Your Guide to the Best Products
Best Projector: Panasonic PT-AE4000U
An amazing big picture experience, great price
November 22, 2009 Set Alert
Our pick for Best HD video projector is the Panasonic PT-AE4000U.
Picture quality is determined by a number of factors, and the PT-AE4000U shines because it's strong in all areas. It has great black levels, excellent ANSI contrast, very accurate color, good light output, and exceptional video processing with frame creation technology that really works. Taken together, these attributes produce a picture with amazing fidelity.
Projector Central gave it a perfect 5 Stars in every category, and an Editor's Choice award. Clearly we are not the only ones who think this thing rocks.
At $1,999 the PT-AE4000U doesn't cost much more than a good HDTV. So if it fits into your lifestyle, it's a great choice. See Common Questions about Projectors to determine if a projector is right for you.
The good (+)
- 100"+ picture provides a truly immersive experience
- amazing picture fidelity: nearly the best available at any price
- easy setup: only a bit bigger than a shoe box, so it can be placed on a shelf, sofa table, etc.
- very quiet (almost zero fan noise)
- great value
Shortcomings (-)
- all projectors must be used in a dim or darkened room for maximum picture quality
Where to Buy
RobsChoice.com recommended vendor (avg rating >=4.0 stars based on >1,000 reviews).
Setup Notes
We recommend using the Cinema 1 setting on your PT-AE4000U and leaving other settings at default.
Common Questions about Projectors
Is a projector right for me?
The primary advantage of a projector is that it produces a much larger, more immersive picture. Another advantage not to overlook is that, if used without a screen as we recommend, it "disappears" when it's turned off (no big panel hanging on the wall). This makes it easy to fit a big "TV" into your living or family room without it dominating the space.
The primary disadvantage of a projector is that it must be used in a dim or darkened room. The darker the room the better the picture, but a dimly lit room (dinner lighting) will still produce a tremendous picture. Use during the day, with the blinds pulled, will produce an adequate though not stunning picture.
So if you are the type of person who likes to watch sports on Sunday afternoon with bright sunlight streaming into the room, a projector is definitely not for you. If you watch mainly in the evening and don't mind dimming the lights, a projector could be ideal.
Do I need a screen?
Most people assume you must shine a projector onto a screen in order to use it. Not true. A projector can display its image on a plain wall with excellent results so long as the wall is smooth and painted with a light neutral color. A high quality screen will produce a better picture, but not to the degree you would expect. We suggest trying your wall first, and only buying a screen if you still want to improve the picture.
Where do I put the projector?
The easiest way to mount a projector is to simply place it on a shelf or piece of furniture just behind the primary seating area. It must be high enough that it clears everyone's head while seated, and not too far to one side or another. The PT-AE4000U has both vertical and horizontal lens shift plus a decent zoom range, so you have good placement flexibility. For example, it's possible to project a 120" picture from as close as 11'10" to the screen or as far as 23'7" away. In addition, the image can be shifted ±100% vertically and ±40% horizontally.
