Sanyo PLV-1080HD home theatre projector NIB- $1200 should I jump on this?

[jinjuku]

There is a guy local to me with NIB Sanyo PLV-1080HD. Should I hop on it at $1200?

 

[lsiberian]

There is a guy local to me with NIB Sanyo PLV-1080HD. Should I hop on it at $1200?

what pj do you have?

 

[jinjuku]

I have no PJ at the moment...

 

[sawzalot]

You will save about 400 dollars as it is about 1600 on line merchant cost. Will you get the warranty ? That may be important as you never know..

 

[jinjuku]

You will save about 400 dollars as it is about 1600 on line merchant cost. Will you get the warranty ? That may be important as you never know..

I sent an email to make sure they have the original sales receipt. Since it is NIB it should have the registration card for warranty.

 

[sawzalot]

If you are in the market for a home projector and you can get the warranty it's a good deal, it is their entry level unit, about 1200 lumens so I guess 1.00 per lumen is pretty fair, lol.

 

[lsiberian]

The main drawback of this unit is it's use of organic panels. These will start to wear out with extended viewing periods(8 hours or more) It's a very quiet projector and great for shelf mounting with it's lens shift feature.

http://www.projectorcentral.com/parts_compare.cfm?pid_1=4674&pid_2=5240&pid_3=5127&pid_4=5156&pid_5=5039&pid_6=5023&pid_7=5157

Ignore the contrast ratings as they are manufactured.

If you plan to ceiling mount I suggest the Mitsubishi HC3800 it's choked full of features and has great zoom for the budget DLP projectors. It's not suitable for rear shelf placement though.

You will want some decent light control for the Sanyo, but some decent curtains over any windows and well placed directional lighting can make for an enjoyable picture. Make sure you do use a brilliant white like surface. If you have a lowe's in your area you can just get them to cut a panel of designer white wilson art laminate. Put some felt on the edges and you have a good screen for pretty cheap.

 

[jinjuku]

The main drawback of this unit is it's use of organic panels. These will start to wear out with extended viewing periods(8 hours or more) It's a very quiet projector and great for shelf mounting with it's lens shift feature.

http://www.projectorcentral.com/parts_compare.cfm?pid_1=4674&pid_2=5240&pid_3=5127&pid_4=5156&pid_5=5039&pid_6=5023&pid_7=5157

Ignore the contrast ratings as they are manufactured.

If you plan to ceiling mount I suggest the Mitsubishi HC3800 it's choked full of features and has great zoom for the budget DLP projectors. It's not suitable for rear shelf placement though.

You will want some decent light control for the Sanyo, but some decent curtains over any windows and well placed directional lighting can make for an enjoyable picture. Make sure you do use a brilliant white like surface. If you have a lowe's in your area you can just get them to cut a panel of designer white wilson art laminate. Put some felt on the edges and you have a good screen for pretty cheap.

I would never come close to an eight hour viewing session. For a screen I was looking at going with Screen Goo (or temporarily Behr Silver Screen).

What are best practices for throw length vs zoom? I assume a 1.0 zoom (no zoom?) is best?

 

[lsiberian]

I would never come close to an eight hour viewing session. For a screen I was looking at going with Screen Goo (or temporarily Behr Silver Screen).

What are best practices for throw length vs zoom? I assume a 1.0 zoom (no zoom?) is best?

Well to get the best screen size you want a closer throw with a higher zoom for this projector.

a 2.0 zoom with a 12' throw gets you a good 120" picture whereas a 1.0 zoom limits you to like 90" screen before you lose enough lumens to make a good picture.

http://www.projectorcentral.com/Sanyo-PLV-1080HD-projection-calculator-pro.htm use this to figure out your distance and zoom. You want to stay in the middle of the green ideally in a light control situation. If you have ambient light issues then you will want to get into the early part of the red. If your daytime watching is limited to sports than don't worry too much about the ambient light because sports are very bright events.

 

[jostenmeat]

What are best practices for throw length vs zoom? I assume a 1.0 zoom (no zoom?) is best?

Check this out. In my extremely limited experiences, this type of calculator is pretty conservative, and can be extended upon in the real world.

http://www.projectorcentral.com/Sanyo-PLV-1080HD-projection-calculator-pro.htm

doh, I see that tiger already linked it... anyways...

otherwise, my instinct right now tells me that I want to tell you to hold off to research more. A little part of me wants to see you get a better PJ too, but that's entirely easy for me to say. Just let me add that once you see how far money goes with a PJ, it will be easier to loosen the purse strings. PJs are freaking amazing, and since IIRC this is in a basement . . . you'll most likely reap the benefits of any improvement.

I would first try to narrow it down between LCD and DLP I think, for instance. Hm, I guess I would probably go with LCD due to what will most likely be a lower noise floor and easier placement. However, if your placement flexibility is very good, then that won't matter. Hm.

BMX, where are you?

