About.com Rating
The Epson MovieMate 72 is one of a new class of video projectors that includes a built-in DVD player. The projector section utilizes 3LCD technology with 1280x720 (720p) native resolution. All DVDs played in the projector's built-in DVD will be upscaled to 720p. In addition, this unit also has extra inputs (including HDMI) and also has both built-in speakers and a digital audio output for connection to a home theater audio system.
The MovieMate is easy to use, making it great for novice users. For more details and perspective, keep reading. After reading this review, check out my Epson MovieMate 72 Photo Gallery.
Product Overview
Features of the Epson MovieMate 72 include the following:
1.3LCD Video Projector with (1280x720) 720pnative pixel resolution, 16x9, 4x3, and 2.35:1 aspect ratio compatible.
2. Light output: up to 1,200 Lumens, Contrast Ratio: up to 1,000:1, Lamp life: Up to 3,000 hours.
3. Optical zoom ratio: 1.5:1, Lens Shift: Vertical 50%, Horizontal: 25%, Keystone Correction: Vertical +/- 15 degrees. Projected image size: 30 to 150 inches.
4. Fan Noise: 28db.
5. Built-in speakers (4 speakers - 5 wpc channel amplifier), headphone jack, Subwoofer output. Wireless remote control included.
6.Progressive scan DVD player included - 720p upscaling, Region Code 1, DVD/CD/DIVX/JPEG and Dual Disc playback compatible.
7. NTSC/PAL/480p/720p/1080i input compatible.
8. Additional inputs: Composite, S-Video, Component (via included adapter), HDMI ver 1.2a, VGA, and USB (see photo).
9. Outputs: Headphone jack, digital optical output for accessing Dolby Digital/DTS with a home theater receiver, 1 subwoofer output.
10. Unit dimensions: 19.6 x 14.2 x 12.9 inches; Weight: 21.2 lbs.
Hardware Used
Home Theater Receivers and Separates: the Outlaw Audio Model 950 Preamp/Surround Processor paired with a Butler Audio 5150 5-channel power amplifier, Yamaha HTR-5490 (6.1 Channels) , and an Onkyo TX-SR304 (5.1 Channels).
DVD players (used for comparison and external input source) : OPPO Digital DV-981HD and DV-980H DVD/SACD/DVD-Audio Players and a Samsung DVD-931 DVD Player.
Blu-ray Disc/HD-DVD Players (external high definition source): Toshiba HD-XA1 HD-DVD player, Sony BDP-S1 Blu-ray Player, and LG BH100 Blu-ray/HD-DVD Combo player.
Loudspeaker - System #1: 2 Klipsch B-3s, Klipsch C-2 Center , 2 Polk R300s.
Loudspeaker - System #2: Klipsch Quintet III 5-channel speaker system.
Loudspeaker - System #3: 2 JBL Balboa 30's, JBL Balboa Center Channel, 2 JBL Venue Series 5-inch Monitor speakers.
Powered Subwoofers used: Klipsch Synergy Sub10 - used with Systems 1 and 2. and Yamaha YST-SW205 - used with System 3. In addition, I used a Sony SA-WM250 Powered Subwoofer with the subwoofer output built into the MovieMate 72.
Audio/Video connections were made with Accell, Cobalt, and AR Interconnect cables.
16 Gauge Speaker Wire was used in all setups.
Level checks for speaker setups were done using a Radio Shack Sound Level Meter
Software Used
Standard DVDs: House of the Flying Daggers, The Cave, Kill Bill - Vol 1/2, V For Vendetta, U571, Lord of Rings Trilogy, Master and Commander, Death Proof, and Crank
Blu-ray Discs: Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Spiderman 3, Fantastic 4 - Rise of the Silver Surfer, Pirates of the Caribbean 1 and 2, Vacancy, Deja Vu, and The Host.
HD-DVD Discs: Transformers, 300, Hot Fuzz, Batman Begins, Top Gun, Next, and Serenity
For audio only, CDs included: HEART - Dreamboat Annie, Nora Jones - Come Away With Me, Lisa Loeb - Firecracker, Queen - News of the World, The Beatles - LOVE, Blue Man Group - The Complex, Eric Kunzel - 1812 Overture, Joshua Bell - Bernstein - West Side Story Suite.
Video Performance
I found that the video performance was probably the best I have seen in a video projector DVD player combination product, but not quite as good as standalone video projectors in this same price range. That being said, however, there are some performance-related features that make this product worth considering.
First off, the MovieMate 72 has a 1280x720 native pixel resolution. This allows the projector to display an upscaled image from standard DVDs played on the onboard DVD player.
I was also able to view true high-def images from either an external Blu-ray Disc or HD-DVD player, via the MovieMate's Component or HDMI inputs (scaled to 720p). The external Blu-ray/HD-DVD input images looked better than the upscaled standard DVDs accessed from the onboard DVD player.
Also, I found that the projector section was able to display a very large image (100-inches diagonally) at the relatively short distance of 12-feet. In addition, the MovieMate 72 has a an excellent set of Lens shift controls (see photo) that allowed me to position the image properly on the screen, even though the projector was slightly off center. The MovieMate also comes with a plastic bar that can elevate the front end of the projector further, if needed. This is a great low-tech solution that is much better than using the latest issues of my favorite home theater magazines.
In addition to a large image, I found the color to be quite accurate. However, as will be detailed later in this review, brightness and contrast levels could have been better.
Also, when putting the Moviemate 72 through the paces of the Silicon Optix HQV DVD Benchmark Test Disc, it did very well on the color bar, resolution, and detail portions of the test. This unit also did above average on jaggie and motion adaptive tests, but fell a little short on some of the noise reduction and frame cadence tests. Check out the results of one of these tests.
Proceed to Page 2 - Evaluation and Final Take