Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector

Panasonic+PT%2DAR100U Projector
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Home theater projector

Panasonic PT-AR100U Projector

Let us introduce you to a major player in the Panasonic home theater projector family. Ladies and gentlemen, presenting the make-'em-jealous-without-breaking-the-bank projector, the Panasonic PT AR100U!

This bright, full HD projector provides vivid, clear and stunning content. Advanced features like the new red-rich lamp and light harmonizer 3 technology give you incredibly life-like images that automatically adjust to the lighting conditions in your living room or home theater.

Your next family movie night will be the envy of everyone on the block thanks to the PT-AR100U’s ability to pack rich details into everything from low-lit scenes to fast-moving content like sports and action movies.

Panasonic PT-AR100U Reviews

I've owned many front projectors over the years but this is flat out the best I've ever purchased…

Read more customer reviews of the Panasonic PT-AR100U projector »

See the Panasonic PT-AR1000U in Action

Click below to see the Panasonic PT-AR100U in action.

Panasonic PT-AR100U Features


Large-Screen Entertainment for the Group

  • 2,800 lumens of high brightness from newly developed 280W red-rich lamp.
  • Light harmonizer 3 automatically adjusts the white balance, gamma curve and enhancer of the image to match the surrounding conditions with the built-in ambient light and color sensors.
  • Seven picture modes for various viewing situations, including modes that are ideal for sports, games and movies. (Dynamic, Game, Sports, Rec. 709, Cinema 1, Vivid Cinema and Normal).
  • Motion effect technology adds smoothness and sharpness to fast-moving scenes.

Superb Picture Quality

  • Outstanding 50,000:1 contrast ratio made possible via new high-precision optical system technology.
  • Dynamic iris pro feature adds beauty to both dark and bright scenes.
  • Pure color filter pro technology for rich, vibrant colors.
  • Detail clarity processor 3 for fine detail reproduction.
  • 16-bit digital processing produces smooth gradation.
  • Split adjust mode for easy picture adjustment.
  • Waveform monitor for precise calibration makes sure full dynamic range is in use.

Installation Flexibility and Ease of Use

  • 2x optical zoom/focus.
  • V/H lens shift (vertical ±68%, horizontal ±26%).
  • VIERA link for easy control of multiple Panasonic devices.
  • Eco management function for smart power consumption control.
  • Two HDMI inputs (supporting x.v.Color™ and Deep Color).
  • Two programmable 12-volt trigger terminals.
  • User-friendly ergonomic remote control.
Click on a spec (like Resolution:) to learn more about it. Click here for the complete glossary.
Image Quality Projector Calculator See Panasonic PT-AR100U Image Size Calculator »
Resolution HD (1920 x 1080)
Brightness 2800 lumens
Contrast Ratio 50000:1
Uniformity 85%
No. of Colors Full color
Aspect Ratio(s) Native - 16:9
Display Type LCD; Transparent LCD panel (× 3, R/G/B)
Compatibility
Data Signals Native: 1080p (1920 x 1080)
Video Signals 525i (480i), 625i (576i), 525p (480p), 625p (576p), 750 (720)/60p, 750 (720)/50p, 1125 (1080)/60i, 1125 (1080)/50i, 1125 (1080)/24p, 1125 (1080)/60p, 1125 (1080)/50p NTSC/NTSC4.43/PAL-M/PAL60/PAL/PAL-N/SECAM
H Sync 15 kHz–74 kHz
V Sync 24 Hz–85 Hz
3D Ready No
Dot Clock 154 MHz or lower
Connectivity
Inputs / Outputs
  • Component, RCA (Y,Pb,Pr)
  • Composite Video, RCA
  • HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface for digital video and digital audio)
  • S-Video (Mini DIN 4-pin (Y/C))
  • VGA (Analog data, mini D-Sub 15-pin)
  • RS-232 (Serial)
  • Screen Trigger (12V) (DC power outlet)
View the manufacturers spec sheet for a complete list of Inputs and Outputs
Built-in Audio --
Projection Lens Projector Calculator See Panasonic PT-AR100U Image Size Calculator »
Lens Manual zoom/manual focus F 2.0–3.4, f 21.5–43.0 mm
Throw Ratio 1.33 - 2.69:1
Keystone Corr. Vertical
Specs: Vertical: approx. ±30°
Lens Shift Vertical: ±68%, horizontal: ±26%
Proj. Methods Ceiling/desk, front/rear
General
Dimensions 18.1" x 5.13" x 14.3" (W x H x D)
Unit Weight 19 lbs.
Operation
Power Supply 100–240 V AC, 50/60 Hz
Power Consumption 280
Ecomode Yes
(Brightness: 2240 lumens;)
FCC Class A
Audible Noise -- dB
Lamp 280 W UHM lamp
Lamp Life --
Replacement Lamp
Cost
PANETLAA110, $379.00     
Included Accessories
Items Included Power cord (× 1), Wireless remote control unit (× 1), Batteries for remote control (R6/AA type × 2), Lens cover (× 1)
Remote Control Yes
Remote Control Included
Carry Case No
Carry Case Not Included
Warranty
Projector 1 Year parts & labor
Lamp 90 days or 500 hours (whichever comes first)

