Just wondering what are some experiences people have had with Panasonic projectors in the past, PT-AE3000u, and prior? The bad experiences but the good stuff as well. After reading several pages of the 3000U owners thread it looks like there has been a number of people who complained of dead pixels, dust blobs and lamp flicker. If you did have these problems how did the warranty or seller (without naming or flaming your seller) handle the problem? If you have owned other projectors was your experience better, the same, or worse? Thanks for all the input.

Though I personally have no numbers, I can say just to generally be cautious of complaints on projectors. Let me explain...it isn't that someone saying they got a unit with dead pixels isn't being truthful...obviously they are, but for the small number of posters with those problems there are many, many more without (this goes for all makes and models). In other words, the forum tends to be a place where people are often looking for guidance, especially when there is a problem. Often I find that the majority don't post after they purchase as they are happy campers. My 2 cents.

Thanks for the heads up Jason, I can see how that kind of thing would definitely rear its head through the pages of posts on here. I'm not trying to smear Panny at all, they have so many features packed in to that thing for the price. In fact thats just it, the price is just so good now for what you get, so you do sorta wonder. Just want to get a feel if there was a ton of folks who were not happy with their purchase. Hopefully not, because I think either way I'm going to snap on the 4000U.

People keep buying them so that says something! :)

Well I'm already sold to be honest, I won't lie this whole poll deal is kinda my way of trying to feel out the value of some of these extended warranty options and if one may be wise. So maybe I should have posted a whole thing on extended warranties and their worth on say an extra year or more. Maybe thats another discussion. I want to get at least four solid years out of the 4000.

That's very true Jason. There is also another aspect to this in that people who post threads about how happy they are with their projector tend to get replies slamming their particular model and generally insinuating that the poster is undiscerning. This discourages such posts and results in a disproportionate number of threads about problems/complaints. Such is the internet.

The AE4000 will be my 3rd panny (AE-700 and AX-200) and view my experiance as being positive. Both units had dust blobs after a time, but they don't really bother me as I've yet to see them during regular viewing....only on a total black screen. Both units threw great images and both are still working. (sold the AE-700 to a friend use the AX-200 in my garage as my party projector)

Well I'm already sold to be honest, I won't lie this whole poll deal is kinda my way of trying to feel out the value of some of these extended warranty options and if one may be wise. So maybe I should have posted a whole thing on extended warranties and their worth on say an extra year or more. Maybe thats another discussion. I want to get at least four solid years out of the 4000.

As others have said you're probably going to get mixed results with the poll. I would definitely recommend a lamp warranty - if you're lamp dies prematurely but is outside the 90 day warranty it'll be well worth it. Here's a thread discussing Mack lamp warranties (I'm guessing some of the posters have extended projector warranties as well):

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1088544

EDIT: I missed the part about wanting to get 4 years out of the projector. I would definitely recommend an extended warranty - Panasonic has a 1yr, 2000hr max on their warranty.

That's very true Jason. There is also another aspect to this in that people who post threads about how happy they are with their projector tend to get replies slamming their particular model and generally insinuating that the poster is undiscerning. This discourages such posts and results in a disproportionate number of threads about problems/complaints. Such is the internet.

You bought a bad model. Shame on you. :D

Kidding of course.

Maybe I was lucky, but my AE2000 worked just fine for two years; no dust blobs, bulb flickering, etc. Also no dead pixels, and my convergence was less than 1/2 pixel, which I consider to be very good to excellent.

You bought a bad model. Shame on you. :D

Kidding of course.

It's ok I'm easily pleased :D

It's ok I'm easily pleased :D

I wish my wife was. :D

You'd probably get a better response posting this in the other forum (where it should be anyway)...

Maybe I was lucky, but my AE2000 worked just fine for two years; no dust blobs, bulb flickering, etc. Also no dead pixels, and my convergence was less than 1/2 pixel, which I consider to be very good to excellent.

No problems with my AE2000 either. I was very worried about dust blobs, etc. after reading through the panny threads, but the PJ has been great.

Ironically, I did get a small dust blob on my previous Canon LCoS, which is supposed to have a sealed light path.

Art

I wish my wife was. :D

What are you doing tomorrow night? :D

You'd probably get a better response posting this in the other forum (where it should be anyway)...

I guess I'm not sure which forum this should be then as the PT-AE300u did have an MSRP of $3,499. I guess the 4000u threads should be in the under $3000 forum from now on.

Glad people are having some good experiences with them.

I love my AE3000 and as soon as my wife's guard drops I'm going to get the AE4000. (Probably next year this time.)

My brother has a AE700 with 4000 hrs on it, still going strong no issues. I have a AX200 with 1000 hours on it and my AE 3000 has 400 hours. All work according to spec. No issues.

Regarding where to post: That is an interesting dilemma.

If you want info on how the top of the line Panasonic performs you are right to post here because here is where the owners of the AE1000, AE2000, AE3000 owners hang out.

If you want to hear from the folks who don't have one of those but are interested in taking the leap, I would suggest you post in the below $3000 forum as there may be where those folks are.

I like that there are two threads and I enjoy both.

I've owned Panny PJs, TVs, and HTIB units and never had an issue until at least 10-12 years out on their TVs (CRT)

May 2005 - I ordered my first PJ from Jason here at AVS. Based on my HT size, throw distance and light control, he recommended the Optoma H79 (DLP) and a Stewart StudioTek 130 screen (110” / 1.78:1).

During the next 13 months, I had to exchange three Optoma H79’s due to a “Thermal Pre-cooling” error message on shutdown and one that emitted a very strange, irritating noise (color wheel?). Rainbows were ‘there’, but not too distracting.

Jason was really great about exchanging the PJ’s, but after the fourth H79, I indicated that I did not want another Optoma. Jason and another AVS Tech Sales person recommended going to a Panasonic AE900.

The Panny has been working perfectly for the past 3-1/2 years. IMO, the PQ is 90–95% of the Optoma H79 and it has not yet given an error code. Like with all four Optoma H79’s, I calibrated the Panasonic AE900 with VE and Avia and actually like the skin tones better with this LCD unit.

Have not experienced bulb flickering. However, minor dust blobs appeared at ~500 hours. Blew canned air internally and they actually got worse. At ~700 hours, I removed the bottom of the case and the bottom printed circuit board and again used compressed air. Dust blobs went away. With the PJ turned on, you can visually see numerous dust particles on the individual internal lens elements, but they do not affect PQ noticeably.

Having just gotten a PS3 (Slim), it is time to go from 720p to 1080p, so my next PJ will be the Panasonic AE4000.