Panasonic PT-AE900u Projector Overview

Posted on September 20, 2005 by Art Feierman

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Panasonic PT-AE900U Specs
Price	3199
Technology	3LCD
Native Resolution	1280X720
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)	1400
Contrast	5,500:1
Zoom Lens Ratio	2.00:1
Lens Shift	No
Lamp Life
Weight	7.9
Warranty	1 year

Panasonic AE900U Sections

In an effort to help you decide if the PT-AE900u is the best choice for you, there is an update article (3/06) PT-AE900u - Who should buy , which looks at whether this projector will work in your room, and how Panasonic stacks up against other current competitors. We recommend, reading this review before visiting that document, which we hope will help you clarify your choice

Two things became immediately apparent upon hooking up and turning on Panasonic's newest home theater projector, the PT-AE900u: First, it is almost identical in appearance to the PT-AE700u projector it replaces, and second, upon turning it on and viewing it, that it produces one spectacular image for a projector that should sell initially for around $2200 online (when it starts shipping October 1st.). The PT-AE900u will almost certainly sell for under $2000 within a few months. The basic specs: Brightness: 1100 lumens in full power mode, 5500:1 contrast ratio. 3 LCD panels, 1280x720 resolution. The PT-AE900u has a 2:1 zoom lens for placement flexibility, and offers lens shift.

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I have no choice but to award the Panasonic PTAE900u a Hot Product Award, for as I said, the picture is downright impressive on both DVD and Hi-Def sources, especially considering the starting street price under $2500. This may be the first 720p resolution 3 chip LCD home theater projector to seriously challenge the long held supremecy of the (somewhat more expensive) single chip 720p DLP projectors. However, I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's start with the physical tour of the Panasonic projector.

From the front, the PT-AE900u projector sports the same 2:1 range zoom lens that the AE700u offers. This allows a wide placement range, and even makes it practical to shelf mount the Panasonic projector in the back of your room. You will note that the projector offers a front exhaust on the left (blowing air out on an angle. (Projectors with rear exhaust typically aren't practical on a shelf - due to overheating.). Next to the lens is the joystick which controls the optical lens shift. This allows both horizontal and vertical lens shift, providing a correct, rectangular image without having to use keystone correction (which degrades the image). There is also an infra-red sensor in the center for the remote (and another in the back). Down below, the projector has two adjustable feet (left and right) both are just screw thread adjustable, which is just fine.