We hate to harp on about it, but picture settings are vital when it comes to getting the most from a flatscreen TV or projector. Not having the inclination to tinker with the likes of colour and sharpness can make the difference between a poor picture and a great picture.
Take the Planar PD8150 projector as an example. It's a 1920x1080p DLP design with a curved, lacquered piano black cabinet, and connectivity includes two sets of component video inputs (one on BNC connectors), and two HDMI inputs, tucked away beneath the removable rear cover. But while it provides all the basic picture settings to play with, it also goes far beyond.
There are ten separate calibration options, individual day and night settings, four different noise reduction presets and eleven built-in test patterns - not to mention Dynamic Black and BrilliantColor picture enhancement technologies - to get to grips with. Phew! All of these are designed to help you achieve the perfect image.
An attractive colour palette
Well, after spending some quality time with the Planar's chunky, intuitive remote control we were finally ready to rumble. Immediately, we were drawn in by the Planar's attractive colour palette. It's rich during the bright, punchy scenes of Disney's Enchanted on Blu-ray. But, it also delivers the natural skin tones and that are present throughout The Assasination of Jesse James.
There's a good level of detail in the textures of the costumes in Enchanted, and it's a very watchable picture with only a hint of noise. But we'd like a touch more contrast: during the frenetic final chapters of Aliens vs Predator 2 – Requiem blacks are rich enough but there are patches of dark tone where class-leaders provide greater insight. Altering the picture settings to reveal more detail just overcooks the overall brightness of the picture.
The Planar fights a good fight, and is a very capable performer, but class leaders at this price have the edge when it comes to contrast and clarity.
