Panasonic PT-AE900U Home Cinema Projector

Awesome HD Projector

Strengths: Contrast and Black level. Gorgeous color. Control.

Weakness: Focus on zoom lens drifts slightly.

The Panasonic PT AE900U is an awesome HD projector. The image is the most filmlike of any projector in this price range I've ever seen. There is no "Screen Door" effect or vertical banding issues. I can step right up to my 92" diagonal screen and not be able to make out any pixels. Much smoother image than any of the DLP projectors I've tried. And the colors are rock solid and precise. Panasonic...
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The Panasonic PT AE900U is an awesome HD projector. The image is the most filmlike of any projector in this price range I've ever seen. There is no "Screen Door" effect or vertical banding issues. I can step right up to my 92" diagonal screen and not be able to make out any pixels. Much smoother image than any of the DLP projectors I've tried. And the colors are rock solid and precise. Panasonic gives you a lot of control over each individual color by allowing you to adjust the brightness and the contrast of each color individually. You can also adjust the low, mid and high gamma. And the color management system allows you to select a color on the screen and enhance just that color. Pretty amazing stuff. The projector is light and extremely quiet. Even with the fan on high I could barely hear it. And it sits directly over my couch. The vertical and horizontal lens shift make this projector a snap to install. I hung the projector and screen in less than an hour. I'm using an Optoma Panoview Graywolf screen and a Denon DVD 3910 DVD player. The scaler on the projector is pretty great but I must admit that the scaler in the DVD player is a bit better. My only issue was with a small amount of focus drift when I zoomed through the length of the lens. It went soft about midway through and I had to refocus. Focus slipped back past the midpoint so there is a tiny issue with that in my unit. But I can live with it since it's not at the point I'm using the projector. You really get an incredible amoount of bang for your buck with this projector. I would seriously check this one out before you go out and buy a more expensive DLP unit.

By eliocon1 - Oct 31, 2005

Outstanding Projector!!!

Strengths: Picture quality, brightness, ease of use, cannot see pixels unless very close up.

Weakness: none yet

After many months of research, I purchased this projector sight unseen because of the outstanding reviews (both expert and individual). I saw several projectors in stores with similar contrast ratios and lumens and would have to say that this projector stacks up with some of the projectors that are in retail outlets that cost 5k-10k. Currently, I have it only on the wall while I determine the...
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After many months of research, I purchased this projector sight unseen because of the outstanding reviews (both expert and individual). I saw several projectors in stores with similar contrast ratios and lumens and would have to say that this projector stacks up with some of the projectors that are in retail outlets that cost 5k-10k.


Currently, I have it only on the wall while I determine the screen size I want and the picture is incredible. The HD looks 3-D and I am pleasantly surprised with the non HD television. While you can see a difference in quality, it is consistent with the drop in quality you see in many of the high end DLP and LCD rear projection TVs.


I have tested both component and the DVI connections and I have not noticed much of a difference as both of these are excellent.


I have an average audio system, with a mid range 6.1 receiver and Infinity satellites w/ sub and it definitely creates a theater type feel. I cannot wait to settle in and watch DVDs and sporting events in HD.


I was very reluctant to make the leap to a projector and was within minutes of buying a 62" DLP and am very happy that I went this route. I thought I would sacrifice clarity and brightness for size, but I haven't.


I would recommend this projector to anyone who is looking to spend a moderate amount of money for big time results.

By cbl1 - Feb 24, 2006

Panasonic AE900

Strengths: Picture Quality and No Window Screen Effect. Lens adjustment joystick thingy is great.

Weakness: Still looking for one.

After a great deal of research and going to a number of home theater stores. I bought this unseen based on the Audioholics review from Visual Apex. It was a bit more than I wanted to spend, but the Essential Package bundles a number of items together. I did order a few extra cables for additional inputs. Delivery was less than 10 days and arrived in three separate deliveries. Mounting and Setup...
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After a great deal of research and going to a number of home theater stores. I bought this unseen based on the Audioholics review from Visual Apex. It was a bit more than I wanted to spend, but the Essential Package bundles a number of items together. I did order a few extra cables for additional inputs. Delivery was less than 10 days and arrived in three separate deliveries.

Mounting and Setup was easy, but I did have to get an 8" extension and ceiling mount to make everything work. All parts were available at Home Depot and some BBQ Grill paint was handy for a flat black finish.

With the Panaview Gray Wolf screen, Cinema 2 seems to be really close to what works best in my setup when using the Avia calibration disk. If you are a purist you will want a few minor tweaks on color and hue. But I really don't think anyone will notice.

My Theater is small, a bonus room over the garage, it's 14 wide and viewing is from about 10 feet. If you stand right up to the screen you can see the pixels, but at 3-5' back it's gone. The projector is on the ceiling about 12' back.

The most fun so far has been watching the kids on x-box. Halo on a 7 foot screen is a hoot. And everyone that spent more for a big screen TV, thinks they spent too much.

My Setup:
Panasonic AE900
Gray Wolf 92"
Denon AVR-75
Klipsh - Synergy Quintet w/ 10" Sub
Panasonic F87 DVD Player

By purplemonkeydrew - Dec 2, 2005

Best Quality and Value at this price range

Strengths: Great picture quality Screen door effect at 3 feet

Weakness: No auto lens close Switching inputs on Harmony remotes more tedius.

I currently have the following home theatre setup - Panasonic PT-AE900U at 20 ft away from screen on a table. Blackout Cloth 100" Screen (will upgrade to 106" Optoma Graywolf soon). Oppo OPDV971H DVD player Motorola Cable Box Home Theatre PC with Radeon 9800 Pro. All three are connected to a 4x1 Monoprice HDMI switch via DVI to HDMI cables and then a 50 ft Monoprice HDMI cable to the projector. I...
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I currently have the following home theatre setup -

Panasonic PT-AE900U at 20 ft away from screen on a table.
Blackout Cloth 100" Screen (will upgrade to 106" Optoma Graywolf soon).

Oppo OPDV971H DVD player
Motorola Cable Box
Home Theatre PC with Radeon 9800 Pro.

All three are connected to a 4x1 Monoprice HDMI switch via DVI to HDMI cables and then a 50 ft Monoprice HDMI cable to the projector.

I would recommend using Cinema 1 for most movies as the blacks are deeper and it creates a smooth real theatre-like image. (You may want to buy a calibration DVD and some of the colors could be a bit off)

DVDs perform quite well over 1080i upscaled through the Oppo. The picture is clear and black levels are great. I had no vertical banding on my unit at all.

The projector really shines when you watch HDTV. I have been watching ESPN HD and Discovery HD quite a bit lately. Color and sharpess are amazing.

I have put about 100 hours on this PJ so far and have no issues with the picture quality.

Two small gripes that I have is that there is no auto lens close when you turn off the projector, like on the Sanyo Z4. Also, the buttons for inputs are assigned two at a time therefore, it is difficult to auto program since it remembers the last input you used, meaning sometimes you would have to press once to get to PC, other times twice, making 1 button switching on a Harmony or other remotes impossible.

By RoodyPooUS - Jan 11, 2006

All Around Solid Projector

Strengths: WIDE range of zoom sizes.

Weakness: Remote control cannot work on projector from behind... limits mounting angles.

This is a very bright, easy to use, and versatile projector. It is not very portable, but it is easily mountable. It provides a crisp, high contrast picture on even a plain painted white wall. I'm sure that with a projection screen, the image would be impeccable. I would highly recommend this item: great product for value

By fibrorhino - Jan 31, 2006