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InFocus LP350 vs. PLUS U2-1130 - Oct 9, 2000
PLUS and NEC Lead the Shake-Up in the Portable XGA Market - Sep 12, 2000
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Russell Brett - Jul 10, 2001
| Application: |
DATA and VIDEO(Home Theater) |
| What I Like: |
VERY HIGH CONTRAST(800:1), 1,300 Lumens. Superb Computer images. Can be a GREAT Home theater projector ONLY with a few additions(factor in a Higher-End external scaler or a HTPC into your budget). |
| Suggestions: |
DOES NOT DO 16:9 ON ANY OF IT'S INPUTS(Data or Video). IS NOT HDTV COMPATABLE. NO COMPONENT VIDEO INPUTS. |
| Comments: |
Having been a satisfied owner of the now discontinued PLUS UP-1100 which I purchased new 2 years ago for over $5,000(It's amazing how fast electronics become outdated and how much they drop in value!), I considered the U2-1130 to be a wise upgrade with its slightly higher Contrast of 800:1(500:1 on the UP-1100) and Brightness of 1,300 lumens(1,000 on the UP-1100). However, Some of the features that made the UP-1100 so versatile do not exist on the U2-1130. Gone is the ability to choose between Component Video and RGB colorspace through the VGA input(a very cool feature on the UP-1100 that allows you to connect a Progressive Scan DVD player). The U2-1130 also does not support HDTV and will not unsqueeze anamorphic DVDs on ANY of it's inputs(video or data). The U2-1130 was clearly designed with the Data presentor in mind as computer images from a PC on the U2-1130 were a bit sharper than on the UP-1100. This is were it's high contrast really shows. Also, The outline around the pixels are a little less noticable on the U2-1130. I don't know if this is due to it's higher brigthness or the fact that it is a more recently manufactured DLP chip. Also, I did not see any light leaks from the front grill or lens that is so noticable on the InFocus LP-350. So with improved performance in DATA, you would expect improved performance in VIDEO, Yes? No. Well, Yes and No. If you plan on using this projector for Home Theater, there are a few factors you need to consider. Aside from not being HDTV compatable(not a big deal for me), The U2-1130 by itself offers very poor quality video hampered by scaling artifacts and very soft(even through S-video with the sharpness turned up) images with very poor color reproduction. However, You CAN get GREAT results with video on the U2-1130 with the addition of an external scaler but NOT the DVDO iscan. Currently, the DVDO iscan is the best performance/value line doubler/scaler you can buy for under $1,000. I had a drastically improved picture when I connected a DVDO iscan to the UP-1100. So why can't you get a comparable picture when connected to the U2-1130? There are 2 major reasons. First: Although the image is much clearer and sharper than straight S-video or Composite, Again were the existance of scaling artifacts, much more noticable now. The picture was not very stable, especially with ANY kind of movement(Has the effect of someone trying to hold a TV steady in front of a screen door). Secondly: none of the DVDO iscan models have any control over Output Aspect Ratios(except the 4:3 squeeze mode) which you will need to display amamorphic DVDs. I achieved EXCELLENT results with the use of a TView QUADSCAN PRO or QUADSCAN ELITE scaler/line doubler/Quadrupler made by FOCUS ENHANCEMENTS. Not only can you select the input/output ratios for anamorphic DVDs and other sources but you can also select the output resolution to match exactly with the native resolution of your projector. This ability gives you a virtual absence of scaling artifacts and results in a remarkably stable image(better than the image on the similar InFocus LP-350). There are also a number of other controls on the QUADSCAN like Brightness, Contrast, Hue, Resizing and Repositioning as well as an IR remote. The price on the QUADSCAN PRO is comparable to the price on the DVDO iscan PRO and, in my opinion, is a much better choice especially for the U2-1130. The QUASCAN ELITE ranges from $1,200 to $1,900 and offers slightly better performance and versatility. However, The absolute best performace with video on the U2-1130 comes with the use of a good Home Theater PC. There are a few downsides to that route like having to start up a computer every time you want to watch a movie and the occasional freeze-ups but the image quality is unbeatable. However, only the most picky will notice or care about the difference between video with the Quadscan and video with the HTPC. |
Wing C. Tong - May 17, 2001
