critical of pixel structure on their projectors than they are
on their PC's. And which do you spend the most time in front of? Go figure.
The case, aside from being reduced in length and reconfigured (the connectors are now all on the back side), has
gained a special data port on the side and is now a handsome midnight blue color, which might be easily mistaken
for black until closer examination.
The PLV-60 was downright sexy in it's silver metallic case, but the PLV-70 disappears into typical home decor a
lot easier -- something that your better half will probably appreciate. Few decorators want to arrange their room
furniture and accessories around a projector. Also missing from the line-up is the annoying two-stage fan from the
earliest PLV-60 units, which couldn't help but distract when it would ramp up to a higher speed while you're
watching
a movie. Fine for a classroom or the boardroom, but unacceptable for maximum home theater enjoyment.
The fan is now larger for better efficiency, and quieter. In fact, I could barely notice it at all during the quietest
passages in a movie. Your home PC fan is probably no quieter. At just over 17 lbs, the PLV-70 is a few pounds
lighter than its predecessor, too.
Another significant change not noticeable is the switch from
Sony to Epson TFT active matrix LCD panels. They're still
1366 x 768 dots as they are on the PLV-70, but the MLA not
only reduces the perceived pixel size, it also better
concentrates the light output, allowing the 200 watt bulb to
reach an amazing peak of around 2000 ANSI lumens, which
is the brightest projector I've had the pleasure of reviewing
yet.
I'm beginning to think of light output in the same terms as I
do audio amplifiers. All that wattage may not be necessary,
but it's nice to have in reserve when you need it. And
somehow, the extra output not only gives you more flexibility
but also a cleaner signal to enjoy. It's the difference between
huffing and puffing when you're close to the limit versus
cruising down the highway in overdrive.
This leads me to the ambient light issue that troubles so many people who would otherwise love to leap into a front
projection system. The PLV-70 handled ambient light in a very impressive manner even under the harshest of
conditions. I took a series of digital photos that will describe the various ambient to full on lighting scenarios.
The most important fact to consider while viewing these images are that they do not accurately reflect how bright
the interior of the theater room really is. The reflected light from the projector and/or the outside windows is so
bright, that the camera compensates by reducing the exposure and creating the impression of a dimly lit scene, that
is really anything but. Just remember that everything in the image is relative in terms of the contrast between lit
objects, including the image on the Stewart Grayhawk screen, which is what we tested this projector with.
