SIM2's New 3-Chip DLP
By Thomas J. Norton July 31, 2005 — The first projector in SIM2's new Multimedia Grand Cinema C3X series was demonstrated to the press last week at the Italian Trade Council's New York City headquarters. SIM2 invested $5 million developing the new C3X projector. The few 3-chip DLP designs that have been introduced to the consumer market so far are large, heavy, and expensive. SIM2 appears to have solved the large and heavy issues. At a svelte 19 pounds, the C3X is not much more massive than the company's 1-chip models, and only about twice their compact size.

Inside the projector's beautifully sculpted case (the styling immediately reveals its Italian origin) are three of Texas Instruments' latest 1280x720 HD2+ Digital Micromirror Devices with DarkChip3 enhancements. These DMDs form the heart of an entirely new ALPHA Path light engine, which not only makes the projector's small size possible with its folded shape, but it's also said to help achieve the impressive contrast ratio of 6500:1. The projector's nominal light output is 2500 lumens, and a low-power mode reduces this to 2000 lumens for smaller or higher-gain screens. Two lenses will be available initially: 1.5x-2.0x and a longer throw 2x-3x.

At a price of $19,995 (including lens), the Grand Cinema C3X is tied with the InFocus ScreenPlay 777 (following its recent price cut to $19,999 with the standard lens) as the least expensive 3-chip DLP on the market.

The initial C3X model, which should be available by September, will not include the company's LINK feature, which provides a long, fiber-optic connection between the projector and SIM2's external DigiOptic Image Processor. All the inputs to this C3X model are on the projector itself. Another Grand Cinema C3X model, with LINK capability, will be released late in 2005.