* -- indicates specification not published by manufacturer.

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
PanasonicPT-AR100U
 
4.6

(based on 58 reviews)

Ratings Distribution

  • 5 Stars

     

    (36)

  • 4 Stars

     

    (20)

  • 3 Stars

     

    (2)

  • 2 Stars

     

    (0)

  • 1 Stars

     

    (0)

97%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Great picture quality (52)
  • Easy to set up (51)
  • Easy to use (51)
  • Reliable (21)
  • Small footprint (3)

Cons

  • Large footprint (22)

Best Uses

  • Movies (50)
  • High-definition TV (47)
  • TV (27)
  • Casual user (19)
  • Presentations (7)
    • Reviewer Profile:
    • Quality oriented (31), Budget shopper (26)
    • Primary use:
    • Personal (57)
    • Computer Platform:
    • PC (33), Mac (12), Other (3)

Most Liked Positive Review

 

Perfect choice for my multi-purpose room

Let me start off by saying that I began searching in early October 2011 to replace my old Panasonic PT-AE900U. My family uses our projector as the primary HDTV and it is also occasionally used...Read complete review

Let me start off by saying that I began searching in early October 2011 to replace my old Panasonic PT-AE900U. My family uses our projector as the primary HDTV and it is also occasionally used as an Xbox/PS3 gaming screen. Needless to say we have clocked many ours and I am on our third 3000+ bulb. The unit did end up needing repair at one point but has served us well. I seriously considered the new 3D offerings from Panasonic and Epson and decided the additional cost was not worth the amount of time we would actually view 3D.
We have always used our projector in a multi-purpose living room. The walls are a darker color and the ceiling is white. We don't enjoy viewing in complete darkness so a dimmed light is always on in the corner of the room. The room has a lot of light during the day and is darkened by pulling our screen down in front of a large set of windows for daytime viewing. There's plenty of other ambient light during the day and because of this, we have rarely used the old panny for daytime viewing.
With this new PT-AR100U projector, everything has changed! I now understand the true meaning of the term "light cannon" and I am impressed. Daytime viewing is no longer an issue. We can view our favorite shows and are using our living room with some extra light on for a change. I was looking forward to the big step up in brightness plus the added step up from 720 to 1080. I must say that I am completely satisfied with my decision and my family is happy that we don't have to live like moles anymore. This is everything I hoped it would be and I am kicking myself for taking so long to decide.
We have a 92 inch high power 16:9 2.4 gain screen and everything I read said this was not the best choice for such a bright projector. This fact did not concern me because we also have a matte white/gray screen that can be used. However, I have discovered that when viewing in economy mode the high power screen does a great job. The brightness is similar, if not brighter than what a standard LCD or the newer LED screens put out and this is something that had been missing on our old panny. If you enjoy the brightness of a LCD or plasma, you will enjoy this even more because bigger is better. Turning the lights on does affect the contrast of this screen but it is still watchable. The gray screen will stay in storage for now but I may get ambitious and test it in the future. Color out of the box is great and I am using economy mode and cinema1 which seems to be the best choice. I admit the contrast could probably use some tweaking which I will look forward to doing after 100 hours or more of bulb time. Because I am using economy mode the fan is very quiet. The old panny was much louder in economy mode and also had a very loud iris. I do not hear any iris noise at all on the new unit.
The dimensions of this unit are identical to the PT-AE7000 3D model and the build quality is great. Panasonic has come a long way compared to our older unit and I only hope it is problem free. I am not crazy about the all white case of this unit but it was not a major concern. Panasonic only offers a one year warranty which stinks. Projector People/Panasonic offers an extended three year warranty for registering but it expires at 2,000 hours and we will finish those hours in the first year anyway. Epson offers a much better warranty. That fact and the availability to watch a split screen from two separate sources almost swayed me to Epson. I have always had "picture in picture" TV's and I wish more companies had this function on their projectors. There are two HDMI inputs and only one component input on this projector. This may be a problem for some but can be overcome with a good receiver or a switch box. I have noticed some slight motion blur while watching sports but not enough where I would complain. I have not noticed any gaming lag at all but have not thoroughly tested every game. The old projector was very dark for gaming but this cannon has no trouble.
This has been the perfect choice for my multi-purpose room and I would recommend it to anyone unless you want 3D. The price and quality are better than what I have paid in the past and I have no buyer's remorse whatsoever. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because it lacks some of the features of a higher end unit.
If you are on the fence…step into the light.

