Optoma HD20 - Warranty
8/30/09 - Art Feierman
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The Optoma HD20 home theater projector comes with a one year parts and labor warranty. The average for 1080p projectors is two years, with a few models (all far more expensive) offering three years.
I'm not yet sure what the warranty will be on the Vivitek and BenQ W1000 $999 1080p projectors, but I suspect they will also both be one year. If you are spending more, then the Sanyo PLV-Z700, which typically nets out under $1500, comes with three years, while the under $2000 Epsons and Mitsubishis come with 2 year warranties.
Projector repairs, out of warranty, are typically expensive. A problem in your second year of ownership (with a 1 year warranty) can turn a $1000 projector into a throw away, especially if you already have a lot of hours on the lamp. As a result, I do recommend a low-cost 3rd party extended warranty for at least one extra year with any home theater projector that comes with only one year of coverage. Figure an extra year will cost about $100 (or maybe less). While I strongly prefer a manufacturer's warranty over a 3rd party one, a 3rd party warranty for the 2nd year is better than none at all. When you are looking at the value proposition, figure some money for that extra warranty into your calculations.