Planar PD7060

Color temperature (User Mode, 7500K Color Temperature before/User Mode, Custom Color Temperature after calibration):
20 IRE: 6,659 / 6,796 K
30 IRE: 6,478 / 6,446 K
40 IRE: 6,380 / 6,625 K
50 IRE: 6,093 / 6,515 K
60 IRE: 6,111 / 6,683 K
70 IRE: 5,941 / 6,435 K
80 IRE: 6,022 / 6,460 K
90 IRE: 6,143 / 6,589 K
100 IRE: 6,094 / 6,602 K

Brightness (Eco Lamp mode, 100-IRE window before/after calibration): 14.7 / 16.0 ftL

Primary Color Point Accuracy vs. SMPTE HD Standard

With the Planar's 7500K Color Temperature preset (the most accurate preset choice) selected, its grayscale tracked within ±559 degrees kelvin of the 6,500-K standard from 20 to 100 IRE — a below-average performance level. Adjustments to the red, green, and blue Gain and Offset settings in the projector's User color-temperature menu removed the reddish grayscale tint, resulting in an improved ±296-K grayscale tracking from 20 to 100 IRE. Color decoder tests showed +5% blue error via the HDMI input and -5% green error via component-video. The projector's red and green primary color points, meanwhile, both displayed a degree of oversaturation relative to the SMPTE HD specification.

Overscan — the amount of picture area cut off at the edges of the display area — measured 0% for 720p signals with the Overscan option set to Off and 8% with the Zoom option switched on. The PD7060 displayed 720p test patterns with full resolution via its HDMI and component-video inputs. Screen uniformity was excellent. The Planar failed the video- and film-mode deinterlacing tests on a high-def Silicon Optix HQV test disc, indicating problems with downconversion of 1080i-format signals to the projector's native 720p resolution. I also experienced frequent incidences of lost HDMI handshake — an HDMI-related issue where the picture drops out and electronic "snow" fills the screen.

The projector's post-calibration brightness was very good for dark-room viewing on an 87-inch wide, 100-inch diagonal screen. Turning on the projector's Normal and Boost lamp modes yielded even better brightness but also increased fan noise considerably. The Planar's full-on/full-off contrast ratio measured 800:1 — underwhelming performance given the projector's comparatively high price.

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