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

 

Screen Door Effect

I upgraded from a PTAX-200u to this projector. Unfortunately, this projector does not have the same SmoothScreen technology that my PTAX-200u projector had. The screen door effect is much more noticeable on...Read complete review

I upgraded from a PTAX-200u to this projector. Unfortunately, this projector does not have the same SmoothScreen technology that my PTAX-200u projector had. The screen door effect is much more noticeable on this projector and images are more pixelized. I was surprised that my old 720p projector had technology that this new 1080p projector did not have. If you are going to use this for a home TV and will be sitting fairly close to the screen (12 feet or closer) I would not recommend this projector. If you are going to use it for a movie theater room, sitting a good distance away, you probably won't notice the pixelation. On the positive side, the brightness and contrast ratio are fantastic on this projector.

Reviewed by 58 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-10

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5.0

Just as Promised

By Jordan

from Sherwood, Oregon

About Me Value Oriented

Verified Buyer

Pros

  • Easy To Set Up
  • Easy to use
  • Great picture quality
  • Small Footprint

Cons

    Best Uses

    • High-Definition TV
    • Movies
    • TV

    Comments about Panasonic PT-AR100U:

    This is the 2nd projector I have purchased from Projector People. Great assistance and honest salesperson!

    • Primary use:
    • Personal
    • Computer Platform:
    • PC

    Comment on this review

    (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

     
    5.0

    Incredible Projector

    By Movie Man

    from West Palm, FL

    About Me Quality Oriented

    Verified Buyer

    Pros

    • Easy To Set Up
    • Easy to use
    • Great picture quality

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • High-Definition TV
      • Movies

      Comments about Panasonic PT-AR100U:

      I purchased this to use outside for movie night and recently for the Superbowl. The projector sits 40' back from the screen and the resolution was the same if not better than my new LED 55" HDTV. All of my guests were blown away at the brightness, clarity, and most of all the size - 18' w x 10' h. I would recommend this to anyone who likes huge HDTV.

      • Primary use:
      • Personal
      • Computer Platform:
      • PC

      Comment on this review

       
      5.0

      Awesome Product Awesome Seller

      By Lynda

      from Deltona, FL

      About Me Quality Oriented

      Verified Buyer

      Pros

      • Easy To Set Up
      • Easy to use
      • Great picture quality

      Cons

      • None

      Best Uses

      • High-Definition TV
      • Movies
      • TV

      Comments about Panasonic PT-AR100U:

      The Projector People delivered sooner than expected and responded quickly to emails. This projector replaced a Dell DLP and I couldn't be happier with it. It has a much better picture and provides a much larger picture than you can get with any
      TV on the market for a lot less money. I am using it with a Sony Blu-Ray, DirecTV HD Satellite, Bose Cinemate and Nintendo Wii

