| 2 | Technical DetailsEpson\"sre-envisioningofitsstalwartProSerieslargevenueprojectorshasresulted inasurprisinglycompact16,000-lumenworkhorsewithanexcellentassortmentof lensesandaninnovativecalibrationcameraformakingedgeblendingandother tasksasnap.16,000-lumenoutputinsmallchassis4KEnhancementviapixel-shiftingNFCforchangingsettingsZeromaintenancedesign9lensesavailableMechanicalShutterand3DimagingOptionalPixAligncamera Thestartofanewgenerationoflargevenueprojectors, Epson\"s EB-PU2216B has downsizedthevenerableProLSerieslinewithoutlimitingitsambitionstofilllecture halls, housesofworshipandlargeconferenceroomswithlarge,brightandvivid images.Itslaserilluminationcomponents combineformorethan16,000lumensof lightwithatriple-chipLCDdesignthatcanshow1920x1200videoorcansimulate4Kimaging.Inotherwords,theEB-PU2216Bcanbeapowerfulwaytolightupa largeroom.Ittakesseveralsteps forwardwithazero-maintenancedesignthatonlyneeds anoccasionaldusting.Theprojector\"snineavailablelensesmakeitadaptabletoawide varietyoflocationsand it\"seasytotransferoperationalsettingstodifferentunitsina fleetwithaphone\"sNearFieldCommunications(NFC)chip.Anotherkey advancementiscompatibilitywithEpson\"soptionalPixAlignELPEC01cameratoaid inedgeblending,geometriccorrectionandeventokeepaneyeontheprojector\"s imageovertime.TherearealsothreeprojectorsinblackcabinetsthataddSDIinputandoutputas wellasamechanicalshutter,whichissaidtobehelpfulforfullyshuttingthelight outputin situation where no idle brightness is permitted.They range from the EB-PU2213B (13,000 lumens) to the EB-PU2220B (20,000 lumens). In between is the EB- PU2216BunitthatIexamined,whichhasatypicalMAPstreetpriceof$27,700 withoutalens.FeaturesA redesign of Epson\"s Pro L Series family of large venue projectors from the pixel up, the platform for the EB-PU2216B has a simpler design and is smaller yet brighterwith an optional calibration camera. Among the most powerful projectors in its class, the EB-PU2216B makes the most of its laser illumination, liquid-cooled components, sealed light path and filter-free cabinet. It will likely make for a zero- maintenance experience for years, maybe decades, to come. Once the projector is installed you might want to clean the case every so often, but that\"s up to you.Asisthecasewithothersinitsfamily,theEB-PU2216BthatIlookedatstartswith Epson\"snew,compactFour-in-Oneminiaturediodelasersthatputoutasteady streamofbluelight.Halfofthelightoutputgoestoaninorganicphosphor wheelto createapowerfulstreamofyellowlightthatpassesthroughapairofdichroicmirrorstosplititintoredandgreencomponents.TheEB-PU2116B\"sred,blueand greenbeamspassthroughindividual1.0-inch LCDpanelsandcometogetheratthe outputlens.Thebluelaser lightengineusesayellowphosphor wheel and dichroicmirrorsto create the red and green componentsof theimage. Itsimagingpanelsnatively create1920x1200WUXGA-resolutionstreamsthatcanbeboosted usingEpson\"s4KEnhancementpixel-shiftingtechnology.Itrapidlyshifts aglassplatetocreatedoubleHDresolutionandcombinesthepixel-shiftwithdetail enhancementprocessingtosimulatea4Kimageonscreen.Ofcourse,asathree- chipprojector,theEB-PU2216offersequalwhiteandcolorbrightnessplusimmunity fromrainbowsthatmostsingle-chipprojectorscan\"tmatch.Inside,thelaserlightsource\"s20,000-hourratingmeansthatitwillneverneeda lampreplacementandcouldpotentiallyoutlastthemajorityofcomputerandAV geararoundit.It\"stheequivalentofnearly13yearsofuseforadutycycleofeight