CEDIA 2008 - Pre-Show Home Theater Projector Announcements and More
8/30/2008 -Art Feierman
There will be the usual number of major new home theater projector announcements this year at CEDIA.
UPDATE 9/12/2008 - The full CEDIA report - three (long) pages, covering about 15 major projectors has just been posted. Here are the links:
1080P New Home Theater Projectors - Most affordable
1080P New Home Theater Projectors - Mid-Priced
720p New Home Theater projectors
There are also a number of blogs on many of these models, check them out. You'll still want to look this original article over, as it touches on some products not covered in those newer pages, notably the Belkin Flywire, and some commentary about 3-D in your theater. -art
Pre-CEDIA Home Theater Announcements
Before I get into some of the projector information, I want to mention a product that has be truly excited. I've seen the prototypes, and just can't wait to lay my hands on one. I'm talking about the Belkin Flywire!
The what?
Belkin's Flywire is a wireless HDMI solution supporting full 1080p and HDMI 1.3 with Deep Color. There are two announced versions, one for single room ($699), and one that can pump your video and audio HDMI into multiple rooms ($999). They are expected to ship late this year.
The Flywire is a breakthrough product, if it works as publshed. Finally projector owners will only have to find power for their projectors, but not have to run wiring with signal from the front of the room, where most have their equipment. I am optimistic, and if impressed, I plan to purchase the larger one for my own theaters.
I will definitely cover the Flywire in detail, in my blogging from CEDIA.
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Home Theater Projectors
Look for two from Sanyo, there's the new 720p PLV-Z60, replacing the venerable, and two year old, popular PLV-Z5.
Of even greater interest to many, will be the new 1080p projector, the PLV-Z700. Looks like the PLV-Z700 may well be the least expensive new 1080p projector once it ships in October. With an MSRP of $1999, and an anticipated launch rebate program, if not the least expensive 1080p around, certainly it will be close. Generally Sanyo slugs it out with Mitsubishi for that honor, but this year, the Mitsubishi HC5500 - recently reviewed - looks to be noticeably more expensive.
When it comes to big news for existing projectors, Epson seems to have the biggest news. They have just put through dramatic price drops on both the top rated Home Cinema 1080 UB (our Best In Class winner for under $4000 1080p projectors), and the less expensive (and older) Home Cinema 1080.
Here's the scoop. The Home Cinema 1080 UB was $2999 with a $200 rebate, but effective immediately, it's $2799, with a $300 rebate, AND a free spare lamp. That's effectively a $450 price drop! With the Home Cinema 1080, it's even better. Pricing drops from $2299, with a $200 rebate, to $1999 with a $300 rebate and free lamp.
Looks like the Panasonic PT-AE3000U will be shown, at the same pricing as last year's PT-AE2000U. Based on prelim specs, look for improved processing and a boost in brightness.
Mitsubishi will show it's just announced Diamond - their top of the line 1080p projector. I don't know much about it, but the older HC6000 has been an excellent performer, if a little expensive. The Diamond should be impressive - we can only hope!
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3-D Home Theater
I got a very quick look at a 3D setup at Infocomm, and was blown away. What I saw, looked sensational. Yes, you use the usual 3D glasses, but for the first time, I witnessed a sharp clear image, with excellent depth, that seemed really in proportion (except when getting fancy and trying to put part of the image right in your face). Seeing what was essentially a music video created in 3-D, was so impressive, that in my mind, I now see 3D as something that very well may be viable in the next couple of years. Of course, people have to start creating content, etc., so viable, doesn't necessarily mean popular. It should be "early adopter time" soon, though!
Texas Instruments is having a 3D Bash at CEDIA 2008, and I'm definitely attending. I've got my Da-lite 3D glasses in my pocket (they have developed a screen with polarization technologies optimized for 3D - it was in the demo I saw at Infocomm). I just hope the food and drinks at the 3D Bash are as good as I expect the demos to be!
Oh, there will be dozens of other home theater projectors launched at CEDIA 2008, but since I haven't researched most of them, you'll just have to wait for my blog from Denver!
1080P New Home Theater Projectors - Most affordable
1080P New Home Theater Projectors - Mid-Priced
720p New Home Theater projectors