Need To Know About Projector/TV comparison, HDMI/DVI/adaptors, HD Projectors, Burn In

[charper1]

The HD72 is another nice FPTV but as I remember it is not 7000:1; it is the DarkChip2 DLP which is 5000:1 in high mode and 3500:1 in the variable mode. 1280x768 native with (15:9) a 155" max image at full zoom which is too much. yes 15:9 with letterboxing on 16:9 HD images.

http://www.projectorcentral.com/optoma_hd72.htm (got specs for here)

The Sanyo also has a dynamic iris mode, is 1280x720 native (16:9) with a 300" max at full zoom also too much. AND $300 less money and 1 more year full warranty and a free screen. Its about 70/30 for the Sanyo at this deal rate IMHO. Some e-tailers are adding 1 years of their warranty to match the Sanyo's 3 years.

If nothing was givin for free and the warranties and price were the same this would be a pure toss-up. Other than the 15:9 aspect of the Optima, I don't think there with be much image differences. I compared mine vs the Optima HD80 and the Panasonic PT-AE900U.

 

[Stargazer]

I am located in Western WV. There is no place that I know of around here that has projectors for sale and has them setup to where I can see them. Circuit City and Big Sandy Superstores does not have them. Circuit City only offers the projectors that are under $1,000 in the store and Big Sandy Superstores do not even sell them.

So I should be able to see the text on the projector just as clear as on my computer/laptop screen? When I connect my laptop up to my old bigscreen it is so blurry that you cannot see the words. I think its only made to show movies and so forth on the bigscreen and not for browsing the internet like it would be with the new higher resolution projectors. I just didnt want that same affect on the projector as I would on my older bigscreen (it is a 1994 Mitsubishi).

In the Optoma HD72 review it says that the LCD's are easier to setup than DLP and has a better throw distance which would allow me to throw the screen bigger without having to be as far back. This says that it has a wider array of room configurations than most DLP projectors. It also says "The most noticeable image flaw in the HD72 is that manifests more image noise than its LCD competition in scenes that are prone to noise. However, this is typical of DLP projectors in general, and is not a unique fault of the HD72."

"One less significant but nonetheless irritating nuisance was that there was very little range on the HD72's remote. The projector would not respond to a bounce off the screen when the screen was only eight feet away. We had to point the remote at the projector to get it to respond, and the range for direct line-of-sight reliable response was about 12 feet."

"We have marked it down a bit in features and ease of use due to the limitations imposed by the 1.2x zoom lens, the lack of lens shift, and a limited range remote. The performance rating is docked 1/2 star due to occasional image noise."

I wonder what issues the Sanyo PLV-Z4 would have. I could not get the owner's manual attachment to download.

 

[charper1]

Not sure what else to say; I have absolutely ZERO issues with these units. PC text shows as perfect as it does on-screen. Your best bet without any access to visit a local display pro would be to make a judgment call and ask that particular retailer you like about their return or exchange policy based on customer satisfaction. I sure wouldn't recommend crap, nor do I think Projector Central would, but in the end its your eyes and your call. Did you read the review on the Z4? As far as PC blurry text on your old big screen, I can only assume it was 480i or at best 480P and that would explain it to me. Might you be needing a $699 -$799 projector that is more suited for presentations that can "handle" mild home theater use? Just a thought; as this Z4 is a FCC Class-B HT device and that is its segment.

As far as the guide D/L; either:

1. right click, save as, and rename it to whatever.PDF

2. left click - to view it on-screen

I tested both of these methods and it still works.

 

[Stargazer]

I think I am going to go ahead and get the Z4 as the review says its very competitive in price compared to the DLP counterpart. I get the free second bulb and can get the $99 warranty for up to two more bulb replacements. That seems like a sweet deal for me and the screen and free S&H makes it a bonus. This makes it about the same cost or maybe even cheaper than what the cheaper unit would be by the time I figure in the free bulbs and it would be a better unit to have than the cheaper ones.

Anything I get will be better than anything I ever had or ever saw so I am thinking that I should be very satisfied with the product. The SD on the projector might not look as good but it is bound to look a LOT better than my 12 year old SD big screen that gets blurry sometimes.

I really appreciate your help, you have been very helpful with helping me with directing me to the Z4 as it seems like it is the best deal yet in projectors.

By the way, how are these things on portability? Do they get damaged very easily when you take it with you? I thought about taking it back and forth between two homes that I have once I get the other one finished.

 

[dfergie]

Don't know about the Z4, but I take my X1 Camping...

 

[charper1]

I think I am going to go ahead and get the Z4 as the review says its very competitive in price compared to the DLP counterpart. I get the free second bulb and can get the $99 warranty for up to two more bulb replacements. That seems like a sweet deal for me and the screen and free S&H makes it a bonus. This makes it about the same cost or maybe even cheaper than what the cheaper unit would be by the time I figure in the free bulbs and it would be a better unit to have than the cheaper ones.

