Leica, the Germany company that’s best known for its camera lenses but also dabbles in luxury projectors, has just announced the availability of an even more luxurious version of its flagship Cine Play 1 model.
The upgraded model is called the Leica Cine Play 1 Plus, and it offers a significant boost in terms of contrast and brightness, promising to “transform a wide variety of locations into a private cinema.”
The new 4K smart projector offers a peak brightness of 4,200 ANSI lumens, up from just 3,000 ANSI lumens on the original model. It also boosts the native contrast ratio from 1,500:1 to 2,000:1, with the result being that you’ll get a “bright, high-contrast display even in ambient light,” and much more "detailed reproduction of dark areas.”
Leica said the Cine Play 1 Plus features a triple RGB laser system that’s paired with its proprietary image-processing technology. You’ll also find an integrated sound system that offers support for both Dolby Digital and DTS Virtual:X, enabling “spatial sound reproduction,” even if Dolby Atmos isn’t supported. In terms of image formats, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and HLG are all on board.
The device runs the Vidaa OS operating system developed by Hisense, which provides access to all of the major streaming applications. Additional content can be served up by pairing a smartphone through Bluetooth or Apple AirPlay 2.
You’ll also get a nice bag of tricks in terms of automated setup features. For instance, the Cine Play 1 Plus comes with automatic image alignment and focus adjustment tools that will quickly ensure a “perfectly aligned image in a matter of seconds.” The projector has a built-in gimbal stand to enable projection at different angles, too.
Leica is a brand that’s known for building classy products, and the Leica Cine Play 1 Plus lives up to that reputation in terms of its looks. It’s based on a Bauhaus-inspired aesthetic and comes in an aluminium casing on all sides except for the glass front where the lens lives.
If you decide to buy one, you may want to throw in the optional Leica Floor Stand 1, which boasts an integrated “pin-contact system” that allows power to be supplied without visible cables, but it’ll cost an extra £370.
If you're wondering why that optional stand seems so expensive, it’s because the Leica Cine Play 1 Plus itself is an extremely costly gadget. Just like Leica’s cameras, which are considered among the best that money can buy with price tags to match that status, so too are its projectors. Leica won’t give you one for anything less than £2,550. It’s on sale now in the U.K. and Europe, and will also be sold in Australia soon. The company didn’t say anything about U.S. availability, though.
If you’re looking for something a little less expensive, Leica also sells the Leica Cine Compact 1, which debuted earlier this year priced at £1,499, though you’ll have to sacrifice a bit in terms of brightness, contrast and sound volume.
