Hi. I am wondering how the Infocus IN83 compares to the Marantz VP-15S1 and Sharp XV-Z20000, and even the Marantz VP-11S2. I know the 11S2 has a faster color wheel than the other three, but other than that, I'm curious to know why the Sharp and Marantz projectors are priced higher than the IN83. Projectorreview's review of the IN83 said the color accuracy was great, as was the sharpness, and shadow detail. Art said the only thing about the IN83 that wasn't amazing was that the blacks were only exceptional. So if that's true, what else is there? What do the Sharp XV-Z20000 and the Marantz VP-11S2 do better? And how does the IN83's video processing compare to the custom video processing of the Marantz' projectors, and to that of the Sharp XV-Z20000?

Thank you

Also, how much is the IN83 selling for from AVSCIENCE?

For pricing on the IN83, you have to call avs directly.

Between projectors there are differences.

All 3 are very good in there own right. The Sharp 20000 and Marantz VP-11S2 being closer in performance then the IN83.

Here is what you have to ask yourself...

1. Throw Distance - Marantz with the standard lens allows greater placement flexibility (distance & Vertical Lens Shift). Sharp allows nice lens shift (vertical). Infocus you have to be careful how you place the projector.
2. Black levels in best mode - Marantz and Sharp are closer, with the marantz still being the victor, Infocus is still good but not great.
3. RBE - If you are sensitive to this you have no choice but the Marantz (6X Colorwheel)
4. Image Fidelity - The Marantz "looks" the most natural of the 3. Not sure what all contributes to this but looks less digital and more like looking through a window. The other 2 are still very good in this respect.
5. The Marantz video processor is the best of the bunch
6. Price... Marantz is more then the other 2 by a few $$$... If you are going to swap out a projector every year, dont get the Marantz. If you are going to keep it for a "while" the only way to get a decent price at this point is the lightly used market.
7. Sharps may only be avail lightly used.
8. Infocus is harder to place because of no lens shift.
9. How big a screen you going to use?

Hi. I am wondering how the Infocus IN83 compares to the Marantz VP-15S1 and Sharp XV-Z20000, and even the Marantz VP-11S2. I know the 11S2 has a faster color wheel than the other three, but other than that, I'm curious to know why the Sharp and Marantz projectors are priced higher than the IN83. Projectorreview's review of the IN83 said the color accuracy was great, as was the sharpness, and shadow detail. Art said the only thing about the IN83 that wasn't amazing was that the blacks were only exceptional. So if that's true, what else is there? What do the Sharp XV-Z20000 and the Marantz VP-11S2 do better? And how does the IN83's video processing compare to the custom video processing of the Marantz' projectors, and to that of the Sharp XV-Z20000?

Thank you
I think Infocus wised up after dropping the price of their former flagship, a 720p 3-chip DLP, from 30k to 14k to 9k and lower over about a year and a half. They realized the market was growing for projectors in the $500 to $7000 range and their former attempt to be successul in the 10k to 30k range was putting them on the verge of extinction.

From what I hear, the Sharp can be bought for not a whole lot more than the Infocus...it's really just the Marantz that is in a different category price-wise. By the way, the earlier 720p version of the Sharp went from retailing for 13k to selling for one-tenth that. That should give you an example of how prices have dropped and what Infocus was up against.

If this is your first projector, you would probably be better off getting something like the Sony VW10 or the JVC RS10. LCOS projectors have wide zooms and more placement flexibility and that could come in handy in your room, plus you would not have to be concerned about rainbows. The Marantz would be way too much money to spend on a first projector and the Sharp is not all that bright.

I can't stand LCD's. I looked at hundreds of LCD's at Best Buy and hated almost every one. I'd rather watch my old tube tv than those. The Sharp Acquos with 120hz was decent. A lot of them looked very good from a distance when playing blurays, but they were all terrible with satellite feeds. The motion blur was just unbearable and unforgivable for TV's in that price range. Anyway, that's why I'm going for a DLP. I can't stand motion blur. My whole family can see it on those tv's, so I don't know how other people don't or think it's a "minor thing" that people "barely notice." It's there every time the camera angle changes or whenever anything moves.

