Projectors Reviews, price and comparision

Review by M. David stone • December 9, 2010

The Epson PowerLite home cinema 8700 UB projector ($ 2,199 direct) is Epson's top-line model in their home theater projector included category of entry level top and bottom Pro cinema models in square brackets. The Pro cinema models are generally reserved for enthusiasts willing to shell, money for AV professionals to install and the settings to their viewers, and in fact optimize their entire home theater, including the system screen and audio. The LCD-based 1080p, the 8700 UB is directly on the threshold, the higher level, with Pro-cinema-level performance to a decidedly moderate price. It is also our editors' choice for inexpensive home theater projector.

Physically similar to the entry level editor ' choice Epson PowerLite home cinema 8100 ($ 1499 direct, 4 star), the 8700 UB to 5.4 by 17.7 15.5 cm (HWD) and 16 pounds is relatively large. That leaves plenty of room on the back for plug, the two HDMI ports for video or data signals containing only a RCA phono plug for composite video signals, and an S-video connector three RCA phono connectors for component video, a VGA connector for a computer (it supports no component video).

There is also a 12v trigger port can you use to automatically reduce and a screen to increase, enabling the projector on and turn off and a RS-232 port, allows you the projector from a computer to control. There is no audio connections, because there no integrated audio system is.

Setup
If you buy the 8700 UB, you are sure order cables at the same time, when you need them. The only things that is combined with the projector Epson is a power cord and a remote control. Provided that you have the cables you need, but is usually standard fare Setup. Introduced the projector, connect the cable, have on the screen, and adjust the manual zoom, focus and both horizontal and vertical lens shift. All four controls change settings only slowly adjust easily to make enough and with just the right amount of resistance.

Both the 2.1 x zoom and lens shift, the controls value are special mention, as it enormous flexibility you in where you can the projector and still get the image size and the desired position. The horizontal lens shift can the image about half screen width in both directions from the center position move. The vertical lens shift can move up or down it from the center position almost a full screen after. The combination makes the right spot for the projector will find extremely easy.

Finally Setup benefit as with nearly every projector, to explore the menu options and may change the settings. However provide excellent image quality, the default settings, leave little reason for all but the most demanding enthusiasts with the settings play.

Performance
There are several independent features that the 8700 UB contribute a different image quality. The default settings are THX mode, for example provides excellent color fidelity and brightness appropriate for movies in a dark room theater. Other settings, including dynamic and living room modes offer greater brightness for higher ambient light and at the same time good color fidelity. These other modes are also the viewer a good choice for watching sports or play video games in the family room. Epson prices projector at 1600 lumens in brightest mode.

Display dark for Theater an Auto-Iris provides blacks exceptionally, in particular in dark scenes. The black is a little brighter in bright scenes, where the Auto-Iris, but always still properly black opened. Just as important, the IRIS adjustment is fast enough, so I see no lag in my tests between cut to a new scene and the brightness change - a common problem with auto-IRIS.

A further plus is how well treated the 8700 UB shadow detail, maintaining detail based on shading in dark areas, in scenes which many viewers have problems. Similarly, it did a great job with skin tones even in scenes that tend to many projectors, Posterize (Posterize) (shows a sudden change in color where it should gradually shade).

Value reference is also an extension resolution mode that Epson asks Super resolution. The mode visibly improves the sharpness of the DVDs played on a 480i composite video connection and even showed a significant improvement in some scenes for Blu-ray discs to 1080p. Even better, it has created all the elements. So although the improvement has been subtle to none in most HD scenes, enabled the fact that the function sometimes helps and hurts never makes it value having and leave.

As should be clear, an impressive collection of functions and performance provides the 8700 UB, by the relatively low price even more impressive. It offers not the 3D support can be found in some current DLP projectors, but who is projectors 3D in today's low prices very limited, and may never much of it is in any case can.

Very much is on the positive side, and far more practical as well, that the 8700 UB comes with a coupon for a free replacement lamp, that a $300-element is. (Alleged lamp life is 4,000 hours, whether in the standard or eco mode.) Whether you a true enthusiast on a limited budget or would like to mention only a great projector at an affordable price - not one that you insert and a high image quality is preserved without modification - 8700 UB to recommend both easy and one simple picking an editor's choice.

VERGLEICHSTABELLE
Compare the ViewSonic PJD2121 side by side with several other projectors.