Marantz VP-10S1 DLP Projector

Marantz America showcased its brand new VP-12S4. The reference-quality DLP projector combines advanced video processing circuitry with sleek new styling, highlighted by an elegant pearlescent cosmetic.

Noted Kevin Zarow, Director of Marketing and Product Development, Marantz America, Inc: "The VP-12S4 is the next step in the evolution of high-end single-chip DLP projection. For home theater enthusiasts who will settle for nothing but the best in high-definition images, this projector simply has no equal in its category. We used all of our engineering expertise to create a DLP projector that would meet the needs of even the most discriminating viewer. The end result has exceeded all expectations."

High Performance and Custom Installation Flexibility
Marantz engineers designed the VP-12S4 for superb image clarity, brightness and color reproduction, seeking both high-end video projector performance and custom installation flexibility. In addition to the Gennum 10-bit chip, the VP-12S4 incorporates the Texas Instruments 16 x 9 high-definition HD2+ Dark Chip 3 DMD DLP chip which produces images with higher brightness, improved black level and an unprecedented 4000:1 contrast ratio - yielding high resolution, picture quality and color accuracy. For realistic, balanced colors the VP-12S4 features Marantz's proprietary ORCA™ Color Correction Filter, filtering light to achieve better color accuracy, with more realistic reproduction of green hues.

For installation in any room and from any screen distance, the VP-12S4 utilizes a new medium-throw Minolta lens-specially-built for Marantz - in addition to the long- and short-throw lenses. Providing a wider zoom range and adjustable iris, these custom lenses have double-sealed optics to prevent light leakage, keep out dust and eliminate the "halo" effect that can degrade image quality in other projector designs. The lenses also feature an increased lens shift capability over previous models, allowing for a vertical alignment up to a maximum 50% of the screen height above the screen.

World's First Use of Gennum VXP™ Video Processing in a Video Projector
Key to the VP-12S4's extraordinary image performance is the first ever use of the specially designed 10-bit image processing chip with Visual Excellence Processing from Gennum Corporation, a world leader in broadcast image processing and video transport solutions. The VP-12S4 is the first projector in the world to utilize the new Gennum chip. Benefits of the VXP™ include per-pixel processing of all HDTV and SDTV video signals, multi-directional edge adaptive processing and robust inverse 2:3 and 2:2 processing of film-based inputs. In addition, uncompromised 1080i motion adaptive video deinterlacing circuitry virtually eliminates all motion artifacts when converting standard interlaced video signals to progressive scan output.

Total Compatibility With Programming Sources
The VP-12S4 is compatible with virtually every digital and analog video program source; and the projector includes dual HDMI inputs that maintain a pure digital signal path from source to display. For total installation flexibility, it includes an input multiplexer that supports up to four separate inputs. In addition, the VP-12S4 also provides high-bandwidth HD component video, component video, S-video and composite video connections as well as analog RGB computer inputs.

The VP-12S4 can display a native 720p progressive scan image from a DVD-Video player, HDTV set-top box, computer up to XGA resolution or an upconverted image from any NTSC source as well as 480i and 1080i images.

A newly designed on-screen menu system facilitates setup and calibration. The projector can be optimized to display both 16:9 widescreen or standard 4:3 aspect ratios with four viewing modes: Theater, Standard, Dynamic and Custom. The VP-12S4's Lens Shift feature allows the image to be shifted up or down and projected through the upper or lower portion of the lens; this function and its horizontal keystone correction enable the VP-12S4 to achieve correct picture geometry if the projector is not mounted exactly parallel to the screen.

For integrated operation in a custom installation, the VP-12S4 includes remote in/out connections, an RS232C control port and two DC trigger connections that can trigger two different operations. For example, the projector can be set to reconfigure a dual-aspect ratio projection screen whenever the aspect ratio of the program source changes from 16:9 to 4:3. All functions are accessible via the VP-12S4's remote control and on-screen menu.

The VP-12S4 will be available in February of 2005 with a suggested retail price of $14,499 for both the short-and medium-throw lens versions. For more information, please visit Marantz' newly redesigned website at www.marantz.com .