Anyway, I'm not going to be able to buy a new PJ every year. My budget for a projector itself was really only $3,000 at the max back when I thought I'd have to spend $1000 just to get a decent screen, but now that I know I can get a decent screen for $300+, and now that I've set my sights on the IN83 since it's the cheapest DC4 PJ and got great reviews, plus someone offered it to me for $3500 (although now I can't buy from him because of he uses paypal and I don't), I can raise my PJ budget to around $3500. But then I saw Marantz VP-15s1 (I believe it was the 15s1) being sold used on avs classifieds for $4500, and I felt ridiculous paying $3500 for an IN83 projector when a projector with twice the MSRP and by marantz (don't they use the same processing as faraudja, who are apparently the best at that?) going for only $1000 more. I figured something had to be wrong with it. Anyway now it's not listed there anymore so I don't know if it got sold or what.

Anyway, in Art Feierman's (or whatever his last name is) review, he said, regarding the IN83, that "Perhaps it has something to do with the Darkchip4, the latest DLP processor, but I've never before had any projector here that produces such a natural looking and color accurate image, after calibration."

Wouldn't that suggest that the IN83 has a more natural and accurate image than the Marantz, as well as every and any other PJ out there, from $100 to $10000000000?
Or has he just not seen the Marantz or any other $15,000 - $20,000 projector? But I'm sure he's at least seen some high end Sim2's, and Runco's, and Marantz', or if not those, at least some $30,000+ projectors. So is he really saying that the $3500 - $4,000 IN83 has a more natural and accurate image than even those $30,000 - $50,000 projectors?

That just doesn't make any sense to me.

Anyway, as for the rainbow effect, I don't really know. I've only ever seen one DLP projector. Someone was nice enough to give me a few hour long demo of his Optoma HD80, and I didn't really notice any rainbow effect, or even know what is was. I did notice a few kind of grids/lines on the screen when the screen was light blue I believe, during a southwest commercial, but just once. I also noticed a tiny bit of motion once or twice but much much less than the LCD tv's, even though his screen was much bigger than the average LCD tv. And when he played me an analog dvd it looked incredible. Come to think of it though, I noticed a lot of motion blur on the rear projection DLP televisions in best buy as well, even on the Mitsubishi Diamond, even though it was less.

What I didn't like about the Optoma HD80 was that standard def content from the satellite was pretty unwatchable. On a few channels it wasn't as bad, which suggests it has a lot to do with the feed, but I'm looking for a PJ that handles standard def much better than that. Feeds will be bad, unfortunately, but I still want to be able to watch tv. So I want the PJ to be great enough that even bad standard def feeds look good. I mean every standard def feed looks good on my old, $200 tube tv, so if I'm going to spend thousands on a projector, it should be able to handle standard def and high def.

Anyway, my main question is how can the marantz have a better picture than the IN83 if Art Feierman says the IN83 has the most accurate and natural image he's ever seen?
Also, if I were to go after the sharp or the marantz, are you saying the marantz is the one to go with? And does the 15s1 even use the DC4? Also, doesn't the 15s1 only have a 5x color wheel speed, just like the IN83? (unless the IN83 has 4x color wheel speed. I've heard both so im not sure). I don't think there's any way I could afford the 11s2 unless it's selling close to $4000 used. I assume it isn't. What about the 15s1. Was the price I saw a rarity or can one usually find it for around $4,000 used?

And if I were to buy a used pj, where can one buy used electronics from where you know you wont get ripped off? Or how?

The lens on the sharp and marantz units cost almost as much as the entire infocus projector itself. The best out there period but very costly. Infocus went with the 4X color wheel speed for 'brightness'. 4X wheel speeds are horrible for RBE. The build quality on the sharp and marantz units make the infocus feel like paper. Not that it matters to image quality but it is an issue never the less.

If I had the dollars I would go with the 6X wheel speed 11S2. Virtually no RBE at all.

The 15S2 looks amazing and costs less.

The Sharp 20000 for the 'price' is a better projector than the infocus in image quality and has the best 'non dynamic' iris design of any projector out there by a long shot.

What is the contrast ration for the IN83? I thought it was pretty low (2k -4k:1). Combined with its high brightness, I would think the blacks would be less than "exceptional". You can check out some of the black level pics in Art's review of the Panasonic 3000 with the usual caveats regarding screen shots. Long story short, the IN83's black level was nowhere near any of the other projectors.

