Technology

Bright laser projector aimed at retiring lamp models in mobile cinemas

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"The NEC NC1503L digital cinema projector is the ideal replacement for current Xenon lamp-based models," said Sharp/NEC in a press statement
Sharp/NEC Display Solutions Europe
"The NEC NC1503L digital cinema projector is the ideal replacement for current Xenon lamp-based models," said Sharp/NEC in a press statement
Sharp/NEC Display Solutions Europe
The NEC NC1503L 's RB laser light source outputs 14,000 lumens
Sharp/NEC Display Solutions Europe
The NEC NC1503L projector can be optioned with a Dolby interface that adds more input/output options
Sharp/NEC Display Solutions Europe
The NEC NC1503L digital cinema projector supports DCI color visuals at 2,048 x 1,080 resolution on cinema screens up to 17 meters in width
Sharp/NEC Display Solutions Europe
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Sharp/NEC Display Solutions in Europe has launched a 14,000-lumen laser projector that's pitched as an ideal replacement for current models using Xenon lamps in small booth theaters or boothless mobile cinema setups.

Designed for medium-sized theaters, the NC1503L's 3-chip DLP projection engine is capable of supporting screens up to 17 m (56 ft) in width in DCI color at an "almost entirely speckle-free" resolution of 2,048 x 1,080 pixels.

The optical engine is sealed to minimize image-spoiling dust ingress, and the air/liquid-cooled RB laser light source puts out 14,000 lumens and boasts an operational lifespan of 50,000 hours, while also requiring less energy to run than lamp-based models.

The NEC NC1503L digital cinema projector supports DCI color visuals at 2,048 x 1,080 resolution on cinema screens up to 17 meters in width
Sharp/NEC Display Solutions Europe

Elsewhere, the projector features motorized focus/zoom, 1,600:1 native contrast, support for high-frame-rate 3D content, and sports RJ45, USB, GPIO and serial ports. It can also be optioned with a Dolby interface for additional connectivity – including Gigabit LAN, 16-channel audio outputs and support for network storage (though the module does come with 2 TB of integrated storage).

"We wanted to provide cinema operators with a solution that is highly performant, reliable, and flexible to install, all at a low TCO," said the company's Gerd Kaiser. "With the NC1503L projector, we developed a solution that covers all these needs."

Despite Sharp NEC making much of the low total cost of ownership (TCO), actual pricing has not been revealed – with prospective buyers needing to apply by email, suggesting that this unit will be far too expensive for large home cinema applications. The NEC NC1503L is due to go on sale from November, with three short-zoom lens options available.

Product page: NC1503L

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1 comment
paul314
I wonder if this changes the minimum size for a plausibly profitable slot at a multiplex. Things could be very different if you could break even showing to a few dozen people instead of a couple hundred or more.