Panasonic PT-AE4000: Impressions

[hugh]

The purpose of this thread is to pass along my first hand impressions over the next few of the Panasonic PT-AE4000 1080p high definition cinema projector.

At the end of three or four weeks, I will publish a review on the Digital Home site but this thread is simply for me to publish my thoughts as I went along and share insights with other AE4000 owners or prospective buyers.

Highlights

• 1080p 3-Chip 16:9 LCD projector
• Brightness: 1,600 lumens
• Contrast: 100,000:1
• Optical zoom: 2:1
• UHM lamp: 170 Watt

Performance features

• 1080p/24p playback capabilities
• 120Hz smooth motion reproduction
• New detail clarity processor 3
• 2.35:1 Cinemascope full screen playback on 16:9 screen with auto lens memory function
• Hand-tuned aspherical lens system
• Split adjust mode
• Multi-function wave form monitor
• Dynamic iris and dynamic gamma
• Cinema colour management premium
• Deep colour with xvYCC
• Pure colour filter pro
• Installation: Ceiling/Desk, Front/Rear
• Optical lens shift: Vertical (40%) / Horizontal (100%)
• Vertical electronic keystone adjustment: 30%
• Simple remote control
• Programmable 12V trigger

Video inputs

• HDMI x 3
• PC, 15-Pin D-sub x 1
• Component video x 1
• S-Video x 1
• Composite Video x 1
• RS-232C, 9-Pin D-sub x 1

MSP: $2,999.99

[hugh]

Introduction

For those who don't know, I am currently the owner of a Panasonic AE-1000 which I bought about three years ago after spending several months reviewing a number of make and models of Front Projectors.

I bought the AE-1000 because at the time, I thought it was the best quality 1080p Front Projector on the market for under $7,000 or $8,000. The MSRP on the AE-4000 is $2,999 which is about $1,500 less than the MSRP on the AE-1000 from three years ago.

I will be picking up the Panasonic PT-AE4000 projector this afternoon and hopefully slotting it in on the shelf where the PT-AE1000 is currently located.

Will keep you posted.

[lionmonty]

please let me know how much better the black levels and shadow details is compared to your 1000.

thx a bunch

[Sam]

As a 4K owner myself, I am interested in knowing your professional take on this projector. If you don't mind, kindly include your thoughts on the waveform monitor feature and its benefits/advantage.

Thanks.

As a previous owner of an Optoma HD7100, I absolutely like this unit(the 4K) and I am glad I upgraded.

[SlimDiesel]

I've played a bit with the waveform monitor feature and it seems useful for setting brightness and contrast. It would be nice if Panasonic had released really technical information (a 'how-to' for geeks) so I didn't have to guess about what things might be telling me.

I think the grid line near the top of the graph represents the point where the LCD panels would be as transparent as they get and where the graph of input signals is above this line then you are clipping in the corresponding pixel column. (contrast set too high). Similar for the single colour traces but the input level graph is only for that colour across a single row of pixels.

The AVS-HD 709 disc also contains very useful patterns for brightness, contrast, colour and tint and I have been able to get a very good setup that way. I've also got a Spyder3 and HCFR that I'll use to get some quantitative measures shortly.

[bolmsted]

looking forward to the full review as I'm looking at this projector myself. can you take photos of your setup and the images on screen as I'd be interested to see a real life scenario instead of HT web sites or manufacturer.

[d2e8b8]

Hugh, any updates on the review?

[Mike Osadciw]

I'm sure Panasonic has kept it consistent. The 3000,2000,1000 calibrated well when used in the correct image mode (beware brighter modes like "Normal" where gamma and colour gamut are messed and can't be corrected no matter how much tinkering with all of those controls).

After calibration: Awesome/flexible colour management function. Good gamma. Relatively flat grayscale. More than enough image presets to save and name. I'm waiting for a local dealer to set one up to see if anything's changed.

[d2e8b8]

At the end of three or four weeks, I will publish a review on the Digital Home site but this thread is simply for me to publish my thoughts as I went along and share insights with other AE4000 owners or prospective buyers.