I can't stand LCD's. I looked at hundreds of LCD's at Best Buy and hated almost every one. I'd rather watch my old tube tv than those. The Sharp Acquos with 120hz was decent. A lot of them looked very good from a distance when playing blurays, but they were all terrible with satellite feeds. The motion blur was just unbearable and unforgivable for TV's in that price range. Anyway, that's why I'm going for a DLP. I can't stand motion blur. My whole family can see it on those tv's, so I don't know how other people don't or think it's a "minor thing" that people "barely notice." It's there every time the camera angle changes or whenever anything moves.

Anyway, I'm not going to be able to buy a new PJ every year. My budget for a projector itself was really only $3,000 at the max back when I thought I'd have to spend $1000 just to get a decent screen, but now that I know I can get a decent screen for $300+, and now that I've set my sights on the IN83 since it's the cheapest DC4 PJ and got great reviews, plus someone offered it to me for $3500 (although now I can't buy from him because of he uses paypal and I don't), I can raise my PJ budget to around $3500.

I think all three are out of your pricerange, the Marantz by quite a bit I believe. Frankly it's probably a good thing you didn't buy it at $3500 because that seems awefuly low (though I've been surprised, by AVS, before).

Your budget isn't much different than mine was (yours is a bit lower), and the Marantz was out of my league, but that was about 9 months ago.

But then I saw Marantz VP-15s1 (I believe it was the 15s1) being sold used on avs classifieds for $4500, and I felt ridiculous paying $3500 for an IN83 projector when a projector with twice the MSRP and by marantz (don't they use the same processing as faraudja, who are apparently the best at that?) going for only $1000 more. I figured something had to be wrong with it. Anyway now it's not listed there anymore so I don't know if it got sold or what.

A couple things, don't even think about MSRPs, they're basically meaningless anymore. If you want to compare prices your best bet it to find out the real prices from an authorized dealer.

As far as processors go, I'd be looking for HQV Reon or the like personally. Though my old InFocus, which used a Pixelworks (IIRC) was pretty good too. You don't see Faroudja much anymore, for some reason.

Anyway, in Art Feierman's (or whatever his last name is) review, he said, regarding the IN83, that "Perhaps it has something to do with the Darkchip4, the latest DLP processor, but I've never before had any projector here that produces such a natural looking and color accurate image, after calibration."

Wouldn't that suggest that the IN83 has a more natural and accurate image than the Marantz, as well as every and any other PJ out there, from $100 to $10000000000? Or has he just not seen the Marantz or any other $15,000 - $20,000 projector?

No, it would suggest it's the best he's seen/tested, and it doesn't look like he's tested the Marantz. I think the "here" in the statement is important, of the projectors he's actually had/reviewed, the Infocus was the best. But he hasn't reviewed any Sim2s, 1080p Marantz, etc. You might want to look at Jason's review of the Marantz 15S1 and IN82s:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=934831&highlight=marantz+infocus

But I'm sure he's at least seen some high end Sim2's, and Runco's, and Marantz', or if not those, at least some $30,000+ projectors. So is he really saying that the $3500 - $4,000 IN83 has a more natural and accurate image than even those $30,000 - $50,000 projectors?

That just doesn't make any sense to me.

Just read it carefully and take it for what it means. I read it that it's the best projector he's tested/reviewed, which doesn't appear to include the high-end Marantz, Sharp, Sim2, etc.

Anyway, as for the rainbow effect, I don't really know. I've only ever seen one DLP projector. Someone was nice enough to give me a few hour long demo of his Optoma HD80, and I didn't really notice any rainbow effect, or even know what is was.

Sounds good, you're probably fine then.

I did notice a few kind of grids/lines on the screen when the screen was light blue I believe, during a southwest commercial, but just once. I also noticed a tiny bit of motion once or twice but much much less than the LCD tv's, even though his screen was much bigger than the average LCD tv. And when he played me an analog dvd it looked incredible. Come to think of it though, I noticed a lot of motion blur on the rear projection DLP televisions in best buy as well, even on the Mitsubishi Diamond, even though it was less.

