Greetings,
Epson's Home Cinema 3020 - Great family room projector
OK, pricing is still not set, best we can tell, but the Home Cinema 3020 and 3020e, probably won't be more than last year's 3010 and 3010e. So far, though Epson has not indicated the new prices. Let me clarify. Last year's two versions (3010 and 3010e) were $1599 and $1799. the "e" version is the one with the wireless HDMI (5 inputs and Digital Audio this year, up from 2/0). Last year, the base version came with two pair of 3D glasses, while the "e" version came with wireless, but no glasses. This year all of Epson's 3D projectors will come standard with 2 pair of 3D active glasses (newer and lighter, and rechargeable).
So, pricing may shift a bit, due to the addition of the glasses with the "e" version.
So, "what else is new?"
Let's start with brightness. Looks like a small lift there. I'm looking for 2300 lumens up from 2200 lumens. That sounds like minor improvements in design, rather than changing anything major like the lamp. Still, for those of us who love 3D, we'll take every extra 100 lumens we can find.
And since the Home Cinema 3020 and 3020e projectors are designed first and foremost for a family room type environment, every lumen counts, even in 2D, when there's a decent amount of ambient light. BTW, we're talking 2300 lumens of white, and also 2300 lumens of Color light output (see our new video about the new SID color brightness standards).
What else...?
The usual long life lamp (up to 5000 hours), the usual excellent 2 year warranty with 2 years of replacement program. New 2D to 3D conversion abilities. There's more, too.
Ah, let's not forget a pair of 10 watt speakers (as before). Great if you want to move the projector from room to room, or the summer night movie festival in your back yard!
As mentioned 2 pair of the new Epson 3D glasses are included with both projectors.
And of course, the Home Cinema 3020e comes with that wireless HDMI - it's uncompressed, and you get five HDMI inputs as well as a digital audio input. That's a big improvement over last year's 3010e who's transmitter had only a limited 2 HDMI inputs, and no digital audio.
So, looks like we have a pair of improved projectors for Epson's "low end" of 3D capable models. One thing I'm not sure of is dynamic features in 3D. Rumor has it that the 5020 and 6020 versions now support dynamic iris and other features while in 3D. I have not been able to confirm or deny that ability for these 3020 projectors. I really hope they have allowed at least the dynamic iris to stay engaged in 3D. We shall see.
Good, that gives me stuff to ask Epson at my meeting with them at CEDIA next week!
Bottom line: I expect some price shifting, but whether they will cost less than the older 3010s, I can only guess at this time. I say that, since the Home Cinema 3020 and 3020e will be at least incrementally better, with a few more features. We shall have to wait until Sept 5th for the official pricing! I meet with Epson on the 6th, so I will be sharing a lot more with you from CEDIA.
Hang in there! Lots of fun new projectors being announced and shown at CEDIA this year! -art
