SIM2 Crystal Cube Coffee Table Projector Preview

I should start this preview article off with a disclaimer - at no point did SIM2 specify that their new Crystal Cube projector was designed for coffee table use. But, come on. Look at it. That's obviously the intended use. Or, at the very least, it is where most users would envision its use. Sure, it could go on a shelf at the back of a room but it is obviously designed to be seen.

Let's back up.

The SIM2 Crystal Cube is a DLP projector for those that care as much about the form factor of their projector as the performance. Available in either white or black, the crystal-glass case around the projector would look at home on a boardroom table as a coffee table in a stylish, contemporary home. This is the perfect solution for someone that has a huge room with vaulted ceilings and doesn't want a projector hanging from the rafters on a long pole. While SIM2 does offer an optional "luxury enclosure for ceiling mounting" it says that this enclosure is mandatory which indicates that you won't be able to use your existing mount with the Crystal Cube.

The Crystal Cube is a full featured projector that can display both 2D and 3D content. Some outlets are reporting that it comes packaged with four pairs of glasses and an emitter (active 3D solution) though the SIM2 website says those need to be purchased separately. It can throw an image up to 180 inches diagonal with a lens throw ratio of 1.38-2.05:1. It has a rated brightness up to 2300 lumens in 2D mode. The Crystal Cube is just over a foot wide and deep and 7.5 inches tall. 

The SIM2 Crystal Cube has two HDMI inputs (version 1.4) and a slew of analogue inputs. Sporting one each of s-video, composite, and component, it also has RS-232 control for integration is home automation systems. One thing that is not shown in any of the glamor shots provided by SIM2 is wires. We assume all of the connections are made on the bottom of the projector. If you have a way of running the wires through the table or shelf it sits on, this would make for an absolutely clean install. We wonder if there is a cover that slides in place over the lens or if it is always open. We would think that an automatic cover would make sense and keep users from having to keep a bottle of Windex nearby.

But face it, with a glass case, there is going to be a lot of Windex in this projector's future.

SIM2 has released very little information on the Crystal Cube instead talking mostly about how the case is made out of crystal-glass and how recyclable it is (as if you are just going to chuck it in your recycle bin at some point). There is no talk of lens shift or keystoning on the product sheet. We expect that keystoning will be available and hope that lens shift is on board as well.

The last thing to mention is the price. If you've ever seen a SIM2 product, you know to expect the price to be high. The Crystal Cube is no different with a price tag of $5000. In many reports of this projector, this price is touted as "affordable". While many Audioholics may disagree with that assessment, it is probably true. There really aren't many products out there like this one and $5000 isn't much in the world of custom installation. We could see quite a few installers keeping this projector in the back of their mind for when they have a customer that wants a big screen but has a spouse that doesn't want to see a projector in their living room.

Conclusion

The SIM2 Crystal Cube is not an inexpensive projector by any means but it is absolutely unique in that is looks like a piece of modern art. Encased in crystal-glass, the Crystal Cube would be at home displayed out in the open in any contemporary home or boardroom. Obviously targeting the custom installer, SIM2 has provided an option for those that want a big screen but don't want to see a projector. With full 3D and HD support, the Crystal Cube is sure to find its way into quite a few high-end homes.

For more information, please visit www.sim2usa.com.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.