What u think of this estimate for a HT installation?

[slappy]

I moved into a condo with a home theater that has a really, really old projector. I got quotes for a replacement projector. Here is the least expensive option that the audio consultant provided:

Optoma HD 3300 DLP Projector 2D/3D, 1080p, 1800 Lumns, 3,500:1 -- $1999

Key Digital HDMI to cat5e Balun Kit 00 $299

Labor -- $389

I'm looking for fairly good quality, at a reasonable price.

What you think?

Thanks!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I would get the BenQ W7000 3D Projector for $1952 delivered.

Damn, I paid $2200 when I bought my first BenQ W6000!

HTM just reviewed it (magazine) and said the 3D performance is among the BEST.

I have two BenQ W6000, which is the same, but only 2D (instead of 2D/ 3D). Extremely bright! Great colors. Not JVC- great, but still pretty great. But 100% brighter than any $10K JVC even in best calibrated mode!

Oh, yeah, I hate Optoma because my previous $5,000 HD81-LV was in the shops 3 freaking times!

 

[markw]

Get more than one quote.

You really can't compare internet prices to what a consultant will charge.

Understand that when you involve consultants, they will need to be paid for their expertise. They might bump up the hardware price, charge a labor fee, or both. Either way, they get paid for what they know as well as what they supply. But, they should know what works well and how to properly implement it for the best results.

Unless you're willing to buy the thing yourself and install it yourself, look at their quote as a system price for three items: hardware, labor, and expertise.

Perhaps you can find someone that might install what you've bought for a flat/hourly fee but he probbly won't guarantee your satisfaction with the final outcome.

 

[BMXTRIX]

I moved into a condo with a home theater that has a really, really old projector. I got quotes for a replacement projector. Here is the least expensive option that the audio consultant provided:

Optoma HD 3300 DLP Projector 2D/3D, 1080p, 1800 Lumns, 3,500:1 -- $1999

Key Digital HDMI to cat5e Balun Kit 00 $299

Labor -- $389

I'm looking for fairly good quality, at a reasonable price.

What you think?

Thanks!

The Optoma is far from what I would call my first choice. While I'm not a huge fan of BenQ, the W7000 is well reviewed and is a decent model it seems. As well, the Epson 5010 is great as is the JVC RS45.

What size is the screen that is currently in place?

Obviously, no HDMI in place, so a HDMI extender kit is required. Key Digital makes some decent product, but it is very unusual to find a sub $300 balun kit which fully supports 3D, so I'm not sure which model they are providing to you at that price which can deliver full 3D. But, if they say it will, then I would not have reason to say that they can't deliver and I'm not fully aware of all that Key Digital has, but they do list full 3D support on their website.

If there IS access, I'm not sure why a HDMI balun kit would be used instead of just putting in a decent HDMI cable.

In all fairness, the Optoma 3300 seems to be a slightly stepped up version of their entry level HD33. No lens shift, limited zoom range... It certainly would not be my first choice as it falls near the bottom of the range in terms of overall quality. But, the HD33 is fairly well regarded.

Optoma Projectors: Optoma HD3300 DLP projector
vs.
Optoma Projectors: Optoma HD33 DLP projector

I would personally put in the RS45 if your screen size is 110" or less and the labor seems about right. Not sure if your projector mount will work with the new projector, so that's something to keep in mind.

Next would be the Epson 5010. Not sure the Optoma would ever hit my list. If the screen size is larger, the W7000 from BenQ might make it to the list.

 

[slappy]

Thanks for the input.

My screen is big -- maybe 5' x 10'.

The picture from my current projector is really lousy. I watch a lot of golf, and when the camera follows the ball in the air, I can't see a thing. So I'm looking for a projector with a decent picture. Doesn't have to be like a movie theater, just watchable.

I know little about the technology, but I see a lot of projectors online for about $1,000 or so. Are any of these any good or do I really need to spend $3,000 (for projector AND installation) to get what I need?

thanks

 

[BMXTRIX]

You need to know the exact size of your screen and make sure whatever projector you want to buy will work from the throw distance properly and work. If you don't know your exact screen size and throw distance, then you won't get the best responses.

If you want a good image and you have a larger screen, then the W7000 from BenQ is the one I would recommend. It is bright enough to give a nice vibrant image with good color, and the use of DLP technology handles motion a bit better than LCD projectors do. The JVC LCoS projectors are great for movies, but aren't as bright so about 110" is as large as I would recommend for their projectors right now.

There are no $1,000 projectors which will really shine at the size you are at, or will shine in general. They are cheap bottom of the barrel stuff. They look alright, even good, but have significant limitations with brightness, color accuracy, motion handling, black levels, and scaling which just makes me recommend you avoid them.

The better 2d 1080p entry level projectors just don't do a great job with detailed motion like you need while viewing golf.

If you provide detailed height/width measurements and a exact screen to lens measurement, then I could more accurately recommend a projector, but the reality is that $3,000ish is the sweet spot for a mid-line 1080p projector. Your screen in there sounds like it is FAR larger than mid-line of 92" to 120" diagonal.

 

[slappy]

VERY helpful guidance, thanks.

Before I plunked down $3,000-$4,000, I just needed some reassurance that a $1,000 projector wouldn't meet my needs.

My screen is 91 inches by 51 inches. The projector is 11 feet from the screen, at a height of 9.5 feet.

My audio consultant made for recommendations. All prices are installed, and include a Key Digital HDMI.

Optima DLP - $4600
JVC DLA 4500 - $4900
Optima HD 3300 $2700
JVC DLA RS45 - $4100

Strongly prefer BenQ W7000 over these?

thanks again

 

[BMXTRIX]

At 106" diagonal (92"x52" common size!) I would go with the JVC RS45 if you want the absolute best image you will get.

My typical selling price on the RS45 is $2999, add a few hundred for the HDMI extender, and installation and you are pretty close to reasonable at $4,100. I would not get or recommend Optoma.

The W7000 is a nice option, but won't produce an image that is as good as the JVC. It will produce a brighter image, but I'm not sure that is needed with a typical 106" diagonal screen like you have currently.

Price seems reasonable, within a couple hundred of where my pricing would typically be.

 

[slappy]

Great. Thanks again for the input. Really sounds like the JVC is the way to go.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Shouldn't we be doing LED projectors now with 20 yr lamp life?

I hate it when the lamp brightness goes down over time.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Shouldn't we be doing LED projectors now with 20 yr lamp life?

Yep, we should.

There are a few models out there, and I've seen them, and they look really good on screens up to about 110" or so. But, their price is so high that you could buy two RS45s and half a dozen lamps to run in them for the next few years.

I am fairly certain that the bubble will burst on this and in the next few years we will see reasonable priced LED based projectors come to the home theater market and will change this lamp game forever.

 

[slappy]

A final question

OK, I'm ready to pull the trigger but just want to see if there's a less expensive option ($1500-$2500 installed) to the JVC RS45 that doesn't sacrifice much performance. Thoughts?

thanks

 

[BMXTRIX]

The Epson 3010 will produce a very respectable image and will be installed typically for under $2,000... You still will need a mount and whatever else is necessary, which will push price higher. It is far more limited on placement flexibility compared to the nicer Epson 5010, Panasonic AE8000, or JVC projectors which come in closer to $3,000 (not installed).