Epson 55 User Manual

Epson MovieMate® 55

User’s Guide

Copyright Notice

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior
written permission of Seiko Epson Corporation. The information contained herein is designed only for use with
this Epson product. Epson is not responsible for any use of this information as applied to other products.

Neither Seiko Epson Corporation nor its affiliates shall be liable to the purchaser of this product or third parties for
damages, losses, costs, or expenses incurred by purchaser or third parties as a result of: accident, misuse, or abuse of
this product or unauthorized modifications, repairs, or alterations to this product, or (excluding the U.S.) failure to
strictly comply with Seiko Epson Corporation’s operating and maintenance instructions.

Seiko Epson Corporation shall not be liable for any damages or problems arising from the use of any options or
any consumable products other than those designated as Original Epson Products or Epson Approved Products by
Seiko Epson Corporation.

Responsible Use

This unit is equipped with Macrovision copy protection. The intellectual property rights to the patent of this copy
protection technology are owned by the Macrovision Company of America, and others. When employing this
technology, a license is required from the Macrovision Company. The Macrovision Company does not authorize
the use of this technology except for a limited range of intended purposes, including home use. Further,
remodeling, disassembly, and reverse engineering are prohibited.

Reproduction of a disc for the purposes of broadcast, projection in public, public musical performance, or rental
(regardless of compensation, remuneration, or lack thereof) without the permission of the copyright owner, is
strictly prohibited. This publication and the features described herein are subject to change without notice.

Trademarks

Epson is a registered trademark and Epson Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark of Seiko Epson
Corporation.

Epson MovieMate and PrivateLine are registered trademarks and Extra Care is a service mark of Epson America,
Inc.

2

Pixelworks, DNX, and the DNX logo are trademarks of Pixelworks, Inc.

General Notice: Other product names used herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of
their respective owners. Epson disclaims any and all rights in those marks.

This information is subject to change without notice.

© 2008 Epson America, Inc. 7/08

Contents

Welcome 6

Registration and Warranty 6

Optional Accessories 7

About This Manual 7

Epson MovieMate 55 Parts and Controls 8

Playing Movies 11

Choosing a Location 11

Wall and Projection Screen Recommendations 13

Viewing on a Wall 13

Viewing on a Projection Screen 13

Adjusting the Picture 15

Adjusting the Sound 17

Controlling Playback 17

Pausing 17

Searching (Fast Forward or Reverse) 18

Playing in Slow Motion 18

Skipping 18

Zooming In or Out 18

Using DVD Menus 19

Temporarily Stopping Audio 19

Adjusting the Color Mode 20

Adjusting the Sound and Audio Modes 20

Listening with Headphones 21

Contents 3

Using Epson MovieMate with Other Equipment 22

Viewing Video from External Devices 22

Connecting a USB Device 25

Playing Epson MovieMate Audio Through an External Audio System 26

Connecting a Computer or Laptop 27

Doing More with Epson MovieMate 29

Playing Music and DivX Videos and Viewing Photos 29

Playing Music CDs 29

Playing MP3/WMA Music or DivX Videos 30

Viewing JPEG Photos 31

Using Advanced Playback Controls 32

Repeating a Chapter, Title, Track, or File 32

Changing the Play Sequence (Program Play) 32

Selecting Language, Subtitles, and Camera Angles 33

Using the Playback Information Screen 34

Playing Video CDs with Playback Control (PBC) 34

Customizing Epson MovieMate 36

Locking DVDs 36

Locking the Power Button on the Control Panel 37

Saving Power 37

Changing Language Settings 38

Adjusting Picture Quality 38

Using the Others Setup Page 39

Adjusting Dolby Audio Settings 40

Setting Video Options 40

Viewing Status Information and Resetting the Lamp Timer 41

4 Contents

Caring for Your Epson MovieMate

Protecting Epson MovieMate 42

Cleaning the Lens 42

Cleaning the Case 43

Cleaning and Replacing the Air Filter 43

Replacing the Lamp 45

Resetting the Lamp Timer 47

Storing Epson MovieMate 48

Transporting Epson MovieMate 48

42

Problem Solving 50

What To Do When the Lights Flash 50

Solving Epson MovieMate Operation Problems 52

Solving Picture and Sound Problems 53

Problems with External Video Equipment 55

Where To Get Help 56

Internet Support 56

Speak to a Support Representative 56

Purchase Supplies and Accessories 56

Specifications 57

Index 62

Contents 5

Welcome

Your Epson MovieMate® 55 is a portable, lightweight home cinema system that delivers
high-quality, big-screen entertainment anywhere you want. In just a few minutes, you can set
up Epson MovieMate and watch a DVD, play a video game, or view your favorite photos.