      • Primary use:
      • Personal

      Comment on this review

       
      5.0

      Incredible Picture

      By Sports fan

      from Boise, Idaho

      About Me Quality Oriented

      Verified Buyer

      Pros

      • Easy To Install And Focus
      • Easy To Set Up
      • Easy to use
      • Great picture quality
      • Reliable Performance

      Cons

        Best Uses

          Comments about Panasonic PT-AR100U:

          Great for watching HD sports and movies

          • Primary use:
          • Personal
          • Computer Platform:
          • PC

          Comment on this review

           
          5.0

          Really great unit!

          By Dave

          from Jefferson City, MO

          About Me Value Oriented

          Verified Buyer

          Pros

          • Easy To Set Up
          • Easy to use
          • Great picture quality
          • Reliable Performance

          Cons

          • Large Footprint

          Best Uses

          • High-Definition TV
          • Movies
          • Video Games

          Comments about Panasonic PT-AR100U:

          I replaced my 8 year old Panasonic PT-AE700U with this projector when it gave it up and went dead. I difference is HUGE!! Could not be happier with this unit. It took about 5 minutes to get it out of the box and on the shelf and another 2 or 3 to get it focused. VERY easy setup. Super bright picture (major change over my old 1000 lum unit). The footprint is large, but it makes no difference in my rear, high shelf mount setup. Love it and would highly recommend it to others.

          • Primary use:
          • Personal
          • Computer Platform:
          • PC

          Comment on this review

           
          5.0

          Like being at a theater

          By schule

          from springfield, il

          About Me Value Oriented

          Verified Buyer

          Pros

          • Easy To Set Up
          • Easy to use
          • Great picture quality

          Cons

            Best Uses

              Comments about Panasonic PT-AR100U:

              Great picture.....really high def

              • Primary use:
              • Personal
              • Computer Platform:
              • Other

              Comment on this review

               
              5.0

              1080p greatness!!

              By technical Rick

              from king of prussia Pennsylvania

              About Me Quality Oriented

              Verified Buyer

              Pros

              • Qualityvalueperformance

              Cons

              • None

              Best Uses

              • Media Room

              Comments about Panasonic PT-AR100U:

              in use as a media room projector,excellent customer service. this product exceeds my expectations,would strongly recommend purchase again!

              • Primary use:
              • Business
              • Computer Platform:
              • Mac

              Comment on this review

               
              5.0

              1080 p. perfection!

              By passion for projeprojection!

              from king of Prussia pa.

              About Me Value Oriented

              Verified Reviewer

              Pros

              • Bright And Clean
              • Dynamic Iris Lens Shift
              • Easy To Set Up
              • Easy to use
              • Great picture quality
              • Reliable Performance

              Cons

              • None

              Best Uses

              • Graphics Enthusiast
              • High-Definition TV
              • Movies
              • Presentations

              Comments about Panasonic PT-AR100U:

              eexcellent value and performance,I have this in my media roomroom and have just adjusted my settings on the rec. 709 mode.very pleased with my purchase from projector people, would stronglstrongly recommend doing business with again!

              • Primary use:
              • Personal
              • Computer Platform:
              • Mac

              Comment on this review

               
              5.0

              yea buddy!!!

              By t-money

              from montana

              About Me Quality Oriented

              Verified Buyer

              Pros

              • Easy To Set Up
              • Easy to use
              • Great picture quality
              • Reliable Performance
              • Small Footprint
              • Very Quiet

              Cons

              • Makes Everyone Want One

              Best Uses

              • Gaming Is Unreal

              Comments about Panasonic PT-AR100U:

              the most awsome entertainment system i've ever had. Easy to set up & connect to sound system.

