Overview: Pro Cinema 4030
The Pro Cinema 4030 Projector plugs into Epson's home theater projector lineup extremely nicely. Officially the Pro Cinema 4030 replaces the older 9350, which was a 2D only projector, and not as bright, for starters.
From a pricing standpoint, I consider the Epson Pro Cinema 4030 to be selling for about a net of $2000. That is to say, you'll pay $2499 from your local, trained Epson dealer, but you will receive a spare lamp, ceiling mount, two pair of 3D glasses, and a year more warranty than Epson provides on their projectors that sell online. What is unusual is there is no direct equivalent projector in the Home Cinema lineup, with Epson keeping the Home Cinema 8350 for at least a while longer.
There are a number of small feature differences between the 4030 and 6030 UB, and the noticeably better blacks that favor the "UB". That and about $1000 price difference. Folks I'll tell you right now, if the budget is tight, the PC4030 saves a lot of money, while still offering performance closer to the PC6030 UB than the older 9350.
All Epson projectors to date are LCD projectors (they manufacture almost all of the world's poly-si LCD panels which "power" all LCD projectors), which go by the 3LCD moniker (Much as DMD projectors are called DLP). Epson has doubled the contrast as one big improvement. Based on viewing this projector, rather than drawing our conclusions on the contrast numbers (which are often misleading), this Epson, unlike the projector it replaces, qualifies as an ultra high contrast projector. That is to say, it offers up some pretty impressive black levels, for rich dark scenes.
The 4030 offers tremendous placement flexibility something we'll discuss later.