InFocus IN83 Projector with 1080p Darkchip4, OMG! First Look

Greetings all, 

I can tell you right now, InFocus has released a first class projector.  I already liked the IN82, and here comes it’s Darkchip4 “version”, called the IN83.  So far, I’m pretty much “blown away”.  

Remember, please, this is a very preliminary “first look” based on a couple of hours of untouched, “out of the box” settings, and then some minor tweaking, and more watching but without calibrating the IN83.  In fact, I’m normally not that good at “tweaking” by eye, without software or gear. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in New Projector Reviews, Opinion, Products | 1 Comment »

Report from Infocomm ‘08: Business, Personal and Home Theater Projectors, Plus

After much thought, I’ve decided to produce a report following the Infocomm show last week.  It will feature capsules on about 35 or so, newly announced projectors and related products.  In additional to the usual news and announcements on business and home theater projectors, I’ll be focusing on the new class of cell phone sized projectors (8-12 lumens?), that we’ll see hit the market late this year or early next year, Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Industry, News, Opinion | No Comments »

A change in our Home Theater Projector reviews process

OK, heads up, things are changing, although only slightly.  With the goal in mind of cranking out a few more projector reviews a year, I’ve decided to job out, a bit of the work.  Starting with the next review, the Optoma HD65, I’ve got help with calibration and measurements.  Actually, I’ll be doing my usual watching of the projectors before any measurements to get a feel for their “out of the box” performance.  At that point, however, I’ll be calling Mike Rollett, who will take charge of all measurements and calibration.  Mike’s an old hand, and is also writing articles for my site. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in About our website, Opinion | No Comments »

BenQ W5000 Home Theater Projector - Revisited

Greetings all,

As all of you who read my W5000 review, I found the projector to be overall, one of the best affordable 1080p projectors out there, in terms of picture quality, except for one significant failing.

That issue is high levels of image noise. I’ve been keeping in touch with the folks at BenQ, with the hopes that a new version will solve the problem sufficiently. Here’s where things stand:

The W5000 I reviewed was one of the first to have firmware version 1.08. Since then, BenQ has released 1.12.

I asked the nice people at BenQ if 1.12 solved the problem. They report a small improvement in noise levels, but are hoping to have an even better version (in the not too distant future - we hope). In fact, here’s what one of my contacts sent to me specifically:

“What’s shipping from BenQ are 1.12, and we are working on the next version which I thought will be a more significant improvement.
The one you tested it was 1.08. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Opinion, Products | 5 Comments »

Projector Reviews Japan 3LCD, Epson Tour, part 2

OK, time to pick up where I left off. We’ve already discussed a bit about 3LCD’s strengths in terms of more color per lumen, and in color accuracy at full power. There are, however other issues which came up in our discussions. One of those was the cost of maintenance.The guys on the other side of the isle - those DLP proponents at Texas Instruments, claim a big advantage in terms of cost of maintenance. So, let’s investigate. This isn’t about reliability, but about routine maintenance. The DLP folks point out that that most DLP projectors do not require dust filters, because DLP projectors use a sealed light path. 3LCD projectors require filters, and therefore, frequent changing of them, because dust can be a problem, and can even mar the image with what are called (aptly) dust blobs.

The 3LCD folks counter, that many of today’s 3LCD projectors don’t need filters cleaned any more frequently than they need lamp changing. If that were the case, they would have a strong case. As I said to the 3LCD folks, hey, you don’t have to be better at everything. I said that, because I do think DLP has the advantage here.There are basically two scenarios. Projectors that are placed on a table top, and those that are permanently mounted. Since cleaning or replacing a filter is a very quick thing, if you have easy access to the projector, using your projector on a table top, negates any real advantage of projectors that don’t need filters changed frequently. Ceiling mounting is a whole different story. Often, accessing a ceiling mounting projector requires at least a ladder. And it can be a real challenge if you have really high ceilings. In some commercial applications, reaching the projector can be daunting, consider many church sanctuaries, where the projector could be 50 feet up in the air, or perhaps a small auditorium, large multipurpose room, or hotel ballroom. not only a pain, but expensive timewise, especially if you contract out, or have a support department run as a profit center. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Industry, Opinion, Products, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Major Error on 1080p Projector Comparison

Greetings All!

