TESTED: DreamVision Dream'E 3-panel LCoS projector

Bright In All Kinds of Light

From DreamVision of Paris, France, comes the Dream’E 3-panel 1080p projector, featuring LCoS (liquid crystal on silicon) imaging, which blends both transmissive (LCD-like) and reflective (DLP-like) technologies. Distinctively styled, the gently swoopy enclosure is available in either black or white gloss plastic, and DreamVision provides a custom color option (at extra cost, though).

A key benefit to the Dream’E is the availability of an optional anamorphic lens setup, which includes an OEM’d Panamorph lens, a customized lens hood which spiffs things up nicely, and a custom mounting plate. This solution will appeal to custom installers and do-it-yourself types looking to put together a true, cinema-grade widescreen front projection setup.

OVERVIEW

Consider this projector if: you’d like to get the full widescreen cinema experience. DreamVision’s optional Panamorph-based anamorphic lens system is custom-tailored for good looks and easy installation. At the highest lamp and aperture settings this projector puts out sufficient light to handle big screen sizes, while the low lamp mode and aperture adjustability allow dialing in just the right amount of light for smaller screens.

Look elsewhere if: you’re seeking a projector that has a precise color palette that matches the HD video standard, as the Dream’E color gamut adds extra color emphasis that can’t be tamed. Some very odd quirks with the picture adjustments also indicate that this current Dream’E version isn’t fully cooked.

Ratings

• Overall picture quality (SD):  7
  
• Overall picture quality (HD): 7
  
• Features: 7
  
• Connectivity: 7
  
• User Interface: 6
  
• Value: 6

Features

DreamVision touts the Dream’E’s all-glass lens optics along with the availability of a turn-key anamorphic lens setup and has equipped the unit with an efficient LCoS imaging engine that provides both high contrast and high output. Indeed, at the highest lamp and aperture settings, the projector puts out a lot of light, making it suitable for screens in the 140-inch range (16:9 diagonal, matte white assumed). The lower lamp mode still puts out enough light that standard 100-inch screens can get more than enough light for a bright picture, with the benefit of extended lamp life thrown in.

A multi-step aperture adds further light control, allowing the user to dial down brightness to get the best overall contrast and deepest blacks. While the Dream’E has useful (but mechanical, not motorized) horizontal and vertical lens shift, the thumbwheel controls are themselves tucked away in a small opening on the chassis bottom, making adjustment difficult for tabletop or shelf mounting scenarios. The Dream’E is equipped with the HQV Reon video processor, a proven performer that provides excellent deinterlacing capabilities, both with SD and 1080i HD sources.

Connectivity

With 2 HDMI inputs, and single component, S-video and composite inputs, the Dream’E connectivity is about average. An RGB input is provided for a PC, but that input only allows up to SXGA resolution, a downer for hard-core PC gamers who want to get the full widescreen HD gaming experience. Two 12V trigger outputs are handy for external motorized controllers. The connection ports run down one side of the cabinet though, and not on the back panel as is usually the case with front projectors.