Big Picture Big Sound

A Picture is Worth 1000. Period.

A few years ago, when I introduced a friend of mine to the world of High-Definition Television, she said to me "this picture is actually better than my eyesight." I remember thinking, "Oh to be an HD novice again and experience that clarity for the first time." Well, if you're like me then the Panasonic PT-AE1000U 1080p projector might make you feel like a kid again.

Watching a true 1080p output (actually, the best source signal we could get was 1080i) was like experiencing HD for the first time again. The 1000U produces thoroughly stunning picture quality from HD sources and behaves admirably with standard definition content as well.

Let there (not) be light

With a lower lumen output than its 720p counterpart the PT-AX100U (1100 vs 2000), the 1000U requires a darker viewing area. Though, to be sure, the 1000U is powerful enough to contend with some degree of ambient light, particularly at a low to mid-range throw distance. With the Panasonic approximately 15 feet from the screen (about half the max), it was more than powerful enough to produce a watchable image with ambient light.


But I'm not too concerned about it's relatively low brightness. The 1000 isn't for just any old rumpus room. This is a serious projector for serious videophiles and movie lovers. The 1000 is a beast; you can feel the power of it as soon as it starts up. The fan noise, which was a bit of a problem for me on the 100U isn't much quieter here, but I'm willing to forgive that for the power the 1000 provides. I can't expect any old fan to cool down this mother. In most installations (ceiling-mounted or rear-wall mounted with the viewing area slightly forward), the fan noise will be virtually inaudible.

The 1000U installation was a snap. With a higher lens shift ratio than the 100U (about 40% of the image size horizontally and vertically), I was able to align the image nicely from its off-center position near the top of the rear wall. Also, the motorized zoom and focus controls (which you can operate from the remote control) are just plain fun. I found focusing via the test pattern to be the way to go. So without further ado, let's calibrate this puppy...

The Amazing Spyder, man

Yes, I've used that "Spyder, man" joke before, but it seemed a propos here. I calibrated the projector via both the Avia DVD and SpyderTV Pro and, unlike my experience with the 100U, I found Spyder gave the purest result. This is likely due to the fact that Spyder sets the Color Temperature while Avia did not.

With Spyder, I ended up decreasing Brightness to -3 and increasing Contrast to 7. Color was brought down to -10 while Tint went up to 3. But I think it was the bringing the Color Temperature to -4 that helped achieve an overall warmer tone. Flesh tones in particular looked much more realistic post-calibration.


With a few minor adjustments to the RGB Cuts and Gains (remember, Cuts=Brightness and Gains=Contrast), we were able to get the RGB levels at 100% across the board and we were ready to go.


As usual, Panasonic's black levels continue to astound. For fun, I threw in a few standard-definition Noir titles to put the 1000U through its paces. "The Maltese Falcon" and "Double Indemnity" have never looked more Noir-y.

Smooth Operator

Watching standard definition content on one of these projectors is always a let down, but somehow the 1000U is an improvement over its 720p cousin. SD TV didn't have that choppy pixilation that I saw with the 100U - it almost looked as though the picture had been slightly smoothed out, yet without losing detail. This is likely due to Panasonic's "Smoothscreen" technology which is a filter in many of the recent Panny models. For you graphic designers out there, it's the equivalent of looking at an anti-aliased font versus standard text.

But enough about SD, how about Hi-Def?

HDM - aye aye aye!

Naturally, I started with some standard format DVDs via component video. "Superman Returns" and "King Kong" were two selections. The 1000U handled both beautifully. "Superman" in particular looked vibrant and colorful, and even the whirlwind airplane sequence never pixilated. "Kong" was a beauty as well. As you can imagine, I went straight for the T-Rex fight. But more on that when we hook up the HD-DVD player.

HD Cable TV looked gorgeous via component video...or so I thought. When I switched from component to HDMI, I saw a noticeable improvement in picture quality. "Amadeus" was on HDNET at the time and the elaborate sets and costumes went from gorgeous to eye-popping. That's not to say that there's anything wrong with component video, but once you've had HDMI, it's hard to go back.

And speaking of which, the piece de resistance was the HD-DVD/1000U/HDMI combo. Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, the 1000U's picture was astounding. Now, keep in mind this is still only a 1080i signal. I'm sure 1080p will be even better (if that's possible), but this picture is truly the next generation of image quality.

I started with a typical HD test DVD. There's a moment when a Greek ferry crosses from a standard definition signal to HD. Not only could you read the lettering on the ship and see the detailing on the flag, but I'm pretty sure I felt a spray of water. But seriously, the picture was so good when I popped in "The Bourne Supremacy" that I ended up watching the whole movie. The HD-DVD/1000U combo made the picture so good, I actually enjoyed the movie more than before. Now that's a good picture.

I popped in the HD-DVD of "King Kong" to do a side-by-side comparison with the standard-def DVD. The results are easily noticeable. While the SD DVD is fine - probably because we're used to SD DVDs - the HD-DVD is noticeably more clear and pristine. So much so that I noticed something in the film I hadn't before (Kong rips out the T-Rex's tongue at the start of the fight!).

Riding the Wave(form)s

The award for Coolest-Feature-That-I-Don't-Completely-Get-The-Use-Of goes to the Waveform Monitor which, according to the manual, monitors the "luminance levels of the input signal." I'm sure it does, but all I could think of was "micro-changes in air density" from "Alien."


Another favorite feature of mine was the input selector that appears in the top right corner of the screen when you select inputs. Somehow it makes switching inputs fun!


The Black Box

From an esthetic standpoint, the 1000U is no iPod. Obviously, at 5.1 x 18.1 x 11.8 inches (HxWxD) and 15.9 lbs it's a biggie, and its black finish is industrial without being ugly. The casing has two dials for lens shift and a nifty side panel which opens for zoom and focus. Other than that, this isn't a projector you're going to be showing off to your friends. But their eyes will be fixated firmly on the screen, trust me.


Final Thoughts

So, without further hyperbole, I think you get the idea: 1000U = amazing image quality, particularly on high definition sources. Though the 1000U isn't inexpensive, it's one of the cheapest Full HD 1080p projectors on the market (street price around $4,000), which is really saying something. If you've only seen 720p projectors up until this point, find a demo of the 1000 as soon as you can - you may never go back.

Yes, the 1000U requires a darkened room for best effect, but you're going to want a good environment for this projector. It's one of those components that will make you want to upgrade all your other equipment. That's probably the best compliment I can give it.

[editors's note: Panasonic is now offering a $1000 cash back rebate on this projector (4/16//07 to 4/30/07), making a great deal an even better deal.]

Where to Buy:

• Order from Amazon.com (Marketplace Sellers)

Specifications from the Manufacturer

• Brightness: 1100 ANSI Lumens
• Contrast: 11,000:1
• MSRP: $5999
• Weight: 15.9 lbs.
• Size (inches) (HxWxD): 5.1x18.1x11.8
• Zoom: Power, 2.00:1
• Throw Dist (feet): 11.5 - 19.7
• Image Size (inches): 60.0 - 200.0
• Keystone Correction: Digital
• Lens Shift: Horizontal + Vertical
• Warranty: 1 Year
• Compatibility:
• HDTV: 720p, 1080i, 1080p/60,1080p/50, 525p, 576i, 576p, 625i, 625p, 1125i
• EDTV/480p: Yes
• SDTV/480i: Yes
• Video Inputs (1 each): Component, HDMI (with HDCP), S-Video, Composite, VGA (15-pin)

Manufacturer's Contact Information:

Panasonic Corporation of North America
One Panasonic Way
Secaucus, NJ 07094
website: www.panasonic.com