Epson MovieMate offers these outstanding features:

■ Flexibility to set up in any room (or even outdoors), from 2.8 feet to 49.4 feet (0.85

meters to 15.06 meters) away from a screen or wall

■ DVD resolution of 480p

■ Widescreen viewing with 16:9 aspect ratio

■ Up to 1200 lumens of White and Color Light Output (brightness), enough for viewing

in daylight

■ DVD player with Dolby

■ Built-in speakers with DTS digital surround sound

■ Long-life bulb providing up to 3000 hours of use

■ Two-year home service warranty

®

Digital and DTS

®

Registration and Warranty

Your Epson MovieMate comes with a basic two-year carry-in warranty. For details, see your
Quick Guide.

In addition, Epson
the unlikely event of an equipment failure, you won’t have to wait for your unit to be
repaired. Instead, Epson will ship you a replacement unit anywhere in the United States or
Canada, usually via overnight delivery. See your Extra Care Home Service brochure for
details.

We encourage you to register your Epson MovieMate. You can register using the CD that
came in the box. Or you can register online at http://www.epson.com/webreg. Registering
also lets you receive special updates on new accessories, products, and service.

6 Welcome

®

offers free Extra Care Home Service during your warranty period. In

SM

Optional Accessories

Epson provides these replacement parts and optional accessories for the Epson MovieMate:

Product Part number

Replacement lamp (ELPLP44) V13H010L44
Replacement air filter (ELPAF14) V13H134A14
Kensington
Portable floor-standing and

wall-mountable screens
Ceiling-mountable screens

®

security lock ELPSL01

For details on these and other optional
accessories, see:

www.epson.com/homeentertainment

You can purchase accessories from an Epson authorized reseller. To find the nearest reseller,
call 800-GO-EPSON (800-463-7766). Or you can purchase online at www.epsonstore.com
(U.S. sales) or www.epson.ca (Canadian sales).

About This Manual

See the Quick Guide to set up your Epson MovieMate and start using it. This book contains
information on using all the features of Epson MovieMate, troubleshooting tips, and
specifications.

Please follow these guidelines as you read through the manual:

Warnings: Must be followed carefully to avoid bodily injury.

Cautions: Must be observed to avoid damage to your equipment.

Notes: Contain important information about your equipment.

Tips: Contain helpful projection tips.

Need additional help? Visit Epson’s U.S. support website or Canadian support website for
solutions to common problems. You can download utilities and documentation, get FAQ’s
and troubleshooting advice, or e-mail Epson with your questions.

®

If you need more help, you can use the Epson PrivateLine

Support service. Call
[phone] and enter the PIN on the PrivateLine support card that came with Epson
MovieMate.

Welcome 7

Epson MovieMate 55 Parts and Controls

Front View

Lens cover slide

Handle

Remote control
receiver

Adjustable
foot

Disc slot

Eject
button

Lens
cover

Lens

Headphone
jack

Air intake
vent

Adjustable
foot

Speaker

Back View

Component
video ports

Video port

Audio
inputs

Power
inlet

Digital coaxial
audio-out port

8 Welcome

Computer
port

USB port

Security
slot

Air exhaust
vent

Speaker

Remote control
receiver

Top View

Focus image

Turn Epson
MovieMate
on or off

Lamp
warning light

Temperature
warning light

Power
status light

Project from
external equipment

SourcePower

SourcePowe r

Play/Pause

Volume

Stop

Enter

Tw

Return

Increase
image size

Volume

Control
volume

Enter

Return

Fix image shape
(if Epson MovieMate
is tilted)

Fix image shape (if
Epson MovieMate
is tilted)

Reduce
image size

Tw

Return to
previous menu

Welcome 9

Remote Control

Note: The remote control buttons can
glow in the dark. Expose the remote
control to light for several minutes
before using it in the dark.

