16:9 material, and hence you get CIH.

You can't do that with a 720p projector, because then 16:9 material uses 964x544 of the panel's resolution, which isn't even 720p.

[shenkerian]

1080p at these prices is very tempting. What are the main competitors at this price point - the Panasonic AE-2000 and the Optoma HD-80?

[avZen]

I was more curious if they have made a kit specifically for this projector or if that was just a marketing ploy since most projectors have a "universal kit" made by panamorph (or other lens maker).

I wasn't trying to compare other ways of doing it (or best ways), just thought it was interesting that it was listed as an "official" option from Epson (or seemed listed that way).

It looks like 1080p is going to start the heavy hitting on the sub 3k market...exciting times for Q4 and 2008! Can't wait to see how some of the other big players responses.

[broadwayblue]

typically, how much below MSRP do Epson projectors street for? Would it be possible it streets for ~$2000?

[avZen]

Looks like the current model Home 1080 is MSRP for 2999 and it traditionally sells just a few hundred below there before any rebates, which is what you would traditionally be looking at for the first few months of it hitting the streets.

Epson seems to keep their MSRP closer to street prices than alot of other companies.

[zeroendless]

I like how they opt HQV video processor as Optional to keep the unit itself cheaper for those already got better or good outboard scaler.

[specsix]

Will it take in and display 1080p/24 ?

[gwlaw99]

I wonder how much this price on the origonal Epson 1080 will drop? 1080p for 2k anyone?

[Jones_Rush]

I wonder how much this price on the origonal Epson 1080 will drop? 1080p for 2k anyone?

The original Epson has only 1000:1 native contrast. I think it will be well worth it to pay extra several hunderd bucks and get a DLP-quality native contrast... It's unbelievable that the first LCD to allow such high native contrast, is priced so competitevly. Together with the excellent Optoma HD80, we now have excellent DLP and LCD 1080p units, well below $3000 USD.

[johnsmith808]

Man, the follow up to the Sony Pearl better watch out! This pj is competing head on with it. Sony better get their price right.

It's amazing how quickly technology advances AND gets cheaper!

[Rgb]

Originally Posted by johnsmith808

Man, the follow up to the Sony Pearl better watch out! This pj is competing head on with it. Sony better get their price right.

It's amazing how quickly technology advances AND gets cheaper!

...but I'd take an Epson over a Sony any day of the week. If I was given a Sony for free, I'd immediately sell it to get the Epson, if the Epson 400 I bought on the rebate deal this summer is any indication of how the 1080 UB will perform...

...and I had the scoop on the 1080p UB with my thread, but I thought it too pretentious to call it "official"

[TrevorS]

Originally Posted by specsix

Will it take in and display 1080p/24 ?

YES !

[vatraps]

I am drooling over this. I think we can expect it to be around 2200 after rebates and stuff.

[johnsmith808]

Originally Posted by Jones_Rush

I think it will be well worth it to pay extra several hunderd bucks and get a DLP-quality native contrast...

I have always wondered why dlp's have never used a DYNAMIC (not manual) iris. Dlp's haven't made much progress in a while overall. Not sure what they're waiting for. I wonder what the future of single chip dlp will be like.

Oh well, with pj's like this, who needs dlp!

[Brandonw27858]

I wonder if this projector will have the same issue as the one found here that everyone seems to be complaining about....... http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=893081 . i sure hope not. I have just today started looking at projectors for myself. I was kinda stuck in rear projection mode for a few years. Using a projector like this one would be considered an upgrade over a RP set correct? The set I was thinking of replacing my own was the Sony 70XBR5. I know this is a little off topic, sorry.

[Jones_Rush]

...and I had the scoop on the 1080p UB with my thread, but I thought it too pretentious to call it "official"

Sorry. Let it be noted that Rgb had the original scoop :-)

[Jones_Rush]

According to page 13 here:
http://www.ifa-international.org/dow...tl_preview.pdf

This projector (TW2000) will have a 3 year warranty on parts including lamp. I wonder if it will translate to the US unit too (Powerlite UB), since this is for sure the best warranty ever to be offered for a projector, by a large margin.

[Jones_Rush]

I wonder if this projector will have the same issue as the one found here that everyone seems to be complaining about....... http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=893081 . i sure hope not.

