January 11th, 2011 Art Feierman
Time to fill you in, re what I learned at CES about home theater projectors. As someone pointed out, the last blog mostly focused on pico projectors. (Hey, they may not be “home theater” but they are “portable” theater, and techically, with some pushing 300+ lumens, they are as bright as some of the home theater projectors we’ve reviewed (at least their best modes).
No, I’m not recommending trading in your Epson or Panasonic home theater projectors Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in 3D Games and Gaming, 3D Movies, 3D Projectors, News, Opinion | 11 Comments »
January 6th, 2011 Art Feierman
Very cool!
Last night I attended the Digital Experience (the major Press only event) at the CES Show, and pico projectors and pico projector containing devices were in abundance. More than 100 vendors were showing off their technology, mostly at small 10×6 foot table top booths. I liked the pico projector cameras and camcorders I saw. Not bad! Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in 3D Projectors, Industry, News, Opinion | 3 Comments »
December 1st, 2010 Art Feierman
Greetings all,
OK, I haven’t been writing much. Today is the 27th day Projector Reviews Inc., myself, Lori, etc. are now living in our new home.
That also means it’s 28 days since we moved out of the last house, with all my gear packed up, and my two viewing rooms there, abandoned.
I’m back in business! Soon to be better than ever! Here’s the scoop on the two new rooms: Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in About our website, Industry, New Projector Reviews, News | 12 Comments »
November 11th, 2010 Art Feierman
Greetings all,
We continue to improve our projector site, and I just wanted to bring you up to speed on some of the new changes.
Also, I’m open to suggestions for further improvements – keep things modest though – I’m talking the site, not individual reviews, at this time. Please post any suggestions only to this particular blog page.
OK, let’s talk about some new tabs found on the masthead (the top) of all pages. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in About our website, News, Uncategorized | 10 Comments »
October 23rd, 2010 Art Feierman
Greetings all you fans of projectors!
Let me say, this is a strange year. Normally by the later part of October each year, I’m knee deep in new projectors – for home theater, to review. This year, seems we’re off to a late start. Of the new projectors reviewed so far – the Mitsubishi HC4000 projector, the Sanyo PLV-Z4000 projector, and the Epson Home Cinema 8350 projector, are all updates from those projector manufacturers’ key projectors in last year’s line-up.
On the other hand, there are a number of essentially new projectors to review this fall, in which I’ll include any home projector that is 3D ready. Coming up, when available, will be projectors from JVC’s new 3D RS projectors, the RS40, RS50, and RS60, as well as the HD250 which should be most similar to the older RS15.
Epson will have their R series projectors (no, not 3D)- all new, but like the JVC projectors it’s probably a few more weeks before those are available to reviewers.
So, you ask, what’s next:
This weekend the last of the pico projector reviews goes live – the AAXA P1 Jr. – at only $119. Tony will start a review of the new, 2nd generation InFocus interactive projector, the IN3916 projector.
Though I was hoping to work in some other projectors before tackling another Epson, an 8700UB arrived at my door yesterday, and went into my theater last night. It literally is sitting on top of the Epson 8350 projector who’s projector review posted about a week ago. I’ll just say this for now. The 8350 projector, may have improved blacks compared to the older 8100, but it’s definitely not a match for the 8700UB. That should answer a huge question many of you have been waiting for. I was watching Iron Man 2 and switched from the 8350 to the 8700UB. The difference in black levels is still dramatic. End of that conversation for this blog.
People I’m still slowly writing about 3D. I’ve got to get a couple of short 3D focused reviews – actually more informational than review focused – since I’m not sure a real review is in order – considering the state of 3D and projectors in most segments – especially home. Those projectors include the LG CF3D, which is more commercial projector than home, but it is equipped with HDMI 1.4… and it is 3D. It works. The other is less a projector, than the Lightspeed system. Those guys seem way ahead of the curve compared to the other DLP projectors using active glasses, and their system… well, wait and read…
That said, I’m dying to get one of those 3D JVC’s in here, and, since I have a bit of content, I “can’t wait”.
Panasonic: Panasonic has had me stumped for quite some time, as to what’s going on this year. Panasonic reorganized back in April. My contacts simply haven’t been able to give me a good feel for what’s going to happen in home theater projector space, this fall. Finally, I have something informative to say. Yesterday I was told, one thing, I already knew – that the PT-AX200U projector is “end of life” that is, it’s going away. There is no announced replacement, and if one does surface, I’d be surprised (if still 720p), if it resembles the AX200U (that’ just a guess). They just put too many features into the PT-AX20u projector for it to compete price wise with the competition.
But, it’s the 1080p side of Panasonic that everyone’s wanting to know, and finally. Panasonic emailed me two important things, that I couldn’t be sure of till now: 1. Panasonic fully intends to continue to be a major player in home theater projectors, and; 2. Panasonic does have a new projector under development. (Best I can tell, it’s months away. I now suspect it may be announced at CES in January, but, that folks, is another guess. Want one more? Panasonic has always used Epson LCD panels in their home theater projectors, but it’s quite possible that Panasonic will go to Epson’s “R” reflective panels, or perhaps even DLP since they produce lots of DLP projectors on the education and business projector side. Regardless, though, the good news is that Panasonic says they want to continue to be a major competitor, and that means more choices. Amen to that.
Sony, as usual, is the hardest company to read, in terms of review units. With them, it’s “not yet, not yet”, with most requests, but on the other hand, they occasionally surprise me with. We can ship you one this week, just when I’ve given up hope for a while. Nothing from them yet.
