Panasonic PT-AE1000U-EC Home Theater Projector

Panasonic Updated: 2007-06-20
Panasonic PT-AE1000U-EC Home Theater Projector

Full HD Hollywood Quality
Beginning with the PT-AE100U in 2001, Panasonic has led the industry in developing advanced projectors that bring largescreen, cinema-level viewing enjoyment right into the home. Our Hollywood tuning process, which takes place at the Panasonic Hollywood Lab (PHL), was developed in collaboration with leading Hollywood colorists and directors of photography, produces images that are exceptionally faithful to the director's artistic vision and intent, delivering true "Hollywood picture quality". Panasonic made Hollywood tuning available to home consumers in 2003 with the PT-AE500U, which provided unmatched image quality when viewing movies.

Now Panasonic is bringing image quality to even greater heights by offering full HD. The new PT-AE1000U is a full-HD compatible home cinema projector that achieves a remarkable 11,000:1 contrast ratio -- best in its class*. Developed with the quality and precision that are needed to allow use by Hollywood professionals in the moviemaking process, the PT-AE1000U features three LCD panels that display beautiful 1,080p high-definition pictures in remarkable detail. With the new PT-AE1000U, Panasonic gives you the ultimate cinema experience at home.

Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory (PHL) -- Where Hollywood picture quality begins
For the past decade, PHL has conducted research into digital cinema, DVD video compression, and digital conversion of film stock. Now it is working to create standards for next-generation optical media using Blu-ray Disc and projection technology based on HD image compression. PHL has a close relationship with leading Hollywood studio technicians, directors, cinematographers and "Pure Color Filter Pro" for Professional-Level Color Reproduction. To viewers at home, this means you see the kind of bright, vibrant colors and deep, rich blacks that make for great entertainment.

New Optical Engine
The lens system plays a key role in getting the best images possible from full-HD video sources. To assure outstanding quality in the new PT-AE1000U, Panasonic developed a full-HD-compatible lens unit comprising 16 lens elements in 12 groups, including two large-diameter aspherical lenses and two high-performance ED (extralow dispersion) lenses. We also developed a "Clear Prism" to process the three primary colors (red, green and blue) that create the image. By controlling the diffused reflection within the projector, the Clear Prism reduces the chromatic aberrations that can cause color deviation.

The result is a sharp, high-contrast image all the way to the edges. This sophisticated new lens system contributes to the PT-AE1000U's remarkable 11,000:1 contrast ratio.

Next-Generation Full-HD LCD Panels
The PT-AE1000U is equipped with next-generation full-HD LCD panels. With their native 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, these panels are ideal for reproducing beautiful full-HD images.

"Smooth Screen" Technology for Deep, Film-Like Images
Smooth Screen is a Panasonic technology that uses crystal double refraction to arrange pixels on a screen without gaps between them. This reduces the black-line "chicken wire or screen door effect" between pixels that mars picture quality, giving you the kind of smooth images you see in a movie theatre. It also protects colors from the chicken wire/screen door effect, so the image appears deeper and more three-dimensional.

Dynamic Iris
The Dynamic Iris helps provide the deeper, richer blacks you need for true-to-life images. This system works by analyzing histograms to determine the brightness level of each image, then adjusting the lamp power, iris and gamma curve accordingly to create the ideal image. The adjustments are made 60 times every second. In the PT-AE1000U we used a new algorithm that further improves response and stability. It helps the projector achieve a wide dynamic range, with beautiful display of both dark and bright scenes.

"Cinema Works Pro" -- The Heart of Image Processing
The PT-AE1000U introduces Panasonic's powerful new digital image processing engine. Called Cinema Works Pro, this system unleashes all the beauty from full-HD sources. It helps provide outstanding image quality from other sources as well.

14-Bit Digital Processing Circuit: this circuit helps faithfully reproduce even subtle hues and brightness variations, making it possible to see even very fine textures in an image, especially in reproducing dark scenes and achieving the high realism demanded by movie-industry professionals.
New Scaling LSI: Converts pixels (a process called scaling) according to the characteristics of the on-screen image and adjacent pixels. This not only improves image sharpness and reduces noise, it also helps create beautifully enlarged images from 480p sources, so you enjoy superb picture quality when viewing DVDs from your home collection.
MPEG Noise Reduction: This system detects the amount of change in the input signal from one scene to the next and calculates the amount of noise to remove accordingly, minimizing both block noise and mosquito noise.
Progressive Cinema Scan (3/2 Pulldown) and HD IP: It automatically detects when the input signal is derived from filmed material. HD IP enables the PT-AE1000U to convert signals recorded at a higher quality than was possible with conventional models.
Dynamic Sharpness Control: Conventional projectors emphasize sharpness without regard for brightness differences. This can cause a halo or ring effect around object edges, reducing their three-dimensionality. Dynamic Sharpness Control sharpens only the pixels in the image areas where there is a small change in brightness level. This greatly reduces noise amplification and delivers clear, natural-looking images.

