We have a new kid on the block and that's none other than the InFocus Play Big IN82, the US company's first 1080p home theater projector in Asia. Unlike its previous flagship SP777 "turtle", this has a single-chip design built around a more capable Texas Instrument DarkChip3 DLP engine. Resolution upgrade aside, InFocus has also adopted new styling for this series. While we wouldn't say it's better than the previous design, the IN82 is still pretty much the only entry in its class featuring an integrated swivel stand and torchlight-equipped remote. These are some old tricks inherited from the previous lineup which may not be sufficient to offset its late entry.

Pros

When it comes to true cinematic experience, nothing rivals the larger-than-life effects of a big screen. Now we are taking about 80-inch and above screen size where a high-resolution projector truly shines. Pixel-to-pixel compatible with HD-DVD, Blu-ray and HDTV broadcasts, the IN82 is future-proofed with a 1,920 x 1,080 native resolution. This is adequately matched by an industry-leading combination of 12,000:1 dynamic contrast and 1,500 ANSI lumens brightness. This is in addition to the trademark inky blacks commonly associated with the DLP offerings.

Connectivity-wise, there are a Deep Color-ready HDMI 1.3 terminal and its proprietary M1-DA socket. The latter is hardly found on any other brand's A/V equipment, though a corresponding HDMI adapter is bundled for the user's convenience. If you own older decks or an original Xbox 360, there is also a set of analog component-video sockets as backup. Furthermore, all three jacks have extensive 1080p input signal support. These include the standard 50 and 60Hz flavors, as well as film-centric 24Hz variant which eliminates redundant film-rate conversion and motion judder.

As with its 720p IN78, InFocus is throwing in Imaging Science Foundation Certified Calibration Configuration or ISF 3C for the IN82. An exclusive feature usually reserved for high-end products, it opens up professional calibration which bridges the color discrepancy of standard out-of-the-box factory settings. This typically hidden menu is accessible only by certified ISF technicians and professional-grade video calibrators. Day and Night presets will be created corresponding to the lighting compensating during the two different periods of the day.

Cons

We can't help but feel a bit disappointed by the new look of the IN82. There are still ample curves to go around, though the front has a one-eyed robotic look that doesn't work for some of us. Onto something more tangible, the 1.2x zoom factor may be a potential bottleneck for those with space constraints. It requires a minimal 4.1m throw distance to project a sizeable 100-inch display. This is well over a meter longer than the range of an Epson EMP-TW1000 and other LCD models. That said, such a low-power zoom is a norm for most current DLP projectors.

Bottomline

The US projector specialist has finally caught up with its Taiwanese and Japanese competitors by releasing the S$9,999 (US$6,578.96) Play Big IN82. However, at such high pricing, it will tough for the company to recapture lost ground. To make matters worse, newer models such as the BenQ W20000 are looming on the horizon. The W20000 delivers 20,000:1 dynamic contrast and is rumored to be equipped with the upcoming DarkChip4 engine. If you can't wait and have a shoestring budget, there's always the affordable Optoma HD80 going for slightly over S$5,000 (US$3,289.98).