              • Primary use:
              • Personal
              • Computer Platform:
              • PC

              Comment on this review

               
              4.0

              Great projector, especially for the $$

              By DEWDuck

              from Medford, OR

              About Me Quality Oriented

              Verified Buyer

              Pros

              • Easy To Set Up
              • Easy to use
              • Great picture quality

              Cons

              • Large Footprint

              Best Uses

              • High-Definition TV
              • Movies

              Comments about Panasonic PT-AR100U:

              This projector was replacing an 6 year old 1080i Panasonic projector in a dedicated theater room, and I have not been disappointed. The brightness is exceptional and I can now watch sporting events without having to close all of the drapes and turn off all the lights. Easy to set up and easy to use. It is a little larger that my previous projector, but since it is suspended from the ceiling that is not an issue.
              One issue is the fan noise. It is rather loud and had to be set to ECO mode to make it acceptable.

              • Primary use:
              • Personal
              • Computer Platform:
              • PC

              Comment on this review

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              • Download the manufacturer spec sheet for the Panasonic PT-AR100U.

              Do you have questions about this product?

              get answers from real customers and in-house experts with AnswerBox.

              35 Questions | 163 Answers
              Displaying questions 1-10Previous | Next »
              • Q:

                can this projector be used outdoors? If yes does it have to be completely dark to use?
                Asked on 4/19/2013 by Looking for outdoor fun from Walla Walla, Wa

                7 answers

                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  You could use this outdoors..  As with most projectors the less light the better the results.. so a darker environment would definitely be more conducive .

                  Answered on 4/23/2013 by Anonymous
                • Staff Reviewer

                  A:

                  yes- it can be used outdoors though you would want to wait till it is dark.

                  Answered on 4/22/2013 by Stacey from Tampa
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  Hi there,
                  I purchased this projector to use in an outdoor application. It is/was one of the brighter at this price point. In my experience so far this projector does the job. As you would expect, in bright sunlight it is difficult to watch but no need to wait until total darkness to view. It's not the most portable unit but the picture quality is outstanding!
                  I am more than happy with this unit. Our family regularly enjoys outdoor movie nights.
                  Hope this helps!!

                  Answered on 4/22/2013 by JD from Lewis Center, OH
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  I have used this projector several times outside with an inflatable screen. There will be different factors that determine how dark you need it outside. I find that how large the screen is, the type of material your screen is, and how far away the projector is to the screen plays a big role. The distance I use it is around 20 feet projecting on a 15 foot screen. You won't be able to use it in the bright noon day sun but it works fine in the evening when the sun is going down. I usually play drive-in previews until it gets dark out and everyone settled down and ready to watch a movie. This projector is a tad large and heavy but I find that it works fantastic. Very happy with it! Hope this helped

                  Answered on 4/21/2013 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  Yes, I have used it outside... And not completely dark but fairly so. It depends on how big you want the image and how far back you set the projector. When I did it, I set the projector back about 12-14 feet and got an image of 8' x 15'. It wasn't completely dark, but almost. And the image looked great! When you get to showing images of this size, you really need a blu-ray....

                  Answered on 4/20/2013 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  Unfortunately, we have not opened the projector yet. We are hoping to use it this year. From experience I know that my last projector I used a tent against a fence and put both side panels of the tent down in order to make sure it was dark enough.
                  Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID

                  Answered on 4/20/2013 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  Mine is fine indoors with the windows unshaded in the day. If the sun hits
                  the screen directly it is not good. If the room is really bright it
                  washes out some. If you are using it outdoors when the sun is down it
                  should work up to about 120", but in bright full daylight I don't think it
                  will be a good choice.

                  Answered on 4/19/2013 by Anonymous
              • Q:

                How loud is this projector?
                Asked on 2/5/2013 by Anonymous

                7 answers

                • Staff Reviewer

                  A:

                  Panasonic rates the PT-AR100U as 29db which is quieter than a whisper. I have had the projector on a table right next to me in my home and did not hear it. Excellent projector!

                  Answered on 2/28/2013 by Carmen from Projector People
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  We have this unit... probably 4-5 feet from where we sit... in an open
                  cabinet.
                  There is fan noise... but nothing noticeable..
                  But... will tell you the heat is amazing!
                  That said... a wonderful unit.
                  Watkins

                  Answered on 2/6/2013 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  not load at all. but I use it in a commercial setting..Restaurant

                  Answered on 2/5/2013 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  Very quiet. Mine sits about 80 cm behind me and 25 cm above ear level. Noise is not noticable.

