Panasonic PT-AE900u Projector Overview-2

Posted on September 17, 2005 by Art Feierman

The top of this Panasonic home theater projector, is almost identical to the older PT-AE700u. The only noteworthy change is that on the control panel, the enter button is now in the middle of the four arrow keys (where it belongs). From left to right, there is a large power button (press once to turn on, twice to turn off). Next is the Input (source) button allowing you to toggle between the six different sources. Then comes the menu button, and following that the four navigational arrow keys with the Enter button in the middle.

Just above the Input and Menu buttons are three indicator lights - one for standby/on (red/green), a lamp light and a temperature warning light. And that takes care of the top.

The back houses the power receptical, the "hard" power switch (which has the projector on idle, so it can be turned on by the top power switch or the remote. The remote will be covered in the Performance - Other section - except for noting that it is a learning remote so it can control other devices.

Looking at the back panel, I'll start from the left, once again. First is an RS-232 port which will allow the projector to be controlled by a computer or room control system. Right next to it is the digital HDMI connector, and then, a standard computer input (HD15 connector). The Panasonic PT-AE900u has two sets of component inputs (red, green, blue with RCA connectors), separated by the S-video and composite video jacks.

That's it for the back panel. One complaint only - the three connectors for each component input are very close together, which could be a "tight fit" problem with many of today's high quality (thick) cables. Also, the S-video connector is right on top of Component 1's red input. OK, it will be a nuisance for some, but probably (hopefully) everyone will be able to squeeze their their connectors in.

There is so much room on the back panel, it really is a shame to place the connectors so close.

That said, it's time to look at what really counts - and that is the image quality of Panasonic's PT-AE900u widescreen home theater projector.