Epson intros 75,000:1 contrast projector, more

Epson has introduced a trio of new projectors at the IFA show in Berlin on Friday, including a new top-end model. The new LCD home theater projector, the EH-TW5000, features a record 75,000:1 contrast ratio and uses a new iteration of 3LCD technology that compares well against DLP technology in some of its rivals. The new Epson projector features 1,600 ANSI lumens brightness and will deliver 1080p video, while its 12-bit HQV video processor is said to lift picture quality.

Video connections to the EH-TW5000 include a pair of HDMI inputs, as well as one each of composite, component, S-video and VGA connectors.

The second is another LCD projector designed for home theater use, but drops to 720p to trim costs. The LCD EH-TW420 features 2,000 ANSI lumens of brightness and has built-in speakers as well as includes a single HDMI input, while connecting to PCs and other compatible devices is done via a USB port. A S-video connector enables connections to older devices, while an SD card slot allows users to play multimedia files loaded from other devices, such as digital cameras and MP3 players.

The company also introduced what it calls an all-in-one projector, the portable EH-DM2. It includes a built-in DVD player with DiVX support along with a pair of speakers, rated at 8W, but its brightness is only 1,200 lumens and it does not have an HDMI input (though it does support HD resolutions). The projector includes USB, VGA and TV connections as well.

The flagship EH-TW5000 will be priced for the equivalent of about $4,350 when it launches in October in Europe, while the EH-TW420, set to launch next month in September, will cost less than $1,200. The EH-DM2 will cost about $880 when it hits European stores in September.

Epson EH-TW5000