What I didn't like about the Optoma HD80 was that standard def content from the satellite was pretty unwatchable. On a few channels it wasn't as bad, which suggests it has a lot to do with the feed, but I'm looking for a PJ that handles standard def much better than that. Feeds will be bad, unfortunately, but I still want to be able to watch tv. So I want the PJ to be great enough that even bad standard def feeds look good.

I think you may have unrealistic expectations about SD handling.

I mean every standard def feed looks good on my old, $200 tube tv, so if I'm going to spend thousands on a projector, it should be able to handle standard def and high def.

A $200 tube TV has a few things going for it that a good projector doesn't:
It's quite small
It's refresh rate is low/interlaced, obscuring lots of artifacts
It can't resolve detail very well

Anyway, my main question is how can the marantz have a better picture than the IN83 if Art Feierman says the IN83 has the most accurate and natural image he's ever seen?

He hasn't reviewed the Marantz.

Also, if I were to go after the sharp or the marantz, are you saying the marantz is the one to go with? And does the 15s1 even use the DC4? Also, doesn't the 15s1 only have a 5x color wheel speed, just like the IN83? (unless the IN83 has 4x color wheel speed. I've heard both so im not sure). I don't think there's any way I could afford the 11s2 unless it's selling close to $4000 used. I assume it isn't. What about the 15s1. Was the price I saw a rarity or can one usually find it for around $4,000 used?

And if I were to buy a used pj, where can one buy used electronics from where you know you wont get ripped off? Or how?

That's the thing, you never "know" you're not going to get ripped off buying used. Really the only way to be sure would be to demo the machine and pick it up in person. Buying used without seeing the product first hand is always a risk, all be it a small one on AVS IMO.

Seriously, a couple closing comments.
Call AV Science and talk to one of them, both Jason and Marc have been quite helpful to me in the past.
$3500 budget, I think all the machines you've mentioned are beyond your budget, unless you get lucky used.
If you're serious about those, I think the Planar 8150, and Sim2 D60 are in that range though (that of the Marantz/Sharp/IN83).
In your budget, you'll really probably want to be looking at something like the BenQ W20000 (or save some money with the W5000). The Planar 8130 might be in that ballpark as well.
Call AV Science ;)

While the black levels of the IN83 might be higher than the other ones, isn't that because it is something like 2x or 3x brighter? If you want to use a 12ft wide screen (that isn't high gain), the IN83 is the only realistic choice of the three...as long as your not RBE sensitive.

While the black levels of the IN83 might be higher than the other ones, isn't that because it is something like 2x or 3x brighter?

Depending on how you set it up, that could be part of it. If you close down the iris to the same output as some other alternatives (RSx, VW*, etc) the IN83 will probably still have a higher black level due to it having lower (in the case of the RSx) Native CR, or no Dynamic Iris (in the case of the others).

I can't stand LCD's. I looked at hundreds of LCD's at Best Buy and hated almost every one. I'd rather watch my old tube tv than those. The Sharp Acquos with 120hz was decent. A lot of them looked very good from a distance when playing blurays, but they were all terrible with satellite feeds. The motion blur was just unbearable and unforgivable for TV's in that price range. Anyway, that's why I'm going for a DLP. I can't stand motion blur. My whole family can see it on those tv's, so I don't know how other people don't or think it's a "minor thing" that people "barely notice." It's there every time the camera angle changes or whenever anything moves.

Anyway, I'm not going to be able to buy a new PJ every year. My budget for a projector itself was really only $3,000 at the max back when I thought I'd have to spend $1000 just to get a decent screen, but now that I know I can get a decent screen for $300+, and now that I've set my sights on the IN83 since it's the cheapest DC4 PJ and got great reviews, plus someone offered it to me for $3500 (although now I can't buy from him because of he uses paypal and I don't), I can raise my PJ budget to around $3500. But then I saw Marantz VP-15s1 (I believe it was the 15s1) being sold used on avs classifieds for $4500, and I felt ridiculous paying $3500 for an IN83 projector when a projector with twice the MSRP and by marantz (don't they use the same processing as faraudja, who are apparently the best at that?) going for only $1000 more. I figured something had to be wrong with it. Anyway now it's not listed there anymore so I don't know if it got sold or what.

