![]() ![]() ![]() JVC’s own implementation is used in flight simulators, not for showing Hollywood films. In fact, that $225,00 Meridian projector, first introduced in 2008, uses D-ILA technology developed by JVC for commercial and industrial uses, not for home theater. “It’s cost prohibitive to develop that kind of technology in-house,” says Ken Forsythe of Meridian. However, new technology takes time and money, and projector makers aren’t moving as quickly as TV makers - partly because most projector manufacturers don’t produce the core technology themselves. “New advances in projection technology take years to bring to market, so it’s very natural for integrators and enthusiasts alike to respond to new offerings,” offers Digital Projection Inc.‘s Michael Bridwell. At a time when really stellar 1080p projector performance can be had for about $2,500 (and entry-level HD projectors cost $700), it seems odd that the market isn’t swarming with 4K projectors. Yet to get 4K on a screen over 85 inches, you need to decide between sending your kids to college versus building your home theater dream system. There are companies offering 4K resolution flat-panel TVs for around $1,000. There some other examples, but like the SIM2 and Meridian, they’re commercial cinema products that have been optimized for home theater, and mostly they’re one-at-time products.įirst introduced in 2008, Meridian’s 810 Reference Video System currently sells for $225,000. Both the Meridian and Sony use LCOS light engines, while the SIM2 and ICE use Texas Instruments’ DLP technology. That lineup includes the $225,000 Meridian 810 Reference Video System, the $160,000 SIM2 CINEMAQUATTRO 4K, ICE Cinema’s $160,000 DP4K-ICE (optimized from a commercial Barco Digital Cinema projector) and Sony’s $25,000 VPL-VW1000ES. That said, if you’re looking for a 4K projector, your selection is seriously limited.Ĭurrently, there are only a few true 4K projectors marketed toward the home theater customer - and all but one cost over $100,000. What if you want a really big picture? A projector is the natural choice. Unfortunately, those TVs max out at 84/85 inches (measured diagonally). LG and Sony led the 4K flat-panel TV assault early on by introducing the first products, but Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba and several others have also joined the fray. If you walk into a well-supplied audio/video store, you’re very likely to see at least one, if not several, 4K TVs. Where are all the 4K home theater projectors? With so much activity in the development of 4K, there’s still one large hole in the marketplace. Sony is already selling a 4K video server (for $699), Netflix is prepping a 4K streaming service, REDRAY offers a download service, and there appears to be much more like that on the way. Every major TV manufacturer has new Ultra HD models either already on the market or coming in the near future. In the case of this reviewer: “I have an eight-foot screen and the projector is about three feet away.4K TVs (Ultra HD TVs) are the kinda/sorta big thing this year. I live in a city, so there is a decent amount of ambient light, but the picture was clear and bright at 8:30 in July, before the sun had set completely.” As another customer writes, “I’m amazed at the size of the screen this projector is able to make from just over a couple of feet away.” One warns that it can take a little while to find the right positioning since the projector is so efficient at throwing out at image: “One to two inches is comparable to one to two feet with a non-short-throw projector,” they say, but after a little trial and error, you’ll be in great shape. One reviewer say they did a lot of researching and comparing specs before deciding on the Optoma projector: “I am primarily using it outside, with a 220inch screen, and it sits about 9’ away from the wall. ![]() Purchasers recommend this Optoma model for anyone in need of a “short throw” projector that can cast out a wide image even when positioned close to the wall or screen. ![]()
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