 

[jinjuku]

Well to get the best screen size you want a closer throw with a higher zoom for this projector.

a 2.0 zoom with a 12' throw gets you a good 120" picture whereas a 1.0 zoom limits you to like 90" screen before you lose enough lumens to make a good picture.

http://www.projectorcentral.com/Sanyo-PLV-1080HD-projection-calculator-pro.htm use this to figure out your distance and zoom. You want to stay in the middle of the green ideally in a light control situation. If you have ambient light issues then you will want to get into the early part of the red. If your daytime watching is limited to sports than don't worry too much about the ambient light because sports are very bright events.

Should I consider the Optoma HD20 or BENQ W1000 over the Sanyo?

 

[jinjuku]

Check this out. In my extremely limited experiences, this type of calculator is pretty conservative, and can be extended upon in the real world.

http://www.projectorcentral.com/Sanyo-PLV-1080HD-projection-calculator-pro.htm

doh, I see that tiger already linked it... anyways...

otherwise, my instinct right now tells me that I want to tell you to hold off to research more. A little part of me wants to see you get a better PJ too, but that's entirely easy for me to say. Just let me add that once you see how far money goes with a PJ, it will be easier to loosen the purse strings. PJs are freaking amazing, and since IIRC this is in a basement . . . you'll most likely reap the benefits of any improvement.

I would first try to narrow it down between LCD and DLP I think, for instance. Hm, I guess I would probably go with LCD due to what will most likely be a lower noise floor and easier placement. However, if your placement flexibility is very good, then that won't matter. Hm.

BMX, where are you?

Unfortunately this isn't in a basement. But most of my movie viewing will happen at night anyhow.

The room is ~ 22LX18WX11H I will post some pics...

 

[lsiberian]

Should I consider the Optoma HD20 or BENQ W1000 over the Sanyo?

Only if you are certain about placement any Projector will blow you away even a good 720p one. For most of us size matters most as long as the picture is good enough.

I'd personally go for the Sanyo due to it's placement flexibility and their known high reliability. I'm probably going to get a Sanyo PLV-z60 for my next PJ. This your first PJ and you really don't know what you like until you have a chance to experiment. Do you have a white wall?

Don't get me wrong DLP looks fantastic, but it's very rigid in placement situations. Also there is the RBE.

 

[lsiberian]

I gotta head home from work, but when I get home. I'll take a look and see what would be best. Maybe BMX will jump on and settle this once and for all.

 

[jinjuku]

Here is the room:

 

[lsiberian]

Well PJ can be done in that room, but you will need a curtain for the window. Do your lights have dimmer? If not I do suggest you get one.

An easy way to figure out the problem lights is to turn on a light and see if it lights up the wall. It also appears you have an open back area, if so you will need a ceiling mount.

I love PJs, but for that room I'd almost suggest a TV. I just think a PJ maybe more work than it's worth.

 

[jinjuku]

Well PJ can be done in that room, but you will need a curtain for the window. Do your lights have dimmer? If not I do suggest you get one.

An easy way to figure out the problem lights is to turn on a light and see if it lights up the wall. It also appears you have an open back area, if so you will need a ceiling mount.

I love PJs, but for that room I'd almost suggest a TV. I just think a PJ maybe more work than it's worth.

Well, the lights turn off... and I was planning on ceiling mounting it from the get go.

I am not sure why it would be too much work.

 

[lsiberian]

I am not sure why it would be too much work.

It was late and I wasn't thinking clearly.

I suggest we do the Sanyo since it's very placement flexible, quiet, with no possible Rainbow Effect. Get a nice curtain for the window and you should be good to go room wise.

You can use the projector center calculator to get the appropriate starting size at least. You will need to determine a screen size before you can try out the PJ.

I suggest a few experimental trips to the movies to see what your household prefers unless you already know.

If you don't mind a higher screen you may be able to use a matching center at ear level. But don't get carried away or eye strain will get you.

 

[jinjuku]

It was late and I wasn't thinking clearly.

I suggest we do the Sanyo since it's very placement flexible, quiet, with no possible Rainbow Effect. Get a nice curtain for the window and you should be good to go room wise.

You can use the projector center calculator to get the appropriate starting size at least. You will need to determine a screen size before you can try out the PJ.

I suggest a few experimental trips to the movies to see what your household prefers unless you already know.

If you don't mind a higher screen you may be able to use a matching center at ear level. But don't get carried away or eye strain will get you.

I was thinking that with the ceiling height I could get a center channel going at ear level.

Also with the height I thought it would open up the ability to use DLP since they tend to be less flexible in adjusting where you want the screen to throw.

I am still kind of hoping that with all the new 1080p's coming out that I could get a used Sanyo/Panasonic 720p unit for ~$600 but people still feel like asking ~$800. I was thinking this just because the 3D projectors are going to start hitting in a year or two OR I could hold on 5 years and wait out for an LED projector (assuming they hit the market in the time frame).

 

[jinjuku]

I can optimally place the projector anywhere from 15-20 feet back. What is going to be an optimal screen size/zoom setting?