                  Answered on 2/5/2013 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                   I don't have any technical data beyond what's available in the
                  specs; but subjectively, my unit is less noisy than I expected and
                  certainly less so than the couple of smaller units with which I have
                  some experience.  I have it placed about 5 feet behind and slightly
                  above my theater seats, and once the show begins, it's functionally
                  silent.  If you're a real nit-picker and choose to listen for any
                  projector noise rather than the show, you can probably pick it out of
                  the background; but I suspect no more so than any other unit.  As I
                  say, functionally silent.  I'm 100% satisfied with mine.

                  Answered on 2/5/2013 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  From what I understand this projector is above average in the noise
                  department, but i have not had the opportunity for a side by side
                  comparison. I run my
                  Pt-ar100u on Eco mode and the noise level has never been an issue for me.
                  I can honestly say that I have never taken notice to sound coming from the
                  projector while watching a movie.

                  Answered on 2/5/2013 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  The projector does not produce sound. You will need a secondary audio source
                  Sent from my iPhone

                  Answered on 2/5/2013 by Anonymous
              • Q:

                How to I set up the 12v Triggers to control the up/down screen function of electronica Elete VMAX 2 screen? The screen has an "eye reader 12V trigger cabe and both IR and IF remotes)

                thanks
                Dale
                Asked on 1/4/2013 by Anonymous

                1 answer

                • Staff Reviewer

                  A:

                  The 12 volt triggers typicaly use simple 3.5 mm cable

                  Answered on 1/10/2013 by Anonymous
              • Q:

                I have mounted my new projector on the ceiling and have noticed an unusual thing about the image. The observation relates to measurements taken of the image corners from fixed points on the ceiling, floor and the side walls. Bottom line, the two vertical sides of the projected image are not parallel to each other. Keystone does not fix this issue. Is there any adjustment that can be made to correct this or is this a projector optics issue? Thanks
                Asked on 12/18/2012 by Victor from Minneapolis

                4 answers

                • Staff Reviewer

                  A:

                  It's not shooting straight to the screen. I would reduce the size a bit then tilt, turn, and lens shift the projector until it's equal distance to the edge of the screen. Then zoom back out to the edge.

                  Answered on 12/21/2012 by Anonymous
                • A:

                  Yes there is, its called the lens shift feature or optical keystone correction which can be set manually.

                  Answered on 12/19/2012 by Community Answer from None
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  I just got mine close, I was lucky enough to mount it during construction. I had to move it round and use the adjustment knob on the side (under a cover by the bulb, you take the cover off, unscrew the nob a little to loosen the lense shift, and tighten after adjustment). I got it close, but not perfect. The knob on the side moves the image up, down, left and right. Adjust the projector up or down using the knob a little once you get the keystone close by adjusting the mounting bracket up and down. You should be able to get it near perfect. If you have a black border around the screen, you wont notice. It's a great projector and produces a great picture. The manual setup was a little difficult though.

                  Answered on 12/19/2012 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  You have mounted the projector incorrectly. The projector must be level to
                  the ground and then the lens shift is used to move the image into the
                  correct position on the screen. Keystone should be avoided if at all
                  possible since it acts to degrade the image. Ideally the projector would be
                  at the same level as the center of the screen but this is impractical for
                  many people and many choose to locate the projector level with the top edge
                  of the screen. This may require the use of a column to lower the projector
                  to the correct height.

                  Answered on 12/18/2012 by Anonymous
              • Q:

                I was told the Panasonic PT-AR100U is made in China and some say in Japan. Could you confirm where the Panasonic PT-AR100U is currently made that's sold by Projectorpeople? Thanks.
                Asked on 11/28/2012 by haiway1 from Sterling, VA

                4 answers

                • Staff Reviewer

                  A:

                  Panasonic is a Japanese company, so they should be all made in Japan.

                  Answered on 12/3/2012 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  I bought my projector last Feb. and it has a production date of 1/2012 and it states on the outside of the case that it is made in Japan. Hope that helps.