Turn Epson
MovieMate
on or off

Project from
external equipment

Adjust picture for
different lighting

Function/numerics
toggle switch

Eject DVD

Pause movie and
turn on light

Control
playback

10 Welcome

Fix image shape (if
Epson MovieMate is
tilted)

Control volume

Access DVD features

Playing Movies

Follow the instructions in this section to choose a location, play a DVD movie, and control
playback.

Choosing a Location

You can use your Epson MovieMate just about anywhere—in the living room, bedroom, or
even outside. You can use it with an optional floor-, wall-, or ceiling-mounted screen, or
simply project on a flat white wall.

The following pictures show three different setups:

Front

FloorBack

To project onto a wall, choose a flat white wall with a smooth surface. When you find a
suitable wall for projection, you may want to consider coating the area with projection paint
to enhance the image quality. For details, see “Wall and Projection Screen
Recommendations” on page 13.

Playing Movies 11

Epson MovieMate should be directly in front of the screen
or wall, facing straight ahead (at a 90-degree angle to the
surface).

If the image is too low, you can raise it by extending the feet
and tilting Epson MovieMate up. This causes the image to
lose its rectangular shape. You can adjust the shape using the
keystone buttons on Epson MovieMate or on the remote
control. See page 15 for instructions.

The farther you place Epson MovieMate from the screen or
wall, the larger the image will be.

The following table lists the distances required for various image sizes (measured diagonally).
Note that the zoom adjustment also affects image size.

Wide screen aspect ratio (16:9)

Image size Projection distance

30 in. (26 × 15 in. [66 × 38 cm]) 2.8 to 3.8 ft. (0.85 to 1.2 meters)

40 in. (35 × 20 in. [89 × 51 cm]) 3.8 to 5.2 ft. (1.2 to 1.6 meters)

60 in. (51 × 28 in. [130 × 71 cm]) 5.8 to 7.9 ft. (1.8 to 2.4 meters)

80 in. (71 × 39 in. [180 × 99 cm]) 7.8 to 10.6 ft. (2.4 to 3.2 meters)

100 in. (87 × 47 in. [220 × 120 cm]) 9.8 to 13.3 ft. (3.0 to 4.0 meters)

120 in. (106 × 59 in. [270 × 150 cm]) 11.8 to 16 ft. (3.6 to 4.9 meters)

150 in. (130 × 75 in. [330 × 190 cm]) 14.8 to 20.1 ft. (4.5 to 6.1 meters)

Standard aspect ratio (4:3)

Image size Projection distance

30 in. (24 × 18 in. [61 × 46 cm]) 3.4 to 4.7 ft. (1 to 1.4 meters)

40 in. (32 × 24 in. [81 × 61 cm]) 4.7 to 6.3 ft. (1.4 to 1.9 meters)

60 in. (47 × 35 in. [120 × 89 cm]) 7.1 to 9.6 ft. (2.2 to 2.9 meters)

80 in. (63 × 47 in. [160 × 120 cm]) 9.6 to 13 ft. (2.9 to 4.0 meters)

100 in. (79 × 59 in. [200 × 150 cm]) 12.0 to 16.3 ft. (3.7 to 5.0 meters)

120 in. (94 × 71 in. [240 × 180 cm]) 14.5 to 19.6 ft. (4.4 to 6.0 meters)

150 in. (118 × 91 in. [300 × 230 cm]) 18.2 to 24.5 ft. (5.5 to 7.5 meters)

12 Playing Movies

When setting up Epson MovieMate, keep these considerations in mind:

■ Make sure you don’t block the air vents on the sides.

■ Make sure you place Epson MovieMate within 10 feet (3 meters) of an electrical outlet,

power strip, or extension cord.

■ Do not tilt Epson MovieMate more than 15 degrees while playing CDs or DVDs.

