Three. Two. The One.

Aptly named after the mythological Greek sun god, the helios is outfitted with not one but two 330-watt UHP lamps. These can be operated in single- or dual-lamp modes according to light output requirements.

This flexibility affords a wide range of installation and usage options, including the ability to have the projector put out a sufficiently bright image that allows daytime viewing in a high ambient light environment or dropping light output by half or more for nighttime viewing.

The helios is designed to appeal to both high-end home theater system owners and those in a professional studio environment that are looking for a top-flight projector for critical viewing in a screening room. The projector comes without a lens installed, and users can choose from five different lens options for various throw distances over a wide range.

The lenses themselves are elaborate affairs that feature internally motorized optics, which include focus, zoom along with horizontal and vertical lens shift. Installing the lens is literally a snap, as the system features a turn-and-click style mounting system that’s very much akin to mounting a lens to an SLR camera body. The projector features ten optical memory settings.

Around back, the extensive input panel features a full set of operating controls along with a five-inch LCD screen to aid in setup. There are input connections for virtually every type of signal, analog and digital. Of interest to professional users is the inclusion of two X-Port expansion card slots that allow expanded connectivity (one optional X-Port card allows high-definition serial digital input, for example).

The dual lamp configuration allows a number of usage options. The helios can be configured to run both lamps for maximum brightness, or single-lamp operation for reduced light output. There’s also a provision for automatic lamp switchover in single lamp mode if one lamp fails. As with other projectors that feature UHP-type lamps, the projector offers standard and economy lamp modes. The optics also features a motorized iris that further adds to the light output adjustment capabilities.

The three-chip, 1080p DLP optical imaging engine is their design, and the helios features an internal optical filter that can be engaged to expand the set’s color gamut to beyond that of the HDTV standard (a small drop in brightness accompanies this expanded color gamut choice). The optical filter option will be especially useful for video professionals looking to monitor a DCI-based source, as that standard features a wider color gamut than the HDTV specification calls for.

projectiondesign’s affable Dan Miller coached me through the calibration procedure over the phone. Ordinarily, calibrating a projector of this caliber would take two to three hours. Not so now, he pointed out, as the helios features self-calibration. The projector is factory-calibrated to the D65 color temperature standard, but each brand and type of front projection screen material may vary somewhat in the characteristics of the reflected image, so a calibration at installation is a must (which is true for any front projection setup).

I took measurements of white, red, green and blue test patterns, and noted the color analyzer’s X and Y coordinates for each. I entered the measured values into the setup menu’s color coordinates screen and then switched the projector into coordinated color mode.

The whole process took barely two minutes, and a re-measurement of the set’s critical color, grayscale and gamma characteristics showed absolutely perfect results—by far the best I’ve ever measured, and absolutely spot-on in matching the HDTV technical standard in all respects.

As you would expect from a projector running dual 330 watt-ers, light output is prodigious when both are running full toot.

According to my measurements and calculations, the projector is capable of filling a 25-foot diagonal screen, with my results matching exactly the company’s claim of 12 foot-Lamberts for a screen that big.

Running in single lamp mode, the light output drops predictably by half, and running in the economy mode drops the light output by the customary 20 percent (UHP lamps have a limited dimming range—if they’re driven at less than 80 percent of full output, their lifespan decreases alarmingly).

With the adjustable iris in play, the projector’s wide range of light output options means it can be mated with just about any screen size and material type.

The projector features the requisite vertical stretch picture mode for external anamorphic lens capability for true widescreen movie viewing on a 2.40:1 screen. projectiondesign offers dealers a pre-assembled kit consisting of an Isco 3  anamorphic lens pre-mounted to a motorized sled, with both attached to a custom mounting plate designed for quick and easy installation in the field. There are two 12-volt trigger outputs on the projector's back panel for external lens and screen control. The helios’s optical memory settings, mentioned earlier, allow the user to zoom the picture in and out to match a particular movie’s aspect ratio to the screen.

After marveling at the helio's measurements, I wasn’t at all surprised that the picture quality with actual video material was excellent. There were natural, believable skin tones, lush color and incredible detail. The helios incorporates Philips’ VIDI technology, which modulates the lamps’ pulse rate at incredibly high speed to match the timing of the DLP chips’ micro-mirrors for optimum color clarity. The video processor is also a highly competent performer (it’s a Pixelworks 9800 chip). It easily handled a tough 1080i deinterlacing torture test with aplomb, producing a smooth, jaggie-free result.

My only quibble with the helios concerns the unit’s internal fans—one of which stays on at a low speed when the unit is in standby mode, and is clearly audible in a quiet room. The internal memory won't be deleted if you unplug the unit. So after the main fans cool the lamps, you can cut power to the helios via a line conditioner or other method without fear of losing your calibration and settings.

Overall, this is an absolutely first-rate front projector with tremendous operational flexibility. The helios is targeted toward deluxe home theaters and professional studio screening rooms. With its incredibly accurate 1080p picture quality and control versatility, it is sure to please both types of users. The helios's ability to put out a prodigiously bright image will appeal to those with home theaters that aren’t light-controlled, or to those who want a projector that can fill a truly enormous screen.

Highly recommended.

            
PRICE:  
helios: $69,995
Lens: $4,800 – $7,600
Isco 3 lens/sled/plate setup: $12,995 (optional)

CONTACT: 888.588.1024, projectiondesign.com