The Best 1080p Resolution Home Theater Projectors of 2007
04/25/2007-Art Feierman
Overview
Image Quality
General Performance
Warranty
Summary, Pros, Cons
1080p Home Theater Projectors - Summary and Comparisons:
Click on these links to read more in-depth comparisons.
Panasonic PT-AE1000U vs Epson Home Cinema 1080
Epson Home Cinema 1080 vs Mitsubishi HC5000
3LCD: PT-AE1000U vs Home Cinema 1080 vs Mitsubishi HC5000
BenQ W9000 vs Panasonic PT-AE1000U
Sony VW50 Pearl vs Mitsubishi HC5000
Optoma HD81 vs. Sony VW50 Pearl
Optoma HD81 vs BenQ W9000 and W10000
BenQ W10000 vs JVC RS1
JVC RS1 vs Sony VW50 Pearl
JVC RS1 vs Optoma HD81
JVC RS1 vs Panasonic PT-AE1000U
Summary - The Bottom Line
JVC RS1 vs. Optoma HD81
Like with the JVC RS1 vs the Sony Pearl comparison, we have a significant price difference again, with the Optoma HD81 being more than $1500 less.
I think I can provide guidance rather easily here. Start by seeing if the Optoma (right) will work in your room with its limited zoom lens (1.2:1) and no lens shift,compared to 2:1 and excellent lens shift for the JVC. If it does, then consider:
Brightness - both projectors are about the same in brightest mode, and the the JVC advantage in best mode is insignificant (well, not quite insignificant, 20% after adjustments), and that's only a slight difference.
Overall image quality - a no brainer, while the Optoma (like the BenQ) does a great job,
it just can't compete with the JVC RS1 (below) . A properly set up HD81 will truly impress everyone, believe me, until they see the RS1 by comparison. We really are talking about going from a "very good to excellent" (HD81) to
"Superb" (RS1), or whatever you call a full step up from excellent. "Amazing" comes to mind as an alternate descriptor for the JVC.
Black levels are no contest, the HD81's are really very good, but the JVC's, way beyond.
I won't even quibble about my complaints with the Optoma remote.
Once again, although this is a one sided contest, the Optoma can compete in some areas, most notably it does provide a slightly sharper image. Like it is with the BenQ, I can appreciate that little bit of extra sharpness, but felt the RS1 was so much better in all other image quality areas, as to not worry about it.
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Optoma has that really nice outboard processor, and all those extra inputs, a real plus, but that "win" is ergonomic and not image quality. Throw some more bucks at your JVC for switching, if its two HDMI plus other inputs aren't enough for your setup.
Optoma also gives you that three year warranty, instead of the JVC RS1's two years... That's worth something, too.
Ultimately, though, the JVC RS1 is the superior projector, so it comes down to price, and like my comments regarding the RS1 and the BenQ W9000, You'll have to decide if you really need a projector that is visibly a step up from the already excellent HD81's picture. Not everyone needs a Lexus.
Click on these links to read more in-depth comparisons.
Panasonic PT-AE1000U vs Epson Home Cinema 1080
Epson Home Cinema 1080 vs Mitsubishi HC5000
3LCD: PT-AE1000U vs Home Cinema 1080 vs Mitsubishi HC5000
BenQ W9000 vs Panasonic PT-AE1000U
Sony VW50 Pearl vs Mitsubishi HC5000
Optoma HD81 vs. Sony VW50 Pearl
Optoma HD81 vs BenQ W9000 and W10000
BenQ W10000 vs JVC RS1
JVC RS1 vs Sony VW50 Pearl
JVC RS1 vs Optoma HD81
JVC RS1 vs Panasonic PT-AE1000U
Summary - The Bottom Line
Overview
Image Quality
General Performance
Warranty
Summary, Pros, Cons