Wall and Projection Screen Recommendations

To optimize viewing of Epson MovieMate images on a wall in your home or on an optional
projection screen, follow the recommendations in this section.

Viewing on a Wall

You can easily view Epson MovieMate’s high quality images on any flat white wall in your
home. There is no cost or setup involved, and you can project and resize the image up to any
size that fits on your wall. To enhance the image quality even further, you may want to paint
the wall with projection paint that is specially designed for optimum reflectivity and contrast
in your viewing environment.

Viewing on a Projection Screen

If you don’t have a suitable wall in your home or want a professional quality viewing
experience, you can use a projection screen. These screens have optical coatings with special
reflective properties that enhance brightness, contrast, and sharpness as well as providing a
frame around the image.

Projection screens are available in many shapes, sizes, mounting styles, colors, and surface
qualities, as described below.

Considering Screen Shape and Size

In a home theater setting—for watching DVD movies, HDTV broadcasts, or other
widescreen content—the best screen shape ratio is 16:9, where the width is almost twice the
height. Most DVD movies and HDTV broadcasts will fill the screen vertically and
horizontally for maximum impact. The most popular sizes are from 45 to 100 inches (114 to
254 cm) diagonal.

Playing Movies 13

Standard screens have a 4:3 shape ratio, which is better suited for viewing computer
presentations and standard TV broadcasts. Watching DVD movies or HDTV broadcasts on a
4:3 ratio screen limits the image width and leaves unused screen area above and below the
image. Available screen sizes vary, but are usually up to 60 inches (152 cm) diagonal (the same
height as an 80-inch [203-cm] diagonal 16:9 screen).

Considering Screen Mounting Style

Most screens are either floor-standing, wall-mounted, or ceiling-mounted. Consider these
characteristics as you choose which type would be best for your viewing environment:

Screen mounting style Characteristics

Floor-standing screens Portable

Can be used in multiple locations
Can be stored out of the way
Some may also be wall-mountable

Wall-mounted screens Typically permanently installed

Can be partially hidden out of the way
Some may be disguised as artwork

Ceiling-mounted screens Typically permanently installed

Can be partially hidden out of the way
Some may be recessed into the ceiling and hidden completely
Can be manually or electronically dropped and raised

Outdoor screens Resistant to outdoor environmental factors

Considering Color and Surface Quality

For home theater settings, screens come in white or shades of gray. Gray screens (sometimes
called high contrast screens) increase the natural contrast of images projected in rooms with
ambient light by absorbing the room light and preserving the darker blacks. If you have a
dedicated home theater room with dark walls, ceiling, floor, and furniture, a gray screen may
not provide better contrast than a white screen. However, if you usually project images in a
typical living room or family room with some reflected light, a gray screen will provide better
contrast and a truer viewing experience.

14 Playing Movies

Can be used on patios, and around pools and landscaping
Usually made of inflatable plastic or vinyl

Screen surface quality can also affect the reflectivity of light in your projected image. Screen
reflective properties are measured as “gain” rates, with 1.0 gain as the reflectivity of a white
board. Highly reflective screen surfaces (above 1.0 gain) create a brighter image, but the
brightness may not be uniform enough for a dedicated home theater environment and the
colors may appear to shift from different viewing angles.

In a home theater room with darkened surroundings and controlled lighting, a screen surface
with less than 1.0 gain is best. For rooms where you cannot control the light or will always
have ambient light, you may want to select a screen surface with more than 1.0 gain to
compensate for the additional brightness.

Adjusting the Picture

After you set up your Epson MovieMate and start your movie, you may need to make certain
adjustments.

■ If the image is too low, you can extend the feet (by rotating them) and tilt Epson

MovieMate up.

If you tilt the image, it will lose its rectangular shape. Use the
remote control or the control panel to adjust the image shape.

Keystone buttons on the

Playing Movies 15

■ Use the W and T buttons on the control panel to adjust the image size.

■ Rotate the focus ring to sharpen the picture.

■ To enlarge or reduce the aspect ratio of the picture, press the button on the remote

control to select
(Make sure the toggle switch on the remote control is set to the

16 Playing Movies

Normal, Full, or Zoom (if available for the video source you’re using).