| Application: |
Powerpoint Presentations / 3DS architectural animations |
| Comments: |
I've been testing this unit out for the past week in our office and I like everything about it....BUT, the keystone correction is meant for correcting keystone angles created when the unit is sitting at table height with the unit angling upwards. However, to use this projector in a dual environment such as on table tops and in a set conference room where we project from a back room through a glass slot onto a screen that's about 19' away, and with the projection height at about 6', the projector must be tilted/angled downwards (as opposed to upwards in a table top situation). The keystone correction does not correct for this downward angling of the projector (without angling projector, the projected image is on the ceiling!). Ceiling mount is an option, but our slot is not at ceiling height and though the upside down position helped, the keystone effect was still evident. I am having to settle with the Infocus 350 which is fairly similar to the U2-1130 but has enough keystone correction to do the trick for us. However, in a side by side comparison, the colors from the Infocus were just a slight notch below the U2. Also, during my testings, the Infocus had a glitch where it either had a digital blanking of one of the corners of the projection, or at another time, it produced the entire projection at an angle similar to the effect that italicizing a font has on a font. I've noticed this on another Infocus (355) we have in the office. After switching a few switches the projected image eventually became ok again but I can't remember which switch did the job or whether the switches did anything at all. Anyhow, getting beyond the scope of commenting on the Plus U2-1130..... |
Frank M. Gleberman, CLU, CFP - Sep 28, 2000
| Application: |
Conferences, client interviews, slide presentations, video |
| Comments: |
Having used many hotel-supplied multimedia projectors when speaking around the world, I determined I wanted to have a projector that guaranteed me the images would reflect the effort I put into PowerPoint presentations, projected high-quality photographs, etc. After a month of research, I settled on the PLUS 1130 unit. Craig Hoffman at Projection Direct in Washington had the most competitive price and has been more than attentive to me as a customer. I recommend Craig highly.
The projector:
The 1300 lumens makes this a heavy duty player everywhere I've used it so far - in my office, in my conference room, in a 100-person meeting room and to project a football game at California Yacht Club with 150 people able to view it with a fair amount of ambient light. Contrast is very good and we can actually see the important details that a sporting event requires for a satisfied audience.
Of course, the monaural speaker (while adequate in my office or a small conference room for audio) cannot be expected to fill a larger room. But remember that the 1130 is a light, 5.7 pound unit and deserves to be set up with external speakers and amplifier. Works very nicely as a home or sales presentation theater projector.
I could not see any bright spots or fading in light level on video playback, PowerPoint, projected photographs, Excel worksheets and other presentations. The pixels in XGA mode are not noticeable unless one is so close to the screen that they would be better off looking at a computer monitor. And even then, the separation between pixels is tiny and not at all objectionable. Very high marks here.
Blacks and greys are faithful and colors in photographs as well as other graphics are rich and crisp. The easily-understandable remote as well as on-unit controls allow the user to shift colors to suit particular tastes and presentations. The unit comes with all the cables and attachments needed for top-quality presentations. I have ordered another 1130 for use at the yacht club for meetings, entertainment, etc., because the PLUS 1130 out of the box competes head to head with the large (and excellent) In Focus units I've used at hotels and conference centers, but at half the price, 1/3 the weight and 1/4 the space to take up when the projector is part of your luggage.
I cannot find any criticisms of this unit during the week I've used it, and I've used it extensively. Texas Instruments and PLUS have brought us a dollar for doller, pound for pound winner . . . an impressive business tool as well as quality personal appliance.
Frank M. Gleberman, CLU, CFP
Principal
The Century Benefits Group
Marina del Rey, CA |
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