Casio Signature XJ-M145

Casio Signature XJ-M145

The Casio Signature XJ-M145 ($1,199.99 direct) and other projectors in Casio's new Signature projector line use the same long-lasting hybrid LED/laser light source as the Casio Green Slim XJ-A145U ($999.99 direct) and a few closely related models. Not only does the light source essentially last for the life of the projector, it's also mercury free. The XJ-M145 is larger and pricier than the Green Slim, but provides a few flourishes that the XJ-A145U lacks. The XJ-M145's light source is rated at 2,500 lumens and has XGA (1,024 by 768) native resolution. Instead of producing red, green, and blue using a standard lamp and a color wheel, it produces red with LEDs, blue with lasers, and green by shining the blue laser light on a phosphor. Its optical system directs the red, green, and blue light to the DLP chip, and out the front lens. One of the key advantages of the hybrid light source is its whopping 20,000-hour expected lifetime—long enough to run the projector eight hours a day every business day for 10 years. The lifetime of standard lamps typically ranges from 2,000 to 5,000 hours, and bulbs can cost several hundred dollars to replace. Size and Connectivity The XJ-M145 measures 3.3 by 12.2 by 9.6 inches (HWD), and it weighs 8.2 pounds.