It has been brought to my attention, that the numbers I cited, in this blog, and in the report, relating to the Panasonic rebate, are incorrect:I reported that the new Promotion was going to be $400 mail-in cash rebate, and a $250 Blockbuster rental card. Well it turns out I screwed up. I see now (from the new banners just received from Panasonic’s ad campaign, and a couple of emails from dealers), that the campaign is actually $650, consisting of $400 in Blockbuster rentals, something that many folks will value as being worth far less, and $250 value for an extra year extended warranty! I checked an email received from Panasonic, and it too said that.Unless I were to value the $650 of blockbuster rentals and warranty, as about the same as cash (and I know many don’t like the Blockbuster cards), that should put the Panasonic in the $2000 - $3500 range.

Here’s how I’m going to treat things:

The awards, as they sit, will remain. Afterall, for those that will value the Blockbuster card as useful, and extra year warranty, it could just barely be rationalized that the PT-AE2000U still makes the top of the lower price category.

But more to the point, if I do not leave it there, I need to change the price point, so that I have at least three projectors in the Entry level category, which might mean making the lowest category $2400 and under, or something like that. That would move a couple projectors over, and force me to redo both the Under $2k and $2K to $3500 sections. All that would occomplish is moving back all reviews a couple of weeks. I just don’t have the “strength” to redo it all. Sorry!

I will, however alter some of the text in the report to correct about the rebate, and I will factor in the different rebate, in the current one-on-one comparisions that are in progress right now, including Panny vs Sanyo, Panny vs HC4900, Panny vs. Epson Home Cinema UB, and assign it a different value proposition.This will delay posting them a couple of days, now probably Thursday night when 6-8 comparisons will now post, as as three of the four I have already written, but not posted, involve the Panasonic.

Again, my apologies, for a grave error on my part. I can’t even blame it on Panasonic. I spoke with them, misunderstood, and then didn’t look closely at the email they sent me, which properly stated the program, so the fault is all mine. -art

Posted in New Projector Reviews, Opinion, Products | 4 Comments »

The 2008 1080p Home Theater Projector Comparison Report is Posted

Not complete yet, images not yet added, and not fully proofed, but there’s plenty there.

Best In Class $2000 and under:  Panasonic PT-AE2000U

Best In Class $2000 to $3500:  Epson Home Cinema 1080 UB

Best In Class $3500 to $10,000:  JVC DLA-RS2

The report also lists Runner-Up awards and Special Interest awards. 

Click for the 2008 1080p Home Theater Projector Report. Enjoy! 

Posted in New Projector Reviews, News, Opinion | 3 Comments »

The 2008 1080p Home Theater Projector Comparison Report is Posted

Not complete yet, images not yet added, and not fully proofed, but there’s plenty there.Best In Class $2000 and under:  Panasonic PT-AE2000UBest In Class $2000 to $3500:  Epson Home Cinema 1080 UBBest In Class $3500 to $10,000:  JVC DLA-RS2The report also lists Runner-Up awards and Special Interest awards. Click for the 2008 1080p Home Theater Projector Report. Enjoy! 

Posted in New Projector Reviews, News, Opinion | No Comments »

1080p Home Theater Projector Comparison Report Slightly Delayed

Greetings all,

I’m working hard on the report, but with 20 projectors under consideration, it has become a much more formidable task, than last year’s. While my goal has been to publish this Friday evening, I am convinced, that I can’t complete the entire report by then.

I’m now expecting to have the full report posted on Tuesday, March 18th. If I can, I may post some sections as early as this Friday, but no promises. Hang in there! -art

Posted in Industry, New Projector Reviews, Opinion | 5 Comments »

Epson 1080UB - Convergence Issue - Update

Greetings all, I’ve been able to cajole dealers into more specific numbers with two of the four dealers reporting having now checked all Epson return records for convergence issues.With the more precise numbers I can now report that The four dealers I requested info from, between them, have sold a minimum of about 365 and a maximum of about 430 projectors.  Combined reported returns is 8-9 projectors, for a convergence issue rate of less than 3%.  These four dealers carry the Home Cinema 1080 UB, however the light engine is identical on the home and pro, so there is no understandable reason why one would suffer an issue like this more than the other.Again, some buyers may not report back to the dealer, speaking only with Epson, however, that percentage is probably no more than half (possibly much lower), and I believe, definitely less than 2/3.   Using the 50% number, that provides a maximum failure rate (unacceptable convergence problems) of less than 6%, and if using 2/3, actually less than 8%.  So, best case, is all customers getting Epson units with a conversion issue, are advising their dealers, in which case our best usable number is “under 3%” while our “worst case” with 2/3 of buyers not notifying their dealers, and that is just under 8%.  Definitely a problem, but certainly not a huge one.  And it seems Epson is quickly replacing any units with problems through their replacement warranty, at no charge to the end user.  -art 

Posted in Opinion, Products | 4 Comments »