Panasonic PT-AE1000U LCD Front Projector

[Richard]

Starting with the PT-AE700 720p projector, Panasonic has built quite a reputation around their extremely wide installation capability and inexpensive pricing using transmissive LCD technology for the last couple of years. Panasonic continues their 720p capability with the PT-AX100 while introducing new 1080p24/60 capability in the form of the PT-AE1000U for a mere $4,000 USD street price, which is expected to get even lower as the months pass. This has certainly been the year for new 1080p front projection below $5,000 USD.

Transmissive LCD projection technology is well over a decade old using red, green and blue LCD panels. No color wheel is required and therefore no concerns over rainbows; those are a DLP issue only related to the size and expense of 3 chip capability as well as supply and demand of the devices. In the early days...

[url=http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/reviews/2007/05/panasonic_pt-ae.php]Read the Full Review[/url]

[m-roll]

I have a few comments about this review. First, the CR calculations are incorrect. You [b]divide[/b] the 100 IRE lumen output by the 0 IRE lumen output to calaculate On/Off CR, not [b]multiply[/b] it. Second, there must have been something wrong with your review unit, as there shouldn't be a problem with a 480p input over HDMI.

Mike

[Richard]

[quote]First, the CR calculations are incorrect. You divide the 100 IRE lumen output by the 0 IRE lumen output to calaculate On/Off CR, not multiply it. [/quote]
Considering how many eyes have seen this review and another article in which the same error was made you deserve kudos for catching it and for reporting it! It is something rarely checked in calibration as the display and viewing environment is what it is and in my experience that typically will not be changed.

[b]Original[/b]
[quote]With the dynamic iris feature, the Panasonic potentially comes with two measurements. When a projector provides that I measure the response with the dynamic iris turned off, this is a simple measurement of a 0IRE raster and 100IRE window after calibration.[/quote]

[b]Edited[/b]
[quote]This measurement is provided for the purpose of comparison only to other reviews of front projectors to illustrate true contrast ratios using a D65 calibrated color temperature using a 100IRE and 0IRE window pattern. With the dynamic iris feature, the Panasonic potentially comes with... [/quote]

[b]Original[/b]
[quote]With the Dynamic Iris OFF, and using a calibrated D65 light output at 96 lamp hours, I obtained 367fl at 100IRE multiplied by .522fl for 0IRE yielding a contrast ratio of 192.[/quote]

[b]Edited[/b]
[quote]With the Dynamic Iris OFF, and using a calibrated D65 light output at 96 lamp hours, I obtained 367fl at 100IRE and .522fl for 0IRE yielding a contrast ratio of 703:1.[/quote]

This also led me down a road of lengthy research on contrast ratio and what I found was a term far more complicated and even less useful than I imagined inspiring to me write a note to myself to do an article on the topic from A-Z for the HD Waveform Column. It is that deep and convoluted...

The actual formula is

PEAK - MIN divided by MIN = contrast ratio:1

peak equals maximum light output and MIN equals minimum light output

For my testing I simply divide PEAK by MIN but the full formula is required for ambient lighting conditions accounting for how that affects black reproduction and to keep the result relevant to actual viewing conditions!

[quote]there must have been something wrong with your review unit, as there shouldn't be a problem with a 480p input over HDMI. [/quote]

Ultimately this is determined by the manufacturer and is not the first time such an oddity has surfaced. For the record, this projector was purchased over the internet. It is not a manufacturer provided review product and should be identical to what a consumer would receive. Panasonic was also notified of the article prior to publishing and provided a copy of the review for comment; we received no response.

Now if you are telling that you own one and don

[m-roll]

[quote="Richard"]It is something rarely checked in calibration as the display and viewing environment is what it is and in my experience that typically will not be changed.[/quote]

Quite true. I never check it for an installation, but have done it for projector reviews and in my own controlled environment. It's commonly included in projector reviews due to the constant one-upmanship of each new projector boasting a higher CR. Thanks for making the correction.

[quote]The actual formula is

PEAK - MIN divided by MIN = contrast ratio:1

peak equals maximum light output and MIN equals minimum light output
[/quote]

Can't say that I've seen that formula before, but it has little value as it would only change the ratio by 1. This would likely be less than the error of the probe or light meter used. If applied to your calculated CR, it would reduce the total from 703 to 702.

Also, using a calibration probe for on/off CR will result in much lower CR than could be obtained with a light meter that can accurately read well below 0.5 ft-L and is less susceptible to overload on the high end. You could calculate ANSI contrast fairly accurately using a calibration probe, but you'll always get lower on/off results (I know I've never been able to get good results with one, but that's not what it's made for anyway).

