My current projector is a Mitsubishi HD1000U, which is like the HC1500 or HC1600. After a year and a half the color wheel is making a lot of noise, so I thought I would replace it with another projector in the $1200 range.

After a lot of research I settled on the Epson Home Cinema 720. I was hoping for better contrast (10000:1 compared to my current 2500:1). Here's what I found:


The Epson is quite a bit larger. Normally this wouldn't be a problem but I'm in an apartment right now.
The projector is unacceptably dim unless it's in living room mode.
The projector is louder when in "living room" mode.
I didn't spend a lot of time with it, but the iris didn't seem to make a big difference. Plus people say that they ended up disabling it due to the noise.


Now I have to return the PJ and start all over. :( I feel like I should just get an HC1600. I remember when I first turned on my HD1000U the PJ was too bright! In economy mode it was bright enough and nearly silent.

Has anyone else experienced this sort of letdown? Do I have to go up to a 6100 or a 6500UB? Will I feel the same way about a PLV-Z60?

Keep in mind the HD1000 and HC1500 are basically the same whereas the HC1600 is a different projector. I would preview the HC1600, if possible, before buying.
The Infocus X10 is in the price range at Tigerdirect. Read the X10 thread. One member has compared the HD1000 to the X10 saying the X10 was better.

Ah, right. The HC1600 has similar specs except the color wheel is slower (possibly more rainbows). On the other hand, maybe the new color wheel helps address the types of failures that people are seeing...

The throw of the X10 is too long for me. The X9 is a possibility since I can live with 720p, but again it has a slow color wheel.

x9 has 4x color wheel

Seems odd that you'd call this projector dim when it's probably second only to the AX-200 in brightness in this price range.

You could always buy the Planar PD7130, but if you thought the Epson was dim...lol. The image on the 7130 is better than any of the projectors mentioned though.

Dynamic mode is color goofy. Living room mode is bright enough but the projector's fan is loud. Theater modes are quiet enough but too dim. My HD1000U had the brightness of the living room mode with the quietness of the theater mode. That's what I meant by too dim--too dim at the desired dB level.

Thanks for the correction on the X9 and the suggestion to look at the Planar... Nice to know there are options before I have to jump to 1080p PJs. :)

Dynamic mode is color goofy. Living room mode is bright enough but the projector's fan is loud. Theater modes are quiet enough but too dim. My HD1000U had the brightness of the living room mode with the quietness of the theater mode. That's what I meant by too dim--too dim at the desired dB level.

Thanks for the correction on the X9 and the suggestion to look at the Planar... Nice to know there are options before I have to jump to 1080p PJs. :)

The Planar is no longer available, unless you know someone selling a used one. ;)

You could always buy the Planar PD7130, but if you thought the Epson was dim...lol. The image on the 7130 is better than any of the projectors mentioned though.

Where are you guys seeing the Planar? All I remember is the Oct 02 sale.