Epson EMP-TW2000 Full HD 1080 LCD Projector Review
Epson's latest custom installer based projector is full of surprises....
Back in July last year we reviewed Epson’s first foray in to the 1080p projection market, with the TW1000. Following up on that machines success, but not replacing it, is the TW2000. This projector is aimed at the custom install market and comes complete with ISFc3 calibration tools and an improved claimed contrast ratio of 50,000:1.
The unit looks identical to the TW1000 and has exactly the same dimensions (310 (D) x 406 (W) x 124 (H) mm) with only the ISF logo denoting the different models. On the top side of the body are the lens shift wheels which allow 96% vertical and 47% horizontal movement, giving users complete flexibility in positioning. All the expected inputs are around the back with 2 x HDMI V1.3 inputs, 1 x s-video, composite and component plus RS232 and 12V trigger outputs. The TW2000 can either be table or shelf mounted on its adjustable feet or ceiling mounted with the correct mount assembly. Inside the projector the optical path has been improved with an updated OptiFocus engine with DeepBlack phase compensation technology. This means that no stray light from the path leaks from the optical engine, ensuring that the contrast level is not affected. There are three new 0.74-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 C2FINE LCD panels with D7 process technology and a 12-bit LCD driver onboard with light produced by a 170W UHE (E-TORL) bulb, boasting over 3,000 hours of lamp life. There is also a dynamic iris control and colour filter which is claimed helps the projector hit its extremely high contrast figures. One of the main selling points of this model is a manufacturer's 3 year warranty that also covers the bulb (UK only).
The menu layout is similar to the TW1000 and has everything you would expect in terms of set up and calibration. The remote control is identical to the TW1000 and is backlit although it still feels cheap and plastic. Again one of the traits of the Epson projectors is the scaling menu option. Make sure you set this to 100% so the machines aspect ratios appear correctly. Why this is not set as default I have no idea. One area that is likely to annoy many (especially custom installers) is the fact that when using HDMI connections you cannot adjust the aspect control. This means that anamorphic projection is out of the question unless you use the component input or outboard scaling. In this day and age this would appear to have been a major oversight by the guys at Epson, and hopefully this will be an issue corrected in later models. Set up is easy enough to master quickly.
In the menu areas we have new colour modes to choose from, and with some of the selections the projector adds in a colour filter to the optical path. With ISF certification there are also added memory banks for saving day and night calibrations for swift retrieval. The colour choices are 'vivid', 'cinema day', 'normal', 'cinema night', 'HD', 'silver screen' and 'x.v.Colour'. There are also other added features such as advanced sharpness controls, super white, gamma adjustment and direct power on.
So with a similar design and layout to the TW1000 model, how does the new machine perform? And what exactly does that 50,000:1 contrast ratio actually mean?
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