Is this a good Deal?

[David Gaudreau]

Is this a good deal and a good projector?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-VPL-VW100-SXRD-Front-Projection-New-VPLVW100_W0QQitemZ280019076235QQihZ018QQcategoryZ75421QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[BMXTRIX]

I would say yes. eBay can be risky at times, but good sellers tend to be rated very well for a very good reason and I've bought several $1K+ items on eBay without any of them ever being an issue.

Check out the warranty though and ask what it covers.

Most of all - be sure the Ruby (that projector) is appropriate for your setup. Sure, it's a great 1080p model, but I've heard that the lamps aren't terribly bright and about 100" diagonal is about right for it unless you go to a higher gain screen than typical.

Also be aware that replacement lamps are listed at $1,000! Not cheap if the first one goes in 12 months or less due to heavy usage.

 

[David Gaudreau]

I guess I'll stick with the Optima HD72, Cause I wanted to use a 120" screen, in a completly dark room. I don't think you would see much difference in picture quality would you?

 

[mtrycrafts]

I guess I'll stick with the Optima HD72, Cause I wanted to use a 120" screen, in a completly dark room. I don't think you would see much difference in picture quality would you?

Uhm, that 120" may be fine in a completely dark room: Is that a 16x9 screen or 1.85?
What have you used before? I am using it on a 114", 1.85, 1.5 gain screen at minimum distance of 1.41x width as it places more lumens on the screen, a bunch more, in fact. Plenty bright, a lot brighter than a CRT And maybe brighter than the 16F-L theater standard that many theaters don't meet, about half, actually.

Unless you watch a lot of movies, lamp costs should be coming down, and, there seems to be just the lamp replacements available too. Sony sells the whole lamp/heatsink assembly.
With the upcoming HD DVD you may want to consider it. AVS has a lot of chat about it.

The only problem is proper calibration as it needs more than the Digital Video Essentials. Few calibrators out there who have played with it and would not want a first timer to it to calibrate. People do like it a lot

 

[BMXTRIX]

On a side note... I would really hold off on any front projection purchase for about 30 days until CEDIA 2006 is over with. The cheaper projeectors like the AE900 and Z4 type stuff is fine, but if you have the budget for a nicer display, like one of the 1080p models, then we are likely to see those models on display with (maybe) some actual street dates and pricing at CEDIA. So, the Optoma HD81 projector may actually be available...

http://www.projectorcentral.com/Optoma-HD81.htm

There are most definitely going to be more and more 1080p offerrings in the very near future. If you already have something, then I would hold off on that upgrade. If you are considering something brand new, then go cheap, or wait a month.

I think I'm still going to wait about a year. I want to see what the 1080p LCDs end up looking like. Hope CEDIA has at least a prototype or something.

 

[Rob Babcock]

I've been thinking of buying the Mitsubishi HC3000U; it's almost hard to imagine how it could get any cheaper. Still, if it's gonna it'll be after CEDIA. Even though 1080P digital PJs are around the corner, I'm probably going to get a decent 720P and live with it til the prices drop on the next gen.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Even though 1080P digital PJs are around the corner, I'm probably going to get a decent 720P and live with it til the prices drop on the next gen.

Well, at least one is here already
How low do you want it to go? Right now the DVD is the weak link, especially the older non-anamorphic ones