[quote]Now if you are telling that you own one and don

[Richard]

[quote]Can't say that I've seen that formula before, but it has little value as it would only change the ratio by 1.[/quote]

Me either but that appeared a number of times. We both agree that including MIN in the calculation is irrelevant to a darkened room but under ambient light conditions it can make a huge difference. Think of a stadium display during the daytime...

[quote]Also, using a calibration probe for on/off CR will result in much lower CR than could be obtained with a light meter that can accurately read well below 0.5 ft-L and is less susceptible to overload on the high end. [/quote]

I will have to look into that and find the money. Without writing that contrast ratio article now it does appear that the difference in contrast ratio is not as relevant as one would imagine. As an example in the upcoming BenQ review it has a much higher contrast ratio than the Panasonic yet the Panasonic specs claim a ratio 1000 times greater. Some of the material I read puts a huge question mark on whether a 10000:1 ratio is better than a 5000:1 and without some other information provided has very little meaning.

[quote]I don't own one myself, but there are a number of people on other users forums using 480p over HDMI (which they mentioned in response to your review), so I thought I'd bring that up.[/quote]

Thanks. It could be a timing issue from the Sencore generator causing a problem. This came up with the new Sony SXRD where image centering shifts with scan rate from the generator but appears correct with actual sources.

[Richard]

[b]Original[/b]
[quote][b]Overscan[/b]
Via HDMI, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p all chopped off a few pixels on the right side. This also revealed two interesting observations; 1) the unit does not accept 480p digital video, and 2) it remembers vertical and horizontal centering positions by scan rate. Via component analog video, 720p and 1080i had the same result with only a one pixel loss on the left side for 720p. 480p over scan varied from 4-6%.

While this never came up in my system, the lack of support for 480p via HDMI was a surprise. That could be a problem for some users who have their satellite or cable set top box set to output SD content at 480P so they have full access to formatting features of the display and appears to be the only possible concern one could have over this.[/quote]


[b]Edited[/b]
[quote][b]Overscan[/b]
Via HDMI, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p all chopped off a few pixels on the right side. This also revealed an interesting observation; the projector remembers vertical and horizontal centering positions by scan rate. Via component analog video, 720p and 1080i had the same result with only a one pixel loss on the left side for 720p. [/quote]

Thanks to m-roll for bringing this error to my attention!

[SodaPop]

[quote]"For this projector there is practically no fill factor. There is little to be seen between the pixels even when you are within a foot of screen. With LCD you are focusing on the panels and they have enough depth that when you are setting focus there are three steps that appear to be in focus."[/quote]

The fill factor is very close to 100% and thus perfection. Use the focus pattern to easily adjust for perfect focus.

For 1920 progressive sources the projector does no pixel processing. All the pixels are displayed as received. This projector is extremely clear. I have an April build.

The best screen for most installations today is the 2.8 gain Da-Lite High Power.
Everyone loves its brightness and clarity with NO side effects. It mates especially good with this Panasonic. The image is BRIGHT! (Set the zoom to about 1/4 from minimum and place the projector just over your head at the center of the screen coordinates). Smok'in on my 119" Hi-Power!

It is a fact that most dealers don't like Panasonic as they do make more off the brand names mentioned in this review. The fact is most users do not need to have many of the latest projectors calibrated anymore. Digital precision. First the JVC and now the Panasonic.
Read the reviews at PC or WSR. Out of the box color accuracy is excellent.
Try using the 1000 with the Sony PS3 set to 24Hz , super-white and full range settings. I use cinema 1 only The clarity and color combined with excellent blacks and contrast are out of this world!
Try it for 90 days free at Costco.

[Richard]

[quote]The best screen for most installations today is the 2.8 gain Da-Lite High Power. [/quote]

Widescreen Review, Number 4, Issue 119, April 2007
Joe Kane

[jhecondevsys]

Where does one go for a realistic look at a front projector? I tried at BestBuy but it was washed out...looked terrible...

[Richard]

That can be a very tough nut to crack. I have provided demos here at the home for clients and some of our old clients will provide a demo if requested. Unfortunately it is rare to see one or more in a retail environment setup well. I think this is one of those areas where you have to take faith in the fact that most videophiles are into projection and for very good reason; they get far more imaging aspects correct over other display types.

That said, to get the full benefits you need to work with a pro.

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