Acer Announces World’s Smallest 4K UHD Laser Projector

Acer America has announced a new premium home theater projector, the VL7860. The company claims the 4K UHD 3,000 lumens laser projector is the world’s smallest of its kind, allowing an ‘intensely sharp’ 120-inch display with 8.3 megapixels on-screen, and will retail for $3,999.00 in the US.

Contrast is rated at 1,500,000:1 and is supported by ‘DynamicBlack’, where lamp power is adjusted to optimum black levels. With HDR compatibility, the VL7860 shows colors ‘as they truly are’, while the PJ reproduces a broader range of luminosity, contrast and brightness, according to Acer. The unit will also adjust bright scenes to illuminate important details and preserve rich blacks typically hidden in the shadows of darker images.

The VL7860 eliminates deviation of color reproduction through the implementation of sRGB, and supports a color gamut of 110% of Rec. 709 color space, and is Rec. 2020 compatible for ‘highly accurate, cinema-like colors’. An onboard frame interpolation system, known as ‘AcuMotion’ smooths out fast-moving scenes by generating intermediate frames for ‘seemless motion’.

As is the trend with many compact projectors in this class, two small built-in 5W speakers provide audio, and combined with the included 1.6x zoom lens and vertical lens shift, there are clearly options for flexibility of placement within any room in the home. The zoom range will promote throw distances of between 3.3ft and 30.5ft. A professional ISFccc (certified calibration controls) mode means color and brightness can be optimized for each chosen environment, while the unit also boasts two HDMI ports – one with 4K/UHD and MHL charging for devices – as well as a VGA port.

Of course, one of the key attributes of the VL7680 is its laser light source, negating the need to replace with expensive mercury-based lamps, and the onboard ECO mode should ensure extended lamp life up to 30,000 hours.

“Ultra high-definition projection offers the ultimate home theater experience,” said Ronald Lau, Acer American director – stationary products. “Combined with a compact design that provides flexibility in placement options and dynamic 10W audio, the Acer VL7860 will delight even the most discriminating customers.”

The Acer VL7860 includes a limited one-year parts and labor warranty.

 

 

 

Martin, a seasoned journalist and AV expert, has written for several notable print magazines. He’s served in key roles at Lucasfilm’s THX Division, NEC’s digital cinema division, and has even consulted for DreamWorks. Despite his illustrious career, Martin remains rooted in his passion for cinema and acting, with notable appearances in several Spielberg films, Doctor Who, and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. He currently resides in San Francisco.

Post Disclaimer

Some of our content may contain marketing links, which means we will receive a commission for purchases made via those links. In our editorial content, these affiliate links appear automatically, and our editorial teams are not influenced by our affiliate partnerships. We work with several providers (currently Skimlinks and Amazon) to manage our affiliate relationships. You can find out more about their services by visiting their sites.

Share this post:

View thread (14 replies)

Alberto_D

BANNED
Joined
Jan 24, 2006
Messages
215
Exactly. You can develop a monoplane with foldable wings that can be placed in a home's garage. But you still would need a airport's track to take off.
If they create a portable 4K, almost like fill in a pocked, it would still need a huge projection screen or a huge flat white wall. And a powerfull bright lamp in a small projector could be dangerous if someone look direct to it.

This price it's way too high.

These PJ manufacturers continue to be clueless. Size isn't a consideration for anyone. Shift and zoom are.
 

Edwin-S

Premium
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2000
Messages
10,000
These PJ manufacturers continue to be clueless. Size isn't a consideration for anyone. Shift and zoom are.

I'm pretty sure there are people with rooms where the size of the projector is a consideration. Also the article stated that the PJ had a zoom function and vertical lens shift; however, there was nothing about horizontal shift or keystone correction.
 

Sam Posten

Moderator
Premium
HW Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Oct 30, 1997
Messages
33,675
Location
Aberdeen, MD & Navesink, NJ
Real Name
Sam Posten
There are NO rooms where the difference in size between this model and any of ACER's other projectors make or break your install.

There are TONS of rooms where light output, contrast, vertical AND horizontal shift, zoom ratio, noise, heat, and even UI would make or break things.
 

Josh Steinberg

Premium
Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2003
Messages
26,274
Real Name
Josh Steinberg
That may be true, but if the laser element is designed in such a way that it's just not possible for it to be moved horizontally within the device, what else is Acer gonna do except minimize the impact of that while promoting the other positives?