Gamers and 3D’ers on a tight projector budget – I just received the Optoma $399 3D adapter, the Optoma XP8000, that will allow you to take HDMI 1.4 Blu-ray 3D from your (new) HDMI 1.4 player (or upgraded PS3 – hooray), and convert it to 3D that can be accepted, most likely by most of the lower priced 720p and WXGA 3D projectors (from Optoma, BenQ, and several others). Unlike big ticket 3D projectors like the new Sony and JVC projectors, those 720p projectors are mostly under $1000 – aimed at gamers – or the education market, but now can be real HD (ok 0nly 720p) 3D movie projectors. I’m excited, and have machines here to test. The Optoma XP8000 will make for a short, most likely one or two pages, but I hope to complete it this week, or during the move, next week. I could turn out to be a great new product, and offer additional 3D choices to many of us.
I’ll update when I have word on more for ya! Meantime, as I stated, the next mainstream home theater projector to be reviewed will the the Epson Home Cinema 8700UB – because it has arrived, and of course I’ll discuss, the non-identical twin, the Pro Cinema 9700UB projector at the same time. -art
Posted in 3D Movies, 3D Projectors, Blu-ray, New Projector Reviews, News, Opinion | 28 Comments »
September 25th, 2010 Art Feierman
Greetings, from CEDIA in Atlanta!
OK, I’m going to blow through a whole bunch of projectors (and things) I saw yesterday, and today. I had hoped to get you all a good amount of detail on the new Epson “R” projectors, and have it posted by now, but I’m still awaiting an email. Tomorrow I hope, I’ll have it for sure come monday. Here goes. I run through the projectors pretty much in the order of my meetings. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in 3D Projectors, Industry, News, Products | No Comments »
September 23rd, 2010 Art Feierman
In my next blog – I got a look at the Epson Pro Cinema 31000, and the 9700UB (replaces the 9500UB), and the new JVCs, which will be the focus of that blog.
Tomorrow I meet with Optoma, BenQ, Vivitek, and a couple others, so more blogs Friday night (hopefully) or Saturday, and the rest when I’m back home.
That’s it, gotta run, they have parties at these CEDIA shows. -art
Posted in News | No Comments »
September 16th, 2010 Art Feierman
Greetings!
Meet the new Epson Pro Cinema 31000 projector
It’s almost CEDIA time, and today Epson gave us a lot of info on the nine new home theater projectors they will show next week.
Prices are still to be set, as are delivery dates, but we’ll give you the best idea we can. There are three home projector groups:
- Replacements – 4 – for the current Home Cinema 8000 and Pro Cinema 9000 series
- New High End Projector line sporting three models
- Two new MovieMate all in one projectors
To keep things less cluttered, below is a quick sentence or two on each projector, but, I will follow this blog entry with three more blogs
Here’s the quick version: Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Industry, News, Opinion, Products | 3 Comments »
May 20th, 2010 Art Feierman
Greetings,
OK, as usual, I went out on a limb. As I have done with a number of awards in the past, I made a final decision on the value proposition of the InFocus SP8602 projector, based upon my dissatisfaction with the SP8602′s iris action. When discussing it with InFocus, they took the complaints I raised seriously, and as some of you following this know, promised to analyze and improve the iris action. And to do so quickly.
Well, last week InFocus let me know that a new firmware version would be up early this week, with among other improvements (no doubt), is the firmware for better dynamic iris operation on the SP8602.
I hope to download this evening, and install. If all goes well, I’ll log a good 6 or more hours on the InFocus with my eye on iris action. And, I’ll be sure to play the 3 or 4 scenes that tend to show off iris issues – my torture test – so to speak.
If all goes well, the iris operation will be a lot less noticeable, and I will have justified my decision, based on InFocus’ promise, to award the SP8602 our Best In Class, Runner-Up award for the $3500 – $10,000 class.
Stay tuned for a blog early next week on the results of my investigation, and maybe a hint, sooner (but it’s a big “family” weekend) so probably not.
The only real disappointment I will consider acceptable for the SP8602 with the new iris, will be that InFocus wants the projector back as soon as I’ve finished the iris investigation. Too bad! -art
Posted in Home Theater Projector issues, News, Products | 1 Comment »
February 19th, 2010 Art Feierman
Greetings all, Bad news for those urgently waiting for the CF181D review.
Well, I’ll be late with it. I had said late tonight, for posting, but that’s not going to happen now. At least I have what I think is a great excuse:
Just got a last minute invite to head up to LA. AND it seems I’m heading to a famous LA (actually Santa Monica) music landmark, McCabes Guitar Store, where they’ve been holding small concerts for about 40+ years. (check Wiki)
Anyway, a friend, it turns out, knows Jorma Kaukonan from the “old days” (Jorma was theguitarist for Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, Hot Tuna, etc., and Jorma’s playing tonight in a room that will probably be not much more than 100 people at McCabes.
Sorry, can’t miss it. I’m an old, and huge fan of Airplane and Starship. And, I may even be having dinner with Jorma and friends. So, that means… I’m off to “hijack the starship – and carry 7000 people past the sun, to the cities of the universe” (ahh, the dreams we had…) that is, when I’m not “taking one pill that make’s you larger, or one that makes you small” not the one your mother gives you, that does nothing at all.” (coming back to any of you?)
Look for the LG CF181D review late Saturday instead. I’m down to about 4 or 5 hours work, before I can post it. -art
Posted in New Projector Reviews, News, Opinion | 8 Comments »
