ViewSonic Corporation recently announced two new business class projectors featuring a new 3rd generation LED light engine. This new LED offers the promise of high brightness and energy-efficient design, lower power consumption, a longer lifespan, and improved sustainability versus lamp based projectors.
The LS500W/WH and LS550W/WH LED projectors are designed for both the enterprise and education markets. Both projectors are WXGA (1,280 x 800p) and feature ViewSonic's Gen 3 LED sealed optical engine with an IPX5 water-resistant rating.
The LS550W/WH begins to differentiate itself from its little brother by adding a 0.49 short-throw lens capable of projecting a 100-inch image from just 1.06m away from the screen, delivering exceptional space efficiency and freeing presenters from blinding lights. Installation and setup are hassle-free with 360° tilt angle projection, H/V Keystone, and four-corner adjustment capabilities. Its comprehensive LAN control eases multiple device management and is compatible with Crestron, AMX, Extron, PJ Link, ATEN, and ViewSonic's vController.
Next-Gen LED Technology Enhances Brightness and Energy-Efficiency
The latest 3rd Generation LED technology features a breakthrough in brightness and energy efficiency with advanced LED drivers and optical engines, allowing the LS500W/WH and LS550W/WH LED projectors to deliver a rated brightness of 3,000 ANSI lumens in either lit or dimly lit environments. With 125% Rec.709 color coverage, ViewSonic claims that both projectors will deliver true-to-life visuals with a rated 3,000,000:1 contrast ratio.
Also, both LS500W/WH and LS550W/WH LED projectors are green and safe solutions, reducing nearly 50% of power consumption compared with traditional lamp-based projectors. A long lifespan of 30,000 hours eliminates lamp replacement, further reducing ongoing maintenance. Since the LED light source is mercury-free, it cuts down the disposal of toxic chemicals harmful to individuals and the environment.
Furthermore, the projectors' instant power on/off capability offers a more efficient user experience. It eliminates the waiting time for reaching full brightness upon powering on and cooling down before restarting again, reducing the time and energy required for operation.
Texas Instruments Dark Chip 3 (DC3) DLP
DLP Performance
DLP stands for Digital Light Processing. DLP projectors beam light through a color wheel, reflection mirrors, then finally, a lens. Developed by Texas Instruments®, the DLP chip, aka digital micromirror device (DMD), differentiates DLP from LCD projectors.
Each mirror on a DLP chip is roughly the size of a red blood cell. These mirrors manipulate light to create an image. The mirrors change position on a microscopic suspension hinge at incredible speeds of up to 16 million cycles per second.
Each mirror creates an image in response to video source data. In the "On" position, these mirrors reflect light toward the screen, creating a visible pixel. In the "Off" position, mirrors reflect light away from the projection lens, preventing light from traveling onto the screen.
The DLP sensor used in both the LS500 and LS550 is called a Dark Chip 3 (DC3) and offers significant advantages over DC1 and DC2 chips. DC3 DMDs can set the imagers' micro mirrors closer than in previous chip versions. This pretty much eliminates any artifacts that might be caused by the mirror anchor improving the smoothness of the projected image. DC3 also eliminates the screen door effect that was sometimes an issue in previous chip versions.
Flexible Setup and Easy Installation
Regarding installation, both the LS500W/WH and LS550W/WH series offer 360-degree tilt angle projection to provide flexibility for supporting creative applications such as ceiling and floor projections. Additionally, the H/V keystone and 4 corner adjustment function enable projection setup from the sides, making centralized positioning no longer necessary.
As I mentioned above, the LS550W/WH comes with a 0.49 short-throw lens. It's an ideal solution for a smaller space, projecting a screen size of 100 inches from just 1.06 meters away from the screen.
In addition, the LS550W/WH series offers a comprehensive LAN control feature for convenient management, allowing a simple and centralized control for IT admins to manage over a local network.
Packed with the latest technology and features, this stylish projector boasts High Dynamic Range (HDR) and HLG compatibility, Full 3D, and HDMI 2.0. Smart features include voice control, Creative Cast, IFTTT, and a built-in media player.
Installation is easy with a 1.3x zoom, vertical lens shift, 3x3 warping, 4 corner correction, and keystone correction for image alignment. It's perfect for enjoying life-like big-screen entertainment in any living space.
"ViewSonic is a pioneer in developing LED technology for projection and achieved a milestone as the world's top 2 LED projector brand within 3 years. Through introducing the two new LED projectors, we expand our LED projector lineup into business and education sectors," said Dean Tsai, General Manager of Projector & LED Display Business Unit at ViewSonic. "With the latest 3rd generation LED technology, we aim to provide comprehensive LED projector solutions with higher brightness, better energy efficiency, and less maintenance to customers across all segments."
The ViewSonic LS500W/WH and LS550W/WH are expected to ship later in May from authorized ViewSonic retailers at a retail price of $599 and $609, respectively.
With over 35 years of expertise in visual displays, ViewSonic has established a strong position for delivering innovative and reliable solutions to education, enterprise, consumer, and professional markets and helping customers "See the Difference." To find out more about ViewSonic, please visit www.viewsonic.com and be sure to check out our full review when samples are made available at www.projectorreviews.com .