Anyway, in Art Feierman's (or whatever his last name is) review, he said, regarding the IN83, that "Perhaps it has something to do with the Darkchip4, the latest DLP processor, but I've never before had any projector here that produces such a natural looking and color accurate image, after calibration."

Wouldn't that suggest that the IN83 has a more natural and accurate image than the Marantz, as well as every and any other PJ out there, from $100 to $10000000000?
Or has he just not seen the Marantz or any other $15,000 - $20,000 projector? But I'm sure he's at least seen some high end Sim2's, and Runco's, and Marantz', or if not those, at least some $30,000+ projectors. So is he really saying that the $3500 - $4,000 IN83 has a more natural and accurate image than even those $30,000 - $50,000 projectors?

That just doesn't make any sense to me.

Anyway, as for the rainbow effect, I don't really know. I've only ever seen one DLP projector. Someone was nice enough to give me a few hour long demo of his Optoma HD80, and I didn't really notice any rainbow effect, or even know what is was. I did notice a few kind of grids/lines on the screen when the screen was light blue I believe, during a southwest commercial, but just once. I also noticed a tiny bit of motion once or twice but much much less than the LCD tv's, even though his screen was much bigger than the average LCD tv. And when he played me an analog dvd it looked incredible. Come to think of it though, I noticed a lot of motion blur on the rear projection DLP televisions in best buy as well, even on the Mitsubishi Diamond, even though it was less.

What I didn't like about the Optoma HD80 was that standard def content from the satellite was pretty unwatchable. On a few channels it wasn't as bad, which suggests it has a lot to do with the feed, but I'm looking for a PJ that handles standard def much better than that. Feeds will be bad, unfortunately, but I still want to be able to watch tv. So I want the PJ to be great enough that even bad standard def feeds look good. I mean every standard def feed looks good on my old, $200 tube tv, so if I'm going to spend thousands on a projector, it should be able to handle standard def and high def.

Anyway, my main question is how can the marantz have a better picture than the IN83 if Art Feierman says the IN83 has the most accurate and natural image he's ever seen?
Also, if I were to go after the sharp or the marantz, are you saying the marantz is the one to go with? And does the 15s1 even use the DC4? Also, doesn't the 15s1 only have a 5x color wheel speed, just like the IN83? (unless the IN83 has 4x color wheel speed. I've heard both so im not sure). I don't think there's any way I could afford the 11s2 unless it's selling close to $4000 used. I assume it isn't. What about the 15s1. Was the price I saw a rarity or can one usually find it for around $4,000 used?

And if I were to buy a used pj, where can one buy used electronics from where you know you wont get ripped off? Or how?
The Sony and JVC I mentoned are not LCDs.

DLP dithering can be annoying. Definitely demo as many projectors as you can.

The Sony and JVC I mentoned are not LCDs.

DLP dithering can be annoying. Definitely demo as many projectors as you can.

A proper demonstration of different products is really the only way to know what best fits personal image priorities and sensitivities. Some people are senstive to sample and hold motion smear/blur with some LCOS (SXRD/D-ILA) products some see RBE dither and RBE. The image "look" can also be different and again personal taste comes into to play.

Demo, demo, demo.....

D

Too bad asside from traveling to AV Science, you're unlikely to find a real, quality demo.

Too bad asside from traveling to AV Science, you're unlikely to find a real, quality demo.
It has been getting better. It used to be the image at showrooms would always be too dim, both because the projectors did not have a whole lot of lumens and because the high gain screens that all of these low-lumens projectors were screaming for would lose out to an expensive but low gain Stewart screen. Worse, the projector would usually be calibrated and set up to ensure all the options that could still make for a decently bright image, such as high bulb, dynamic mode, tweaking the colors, and so on, would be turned off. In the past few years, I have demoed an RS1 on a 110" high gain Silverstar, the 1600-lumens Epson 1080UB in it's bright vivid mode on a moderately-sized white screen, an Infocus SP777 light cannon on a 92" or so Firehawk, a Sony Ruby on a 92" Firehawk, and a SIM2 HT3000E on a 100" Firehawk, at five different showrooms and all were very good demos.