                  Answered on 11/30/2012 by Anonymous
                • A:

                  This projector was made in Japan and released October 2011.

                  Answered on 11/28/2012 by Community Answer from None
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  It's made in Japan.

                  Answered on 11/28/2012 by Anonymous
              • Q:

                I read the one major "con" for this projector under "Customer Reviews" about the picture having the old "screen door" effect. Has anyone else had this issue or is this an isolated incident for this customer? I can't imagine a new product like this having this issue but just thought I'd ask as I am very interested in purchasing this unit.
                Asked on 11/20/2012 by RonWPB from West Palm Beach, FL

                9 answers

                • Staff Reviewer

                  A:

                  Unless you're planning to watch 4 feet or closer from the screen you will not notice the pixel structure. I was never a big fan of the 'Smooth Screen' technology and the 1080p native resolution makes it unnecessary. The image is solid.

                  Answered on 11/26/2012 by Todd from Tampa
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  Unless you're planning to watch 4 feet or closer from the screen you
                  will not notice the pixel structure.
                  I was never a big fan of the 'Smooth Screen' technology and the 1080p
                  native resolution makes it unnecessary.
                  The image is solid.

                  Answered on 11/21/2012 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  The old 'screen door' effect does not affect me at all. I do notice it when
                  I get closer to the screen but it does not bother me as I am sitting afar. I
                  have already bought two units of PT-AR100U and that speaks of my
                  satisfaction of the overall performance for the projector.

                  Answered on 11/20/2012 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  The picture clarity on the PT-AR100U is very close to an LCD screen. The technology has improved drastically since I last bought a projector in 2008. I get a lot of compliments on the clarity.

                  Answered on 11/20/2012 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  All digital projectors exhibit a "screen door" effect to some degree or another. LCD projectors like this one do tend to have a more visible screen door than DLP projectors, but whether it's distractingly visible is just a matter of taste. I find that defocusing the lens slightly makes the screen door completely disappear while still leaving plenty of sharpness in the picture.
                  David

                  Answered on 11/20/2012 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  Yes. I have noticed the screen door effect also. It happens mostly when watching cable through the projector during scenes with a lot of action (some stations are worse than others). It is not nearly as noticeable with Blu-ray dvd's (if at all.....). Hope that helps.

                  Answered on 11/20/2012 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  I have two of them and never have experienced this issue.
                  Sent from my iPad

                  Answered on 11/20/2012 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  Absolutely no issue with this that I've seen, and I'm less than 9 feet away
                  from a 72" diagonal projected screen size.

                  Answered on 11/20/2012 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  Unless they are sitting a foot from the screen then no. Lol
                  It is a stunning bright daylight compatible picture for such a low price.
                  I have mine hitting a 100" very light yellow walled living room with white ceilings. The screen is High Contrast grey.
                  I watch with table lamps on with no problem.
                  Just get it, you will love it.
                  Cheers, John.

                  Answered on 11/20/2012 by Anonymous
              • Q:

                This is a weird one - I swapped out this projector for my old BenQ 1100 720P - pure awesomeness!

                Here's the issue: I have an AppleTV and a Blu Ray player attached through an HDMI Switcher. If I turn on the projector, whether through my Logitech Harmony remote, the Panasonic remote, or manually pressing the power button, within 15 seconds, my Blu Ray player magically turns on as well!

                I first thought that the projector was shooting an infrared "ON" signal, but covering the projector's IR port as well as the Blu Ray player, it still turned on. I disconnected the HDMI from the projector, and it stopped.

                What puzzles me is that even if the HDMI switcher is set for the AppleTV, the BluRay player still turns on, when theoretically the signal path is cut off.

                Since the Panasonic has 2 HDMI inputs, I can ditch the switcher, but I wanted to check with you guys before I went and tore up my already hairy cable management setup :-)

                -Anthony
                Asked on 11/12/2012 by Headmaster of TheWPDojo from Cornelius, NC

                2 answers

                • Staff Reviewer

                  A:

                  I am not sure. I would call Panasonic Tech support on this. The phone # to Panasonic is 800/211-PANA

                  Answered on 12/3/2012 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  Is the Blu Ray player also Panasonic? If so they may be linked with their
                  Viera Link technology where one remote can be used to turn both devices
                  on/off. I thought this was a nice feature at first, but now I have both the
                  Panny projector and a small LCD connected to the same Panny blu-ray player
                  (son watches his daily DVD's and stuff on the small LCD to save projector
                  life), and so I had to disable the Viera Link feature in the projector menu.