hoursadayand200workdaysayear.TheEB-PU2216B\"ssealedopticsandliquid coolingdon\"trequireadustfilter.Speakingofoptics,theEB-PU2216Bhasninelensesavailableincludingcarryovers fromtheProLera,soifyourinstitutionisupgradingyourexistinglensesmaybe reusable,significantlyreducingacquisitioncost.Theylensprovideagood assortmentofthrow ratios,featuresandpricetocovermostmediumandlarge venues.Inadditiontotheexpected standard,mediumandlongthrow lenseswith motorizedzoom,focusandlensshift,theEXPLX02ultra-shortthrow modelsendsits imageovertheprojector\"sbodywitha0.35throw ratioforthosewithoddlyshaped roomsorlimitedinstallationoptions,likearearprojection.Forthisreview,IusedthemoremainstreamELPLM15middle-zoomlens thatshould workinmostmediumsized venues.Ithasa1.6Xzoomwitha1.57:1to2.56:1 throwratio,andtopsoutatan83-footimage.There\"smoredetailedprojectiondataforthe Epson EB-PU2116Banditsarrayoflensesat Projector Central\"s EB-PU2216B throwcalculator, whereyoucandropineachavailablelensandexploretheoptionsfor screensizeandthrow distance.AlloftheEB-PU2000seriesmodelsfeatureanembeddedNearField Communications(NFC)chipthatallowstheAVmanagerorITdirectortocreatea standardsetupfileforafleetofprojectorsandtransferittoeachprojectorfroma phoneinseconds.WhilethiscanalsobedonewithaUSBflashdrive,theNFC technologyallowsthetransfertotakeplacewiththeprojectorturnedoff,unplugged orevenstillinitsshippingbox,whichmeansmerelyopeningtheflapsonanewfleet projectortotransfersettingspriortomovingittoitsinstallationsite.Justbringthe phoneclose totheNFCtargetontheprojector\"stopandthedataistransferredusing Epson\"sConfiguration Toolapp.There\"ssoftwareforAndroidsaswellasiPhones.Afterthetransfer,theprojectorcanblockanNFCdevicereadingfromorwritingnew datatoit.Someday,allmid-sizedandlargeroomprojectorswillhavethisfeaturebut fornow,justahandful,includingtheEB-PU2000lineandPanasonicPT-RQfamily,do.In addition to helping with color calibration and screen matching, the camera is a big help with geometric corrections for a tiled array and edge blending. It can also just monitor the projector\"s output for consistency. (By contrast, the OptomaZU1700\"s built-in camera can make sure the image is tightly focused and has consistent color.Regardlessofwhichoneyouget,theprojector\"sbackpanelhas agoodassortment ofconnections,withHDMI,DVI-Dandanold-schoolVGAportforusewitha computer.TheEB-PU2216B\"sSDI-outportcanbeusedtosendavideostreamtoa displayinanoverflowroom,podium orcontrolbooth,whiletheaudiooutjackisfor sendingsoundtoanexternalspeakersystem.Meanwhile,theRS-232serialconnectionisforconnectingtheprojectortoawired remote-controlsystem.TheprojectorhasaUSBTypeBportfortransferringsettings totheprojector,whilethetwoUSBTypeAportscanpoweravarietyofitemsand directlyplayimagesandvideofromaflashdrive.There\"sanotherUSBportforthe$75Wi-Fimodulebehindabackdoor.Included isacollection of 18 differenttestpatternstoaid in setup.TheEB-PU2216BhasapairofRJ-45ports,oneforreceivingvideoandcontrol commandsviaHDBaseT.TheotherisastandardgigabitEthernetportfor connectingwiththebuilding\"swirednetworkforremoteoperationsregardlessof whetherit\"sfromaprojectionboothoraremotelocation.Aftertypingtheprojector\"s IPaddressintoabrowserwindow,Ineededtoentertheprojector\"spassword(hint: it\"stheserialnumberprintedontheprojector\"sside).ThemainscreenshowsBasic Control,OSDControlPadandStatusInformationaswellasLensControlandusing theprojector\"sPixAligncamera,ifithasoneinstalled.Theprojectorcanalsowork withEpson\"siProjectionapps.There\"salsoaccess