Anything I get will be better than anything I ever had or ever saw so I am thinking that I should be very satisfied with the product. The SD on the projector might not look as good but it is bound to look a LOT better than my 12 year old SD big screen that gets blurry sometimes.

I really appreciate your help, you have been very helpful with helping me with directing me to the Z4 as it seems like it is the best deal yet in projectors.

By the way, how are these things on portability? Do they get damaged very easily when you take it with you? I thought about taking it back and forth between two homes that I have once I get the other one finished.

I really think you will love it. Mine are specifically ceiling mounted, so no personal experience with portability, but of the 4 people I have turned on to these, one has his table top (no kids or pets) and he takes it to his dads and brothers homes a few times per month. Its ONLY 11lbs!! I sent him this latest deal and says they will be getting their own! I hope he goes to the ceiling mount now.

 

[Stargazer]

I will probably have others wanting one of these after I get mine installed. It might get me into selling and installing these if I get enough interestad. Heck they are comparable in cost with the big screens with a bigger screen and one can take it home rather easily instead of having to carry a big heavy bulky television. This is good for someone wanting to buy on impulse.

 

[charper1]

They are also great to help your peeps with your research as opposed to them running down to the local box store and dropping $5000 + on a tiny 46" - 60" flat screen because thats what they are told they must have. Once you see one of these next to that 46" it is almost unbelievable you just saved so much money, heck you could have bought almost THREE!

 

[Stargazer]

I may end up needing two or three of these in the future so I will have three for the price of one which would be awesome.

 

[charper1]

Yep, check these examples:

Costco

Panasonic 65" HDTV Plasma, Contrast Ratio: 3000:1, $8,499.99 + Shipping & Handling: $220.00

Mitsubishi 73" DLP HDTV, $5,999.99 + Shipping & Handling: $240.00

Sceptre 42" LCD HDTV, Contrast Ratio: 1000:1, $1,999.99 + Plus Shipping & Handling

Envision 42" Plasma TV, $1,499.99 + Shipping & Handling: $165.00

Dell 26" LCD HDTV, $999.99 + Shipping & Handling: $19.00

Shopping.com

Akira PK-8401 84" Plasma Television, 3000:1 contrast $30,000 YIKES!

Fujitsu P63XTA51US 63". HDTV Plasma, 10000:1, $12,000

NEC PlasmaSync PX-84VM5A 84" Plasma $7,000 S&H not listed

 

[Stargazer]

I am surprised that projectors have not gotten anymore popular than they are now. I hope they get even more popular in the future. This would drive prices down even more and this technology would improve and develop even faster.

 

[dfergie]

When you get a projector you can do this Its like being at a drive inn in your back yard...

 

[charper1]

great idea

 

[Stargazer]

That was another thing I thought about doing with this projector. When there are get togethers one can put the projector outside and display it on a large surface. The building I was going to put this in has a large surface area outside I could display the image.

 

[charper1]

Just make sure you have a way to keep the, prying hands, bugs and dust to a minimum. (on the projector's vents & internals and the lamp).

 

[dfergie]

I use Pc speakers with a sub for sound when I take mine camping... A 4'x4' sheet of melamine for the screen (I have used styrofoam)...

 

[Stargazer]

I have an AIWA stereo system that I will use for the sound. It is EXCELLENT! I plan on using that free screen that they should be sending with the mail in offer. I will be getting a free bulb and a free screen and a $99 warranty that will cover two more bulbs over a period of three years. I will have four bulbs so I will have paid almost how much the bulbs are worth for what the projector costs which seems like an excellent deal to me. The bulbs should last me for 3-5 years and by that time it may be time for a replacement projector as technology improves. I would still have this one but I could sell it and use that as part of a payment towards the next one which should be cheaper anyways or just keep this one and have another one.

I just hope one will be able to buy replacement bulbs into the future for these things instead of having to buy a whole new projector because of no replacement bulbs being available.

 

[dfergie]

I have about 2,200 hours on my bulb, its about time for it to go to bulb heaven... DarrellP a pub member here has a good idea, put a couple of dollars in a coffee can or something like that every time you use the PJ and you can pay for the next bulb out of that stash... ( and I do have an old dolby 2.0 sys I could use here at the house)

 

[charper1]

Or better yet, put it into an account that earns interest each month.

 

[Stargazer]

I have my money in CD's that earns interest and some of them goes into my checking account. That money goes towards buying more CD's and paying the credit cards. I am not looking at it as something I cannot afford (at least at this time) but as a large cost over a small amount of time - $250-500 a year or less for a bulb? OUCH! I hope there have not been many issues with the extended warranties and the mail in rebate to get the bulbs and screens. That would be a huge bummer. If someone does not get the bulb and screen then what can one do about it? I do NOT trust the USPS mail system at ALL as they use LOTS of mail. I have to insure everything so that I know that it gets there. They wont pay squat for a peice of paper if it gets lost.