BenQ W7000, Mitsubishi HC7800D, SIM2 Nero 3D-2, Sony VPL-VW95ES Projectors
Greetings home theater projector fans,
Sorry, I've been remiss, regarding my blog. I've just finished answering probably 25+ comments scattered around a dozen different blog pieces, so with those questions all answered, deflected, or ducked, it's time to clue you all in to what new home theater projectors are in the works and inbound!
I think you'll be impressed:
In process right now:
Sony VPL-VW95ES 2D 3D Projector
1. Sony VPL-VW95ES Home Theater Projector - 85% written pages starting to post this afternoon (saturday), the usual trailing items (proofing, menus, calibration settings) will be added later Would you believe: I actually finished a screens recommendation page in time for the first uploads.
2. SIM2 Nero 2 aka the Nero 3D-2
This is SIM2's "low" cost ($19,995) 2D and 3D single chip projector for the rich among us. (not the super rich - they buy 3 chip DLPs).
SIM2 Nero 3D-2 home theater projector
I've been watching this rather sexy looking home theater projector for far more than a dozen hours so far, and as of today, it's my primary for the next few days (a good 20 hours more of viewing, including football tomorrow). I'll start posting the Nero 2 projector review this coming Wednesday (12/14 if all goes well).
In bound home theater projectors:
1. BenQ W7000 - an engineering sample is expected to arrive on Tuesday or Wednesday. If I'm still writing up the Nero 2 projector, then the BenQ W7000 projector will likely go right over to Mike's for immediate calibration so that the W7000 becomes the focus of my universe (well, my review universe) by Thursday evening.
The W7000 is long overdue, the W6000 has been around a good 2 years, and was a great roughly $2500 projector when it first hit, and it has stayed competitive thanks to price drops, but it's time for something new. The W7000 starts out with a big plus, as a 2D and 3D capable projector and that is: The W6000 was about the brightest serious home theater projector under $10,000 when it hit the market!
As such, even if BenQ does not make the W7000 brighter, it should still be up there in brightness (or close) to the Epsons and Panasonic, which are the current 3D projectors with the most respectable brightness for 3D.
I will promise (assuming it arrives as scheduled) that the BenQ W7000 projector review will post before Christmas Eve.
2. Mitsubishi HC7800D - a DLP, 1600 lumen 2D/3D capable home theater projector. The HC7800D was supposed to arrive this week, but Mitsubishi now says end of next week or during the week before Christmas.
With the BenQ now in front of it, I don't see how I can publish the H7800D review before Santa hits the skies, but I will promise a typical - Mitsubishi HC7800D First Look review on this blog, before Christmas eve.
The HC7800D should be interesting - first it's a single chip projector, and it seem, on paper, to be similar or close in brightness to the Acer H9500BD projector. The H7800D claims 1600 lumens, the Acer (another DLP) claimed 2000 but (in our improved "brightest" mode) measured about 1500. Most likely the the Mitsubishi, which should certainly have decent brightness for 3D will have a slight to moderate disadvantage, compared to the Acer H9500BD, and probably also, the Epson Home Cinema 3010 and 5010 (LCD), the Panasonic (LCD) and the BenQ W7000. But it should be brighter than just about everything else.. We shall see.
The HC7800D is geared first as a family room projector. True, it won't be a match for that Panasonic PT-AR100U projector, which claims 2800 lumens, but remember, that AR100U is 2D only, making it an especially bright family room projector - but only if you don't care about 3D at all.
The Mistsubishi HC7800D helps fill out one's choice of options in the $1500 - $2500 dollar range, I think, but I still don't know what MAP pricing is, which is the best indication of what it will sell for on the street.
I'll be taking a particularly close look at the HC7800D's 2D to 3D conversion, which they claim is really excellent. I've yet to like any projector's attempt at conversion, so I'm looking forward to a possible "breakthrough" when I try the HC7800D's.
Also we'll be closely looking at the H7800D as a 2D and 3D gaming projector.
Wrap up!
That folks is the lineup through the end of the year. Look for one additional review prior to the CES show which starts January 10th. A couple of possible projectors are vying for that slot, but I really haven't gotten any promises in terms of delivery.
Also, please note, for those that haven't yet noticed - we now have Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Linked-In sites.
Expect me to be blogging a couple of times, tweeting, and "facing" from the Consumer Electronics Show. I'll try to tweet about any really dazzling things I see, and then follow that up. -art