toawidevarietyofactions. Myfavoriteisdisplayingthe18differenttest patterns.Thishelpedmesetitupandoptimizethe imageinrecordtime.Youcandigalittledeeperformanyoftheprojector\"sdetailsintheAdvanced controls,whereyou\"llberewardedwithoptions manyprojectorscandoonlylocallyincluding zooming,focusingandshiftingtheimageright-left aswellasup-down.ThefrontofthecasehasfiveLEDstoshowifthe projectoristurnedon,itsstatus,whetherthelaser isactiveandtowarnofoverheating.Alastlight showsiftheWi-Fimoduleisinstalledandworking. While the projector\"s control panel is a little simplistic with access to the Menu, a four-way control, and source search, its remote control is a workhorse. It is backlit and has everything needed to set up and optimize the projector. This includes buttons for On/Off, Standby and Menu as well as for focus, zoom and shifting the image. As with some other large-venue and installation projectors, its range can beincreasedwitha3.5mmjumpercablepluggedintotheRemotejackontheEB-PU2216B\"sconnection panel.TheEB-PU2216Bhasathree-yearwarranty.ThiscoveragefallsshortofPanasonic\"s fiveyearand20,000hours,butonthepositiveside,Epson placesnolimitsonhow manyhourstheprojector\"slightengineisused.IttooklessthanaminutetoinstalltheELPLM15lensIused,lockitinplaceand replaceitscoverplate,andthelenshasremotezooming,focusingandimage shiftingofamaximumof60%upordownaswellasupto18%rightorleft.Italso haskeystonecorrectionfortiltsupto45degreesverticallyand30degrees horizontally.Correctingfora15-degreetiltreducedtheprojector\"soutputby10.7%, whichislessbrightnessloss thanwe\"veseeninsomeotherprojectors.Epson\"smenuisstraightforwardbuthaslotsofdetailedoptionsbelowthesurface. Forinstance,theEB-PU2216Bcanalsoberuninsplitscreenmode,displayingtwo videostreamsatonceinavarietyofformats.It\"sworthatleastskimmingthe330- pagemanualtogetsomesenseofthemanyfeaturesandoptions.Itwasasnaptogetaperfectly rectangularimagebyusingEpson\"sQuick Corner routineforpullinginorpushingouteachcorneruntiltheimageisjustright.TheEB- PU2216Bcanalsocorrectforacurvedscreenandcornerwallprojectionaswellas performseveralimagingtricksthatrangefromFrameInterpolationwiththreelevels tonoisereductiontotheabilitytofixasmallscreendefect usingtheprojector\"s PointCorrection. Asmentioned,theprojector\"s4KEnhancementcanmimic a4Kstreamwithastable andsharpimage.Onthedownside,activating4KEnhancementautomatically deactivatessomekeyfeatureslikeFrameInterpolation,NoiseReduction, EdgeBlendingandCornerWallprojection withtheabilitytoadjustthecolortemperaturein100Kincrementsfrom3,200Kto10,000K,theEB-PU2216Bcanbesetupfortherightlookbasedonambientlightand what\"sbeing shown.TheprojectorhassixColorModesthatcorrespond toavariety ofcontenttypes.Manyparameters,likeBrightness,Contrast,Sharpness,Color SaturationandTintcanbeindividuallyadjusted ofthesixColorModes, themostpowerfulwasDynamic,whichoveremphasizesthe greenportionofthespectrumformaximumoutputasistypicalofmostprojectors. Butit\"sgoodenoughforblastingbusinessoreducationalgraphicsontothescreen andImeasured16,714ANSIlumensatitsdisposal.ThePresentationmodesacrificessomebrightnessforabettercolorbalance.This modedelivered13,070lumensoflight. It\"sstilla bitgarishforanythingmorethan spreadsheetsandgraphicswouldn\"tquitedoforthevideofeedofa church\"schoiror anarthistoryclass.However,ifprojectingmoviesandphotographyarethegoal,theNaturalandCinema modesareexcellentchoices.There\"salotlessgreenintheimageandawarmer