November 30th, 2012 Art Feierman
Greetings projector fans!
Optoma's HD23 DLP home entertainment projector is our next review
I’ve been slammed for weeks, with all these projectors arriving, so time to bring you up to speed, on what’s going on, starting with the next review: Finally we’ve got our hands on the Optoma HD23, which is mostly available at Best Buy. I’ve received a number of emails and comments asking about that one, and now it’s time.
Mike had the Optoma HD23 and just returned it to me this afternoon, calibrated and ready to go. I’ve been so slammed that I haven’t done a “first look” blog in a while, but I will have one for you on the HD23, later this weekend. When exactly? I’m not sure.
The BenQ W1070 is a lower cost home entertainment projector, and that one also arrived. I’ve just shipped that out to Pete for his take on the W1070 as a gaming projector. I will be doing a full review of the BenQ W1070 when Pete returns it.
Basically my blogging gamers have gaming projector comments (some already posted on their blogs), on recently reviewed/being reviewed home projectors including the Epson HC5020/PC6020, Epson HC3020, Viewsonic Pro9000, Optoma HD23, and BenQ W1070.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in 3D Projectors, gaming and Game projectors, New Projector Reviews, Products | No Comments »
November 14th, 2012 Art Feierman
I have finally posted the Epson’s competitors page, which includes many paragraphs comparing it to the Panasonic PT-AE8000, as well as sections comparing to the other key home theater competition: Sharp XV-Z30000, Optoma HD8300, Sony VPL-HW50ES (it’s most formidable competitor), as well as the lower cost Epson HC3020, and last year’s HC5010UB.
Some of you are going to ask… where’s the annual Panasonic vs. Epson multi-page comparison? Fear not Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in 3D Projectors, New Projector Reviews, Opinion | 14 Comments »
October 16th, 2012 Art Feierman
Greetings. This is just a quick update – one that I should have put out a few days ago, regarding the status of the Viewsonic Pro 9000 projector and the Panasonic PT-AE8000 projectors for your home theater.
The Panasonic PT-AE8000 is here – Mike’s calibrated it, and I’ve more than Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in 3D Projectors, New Projector Reviews, News, Products | 5 Comments »
September 22nd, 2012 Art Feierman
Greetings, Let’s talk some more, about Sony’s VPL-HW50ES projector.
The HW50ES Projector - Picture Quality is Excellent!
Well, you’ve probably seen some of my previous home theater projector blogs from, and post CEDIA 2012. If so, you probably think I have led you to believe that one of the most impressive projector values I saw there is Sony’s new HW50ES – it’s full name, of course: VPL-HW50ES. If so, you got it right.
I’ve had the VPL-HW50ES here since Tuesday evening, except for the 24 hours away at Mike’s for calibration. I’ve got 20 hours of viewing so far.
BTW I believe this unit is one of the two used in Sony’s “shoot-out” against the Epson 5010 and the JVC Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in 3D Projectors, New Projector Reviews, Opinion, Products | 17 Comments »
September 11th, 2012 Art Feierman
The Panasonic PT-AE8000 - sold as PT-AT6000 in Europe
I’m fresh back from CEDIA, and wanted to fill you folks in on the PT-AE8000 projector, which Panasonic was nice enough to bring by our place more than 2 weeks ago. Sadly, they didn’t let me hang on to the PT-AE8000, or you’d be reading a full review by now, instead of a blog talking more features, than performance.
Although in the brief time Panasonic had it in my theater, there was no time to do a side by side comparison with the Epson, JVC, and
Sharp projectors I had at the moment, as they wanted to go back and forth between the PT-AE8000 with a PT-AE7000 they also brought. Alas, they had to show the PT-AE8000 projector to someone else, later that day, limiting my time.
So, what have we here? Click for link to specs/brochure
Like many projectors this fall, the new Panny projector is essentially evolutionary. That translates to improved performance, but a projector that basically “looks and cooks” like the older PT-AE8000.
Here are some of the key aspects that separate the PT-AE8000 from the older projector:
Start with a claimed 20% boost in brightness from 2000 to Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in 3D Projectors, News, Products | 5 Comments »
September 8th, 2012 Art Feierman
Greetings Projector Fans – in a couple of month’s Sony’s shiny new VPL-HW50ES should hit the streets. This VPL-HW50ES is a new projector that slides into the lineup above the HW30ES and way below the VPL-VW95ES.
