AH'ers in the Kentuckyiana (projector demo)?

[jinjuku]

Are there any LCD/DLP/LCOS sporting AH'ers in the Louisville/Indiana area? I want to see a setup of DLP and LCD if I can...

Thanks.

[jostenmeat]

Not AHers, but dealers are worth a shot. Yeah, probably uncalibrated, with a dead bulb, and poor light control, but hey.

Plug in zip codes here:

http://www.optomausa.com/retailers.asp

http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/d...e_id=00&code=D

can't find a locator at Epson
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/s...iew&oid=122663

I got this Pana locator . . .
http://b2b.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/...odl_catg_id=54

. . . directly from here
http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp...odel=PT-D4000U

[jinjuku]

That was my worry. I tried BB (I know, I know!) and it was what I expected: A joke.

Actually I tried them twice: First time I waited for 45 minutes and no employee approached me.

2nd time they didn't seem real enthused to show me the Mitsu 6800 (hooked up via component and no HD sources) nor the JVC in the other room. They do offer a 30 day return policy however. I feel like getting the two or three projectors I want to look at and return the unit(s) I am not keeping. Sometimes you just have to do things yourself.

[jostenmeat]

That was my worry. I tried BB (I know, I know!) and it was what I expected: A joke.

Actually I tried them twice: First time I waited for 45 minutes and no employee approached me.

2nd time they didn't seem real enthused to show me the Mitsu 6800 (hooked up via component and no HD sources) nor the JVC in the other room. They do offer a 30 day return policy however. I feel like getting the two or three projectors I want to look at and return the unit(s) I am not keeping. Sometimes you just have to do things yourself.

In all honesty, I think you are relatively safe in researching via forums to choose your PJ. There is less subjectivity, I think, in choosing a display than there is with buying speakers. And heck, plenty of people buy speakers without a single audition from an ID brand, for instance. I'm not saying that's you, obviously.

I think . . . it depends on the price tag you are willing to cough up for. If getting up to the 2k range, like I've apprehensively pushed you towards, I'd go with Epson. Then Panasonic. The main reason Id try Panasonic is for the zoom memory (which might prove to be super cool), but otherwise I want the historically better black levels of the Epson. However, again, as many would say, you can't go wrong with either considering the price point.

LCD is quieter. Important to you. Easier to place. Possibly a moot point.

Now at half that price, Id research Optoma HD20 and Viewsonic.

In between at 1.5k, I really don't know.

Anyways, the point is that you can really narrow down choices with PJs. If I said I had 1k for speakers, I'm sure you could give me a hundred possibilities.

I know, I know, I'm stating the obvious perhaps. Just trying to be a sounding board I guess.



edit: Feierman said this about the Optoma. I think you'll want LCD.

On the other hand, its small size is also probably why it makes more fan noise than most other home theater projectors.

edit #2: LCOS means only JVC as far as I am concerned, and that price point is too high outside of the used market.

[majorloser]

You know you want this:

http://store.audioholics.com/product...8100-projector

[jostenmeat]

Same reviewer cited:

Epson Home Cinema 6500UB vs. Epson Home Cinema 6100

This is easy - standard vs ultra high contrast. The Home Cinema 6100 sells for under $2000 in the US, roughly at 2/3 the price of the Epson. The brightness is almost identical. The 6500UB, of course wins in black levels, the big difference between these two. Of course, the 6500UB also has frame interpolation, but, considering its implementation, based on our sample unit, many people will not use it for anything but sports viewing.

If you just want a classic 1080p projector with good black level performance, and a great price, go with the 6100. If you are an enthusiast, in persuit of the best possible image, and that usually means black level performance is a big consideration, then scrape up the extra dollars, because if you settle for the 6100, even if it fully pleases you, you are likely to spend a lot of time agonizing whether you should have dug deeper for the top of the line Epson.

Also, AFAIK, the 6100/8100 use organic panels. Not the case with 6500/8500 AFAIK. Even if they were both using inorganic, I still think it's worth ponying up for better blacks. This price point has not yet hit diminishing returns, IMHO.


You know, the major could be right though. You'd probably enjoy it quite a lot. But as the reviewer stated, no second guessing. I am really glad I got the best PJ I could afford at the time. I'd see what the fine differences are between 6100 and 8100, and what the cost difference is.

[majorloser]

I bought the 7500 last year and LOVE IT.

[jinjuku]

One of my major concerns is RBE with the DLP based units. As long as I can return it, no problems.

BB at least has:

Competitive pricing and 0% financing (36 months). Even though I don't need to finance it, at 0% why not.

[jostenmeat]

One of my major concerns is RBE with the DLP based units. As long as I can return it, no problems.

I'm still honestly more worried about noise for you than RBE.

BB at least has:

Competitive pricing and 0% financing (36 months). Even though I don't need to finance it, at 0% why not.

Why not? Because if you don't need to, it's limiting your selection.

[majorloser]

I will NEVER buy a DLP ever again. I've had a Yamaha and a Optoma and they both lasted about 3 years each before the TI chip driver boards fried.