Panasonic PT-AE4000 Projector Calibration and Settings

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Art Feierman

We calibrate each home theater that is reviewed. Normally we just do a basic grayscale calibration, as was the case here. I will note that there is still a bit of remaining excess red in skin tones (a very small amount), that a standard grayscale balance did not remove. Calibrating red, and the other individual primary and secondary colors should allow the removal of that small red push

Panasonic PT-AE4000 Color Temperature

Let's start with the basics. First, here are each of the modes, showing their "out of the box" measured color temperature for white

ike calibrated Color 1, which has a very good color gamut, whereas, for example, Color 2 has the wider color gamut usually found on most projectors. A wider gamut, in theory, is a good thing, but it's wider than the standards we use, so normally isn't as accurate. We "bring back in" those extended colors when a calibration is done. In this regard, Color 1, might be thought of as similar to, say, the THX mode on the Epson projectors as they too have a tight REC 709 type color gamut in their THX mode.

Thanks to Color 1's defaults, it does produce very good color accuracy, even without calibration, but Mike's calibration further improved the picture. Color 2 has that larger gamut.

Lumen Output and Color Temp at 100 IRE (mid zoom):

Header Content
Cinema 1	411 @ 7180K
Cinema 2	457 @ 7751K
Cinema 3	457 @ 8945K
Normal	789 @ 9520K
Dynamic	071 @ 9093K, 1159 with Contrast set to 8
Color 1	430 @ 6660K
Color 2	440 @ 6357K

Mike calibrated Color 1, which has a very good color gamut, whereas, for example, Color 2 has the wider color gamut usually found on most projectors. A wider gamut, in theory, is a good thing, but it's wider than the standards we use, so normally isn't as accurate. We "bring back in" those extended colors when a calibration is done. In this regard, Color 1, might be thought of as similar to, say, the THX mode on the Epson projectors as they too have a tight REC 709 type color gamut in their THX mode.

Color Temp over IRE Range (Pre calibration):


30 IRE	6615K	6352K
50 IRE	6482K	6216K
80 IRE	6549K	6276K
100 IRE	6660K	6357K

We normally do not calibrate a projector's individual colors using their CMS (color management system), just a gray scale calibration. We on occasion, make an exception, where it really must be done from a practical standpoint. For example, my JVC RS20 projector, has a great THX mode, but, overall, can be improved. To do so with my RS20, though I had to use their CMS to recalibrate green, and other individual colors. This remains true for the newer JVC RS25. Recently, in reviewing the PT-AE4000's most direct competitor, the Epson Home Cinema 8500UB / Pro Cinema 9500UB, we were able to improve on it's THX mode, with a grayscale calibration. Bottom line, we didn't do CMS individual color adjustments with the Panasonic or the Epson.

In the case of the Panasonic, however, without using the CMS, Mike still ended up with some slight shift towards red, due, I expect by a slightly oversaturated red output. Note, Panasonic is touting their new lamp, with a warmer - more red, color temp, so that isn't overly surprising. (By comparison, the Epson and most LCD projectors, tend to overdrive green more than any other individual color.