Audio Video News

SIM2 USA, Inc. has announced the addition of a second generation remote "DigiOptic" Image Processor (DOIP) to the new HT300 LINK DLP front projector to provide greater installation flexibility and a wider choice of inputs. The advanced technical solution is said to provide quality connections to video sources up to 1600 feet away.

The Grand Cinema HT300 LINK is SIM2's flagship DLP (digital light processing) high definition projector. SIM2 claims the projector delivers "remarkable color fidelity, sharp details and superb picture quality, unlike that of any other single-chip DLP projector currently available." As a new standard, the HT300 LINK is equipped with an enhanced, six-segment color wheel—"a high-performance, low-noise wheel that reduces noise upwards of 50% over previous Grand Cinema line models. The projector's sealed optical design and zoom lens help it deliver rich, vibrant colors, the Miramar, FL–based company claims.

The HT300 LINK uses fiber optic cabling to allow for one connection from SIM2's proprietary new DOIP to the projector. The rack-mountable DOIP features a wide choice of inputs (including HDMITM-HDCP) and can be connected through a single fiber optic cable, coupled with a system of three high-speed laser beams, to the projector for a loss-free and interference-free signal at a distance of up to 1600 feet away. The thin fiber optic cable can be run through the wall and hidden easily for a seamless installation.

The HT300 LINK utilizes the new Texas Instruments HD2+ chip set, allowing it to deliver a high definition resolution of 1280 x 720 and micromirror tilting angle of 12°. The new HD2+ chip, improved color wheel and light engine allow the SIM2 HT300 LINK to reach a true contrast ratio of better than 2800:1, the company states. SIM2 has further improved the black level by 28% and added a brightness burst function which increases the brightness up to 15%. On-board second generation DCDi, powered by Faroudja, applies video enhancement and motion adaptive deinterlacing to prevent the introduction of motion artifacts and jagged edges from video signals that originated from video cameras. The DCDi also features patented 3/2 pull-down with advanced edit detection for exact reconstruction of the original film frame.

The addition of the advanced DOIP should vastly improve and expand installation options for the projector. The HT300 LINK also has DVI inputs for "future proof connectivity and perfect picture reproduction." By the end of the year, users will be able to request IEEE1394 ("Firewire") digital input on the DOIP, according to a September 26 announcement.

Also new from SIM2 is the HT300 XTRA, also featuring Texas Instruments HD2+ chip set. The HT300 XTRA delivers a high definition resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels that coupled with the further improved color wheel and light engine, allows the projector to reach a true contrast ratio of better than 2800:1. The HT300 XTRA features all the properties of the HT300 LINK, with the exception of the DigiOptic Image Processor connected via fiber optics, and omits the HDMITM input. The projector does have a DVI input "for true digital connectivity."

The $14,995 HT300 LINK and the $11,995 HT300 LINK XTRA are available in gun metal gray, burgundy, and shiny silver. SIM2 USA has been in the US home theater market since 1999, under the guidance of parent company SIM2 Multimedia.