We currently have the Panasonic AE7000 and Sony HW30ES in house and under review...

These are the two most aggressively priced 3D enabled 1080p home theater projectors announced to date. Reviews of both of them are under way, and will be posted no later than Wednesday of next week. Along with these two reviews we will publish a shoot-out article that gives a detailed comparison of the two.

The Sony HW30ES is currently in production, and Panasonic expects initial shipments of the AE7000 to commence next month. Kudos to both vendors for introducing consumer products earlier in the fall buying cycle than we normally see. Typically vendors wait until the CEDIA trade show in early September to unwrap new models, then delay deliveries until late fall or winter when much of the football season is over with. A July or August release date for new home theater products benefits consumers who want to get the latest equipment for the fall TV and football season, and it also benefits vendors to have products in the channels for the full duration of the fall buying season.

Nevertheless, CEDIA is coming next month, and we can expect a host of new home theater projector releases around September 8. Epson in particular will announce a new 3D-enabled 1080p model based on high speed 480Hz LCD panels. This model is designed to compete directly with the Panny AE7000 and the Sony HW30ES. It will carry a lumen rating above 2000 lumens, higher than previous Epson home theater models, and it will be competitively priced.

Meanwhile, after a two-year wait since the last home theater product from Panasonic, they will follow up the release of the AE7000 with another home theater model at the CEDIA show. We have no information about that new model as of yet, but when we do we'll post it here.

Other than Epson and Panasonic, several other of the usual suspects are gearing up for the release of new models at CEDIA. This time of year is when it gets really interesting in the home theater world, and this season is shaping up to be more fascinating than ever. In particular 1080p 3D is getting both better and cheaper, and 3D fans are going to love what is coming.

Evan Powell
Editor

Comments (12) Post a Comment

Michael Knuppe Posted Aug 8, 2011 10:49 AM PST

Evan, Please remember to review the entire 3D experience with each new release. For instance the glasses...active/non-active, cost for say 8-10 pair for all of your football watching buddies, comfort rating, most are miserable fitting. Thx. -Mike CA.

Ben b Posted Aug 8, 2011 5:33 PM PST

Please focus on brightness! Thanks for the comparison.

Mario Posted Aug 8, 2011 8:25 PM PST

I cant wait to read your reviews as it will definitively play in to my final purchasing decision.

John Meyer Posted Aug 9, 2011 3:24 AM PST

Too Bad there is development time and consumer cost being spent on 3D. Basically a dead home consumer issue IMHO.

A much better track would be LED 1080P units with the prices driven down.

Cheers, John Meyer

kevinp Posted Aug 9, 2011 9:06 AM PST

Kudos to both vendors for introducing consumer products earlier in the fall buying cycle than we normally see.

both ? isn't Panasonics effort the best part of a year Late!

Also won't the Rich (expensive ?) Red Lamp give whites an unwanted redish tint.

There will also likley be significant cross talk here in S.A. if the price is twice as expensive here as elsewhere.

Shane Posted Aug 9, 2011 9:55 AM PST

I hope the Panasonic CEDIA announcement is a non 3D version of the AE7000. Maybe an AE5000 model to replace the AE4000.

Matthieu Posted Aug 10, 2011 1:53 AM PST

I cannot wait to see this exciting review. Black level, but also brightness in 3D, is what I'm curious about compared to eachoter.

Joe Dokes Posted Aug 10, 2011 9:40 AM PST

Great! I hope you will provide measured ANSI contrast and also 2D brightness with low lamp and cinema mode on. This projector may be too bright for me if it exceeds HC4000 low lamp mode. It would be interesting to know how the AE 7000 compares to the HC4000 in a dynamic/well lit scene; it seems the HC4000 is equal to or best of the under 10K projectors in this regard. I hope Panasonic offers a 2D only version too, 3D means nothing to me and I do not want to pay for it and have the extra lumens.

Dave Posted Aug 10, 2011 8:19 PM PST

Great news ----- I would really like to see an LED-powered projector (full on/off with no iris = really great blacks and very quick/accurate light transition)with an advanced LCD panel or a 3-chip DLP to provide razor sharp contrast and blow your mind color accuracy

Jeff Posted Aug 12, 2011 2:05 PM PST

When will the review be posted?

Ryan Posted Aug 16, 2011 10:38 AM PST

The review is up now!

Awesome review...I'm very tempted to upgrade my AE3000 now.

Jason Posted Aug 17, 2011 7:00 AM PST

Great review, thank you.

Did Panasonic give any info about the upcoming 3D standardization of the 3D glasses. Hopefully this projector will work with future upgrades of 3D eyewear.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1108/110808053dglasses.asp

Post a comment

 

Enter the numbers as they appear to the left