A couple of weeks ago I posted about the loud hum coming from my HD70 for the first couple of minutes after starting it up. Consensus was that the hum was likely the color wheel. Last night I got the usual hum for a couple of minutes at startup, then normal quiet operation until a loud POP. After that, the thing is humming and vibrating like a house on fire and while I do get a picture, its washed out and looks like what your PC might look like in safe mode without the video drivers loaded.

Anyway, I assume the color wheel is gone. Add to that a lamp with probably 2300 hours on it.

Is the thing even worth fixing given that the HD65 seems to be in the $800 range now and the Infocus X9 is getting good reviews and can be had for around $600 from a large online retailer?

Is it still under warranty? I'm guessing it's not, since you are asking if it's worth it to fix. Call Optima and ask how much it would be to replace the color wheel, and see if it is worth it to you (keeping in mind you will have to replace the bulb soon as well). If the cost of a HD65 is less than the color wheel and bulb, then I would probably go with the HD65 (or something better).

Nah, the warranty expired in November (naturally). Between the color wheel replacement and knowing that a new lamp is in the cards at some point in the next year, it probably makes more sense to just buy a new one. By most accounts, the current 720p projectors are better than what I have now and the cost has even come down a bit.

I'll be calling Optoma this morning and I'll post what they say for future reference.

FYI for anyone searching in the future - Optoma out of warranty service is by TSC (888-942-2929). They quoted me about $300 total to install a new color wheel, including return shipping. From the time they get the projector, I'd have it back in 8 days.

Crap shoot. I could do it and have my lamp last another 2000 hours (odds are against that), or I could do it then shell out another $250 for a new lamp next month at which point a new Infocus X9 from Tiger Direct would have been cheaper.

Don't forget the 12% cash back on the x9 from live.com when you search for "tiger direct infocus"

FYI for anyone searching in the future - Optoma out of warranty service is by TSC (888-942-2929). They quoted me about $300 total to install a new color wheel, including return shipping. From the time they get the projector, I'd have it back in 8 days.

Crap shoot. I could do it and have my lamp last another 2000 hours (odds are against that), or I could do it then shell out another $250 for a new lamp next month at which point a new Infocus X9 from Tiger Direct would have been cheaper.
I have tried the optoma repair facility and wished I would have went with a new unit.

Was the optoma repair facility that bad? What was the problem?

Drak