Comments on: The 2008 1080p Home Theater Projector Comparison Report is Posted

By: Joel

Joel — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:17:49 +0000

Art, do you know why the black level of the 1080UB is so superior to other projectors using the same D7 Epson panels? It can’t be the iris tech, because the 1080UB also claims higher native contrast, right?

Whatever it is, do you think Epson will release it to other manufacturers in the future?

I’ve heard a couple of things, but, since I’m leaving for Japan next monday for a week, and will probably be visiting the Epson plant that turns them out, I expect I’ll be able to speak more intelligently when I’m back in two weeks! -art

By: Kevin

Kevin — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:41:36 +0000

I stand corrected. Thanks for clarifying. I suppose I didn’t treat the Blockbuster gift card as a rebate. However, worse case, one can sell it. To add, it doesn’t help that the AE2000U is not very common in Canada

By: KL

KL — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:52:38 +0000

Let me be the first to critique your teaser

The AE2000U, please show me where it’s available for less than $2000. I want to order it before they fix the price.

*******

Where? Most places - as it says in the report, I subtract out mail in rebates, etc.

I valued the mail in rebate at it’s current $400, which I believe Panasonic told me was either just rolled out, or imminent when I spoke to them late Feb. The Blockbuster card, may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but, as I use Netflix, for example), I assigned it a value of about $200 rather than the $250 they say it’s worth.

Lastly, if you can’t get most online dealers to knock off $100, you aren’t trying very hard!

Thus $2699, - $400 -$200 - $100 = $1999.

Close enough, if my math was $50 higher, I still would have cut it some slack. The Epson’s, more expensive Mitsubishi, the BenQ and the Optoma’s all seem to net out about about $2400 and up (street).

Rebates seem to be the rage, with several companies offering various mail in rebates of $400 - $600+. That’s too large to ignore.

And despite rebates “ending this month”, most manufacturers continue to renew them, or only change them slightly. Many manufacturers are using rebates instead of formal price drops, so if anything, the rebates get bigger, rather than smaller.

Lastly, prices are going to change steadily over the next six months, as they always do, so my price points are only a snapshot for today. -art

BTW I only look at prices from “authorized dealers”, ignoring NYC camera shops, etc (where things tend to be less, but complications tend to be far more.)