overallappearance.Theyprovided12,630and12,530lumensoflight,respectively.IfyouusetheBT709setting,you\"llgetneutralcolorbalancethat\"smodeledonthe HDTVtelevisionstandard.Itdelivered12,610measuredlumens.TheDicomSim modeforshowingmedicalscans(educationalpurposesonly;notdiagnosis)was goodfor12,450lumens.TherewasalsoaMulti-Screenmodeforcreatingaprojector arraywithitsusageof909.4watts,theEB-PU2216Biscomparablefromapower perspectivetoatwo-slicetoaster.Atidletheprojectoruses2.2watts,addingupto anestimatedannualpowerbillof$206ifit\"susedfor8hoursadayfor200daysout oftheyearandyourorganizationpaysthenationalaverageof14centsperkilowatt hourofelectricity. Helpedbyaquartetofcoolingfans,theprojector\"sexhaustventhitatemperatureof110-degreesFahrenheit.UsingtheDynamicmode,theEB-PU-2216Bwasalso amongthemostboisterous,measuring46.2dBAofnoiseinmycasual measurementtaken36inchesfromtheexhaustventinaroomwith34.5dBA backgroundnoise. Thisisloud,butalargevenueprojectorlikethiswilllikelybefar enoughawayfromanyparticipantsthattheywon\"tevennoticeit.Epson ratesthe EB-PU2216B\"sfannoiseatbetween34and38dBdependingonmodeusingthe industrystandardmeasurementthataveragessoundfromallsidesinasoundproof room.TheEB-PU2216Bhastwowaystoreducetheprojectorelectricityusageandcarbon emissions.TheQuietmodelowersthedevicesthirstforelectricityby37%while loweringitsoutputby29%andmymeasurednoiselevelto42.5dBA.Plus,the brightnesslevelcanbeadjustedin1%increments,loweringitsbrightness,power useandnoiselevelcorrespondingly.ConclusionWith theabilitytoblastascreenwithmorethan16,000lumenswhileneverneeding alampchangeordustfilter,theEpsonEB-PU2216Blivesuptotheidealofazero- maintenancelargevenueprojector.Perfect forhanginginthemiddleofan auditorium,houseofworship,oraschool\"slecturehall,theEB-PU2216Bhasnine lenses availableandfeaturesnotfoundonsometopcompetitors.Theseinclude theabilitytomimic 4KresolutionfromanativeWUXGAprojectorwithEpson\"spixel shifting4KEnhancementtechnology,aNearFieldCommunications(NFC)targetto sendorreceivesettingsdatawithaphone,andtheoptiontoconnect wirelesslyusingtheaccessoryWi-Fimodule. Notably,thePixAligncameraoption,whichcanbe cleanlyintegratedintothechassis,providesastrongassistforsettingupand monitoringmulti-projectorinstallations.AtitsmostcommoncurrentMAPpriceof$27,700beforeanyadditionaldiscounting, theEB-PU2216Bcostsabitmoretodaythantheprimary3LCDcompetition,Panasonic\"s PT-MZ16KLseries.Butitsharesasimilarlycompactand lightweightformfactor,andtheEpson\"sattractiveandloadedfeaturesetaresureto winfans,especiallyamongfacilitieswhopreviouslyfavoredtheProLSeriesandare nowlookingtostepuptoa16,000-lumenprojectorthatrunsona120-voltoutletandusestheirexistinglenses.EpsonEB-PU2216ANSILumensZoom Lens Light Loss. From the widest to maximum zoom, the EB-PU2216B with anEPLM15 lens lost 28.7 percent of its light output.BrightnessUniformity.With theEPLM15lens,theEB-PU2216Bhadabrightness uniformityof89.6percent. FanNoise. Epson ratestheEB-PU2216B\"sfannoiseat38dBAusingtheindustry- standardmeasurementthataveragesnoisefromaroundtheprojectorinasound- proofchamber.Inourtestingitwasontheloudside,withitsfourfanspouringout46.2dBA inDynamicmodeasmeasured36-inchesfromtheexhaustvent.Thetestlabhadabackgroundnoiselevelof34.5dBA.ConnectionsHDMI2.0withHDCP2.3ComputerRGBin(15-pinD-Sub)DVI-DRS-232CSerialPortUSB(x2, TypeA,foraccessorypowerandflashdrivedata)USB(TypeBforconnectiontoacomputer)Wired LAN(RJ-45)HDBaseT(RJ-45)Audioin(3.5mm)3G-SDIin/outRemoteControlextension(3.5mm) |