Yeah, well the last projector I "demoed" was a Pioneer Kuro, and it was on a screen way too small (like 80" maybe), in a light colored room, showing ESPN HD. I walked away from the "demo" being totally uninterested in it (and thus the RS20), not bad, just far from "wow". My "lowly" BenQ W5000 with Panamorph P752 lens shooting a 110" wide 2.35:1 screen in my basement throws a picture that evokes much more of a reaction (positive).

I had about the same experience demoing an HD51 a long time ago.

Hey stranger,

Ya interested in selling the P752 and upgrading?

Scott

Don't tempt me :D

I wouldn't(you need to upgrade) do that. After all the(you need to upgrade) the P752 WAS a good lens in its day. (you need to upgrade) even thogh it was a long long time ago.

Scott

I just ordered IN83 from AVS . I will be installing it in my family room which of course is not light controlled and will need acoustically transparent screen because of center channel placement issues and want at least 9-10 ft wide 16:9 screen. After going to and fro between various PJ's , IN83 seemed to be the only chioce that will fit my needs . The review at cine4home is very favorable and its CR compares very well to marantz and z20000 if the light output from the PJ's is similar .
Here is the link....read posts 84 and 85. CR of IN83 is definitely better than marantz for same light output. However with IN83 I can still watch games in daytime on the big screen.
You may want to read cine4home reviews of all 3 PJ's

Dear SHARP: If I were in your shoes, I'd be grateful having in my hands right now a budget threshold of $3,500 for a projector. Though my mind is 99% settled on an Infocus IN83, I will not, however, choosed any second-hand unit. No way. As well, though the IN83 is the most affordable among three DC4 models, a sparklingly new unit is beyond my league. For the meantime. Hence, I'd take the next best route - lower my expectations. Should I be frustrated, maybe a little bit, but only for a time. Because Infocus might adopt the Denon manufacturing tack - to survive. How? Well Denon made the uber-player of all DVD players - the 5910. But at its $3,500 MSRP price tag, it could not efficiently fill Denon's coffers. Hence, in a matter of around 18 months later, Denon wised up. It released the 3930. 3930 sported the same HQV Realta video chip - the heart of the 5910's superlative upscaling distinction. But this time an HQV Realta-equipped player is selling for only $1,500 MSRP. The only thing missing from that of the 5910 is the so-called THX certification and the DVDO video scaler.

I believed Infocus will likely take such a marketing/manufacturing approach - making a DC4 model thats priced lower than the first generation, flagship IN83. The only thing is that we await it. But as you're after your own "perfect" projector very much for now - I'd settle in my case for superb alternatives. Why not take the BenQ 20000, it might be offered by now at your budget threshold? ProjectorReviews rated it as being almost neck to neck from the IN83's performance. Or, go for even more lowered but still elegant expectation - take the best 720p models that could be had. I'd choosed Infocus IN78, Infocus 777 3-chip, BenQ 8720, Sharp XVZ12000 or the import-only Mitsubishi HC3100 (DC3).

Why spend so much, when in a matter of time premium grade components like the proprietory TI Darkchip 4 would have to be made available among more populist-oriented projectors? If Infocus, among others, could not read the economic writing on the wall - they'd be compulsed to get out of the kitchen, shortly. Why break the bank? Would you allow elitist, boutique names like Marantz and Sharp to grow fatter? Will you give Bose, in audio, the gratification to bloat its advertising budget?

From what I know, Infocus' best DC3 720p unit is the IN78. Working with a $3,500 budget, I'd take this unit plus the Denon 3930 and a Panasonic BD35 Blu Ray.

I just ordered IN83 from AVS . I will be installing it in my family room which of course is not light controlled and will need acoustically transparent screen because of center channel placement issues and want at least 9-10 ft wide 16:9 screen. After going to and fro between various PJ's , IN83 seemed to be the only chioce that will fit my needs . The review at cine4home is very favorable and its CR compares very well to marantz and z20000 if the light output from the PJ's is similar .
Here is the link....read posts 84 and 85. CR of IN83 is definitely better than marantz for same light output. However with IN83 I can still watch games in daytime on the big screen.
You may want to read cine4home reviews of all 3 PJ's

hey, where's the link?