Let’s position it first. The price tag will be $3999 or was it $3995? The HW50ES will come with a spare lamp for the money. The VPL-HW50ES, will be available Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in 3D Projectors, News, Products | 15 Comments »
September 7th, 2012 Art Feierman
I met with Mitsubishi yesterday at CEDIA.
Mitsubishi is launching two new projectors at CEDIA. The HC7900DW, the replacement for the HC7800D that we have reviewed. I’m sure you are wondering about the W in the name. Easy, stands for a white case, rather than the black case of the HC7800D, but the real improvements are under the hood.
A big theme with Mitsubishi is their proprietary 2D-3D engine, which they claim looks very close to the quality of viewing original 3D content. That’s a really strong claim we will look into when the first of the Mitsubishi’s arrive for review. The HC7900DW is brighter than its predecessor, now claiming 1500 lumens. That’s a real plus, due to the need for a bright projector for 3D which loses roughly 75% of brightness compared to 2D. Black levels should improve based on a new, higher 150,000:1 contrast ratio.
Mitsubishi sees the HC7900DW as a versatile projector, usable in family rooms, or theaters. They also talk up their lamp life which they say will last up to 5000 hours. This HC7900DW will be available from local dealers and online dealers while our next subject, the HC8000D is targeting the home theater.
Sporting 1300 lumens, the HC8000 is also 3D capable (glasses optional), with Mitsubishi offering proprietary 3D glasses they demonstrated were brighter than the universal glasses that are also compatible. This will allow some folks who have them, to bring their glasses to your house to watch 3D, so you won’t need to buy as many pair of your own. An interesting selling point!
A 330,000:1 contrast ratio should insure impressive “ultra-high contrast black levels”. How good? Wait for the review. It is available only from local authorized Mitsubishi dealers, as has been tradition with Mitsubishi with their top of the line projectors.
That’s it for now. -art
Posted in 3D Projectors, Products, Projector Related Press Releases | 3 Comments »
August 31st, 2012 Art Feierman
Greetings, this is going to be really short. In the blog about this new Epson Home Cinema 3020 and 3020e, I mentioned I was not sure if the dynamic iris is operational in 3D!
In all of last year’s Epson’s the dynamic features were not available in 3D.
Great news: I’ve been able to confirm that the Home Cinema 3020 and 3020e, both will be able to run their dynamic irises in 3D operation.
That’s a major improvement for 3D viewing. Most pleased to here of this change, I and others complained a good bit about the iris not being available on the older 3010 and 5010 projectors.
That’s it, gotta get back to work. Remember, all this is secret until Sept 5. shhh! -art
PS, if I didn’t mention it in the original 3020 blog, I also heard that the new HC3020 projectors will have shorter lag times, which may make the projector nice and fast, suitable for hard core gamers playing First Person Shooters, etc. We shall see.
Posted in 3D Projectors, gaming and Game projectors, News, Products | 7 Comments »
August 31st, 2012 Art Feierman
Greetings,
Epson's Home Cinema 3020 - Great family room projector
OK, pricing is still not set, best we can tell, but the Home Cinema 3020 and 3020e, probably won’t be more than last year’s 3010 and 3010e. So far, though Epson has not indicated the new prices. Let me clarify. Last year’s two versions (3010 and 3010e) were $1599 and $1799. the “e” version is the one with the wireless HDMI (5 inputs and Digital Audio this year, up from 2/0). Last year, the base version came with two pair of 3D glasses, while the “e” version came with wireless, but no glasses. This year all of Epson’s 3D projectors will come standard with 2 pair of 3D active glasses (newer and lighter, and rechargeable).
So, pricing may shift a bit, due to the addition of the glasses with the “e” version.
So, “what else is new?” Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in 3D Projectors, gaming and Game projectors, Industry, News, Products | 15 Comments »
August 31st, 2012 Art Feierman
Greetings,
Epson Pro Cinema 6020 Projector - 3D, Bright, great warranty
This little blog on the new Epson Pro Cinema 6020, is a very similar blog to the one on the 5010 projector. After all, these two projectors are about 95% the same.
Expect the Epson Pro Cinema 6020 to only be sold by local installing dealers. Also expect the 6020 to share the same improvements in contrast and black levels as the 5020 offers.
Brightness should be the same 2400 lumens as last year’s version. This year however, we expect the Pro Cinema 6020 to fix my old complaint of no dynamic iris, or other dynamic features when Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in 3D Projectors, Industry, News, Products | 6 Comments »
