Seductive. Involving. Lush. Realistic. Amazing. Seamless Filmlike. These are some of the words used to describe the image projected by our newest video projector, the Marantz VP-15S1L projector. A few moments spent looking at the picture are all it takes. With over 2 megapixels displayed (1920 x 1080), this projector has been six years in development and represents our best performance vs price ever.
Starting with the die-cast aluminum chassis of the VP-12 series, coupled with the latest in custom fully sealed 13 element all-glass optics from Konica-Minolta, we add customized color filters optimized to match the spectral characteristics of the industry’s only 200 Watt DC SuperHighPressure lamp assembly. This assures that not only will the picture be razor sharp and evenly illuminated and focused from edge to edge, but the colors will be accurate, pure and fully saturated for breathtaking realism. Three Dimensional. Crisp. Relaxing. In addition to having new color filters in the color wheel, it now spins at 9,000 RPM which correlates to a color frame rate of 5x, making color breakup (rainbow effect or RBE) a thing of the past. A wheel spinning that fast would be noisy, if it weren’t for the Fluid Dynamic Bearing motor, borrowed from Hard Disc Drive (HDD) technology, for silent and reliable operation.
Detailed. Sharp. Accurate. All of the resolution in the world won’t do any good if the video processing isn’t up to the task. As a matter of fact, super high resolution can hurt the image if the processor isn’t great. With that in mind, we are using the latest processing algorithms from Gennum in their latest release, the GF9351. This is a completely programmable video processor that can do calculations on the order of 500 million floating point operations per second! This processor will take any input and deinterlace it if necessary and scale the output to match the exact characteristics of the panel. This processor if sold by itself would have been well above $30k just a few short years ago.
Simple. Flexible. Reliable. We haven’t forgotten that this projector has to be able to work in many different setups. There are two lens options, four optional anamorphic solutions for 2.35:1 viewing, a mechanical lens shift that allows mounting above the screen, full RS-232C control and more. And with a 3 year warranty you can be assured that it’s still a Marantz.
A few minutes watching the picture from the Marabrz VP-15S1L and you will forget that you are watching a Home Theater Digital Projector.
Fall in love with the movies all over again. The VP-15S1L projector from Marantz.
Marantz VP-15S1L Projector Features
Marantz's 1080p DLP® Projector with never before seen performance at this price.
1-chip DLP® Projector
HDMI 1.3a inputs with Deep Color™ capability
.95" 1080p DLP®
Three iris positions by Dual iris optical engine
Vertical Stretch (for use with optional 2.35:1 anamorphic lens kits)
Saul Marantz founded the company that bore his name in the early 1950s to build high fidelity components. Working with such audio engineers as Sidney Smith and Richard Sequerra, Marantz constructed a series of vacuum-tube components that became yardsticks for the hi-fi industry. With the advent of transistor technology in the early 1960s, Marantz and his associates developed the landmark Model 18 receiver, the first example of a receiver combined with a preamplifier, power amplifier and tuner in one box. In 1964, he sold the company to Superscope, but remained with Marantz as president until 1968.
To continue the story, it is necessary to back track a bit, as it relates to Marantz' acquisition by Superscope. The Standard Radio Corporation was established in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan in 1953 manufacturing portable radios. In 1959 the company started manufacturing tape recorders. A new factory was built in Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan in 1959 and this became the company's headquarters. In 1962 the company started manufacturing phonographs. With the acquisition of Marantz by Superscope in 1964, manufacturing of Marantz components gradually shifted to Japan, but design engineering remained in America for the time being.
In 1971, Standard Radio Corporation received third-party capitalization from Superscope of the U.S.A. In March of 1975, SRC changed its name to Marantz Japan, Inc. Superscope of the U.S.A. sold its shares of Marantz Japan to Philips of the Netherlands in 1980. Marantz manufactured its first Compact Disc player starting in 1982. Much if the Philips European design engineering made its way into the Marantz line of products, and the Marantz compact disc was one of the first proofs of this. Numerous improvements were made to the Sagamihara factory in the late 1980s. The magnificent PM-94 and PM-84 were manufactured at this time. These were a distinct break with the Philips-influenced integrated amplifiers of the mid-1980s, and a successful attempt at recapturing the legendary design and engineering that Marantz had become famous for.
In the late 1990s, Marantz reissued the legendary Model 7, 8 and 9 tube components and these were eagerly scooped up by audiophile collectors. These components were, in fact, engineered and manufactured by hand by the Valve Amplification Company of Durham, North Carolina. ( VAC is now located in Florida).
Then, in May of 2001, Marantz Japan, Inc. acquired the Marantz brand and its business in Europe and the USA from Philips. The company established Marantz divisions in the Netherlands, Germany, France and England. Marantz America, Inc. was organized in Los Angeles; the American division of Marantz had been headquartered in California for years. However, the offices were later moved to Itasca, Illinois. In 2002, Marantz merged with Denon and established a joint holding company, D & M Holdings, Inc. The Marantz and Denon product lines will remain separate and distinct.
