Epson MovieMate 72

Combo Projector, DVD, And Music Player

A first-rate combination projector and home-entertainment center, the Epson MovieMate 72 covers a wide range of audio/visual connectivity including VGA, USB, composite, component, and S-Video. The HDMI port connects to external Blu-ray and HD-DVD players, video-game consoles, or HDTV, all scaled to 720p, high-definition signal.

The base of the MovieMate includes a built-in DVD/CD player that swivels for front or rear positioning. The four 5-W, built-in Dolby stereo speakers produce great sound but if that’s not enough, you can connect to an external-powered subwoofer or optical audio output. I simultaneously inserted a DVD and connected a video iPod, TV, and my laptop and was able to switch smoothly between each device using the source control button on the unit and the remote.

The projector houses a 140-W lamp and 3-LCD technology, producing beautiful, vibrant colors at up to 1,200 lumens with a 1000:1 contrast ratio at a native resolution of 1280×720. Images display at 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios and image adjustments include keystone and color correction. A fantastic set of manual, lens-control dials adjust the size and position the vertical/horizontal placement of the image—I projected an 80″ diagonal image from 6.5′ away. To optimize image quality, there are five preset color modes for specific situations, such as playing games or for use in rooms with bright ambient light.—Steve Baczewski

PRICE: $1,199
FROM: Epson America, Inc.
WEB: www.epson.com
RATING: 4.5

LAYERS VERDICT
HOT User friendly; full-featured remote
NOT Heavy; PDF manual