Does the projector work? Just wondering since there's nothing posted for 2 months now - no thoughts, insights even.

[mikec]

Hugh? You there? Any updates?

[David Susilo]

I calibrated several PT-AE4000U, even the Cinema 1 mode is very very close to D65. Black level is amazing (even compared to the 3000U). Auto detection of black bar is hit and miss (although mostly hit than miss) so I personally recommend just to use preset.

Zooming in and out between 21:9 and 16:9 mode tend to make the 16:9 mode out of focus after about 20x going back and forth and you'll need to re-focus. This is the same problem the 3000U have. The "best" way to avoid this is just to set your projector for 21:9 and use S16:9 aspect when watching 16:9 movies. In many cases (watching from 9ft away) you'd hardly be able to see the loss of resolution.

I've never encountered old-enough 4000U to know whether the dust blob problem have been dimisnished or (hopefully) been eliminated altogether.

[hugh]

Guys my apologies for not revisiting this thread as I have been overwhelmed in the last month. I was hoping to publish a complete review but that isn't going to happen.

For what its worth, I had the good fortune of having the PT-AE4000 hooked up in my home for about three weeks and during that time, I watched quite a bit of television including HD, SD, Blu-ray, and DVD.

My current projector is the PT-AE1000 which I purchased about three years ago after performing a number of reviews up sub $5,000 projectors.

I still consider the PT-AE1000 an excellent project but the 4000 was a noticeable improvement. Physically the two devices look very similar but the 4000 is superior in almost every way including brightness, contrast, and colour accuracy. In addition, it has several new features such as Intelligent lens memory.

Setup of this unit was a breeze. I set it on a shelf directly behind our seating position about 17 feet from a 100" screen. Once unboxed and in position, I had the unit set up to go in about 20 minutes. About 10 minutes was adjusting the picture using the horizontal and vertical shift and zoom and ten minutes on focusing. Connectivity options include three HDMI inputs and component.

The menu system on the Panasonic projector is straightforward and has changed little over the years. My old projector remote could still control the new unit.

Since I typically shut off all lights while watching, this projector had plenty of brightness. The bulk of my watching was done in the Cinema modes with some tweaking. For movies, Cinema 1 would satisfy all but the most demanding videophiles.

At 1,600 lumens, the projector still did a good job with a quite bit of ambient light but for maximum picture quality you want it dark so the vast majority of viewing was in typical home theatre low light conditions.

For anyone interested in learning more, check out the Projector Central Review which I would hardily concur with.

Over the last several months, I have visited and seen several competing projectors in home theatre settings. Although I am impressed with what can be had for $1,000 or $1,500, in my opinion the Panasonic AE4000 is a significantly superior projector in both picture quality and features and well worth the added expense.

I highly recommend this projector.

[U]

Thanks for the review Hugh, this one is high on the shopping list for me... Now if only we could get those units for a fair price.

[spongebob]

Hello Folks!

Just joined this forum.

For those looking for a fair deal, HD.ca is offering a free bulb + mount + HDMI cable. The problem is that there are back order on this item since the end of April. At present time, they are unable to provide me an ETA and are waiting for a response from Panasonic Canada.

[TommyBoyDK]

hello folks, just joined this forum,
I am an AE4000 owner my self, here is a bit pictures of my own little
homecinema:
http://forum.recordere.dk/forum_post...itle=mit-hjrne
I live in Denmark, so just look at the pictures :-)

I really love the AE4000, digital motion interpolation modes are GREAT
and really do the thing I like, smooth moving objects, no more jitter
on all input modes you can imagine, it can even nice up a fast forward
search so you think it is a lie !

colours and grayscales are so close to perfect, cant ask for more.
light output is plenty for my taste and need too, even i eco mode.
noise ?? what noise, man it is silent.

but one point I am not too happy about, it is the focus,
and the way the focus is adjusted it also not good.
for presentations and menu's in blueray players or even in the projector
setup menus the txt looks terrible blured,
the focus kind of go up-down and left-right and cross over
near the sweet spot in a way so perfect focus is not possible to obtain.
how ever this issue is not a problem when watching movies,
where the picture keeps impress me and others.