Func.- position.)

Adjusting the Sound

To adjust the volume, use the + or – Volume buttons on the control panel or remote control.

You can also press the button on the remote control to temporarily turn off the sound.

Controlling Playback

You can use the buttons on the remote control or the Epson MovieMate control panel to
pause, fast-forward, or replay sections of your video or audio. You can also select items on a
DVD menu by using the remote control.

Note: DVD movies are divided into units called titles. Each title may contain any number of
chapters. Music CDs and video CDs are divided into tracks.

Pausing

There are three ways to pause a movie or audio track with Epson
MovieMate:

■ To pause a movie, or a music CD or MP3 player track, press

on the remote control or on the control panel.

To resume, press on the remote control, or on the control
panel.

■ To pause a movie and display the Epson logo, press on the

remote control or control panel.

To resume, press on the remote control, or on the control
panel.

■ To pause a movie and light up the screen or wall temporarily (so you can see better in a

dim or dark room), press on the remote control.

Playing Movies 17

To resume, press again. Pressing any of the following buttons also cancels break
mode: , , , or .

Note: After 5 minutes in break mode, the lamp turns off and the screen darkens. After 30 minutes,
the power shuts off, and you need to press the button to turn it on again.

Searching (Fast Forward or Reverse)

■ To move forward or backward through a video or music CD, press

or on the remote control.

Each time you press the button, the search (or “shuttle”) speed
increases.

■ To return to normal play, press .

Playing in Slow Motion

You can play a video frame by frame or in slow motion (“jog control”).

1. Press on the remote control.

2. Press repeatedly to advance the video frame by frame.

3. Press or to move forward or backward in slow motion. Each time you press the

button, the speed decreases.

4. Press to return to normal play.

Skipping

■ To skip to the next chapter or track, press on the remote control.

■ To return to the start of the current chapter or track, press on the remote control.

Zooming In or Out

■ Press to zoom in the image.

■ Continue pressing to zoom in or out. Use the , , , and buttons to pan

around the image if necessary.

18 Playing Movies

Using DVD Menus

Many DVDs display a top menu at startup and include submenus that let you select chapters.

■ To display a menu, press or .

■ To select items in a menu, press , , , or . Then press

if necessary.

You can also select a title or chapter by number.

■ If you want to use the numeric buttons, you need to set the toggle

switch on the remote control to the

■ After you set the toggle switch, you can simply press the numeric

-123 position.

button for the numbers 1 through 9.

■ To enter the number 10, press , then .

■ To enter the number 15, press , then .

■ To enter the number 20, press , then .

■ After entering your number, you may need to press the button.

Temporarily Stopping Audio

■ To temporarily stop the soundtrack (from the built-in speakers or headphones), press

. The video continues to play.

Press again to resume.

Playing Movies 19

Adjusting the Color Mode

You can select a color mode to optimize picture quality based on the lighting conditions in
the room.

1. Press . The currently selected color mode is displayed on the screen.

2. Press repeatedly until the desired color mode appears. After a few seconds, the color

mode name disappears and the picture quality changes.

You can select from the following color modes:

■ Dynamic: Use in rooms with bright light.

■ Living Room: Use in rooms with the blinds or drapes closed.

■ Theatre: Use in completely darkened rooms.

■ Game: Use for playing fast-motion games in a bright room (option available only

when connected to external equipment).

Note: Fan speed varies depending on the selected color mode. This is normal.

Adjusting the Sound and Audio Modes

You can switch between stereo sound and virtual surround sound and select from several
audio modes, depending on the type of movie (or music) you’re playing.

1. To display the sound mode, press the button on the remote control. You see the

current setting displayed on the screen.

2. To switch between

3. To change the audio mode, press . You see the current setting displayed on the

screen.

4. Continue pressing to select the mode you want: Concert, Drama, Action, or Sci-Fi.

For audio CDs, the modes are:

20 Playing Movies

Stereo and Dolby VS (virtual surround sound), press again.

Classic, Jazz, Rock, and Digital.