What Hi Fi Sound and Vision
22 JUN 2007
Planar PD7010
A strong budget debut: this is a quality HD-Ready projector for a very attractive price
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Planar’s development team includes several ex-InFocus engineers, so it’s no surprise the company’s PD7010 DLP projector looks similar to the acclaimed InFocus IN76.
Of course, they always say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and given the IN76’s brilliance, we can’t blame Planar for its dedicated following of fashion.
That said, the Planar does without the clever, useful InFocus plinth, and its basic remote control and onscreen graphics are notably less user-friendly.
Still, there’s nothing at all wrong with the Planar’s underpinnings. It includes an HD-Ready 1280 x 720 Texas Instruments DC2 chipset, and (unlike many rivals), also uses TI’s proprietary video scaling and deinterlacing. The socket fit is up to scratch at this price, with HDMI and DVI included, and it’ll accept all HD resolutions up to 1080i.
True, some might bemoan the absence of 1080p support (or, indeed, native 1080p resolution), but let’s be realistic: this is an affordable projector.
Terrific black depth
It’s also a very good one, with terrific black depth and strong delineation between various dark hues. It readily deciphers the murk of oft-used test DVD Training Day, and copes just as comfortably with the ultra-rich hues and cartoonish texture of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Compared to an equivalent LCD design you might find the Planar lacking in overall brightness, but so long as you stick to using it in a properly darkened room, you’ll be fine.
This is a strong budget projector. It’s not quite as user-friendly as the class best, but it’s competitive on both performance and price.
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