Cine4home said the following about this (I think he is saying this issue is now resolved with the Powerlite UB):

"Besides the user can now select signal with fed 1080/24p whether he the film ruckelfrei with 2:2 Pulldown in 48Hz and/or 96Hz on the canvas wants to enjoy, or after conventional 3:2 Pulldown in 60Hz."

(this is a bablefish translation from German).

[Rgb]

Can't wait for the CEDIA reports to roll in on the 1080p UB. Hope there are working units at CEDIA...

[Rgb]

Originally Posted by johnsmith808

I have always wondered why dlp's have never used a DYNAMIC (not manual) iris. Dlp's haven't made much progress in a while overall. Not sure what they're waiting for. I wonder what the future of single chip dlp will be like.

Oh well, with pj's like this, who needs dlp!

It's not clear whether the 1080p UB will have a dynamic iris, though with the stated specs, I would expect it to have one.

[ekalvi]

Originally Posted by Jones_Rush

It is amazing that we are going to get such quality (4500:1 native CR!), for such relatively low price.

Where did you read that it has a 4500:1 native CR?

[ekalvi]

Originally Posted by Rgb

It's not clear whether the 1080p UB will have a dynamic iris, though with the stated specs, I would expect it to have one.

According to the fact sheet posted on Gizmodo the 1080p UB has an "Auto Iris System"

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-thea...yet-296236.php

[DEbassin]

I just received the Epson Home 1080
Does anybody know what the main difference is?
Is it something to be worried about?

[Jones_Rush]

It's not clear whether the 1080p UB will have a dynamic iris, though with the stated specs, I would expect it to have one.

Where did you read that it has a 4500:1 native CR?

Cine4home did a report on the TW2000/Powelite UB. You can check it out here:

http://babelfish.altavista.com/babel...ldpremiere.htm

The TW2000/Powerlite UB will have a native contrast of 4500:1, and with dynamic iris, 50,000:1. Cine4home saw a demo of the unit with the dynamic iris *disabled*, and was VERY impressed with the black levels. Here are his words after seeing the TW2000/Powerlite UB, in action (with the dynamic iris off. Bablefished from german):

The demonstration started with dark pictorial material and one could directly a picture of the schwarzwert make itself. The visual result was actual thereby impressing. The black worked really darkly and disturbed the film enterprise no longer. At the same time however bright was picture elements radiating and provided in such a way for a high Inbildkontrast. Obviously the TW2000 offers also visually a higher picture plasticity opposite its small brother TW1000. Like our first impression the TW2000 with switched off screen looks already better, than a TW1000 with more activated. Over the actual net brightness in the theatre mode we have unfortunately no exact information, estimate however, which the TW2000 here approximately 20% to 30% won. In any case one was appropriate the brightness for the large canvas. As soon as we receive a first test copy, we will publish like used exact measuring data.

Both by DVD and Blu ray, the latter in the native 1080/24p format was passed on. And also in this discipline the TW2000 did not afford weaknesses: It illustrated the highly soluble pictorial material sharply and highly detailed and showed no Ruckeln, a complete 24p-Kompatibilitaet is ensured thereby. Altogether we can congratulate to engineers after this first presentation to their product, to which TW2000 will surely belong this year to one to the best its class... Follow more information in our test....

I just received the Epson Home 1080
Does anybody know what the main difference is?
Is it something to be worried about?

In my opninion, you SHOULD be worried. In fact, if you can take your unit back for a refund (or for a backorder on the Powerlite UB), then by all means, DO IT.

The Powerlite UB seems to be the biggest thing that happened to LCD projection, since the introduction of the first 720p LCD.

In the follwing graph, Epson is showing how dramatic the change in black levels with the Powerlite UB



Believe me, you do NOT want to have the 2006 model, while you can get the 2007 model.

The Powerlite UB is the first LCD projector to successfully address the weakest point of LCD projectors - native black levels.

[DEbassin]

That is what I thought

[Jones_Rush]

Don't get depressed. I think your best move is to return it back to the store, and if you can't, sell it now on Ebay with full warranty. You will lose practically no money. This is what I would have done if I were you.

Take advantage of the current situation: most people are not aware of the Powerlite UB, and will not be aware for at least 1-2 more months (it will be released to US stores on November/December), so you will get good prices on the current model.

[DEbassin]

That is what I was thinking.
I can't return it. I will put it on ebay and hook my z2 back up.
It still sucks.

Thanks for the info

[Rgb]

...if the 1080p UB had a LED bulb, it would probably be the last projector most of us would ever need