Congrads on the IN-83. I think my IN-83 is fantastic. Comapared both the RS-1x and IN-83 at my home and the IN-83 won out. I have always had DLP and thats what Im use to. Enjoy.

Congrads on the IN-83. I think my IN-83 is fantastic. Comapared both the RS-1x and IN-83 at my home and the IN-83 won out. I have always had DLP and thats what Im use to. Enjoy.

I read in a blog response by Art Feierman that the IN83 may actually only use a 3x color wheel. Even the Optoma HD80 from a year or two ago uses a 6x color wheel speed. It's ridiculous that they couldn't have put an updated color wheel speed into that projector when they worked so hard on everything else. They had a chance to make the only sub-$10,000 projector that did well with basically every major spec, and they blew it on the easiest thing. Ridiculous. How can such smart engineers make such stupid errors?

Might still buy one anyway though :)

I read in a blog response by Art Feierman that the IN83 may actually only use a 3x color wheel. Even the Optoma HD80 from a year or two ago uses a 6x color wheel speed. It's ridiculous that they couldn't have put an updated color wheel speed into that projector when they worked so hard on everything else. They had a chance to make the only sub-$10,000 projector that did well with basically every major spec, and they blew it on the easiest thing. Ridiculous. How can such smart engineers make such stupid errors?

Might still buy one anyway though :)

Have you ever seen it in action? I don't find the rainbows on the IN83 to be particularly bad. I have seen much worse. Specs doesn't say it all.

I read in a blog response by Art Feierman that the IN83 may actually only use a 3x color wheel. Even the Optoma HD80 from a year or two ago uses a 6x color wheel speed. It's ridiculous that they couldn't have put an updated color wheel speed into that projector when they worked so hard on everything else. They had a chance to make the only sub-$10,000 projector that did well with basically every major spec, and they blew it on the easiest thing. Ridiculous. How can such smart engineers make such stupid errors?

Might still buy one anyway though :)
Infoucs likes to make bright projectors, and that influences their choices when it comes to the color wheel. There are plenty of different wheel segments and speeds available in the projector market today because the different options allow each manufacturer to choose what compromises they wish to make.

It is not a 3x...I believe it is 5x if I recall.

Hi

Sorry somehow link didnt get posted in my previous reply. Here is the link to the thread ...see posts 84, 85

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1007696&highlight=in83

You can also see Greg's review on z20000 and cine4home reviews. CR wise IN83 seems to be better ...at least by numbers.

You can also see Greg's review on z20000 and cine4home reviews. CR wise IN83 seems to be better ...at least by numbers.Not sure why you say this.

According to Cine4Home, the maximum CR of the InFocus is 4200 @ 420 lumens or 4700 @1600 lumens (using BC, which I wouldn't recommend). The Sharp was measured by WSR as 4510 @ 472 lumens. The maximum contrast was 7920. The Marantz measured similarly.

The only sense in which the the InFocus gets better CR than either of these PJs is in its high light output mode and in that mode only (2910 vs. about 1900).

Thus, the advantage of the InFocus is that it provides reasonably good CR for those who have really large screens where high light output is a must. I wouldn't recommend the Sharp or the Marantz for screens above 120", but with sizes below that both provide significantly better (nearly double) the CR of the InFocus.

What about the IN83 vs the Marantz VP-11S1? How do those two compare? And how does the VP-11S1 compare to the VP-15S1? I'm basically trying to make a choice between the IN83 and the Marantz VP-11S1, unless the Sim2 D80 is better than the VP-11S1, which I don't think it is (but am opened to what peopl ehave to say about that).

I've heard conflicting information about whether the IN83 is better or worse than the VP-11S1. What do you all think?

I've heard conflicting information about whether the IN83 is better or worse than the VP-11S1. What do you all think?

I think if you don't have a HUGE screen and want the best in image quality get the Marantz.

If anyone tells you different and using a screen under 120" Dig. They have never seen a Marantz VP-11S1. :)

Actually in some ways the IN83 outperforms the VP11S1. In other ways it does not. The IN83 is obviously newer and can be had for similar price to a used VP11S1 (which whether a person wants a new or used is personal).

There are a lot of factors as to which projector works best for each person so there are really no clear cut winners unfortunately.