As I recall, DLP projectors also offer extremely limited lens shift compared to comparable LCD models.

If the same ends up being typical of home laser projection, it may be a limitation of that particular technology.
 

CraigF

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2002
Messages
3,117
Location
Toronto area, Canada
Real Name
Craig
...noise, heat...

Yes, all important, but these two are a killer for me. For instance, I'd want to make sure smaller size isn't counteracted by a (much) louder fan. Probably isn't, since theoretically the laser should/could be much more efficient than a bulb, so less heat to remove from the case and exhaust from the room.
 

Sam Posten

Moderator
Premium
HW Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Oct 30, 1997
Messages
33,675
Location
Aberdeen, MD & Navesink, NJ
Real Name
Sam Posten
what else is Acer gonna do except minimize the impact of that while promoting the other positives?

That's in the realm of "not my problem" =) I'll echo Craig that it may be a net negative to design where minimizing size is a goal. Just cause Apple pushes slimness doesn't mean small size is a key benefit for every product. It's got negatives for Apple too!

Reminder: Design isn't what something looks like. Design is how it works.
'Most people make the mistake of thinking design is what it looks like,'' says Steve Jobs, Apple's C.E.O. ''People think it's this veneer -- that the designers are handed this box and told, 'Make it look good!' That's not what we think design is. It's not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.''
 

CraigF

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2002
Messages
3,117
Location
Toronto area, Canada
Real Name
Craig
[Remember the days when a bragging point was how small your cellphone was? Never mind about using it.]

I find the inclusion of built-in audio very odd. The "trend". I'm not sure I see the scenario when somebody who goes to the "trouble" of using a PJ would also want to use this feature. I do see it being beneficial or at least vaguely/possibly useful for Powerpoint presentations, or some other kind of portable use. "Dynamic 10W audio"..."discriminating customers"...I'm not getting this relationship. The cynic in me first thought it's to cover up the fan noise...but maybe somebody else can explain why you would want built-in speakers for any typical scenario for a $4k PJ.
 

Josh Steinberg

Premium
Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2003
Messages
26,274
Real Name
Josh Steinberg
I'm not saying it should be your problem, I'm just saying that until there are more of these units from different manufacturers available, we simply don't know at this point if the features you're missing in this model aren't there because Acer is cutting corners and/or doesn't think they're valued, or if its because it's not technically possible to include them.
 

Sam Posten

Moderator
Premium
HW Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Oct 30, 1997
Messages
33,675
Location
Aberdeen, MD & Navesink, NJ
Real Name
Sam Posten
The bottom line is no matter my tastes I -can’t- make these units work because of their lack of shift. Honestly I have no idea how anyone with fixed screens can make these units work and be anything close to precise with their placement.
 

DaveF

Moderator
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2001
Messages
28,687
Location
Catfisch Cinema
Real Name
Dave
I take optimism from this model: laser engine UHD for $4000. Other laser projectors are $15,000+ like the Sony 885. It’s not perfect, but it suggests what’s possible and coming. :)
 

Edwin-S

Premium
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2000
Messages
10,000
The bottom line is no matter my tastes I -can’t- make these units work because of their lack of shift. Honestly I have no idea how anyone with fixed screens can make these units work and be anything close to precise with their placement.

The Projector looks like it can be vertically shifted as long as some care is taken with the horizontal alignment.
 

Sam Posten

Moderator
Premium
HW Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Oct 30, 1997
Messages
33,675
Location
Aberdeen, MD & Navesink, NJ
Real Name
Sam Posten
The Projector looks like it can be vertically shifted as long as some care is taken with the horizontal alignment.

And that's no good for me. My mount is screwed in to the rafters to ensure safety, off axis from the screen. I MUST have both horizontal and vertical shift.
 

ArnoldLayne

Premium
Joined
Aug 13, 2013
Messages
262
Real Name
Chris
The Projector looks like it can be vertically shifted as long as some care is taken with the horizontal alignment.

And that's no good for me. My mount is screwed in to the rafters to ensure safety, off axis from the screen. I MUST have both horizontal and vertical shift.
When a studion announces a new release, you're the guy who asks for something else, right?
 
Most Popular