Active spectacles
3D monitor and picture balance controls can be used to mitigate against over enthusiastic parallax effects. You can display left and right eye images side by side with individual waveform patterns, to achieve the most comfortable stereoscopic balance.
Picture adjustments menu
Click for a larger image
Of course, whether you think all this faff is worthwhile just to watch Gnomeo and Juliet is debatable. One pair of 3D goggles is included in the box, although there are probably deals to be done with your local dealer if you need more.
The PT-AT500E features an integrated 3D transmitter which bounces IR sync codes to the Active Shutter glasses, off your screen. In my viewing room, this worked without any loss of sync. An additional transmitter (supplied) can be hardwired to one of the 12V trigger points, to ensure a wider reach in larger viewing rooms.
Supplementary sync transmitter
Image clarity is exceptional, although much depends on how you set the projector’s Frame Creation modes. Switched off, motion resolution struggles to get much beyond 600 lines. Once engaged, this jumps to around 850 lines, enough to retain detail in rapidly panned objects.
There are three Frame Creation modes, but these incrementally introduce smudgy motion artefacts around moving objects. Mode 1 is the best bet: it wipes out horizontal panning judder yet contributes only a smidgeon in artefacts.
Fan noise is noticeable unless run in Eco mode
Black level and shadow details are phenomenal. Lady Gaga Presents: The Monster Ball Tour... (Blu-ray) is a great test of dynamics and dark detail, and with it the PT-AT5000E excelled. There’s a depth and smoothness to its images which is decidedly cinematic.
Colours also ping, thanks to a new 200W Red-Rich lamp. With little adjustment, even the troublesome crimson hats of my Capulet gnomes on my latest 3D test platter positively glowed with authenticity. Operational noise is a tad high though. This model could be deemed intrusively loud if you don’t run it in Eco mode; thankfully there’s no significant visual penalty by going green.
Visually satisfying
Verdict
The PT-AT5000E is an astoundingly accomplished LCD projector. The cosmetic design may be thumpingly dull but its performance sparkles with Hollywood glitz. Heck, it even makes 3D look good. If you’re serious about home theatre, this is a highly creditable alternative to far more expensive options. ®
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Panasonic PT-AT5000E LCD projector
COMMENTS
Re: Serial port?
It's for control systems, like Crestron, AMX, Philips etc
- to control the projector, switch modes, and so on.
Re: Serial port?
Yes, but aren't they moving on to newer technologies? Everyone else is.
The office ceiling mounted projector isn't new enough have all the HDMI inputs, but it has USB and Ethernet ports along with serial for the legacy connections.
All this new one has is serial.
Most systems are doing away with serial connections. Rare to find a PC with one for example.
Re: > £3000???
£3000 is a high price, but one that I considered worthwhile. I have the earlier AT4000E which cost £2,500 retail a year or two back.
This gives me a device that creates a screen that is just shy of 3m diagonal in full HD, at a lower noise than any of its competitors when it was released. I can watch pretty much any movie I choose in the comfort of my own home, with cheap beer and snacks, on any format or source (DVD, Blu-ray or streaming from my media PC) in 7.2 sound (with my Onkyo AV amp). Allowing pausing of the show when the lady needs a comfort break, no concern or cost of baby-sitters and not least of all none of that crud that comes with sharing space with sweet wrapper scrunching, chattering hoi-polloi with big hats.
Last time we chose to visit a cinema, we shelled out over £50 for two, with snacks, fuel, parking... The picture and sound was worse, the chairs less comfortable, queues there, along with noisy f***ers.
I would recommend looking into it. How much would a 110" LCD or plasma cost?
That said, I would bother with 3D, it's sh**
Anyone seriously considering a premium projector is surely waiting for the Red 4k laser projector which should be released this year...
> £3000???
To watch a film at home?
I could go to the local cinema and experience 300 3D films for that amount. On a fucking HUGE screen.
