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I'm not sure where to post my impressions from yesterday at CES, so will just put them up here. This is my 3rd or 4th CES (can't remember precisely--a bad sign of something!), and it may be my last for a few years. It's fun (but very tiring) and a bit repetitious. (I enjoyed CEDIA this past Sept in Denver much more.)
My main interest was in projectors, though since I've just gotten a new RS20, my enthusiasm was not at the highest level. Still some interesting things:
1. 3D seems to being pushed as the 'next big thing', but I'm skeptical that it will really catch on. This could just be the conservation of a 68 yr old, but the demos I saw didn't impress me for more than a few minutes. Of course if there were much source material, .... . And after all, it has taken quite a few years for HD itself to become mainstream.
2. I saw the new SIM2 C3X1080p (the Lumus I think they're calling it), and WOW; it was very, very nice. It was shown on a smallish screen (~100" I would guess), so was quite bright, but still with nice deep a vivid colors that were right on. It has SIM2's version of 'dynamic black', along with their own 'lamp modulation' methodology (already used in some of the 1 chip units, the HT3000 and HT380 I believe). Maybe I'll consider getting one of these after I win the Nobel Prize (solo!).
3. Optoma showed 3 new pj's, two of which (the 806 and 8000) seem to be the latest version of their original 1080p pj, the 81; they have the same white box, etc., and are loud (32 dB), bright (2000 and 2200 lumens spec), 8000:1 and 10,000:1 CR, though of course one doesn't expect the lumens and CR to be achieved simultaneously.
The 8200, though, is a new animal; Jason has commented on it in his report (and has a pic). It is a black rectangular box, and was the one shown by the demo. It was presented well and gave a very nice pic. It is quiet (22/26 dB in low/high lamp), has a nice throw range (ratio 1.49 to 2.28), lens shift, spec'ed CR of 20,000:1 and ANSI CR of 680:1, and 1300 lumens. So if Optoma can produce a reliable version of this unit, it should be of interest.
4. Panasonic had a very nice presentation of their 3000. It was shown on a Dalite screen that has a motorized masking system that shifts between 16x9 and 2.35:1. Together with the Panny's AR memory, that switches between these two AR's, it makes a very cool package. The picture was excellent. I imagine many people would be very happy with this pj, and a few $K, in lieu of a RS20.
4'. Panny also showed 3 new BRD players. Two, the 60 and 80, are basically the same as the present 35 and 55, with the addition of networking features. A third one seems to be the same as these but also with a VHS playing capability! Great for being able to look at all those family tapes on your shelves if you have gotten rid of all your old VHS units.
5. Epson also had a very nice presentation of their 7500. It has a native CR of 6000:1 (which is what the demo was using), but claims up to 75,000:1 with a DI (that wasn't shown). Clips of the 'Hulk' were very impressive, esp for the price (MSRP $4200). They emphasized the preset color system (designed for their consultant Kevin Miller).
6. Mits also showed their 7000, but just as CEDIA, it was in a terrible room setup, the back side totally open to the convention hall, washing out the pic. This crazy, for it makes the pj look like crap, when I think it is probably in the same ballpark as the Panny and Epson.
7. No shows:
a. Marantz cancelled.
b. Tex Instrum, which has always had a very impressive DLP section, cancelled. (Their space was taken over by LG, which had a HUMONGOUS spread of products.)
c. Luminous/Phlatlight had an invitation only room, so us unwashed were not able to visit it. I did talk to a TI guy (from another TI division), and he did comment that people were having a hard time getting LED illumination bright enough for pj'; only for lcd and rp tv's has it been possible. It's beginning to sound like LED DLP pj's is like SED, a great idea that just doesn't quite make it. It didn't see anything to do with lasers, though.
My main interest was in projectors, though since I've just gotten a new RS20, my enthusiasm was not at the highest level. Still some interesting things:
1. 3D seems to being pushed as the 'next big thing', but I'm skeptical that it will really catch on. This could just be the conservation of a 68 yr old, but the demos I saw didn't impress me for more than a few minutes. Of course if there were much source material, .... . And after all, it has taken quite a few years for HD itself to become mainstream.
2. I saw the new SIM2 C3X1080p (the Lumus I think they're calling it), and WOW; it was very, very nice. It was shown on a smallish screen (~100" I would guess), so was quite bright, but still with nice deep a vivid colors that were right on. It has SIM2's version of 'dynamic black', along with their own 'lamp modulation' methodology (already used in some of the 1 chip units, the HT3000 and HT380 I believe). Maybe I'll consider getting one of these after I win the Nobel Prize (solo!).
3. Optoma showed 3 new pj's, two of which (the 806 and 8000) seem to be the latest version of their original 1080p pj, the 81; they have the same white box, etc., and are loud (32 dB), bright (2000 and 2200 lumens spec), 8000:1 and 10,000:1 CR, though of course one doesn't expect the lumens and CR to be achieved simultaneously.
The 8200, though, is a new animal; Jason has commented on it in his report (and has a pic). It is a black rectangular box, and was the one shown by the demo. It was presented well and gave a very nice pic. It is quiet (22/26 dB in low/high lamp), has a nice throw range (ratio 1.49 to 2.28), lens shift, spec'ed CR of 20,000:1 and ANSI CR of 680:1, and 1300 lumens. So if Optoma can produce a reliable version of this unit, it should be of interest.
4. Panasonic had a very nice presentation of their 3000. It was shown on a Dalite screen that has a motorized masking system that shifts between 16x9 and 2.35:1. Together with the Panny's AR memory, that switches between these two AR's, it makes a very cool package. The picture was excellent. I imagine many people would be very happy with this pj, and a few $K, in lieu of a RS20.
4'. Panny also showed 3 new BRD players. Two, the 60 and 80, are basically the same as the present 35 and 55, with the addition of networking features. A third one seems to be the same as these but also with a VHS playing capability! Great for being able to look at all those family tapes on your shelves if you have gotten rid of all your old VHS units.
5. Epson also had a very nice presentation of their 7500. It has a native CR of 6000:1 (which is what the demo was using), but claims up to 75,000:1 with a DI (that wasn't shown). Clips of the 'Hulk' were very impressive, esp for the price (MSRP $4200). They emphasized the preset color system (designed for their consultant Kevin Miller).
6. Mits also showed their 7000, but just as CEDIA, it was in a terrible room setup, the back side totally open to the convention hall, washing out the pic. This crazy, for it makes the pj look like crap, when I think it is probably in the same ballpark as the Panny and Epson.
7. No shows:
a. Marantz cancelled.
b. Tex Instrum, which has always had a very impressive DLP section, cancelled. (Their space was taken over by LG, which had a HUMONGOUS spread of products.)
c. Luminous/Phlatlight had an invitation only room, so us unwashed were not able to visit it. I did talk to a TI guy (from another TI division), and he did comment that people were having a hard time getting LED illumination bright enough for pj'; only for lcd and rp tv's has it been possible. It's beginning to sound like LED DLP pj's is like SED, a great idea that just doesn't quite make it. It didn't see anything to do with lasers, though.
