Video Projectors: Evolving Towards High Definition

NEC HT410

The last video projector in our test group is also a competitor of the BenQ PE 5120 - both are based on an 854x480 chip using DLP technology. This model surprises first of all because of its odd shape - long and thick, with a glossy white case. The connectors, usually located on the rear, are instead on the side of the projector. They include VGA, YUV, S-Video, and composite video connectors - everything except a DVI input for your computer. This design puts the ventilation openings on the front, which can be an advantage if you want to mount your projector against a wall.

The fan's noise level is truly low, to the point where we didn't notice it when watching. The tilt foot mechanism is on the front of the body, and on the rear is a unique foot for easy horizontal adjustment of the picture. Finally, there's an adjustment for raising or lowering the image if you want to use the projector on a coffee table, for example, or on a wall shelf.

NEC's published technical characteristics are a little below average, with a brightness of 1000 lumens and a contrast ratio of 1200:1. Adjustments are numerous, as with most current projector models, with a few new twists thrown in - such as being able to adjust white peaking and gamma correction with preset values. The black detail adjustment and video presets improve picture quality. Finally, we should note the lack of backlighting on the remote control, which we found hard to understand considering its very nice finish.