                  Answered on 11/12/2012 by Anonymous
              • Q:

                I have an older Panasonic PTL 500U mounted in an enclosure. Is the size of this projector bigger or would it fit in my enclosure? I would like to buy one.
                Asked on 11/7/2012 by Mitch from Jefferson, Iowa

                5 answers

                • Staff Reviewer

                  A:

                  This model is bigger than the previous versions. Here are the dimensions: 18.1" x 5.13" x 14.3" (W x H x D)

                  Answered on 11/14/2012 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  This is a bigger unit I would compare it to the newer epson HD projectors because I don't know exactly how big the PTL 500U is. I had a Sharp before and this is like double the size. If you look on line and google the PT AR100U and go under dimensions it will tell you the size and weight.

                  Answered on 11/7/2012 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  If you send me your dimensions I can check, I don't know anything about the
                  500U

                  Answered on 11/7/2012 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  I have this projector and it needed a space that was 22"-24" wide, 17"-20" deep and 8"-9" tall to allow for proper venting. (Not what I was really told when I bought the thing and my nook turned out to be too narrow.) So I put a shelf in front of my projector nook so that it was half in/ half out of the space and it works fine.

                  Answered on 11/7/2012 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  Hi. I can't comment on the size of the 500U or the enclosure you're using for it. I can say that the AR100U is awesome! We love it! Incredibley bright. It is a big machine and pretty heavy...but we still manag to wig it outdoors for movie/sports night. Sorry I couldn't e more helpful.

                  Answered on 11/7/2012 by JD from Lewis Center, OH
              • Q:

                does the lamp brightness decrease overtime?
                Asked on 11/5/2012 by eva from san jose, ca

                6 answers

                • Staff Reviewer

                  A:

                  While brightness can slightly decrease over time, with today's high quality lamps, it isn't as noticeable as projectors in the past.

                  Answered on 11/6/2012 by Lisa from .
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  Yes it will as with any lamp source. For me it took three years. And it
                  depends on use.

                  Answered on 11/6/2012 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  We've had this for five months with no degregation.
                  The brightness in the "normal" mode is frankly to bright in a darkened
                  room... they have a lessor setting we've ended up using.
                  We have glass on two sides of the theater... lots of light... normal works
                  great even in Florida Sun...
                  120'' image.

                  Answered on 11/6/2012 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  We were given an older version of this projector which was quite old and the
                  brightness was great. We upgraded to this model and use it for TV, movies
                  and gaming every day. The lamp brightness has been terrific so far. If it's
                  anything like the older model it won't decrease over time.

                  Answered on 11/5/2012 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  I don't have enough hours on mine to answer definitively, but so far,
                  with maybe 80 hrs, it doesn't seem to have diminished any. Thus far I
                  have no complaints with this unit at all. Yes, it's a little big, but
                  so what.

                  Answered on 11/5/2012 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  Hello. I bought this for my business partner and he loves it. He hasn't noticed any decrease in brightness over time but he's only had it in use for a few months.
                  Hope that helps.
                  Thanks, Bill

                  Answered on 11/5/2012 by Anonymous
              • Q:

                what is the weight of this projector?
                Asked on 11/5/2012 by eva from san jose, ca

                4 answers

                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  19 pounds.  http://www.panasonic.com/business/projectors/pt-ar100u.asp

                  Answered on 11/7/2012 by Anonymous
                • Staff Reviewer

                  A:

                  19 lbs

                  Answered on 11/6/2012 by Lisa from .
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  specs say 19lbs

                  Answered on 11/5/2012 by Anonymous
                • VERIFIED BUYER

                  A:

                  19 lbs
                  Sent from my iPhone

                  Answered on 11/5/2012 by Anonymous
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