A review on
projectorcental I want one!
Preview: NEC's Ultra-high contrast HT1000
Evan Powell, September 17, 2002
Just when we were about to get used to the notion of an 1800:1 contrast ratio as the "leading edge" in contrast performance for digital projectors, now comes NEC's startling announcement of the new HT1000 with a breathtaking 3000:1 contrast rating. This is NEC's first digital projector that is designed specifically for the video performance market. It is billed as a "Residential and Commercial Entertainment Projector" on the preliminary spec sheet. And as you can imagine, it will make a big splash just on the strength of its remarkable contrast rating alone.
The HT1000, the first of a line to be known as the Showcase Series , is scheduled to commence shipment in about six weeks. However, we have had a pre-production unit in the lab for the past week, and we can give you some thoughts on our initial experiences with it.
Product Overview (based on preliminary specs)
The HT1000 is a native 4:3 format DLP-based projector which uses the new standard XGA-resolution (1024x768) 12-degree high contrast DMD chip. It is rated at 1000 ANSI lumens of brightness in normal operation. It can be reduced to 800 ANSI lumens in eco-mode to extend lamp life and reduce fan noise in operation. The specifications indicate a contrast ratio of >2000:1 standard, and 3000:1 with the unique IRIS feature activated.
The IRIS feature is simply a mechanical adjustment that lets you stop down the lens aperture by adjusting a lever on the barrel of the lens. You give up about 20% in lumen output, whether you are in normal or eco-mode operation, and gain a visible boost in contrast. This feature works. We achieved the best results with the lens aperture closed down to the minimum setting, confirming once again that sacrificing lumen output in favor of contrast gain is always a safe bet.
Contrast is also further enhanced on the HT1000 with NEC's new "Sweetvision " technology. This is a proprietary chip developed by NEC which the company claims adds additional digital contrast enhancement resulting in images that are more vibrant, colors more realistic and blacks richer in detail.
This is the first digital projector in its price range to be spec'd as compatible with 1080p, as well as the more common 1080i, 720p, 576p, 576i, 480p, and 480i.
The connector panel features a variety of inputs including one DVI-D, one RGB, one set of 3 RCAs for component, one S-video, one composite jack, a PC card reader, and four mini-audio jacks. (The HT1000 has two 2-watt speakers on board, and separate audio inputs for each video signal source.) Outputs include a screen trigger and one PC control.
The lens is manual zoom and focus. From a throw distance of 12 feet from lens to screen, it produces an image that is 76.5 to 92 inches in width. That translates to a 16:9 format image that is a minimum of 89" diagonal to a maximum of 105", and a 4:3 image that is minimum of 96" to a maximum of 115" given the stipulated 12 foot distance. Allowing for the length of the projector itself plus a one foot clearance for heat dissipation in the rear, the HT1000 will comfortably produce a 100" diagonal 16:9 image in a room that is only 14 feet deep.
As home theater projectors go the HT1000 is relatively small and compact, weighing just 7.1 lbs. Inclusive of the lens it is only 12.6" long and a bit over 10" wide. Its off-white casework is ideal for unobtrusive ceiling mount installation.
Performance
When we fired up the HT1000, it was evident from the outset we could characterize its performance in one word--WOW. This is an exciting projector, and one destined to be among the elite of the home theater projectors in the months to come. Color accuracy is dead-on, saturation is beautiful, contrast is unmatched, black levels are rich and solid. Internal signal processing is superb, and even S-video from a cheap DVD player is stunning. For the money it is the best single-chip DLP projector we have yet seen. From our perspective the HT1000 looks like an outstanding achievement.
Keep in mind that all projectors have limitations and this one is no different. Most users will want to operate in eco-mode, which extends the lamp life from 1500 to 2000 hours. It also cuts fan noise from noticeable to very low. Eco-mode cuts the lumen output by 20%, from a rating of 1000 lumens to 800. Furthermore, most users will want to use the IRIS aperture restriction feature to boost contrast. On the pre-production unit we have, that feature cuts lumen output by an additional 20%, which brings it down into the 600 to 700 lumen range.
Therefore, if you are operating in eco-mode with the IRIS set at minimum aperture (maximum contrast), we would not recommend pushing a 16:9 screen size beyond 100" diagonal. The HT1000 will certainly display a larger image, but as you increase the square footage of the screen you reduce the image quality. It would be a shame to compromise the beauty of this image by stretching it beyond its optimum size.
Another issue to bear in mind is that this is a standard 4:3 native format XGA projector. That means it produces a 16:9 image in a pixel matrix of 1024x576, with black bars falling at the top and bottom of the image in the 4:3 display.
The contrast on this projector is high enough that the use of high contrast (gray) screen material is not necessary. However we used it with the Stewart Grayhawk with truly beautiful results.
Can't see much wrong with that. I like 4:3, F1 isn't in widescreen yet!