Seven Preset Picture Modes
The PT-AE1000U has seven preset picture modes, making it easy for you to enjoy optimal viewing quality from a variety of image sources.

Cinema 1 - Soft, smooth picture ideal for movies. Created under the supervision of David Bernstein, a leading Hollywood colorist.

Cinema 2 - Emphasizes deeper, richer colors. Suitable for older film classics.

Color 1 - A setting that supports the 6,500K 5 color temperature recommended in the HDTV standard (ITU-R BT.709)

Color 2 - A setting that supports the 6,300K 5 color temperature recommended in the Digital Cinema Distribution Master (DCDM) standard.

Cinema 3 - Designed for clear, sharp reproduction of dynamic scenes. Suitable for action films, cartoons and animation.

Normal - A general setting suitable for use with most image sources.

Dynamic - Specially designed for when you're viewing in a brightly lit room.

Waveform Monitor
The PT-AE1000U gives home consumers a projector with the kind of waveform monitor used in equipment for professionals. This function displays waveforms to show how the PT-AE1000U has adjusted the images of the input signals sent from the source device. In cases where the output level of the source device fluctuates, you can view the waveform on the screen and adjust the image brightness and contrast to match standard levels. In cases where the characteristics of the output signal from the source device are distorted, viewing the waveform can make it easier for you to adjust the picture so it looks the way the director intended.

Cinema Color Management (CCM)
This is an innovative color correction system that enables free control of colors with CCM technology. You can adjust one color without affecting the neighboring colors. This makes it easier to achieve the right color equalization in hue, luminance and saturation.

User Equalizing Function
Incorporating Cinema Color Management technology, the PT-AE1000U has a user equalizing function that lets you decide precisely how images look on your screen. In each of the seven preset picture modes, the high, mid, and low gamma levels are adjustable. This makes customizing the picture fun and provides professional results. You can even store up to three sets of adjustment settings in memory for use any time.

Built-In Test Pattern
For quick and easy adjustment of zoom and focus, two test patterns are built-in.

A Stylish Lens-Centered Design
The PT-AE1000U features a symmetrical design with a centered lens and a high-grade finish that suggests quality. Also available is an optional cable cover (ET-PCE1000) that gives the projector a square shape while neatly concealing the connection cables.

2x Optical Power Zoom and Power Focus
A 2x optical power zoom/focus lens and a lens shift function together make it possible to project a 120-inch picture from as close as 11' 10" (3.6m) to the screen or as far as 23' 7" (7.2m) away. This gives you outstanding setup flexibility. If you choose to ceiling-mount the projector, you can zoom and focus by remote control.

Wide Lens Shift Range
The PT-AE1000U lens has a much wider shift range than previous models. Horizontally, it can shift the image in a range equal to about 40% of the screen width. Vertically it can shift the image up to about 100% of the screen height.

Quiet Operation
We reduced fan noise all the way down to 22 dB (in Economy lamp mode) by improving the efficiency of the cooling system.

Learning Remote Control
The PT-AE1000U comes with a universal "learning" remote control unit that you can use to control your DVD player, AV amplifier, motorized projector screen or other components. A backlit LCD panel makes the remote easy to find and use even when you've turned the lights low for a home theater effect.

On-Screen Input Guidance
A graphic display on the screen shows which terminals have been selected for sources. An indicator blinks to alert you if you've selected a terminal that has no device connected to it.

Variety of Input Ports
The PT-AE1000U has two component inputs. In addition to video, S-video and computer (RGB) terminals, the projector is equipped with two (2) HDMI ports and an RS232C serial port.

Easy Maintenance
For easier maintenance, you can replace the filter from the side and the lamp from the top. The dust filter and lamp are easily replaced even after the PT-AE1000U is installed on the ceiling.