The Best 1080i HDMI Video Theater Projector: Reviewing the Panasonic PT-AX200U

The Best 1080i HDMI Video Theater Projector: Reviewing the Panasonic PT-AX200U
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Introduction

Looking to buy a 1080i HDMI video theater projector for your home theater? That can be a tricky task. There are a lot of projectors to choose from and there are many features to look at. To help you with your decision I’ve picked my personal favorite 1080i HDMI video projector, the Panasonic PT-AX200U. 1080i brings affordability and quality to the table and that’s why I think it’s the perfect choice for consumers looking to add an affordable projector to their home theater.

Video Specs

One of the reasons the Panasonic PT-AX200U is such a great projector is it has a bunch of great features. Take a look at the Panasonic PT-AX200U’s specifications.

Contrast Ratio: 6,000:1

Contrast ratio is the ratio from white to black. The higher this ratio is, the more deeper, accurate shades of white and black the projector is capable of producing. So basically the Panasonic PT-AX200U can reach shades of black and white up to 6,000 lumens. This is way above average.

Resolution: 720p/1080i

Resolution determines how accurately a projector can display the fine details of the image. The higher the resolution the more accurately you’ll be able to see small details like glitter on someone’s face, or blades of grass being blown in the wind.

Lumens: 2,000

Lumens determine how bright a projector can make an image. Having the option of a brighter image is great because if you want to watch something on your projector during the day and it’s bright in your home theater room you can turn the brightness on the projector up so that you can easily and clearly see the display without problems.

Read A Step-by-Step Guide to Selecting a Multimedia Projector to learn more.

Exclusive Panasonic Features

Picture Mode - With the touch of a button, select picture characteristics that match your source material.

Pure Color Filter and Dynamic Iris - Automatic adjustments expand color range and produce truer blacks.

Smooth Screen Technology - Reduces black lines between pixels for remarkably film-like, detailed picture.

Cinema 1 Mode - “Hollywood Picture Quality” image reproduction for viewing movies.

Video Rating (5 out of 5)

When you look at the specifications above, the Panasonic PT-AX200U looks awesome, and not just on paper; these features will translate into a stunning, beautiful image in your home theater. Nothing beats a big screen projector with beautiful image quality.

And one thing I would advise: if your budget permits, buy a screen with a high contrast ratio. A screen with a high contrast ratio will only enhance the image being displayed and make it better and brighter.

Performance (5 out of 5)

This 1080i HDMI video theater projector is very durable and hasn’t given me any issues. You can watch TV show marathons for 8 hours and you won’t have to tinkle around with the projector. It will give a solid performance all most all the time. The Panasonic PT-AX200U is also quiet. After several hours of operation it still remains very quiet at 30db. There are no short term or long term performance issues with this projector. The Panasonic PT-AX200U is a solid projector. Panasonic projectors tend to live up to their name. Panasonic has been and continues to be one of my favorite companies for picture/video products. They are always one of the leaders in video technology and that is apparent in this projector. Some of the video features mentioned before are exclusive to Panasonic.

Price (2 out of 5)

Although I still strongly believe this 1080i HDMI video theater projector gives you a lot of “bang for your buck” it could be better. The price tag on this projector might scare you away at $1,025. In reality, this price isn’t too bad because this is one of the top of the line 1080i HDMI video theater projectors. And that brings me to my closing point about price: 1080i. With new more advanced 1080_p_ projectors out there, shouldn’t the price of this projector be significantly less? Although it compares feature-wise to those 1080p projectors it doesn’t quite have the “umph” and firepower of a 1080p projector because it has 1080_i_ significantly lower resolution. So the price of this projector should be comparable to its twin siblings the 720p/1080i projectors and not it’s older siblings the 1080p projector.

Long story short, for $200-$400 more you could get the newest, best projectors. So with that being said, it makes me wonder if the hefty price tag on this projector is worth it.

Conclusion (4 out of 5)

When looking at a 1080i HDMI video theater projector, you should look at two things: video quality and performance. This projector boasts an excellent rating of 5/5 in both of those categories. However, this projector is also quite expensive. It’s about $1,000 while most of the other 1080i projectors it competes with are $700. So overall the price of this projector brings its rating down to a 4/5. It’s definitely above average but I do question its price tag.