Audio Video News

Epson is making a bold foray into the home theater market. On June 28, the venerable printer maker debuted its "first-ever home theater" video projector. Epson has long made projectors for the business presentation market, and the move into home theater was a natural progression, according to company marketing executives.

The PowerLite TW-100 features three LCD panels, Faroudja's DCDi video processing, a 600:1 contrast ratio, and 720p resolution in a 16:9 widescreen format. The projector also has a 3D/YC-separation function to minimize noise and interference artifacts at the color boundaries of a composite video signal. A "motion detect" function optimizes scenes with fast motion; and a 3:2 pull-down conversion feature optimizes film-based source material.

Black level, color temperature and RGB settings can all be adjusted via the remote control. The TW-100 offers five different color modes to obtain the most natural image depending on where the video or film was recorded.

The PowerLite TW-100 is heavier than some other LCD projectors, weighing in at 30 lbs. It features a fixed optical 10-degree projection angle and a 30-degree digital keystone corrector, enabling off-axis placement with proper picture perspective. Epson's new projector can be used in either front- or rear-screen positions, in ceiling or tabletop mounting. The PowerLite is said to be "the quietest projector in the Epson line," a quality that will come as good news to many home theater enthusiasts who have grown annoyed by fan noise from their projectors.

Suggested retail price, when the TW-100 arrives at dealers in July, will be $4995.