Hello,

I'm replacing a whining color wheel X1.

I can get the following 2 deals for x dollars:

1 Panasonic AX100
1 Spare Bulb
1 Mounting bracket
1 90 inch screen

OR

Optoma HD7100
92 inch screen.

Which one is the best deal? In my case, the Panasonic is more suited for my setup due to bottom edge of my screen is limited to 33 inches or more.

I can also get the Z5 for 2/3 X.

Sanyo Z5
1 Mounting bracket
1 Spare Lamp
15 ft HDMI cable (upgradble to 30ft for $25 extra)

Thanks in advance.

PS The HD7100 would be more complicated to install with my setup but probably give the best picture Q. However I am willing to sacrifice picture Q since I find the extra mechanical color wheel of DLP as an extra risk.

Bump!

If you can manage the install, the HD7100 will probably give you the best picture, but there's definitely something to be said for the ease of installation of the Panny and the Sanyo. The Panny is also very bright. All of them have good pictures. Although I like the picture of DLPs better, I would probably go for the Panny. Ease of installation is really important to me and the extra brightness helps too.

Jim

Probably the reason this hasn't received the attention you believe it deserves is the fact that this topic has been discussed and debated ad-nauseum on this forum for the last several months with situations all very similar to yours.

People ultimately decide on certain projectors based on a vast array of variables.

Might I kindly suggest that you skim trough the first 2-3 pages of topics in this forum to look for similar questions to your own? The immense information already posted will likely help you tremendously in reaching your ultimate decision. Then, if you have specific questions, come back here and post them and many of us will be more than happy to help any way we can.

Probably the reason this hasn't received the attention you believe it deserves is the fact that this topic has been discussed and debated ad-nauseum on this forum for the last several months with situations all very similar to yours.

People ultimately decide on certain projectors based on a vast array of variables.

Might I kindly suggest that you skim trough the first 2-3 pages of topics in this forum to look for similar questions to your own? The immense information already posted will likely help you tremendously in reaching your ultimate decision. Then, if you have specific questions, come back here and post them and many of us will be more than happy to help any way we can.

Yes I realize that. My post was more based on price - what would people do in my case. I realize and went through the posts and debates of the above mentioned projectors. But my question was more of X dollars, which deal seems to be the best.

I know the issue regarding the Sanyo warranty (or lack thereof).
I know the issues regarding the color tinge and flickering of the Panasonics
I know the isuues regarding the ignition failures of the HD7100 lamps (and grinding color wheel (maybe 6800 problem only) )

Since this about price and you haven't (can't) post those numbers, noone can answer your question. And there are variables such as the kind of screen they're selling you, your setup, lighting, throw etc. that make it impossible to point you in any direction.

You will find a "following" for all three of those PJ's on these forums.

I sprung for the Panny after reading all the reviews and following the thread here from its inception even after that thread turned negative. And I couldn't be happier.

It seems that there are alot of first time PJ owners (and I'm one of them) posting and touting the one that they bought. That's understandable but biased.

Do your homework and if worse comes to worse, flip a three sided coin.

For me, if it came down to paying 2/3 x and the picture quality was nearly as good, then I would get the Z5. I am biased since I own the Z5, but I also owned a Mits 1000 briefly. The Z5 beat it in picture quality in most tests. According to reviews, the Z5 is sharper than the Panny. So if you don't need the brightness, get the Z5 and use the extra money for other HD equipment (an HD player?) The only downside to the Sanyo is the warranty can be tough to deal with, but for my Z5 I have no problems as of yet.

I find myself really wanting a Toshiba A2 or comparable player, because I am curious to see if the PQ looks better than my HD channels.

I second coderguy's choice. After reading all the threads and Art's reviews (www.projectorreviews.com/) on these PJs, I've decided that the Z5 is the best choice (price, PQ, & warranty). I've also been in contact with another AVS member that has a Z5 as his second PJ (his primary one, for his HT room, is in the well into the $3K catagory, with a very large, expensive, screen). He chose the Z5 for those same reasons (and he is anal concerning picture quality).

You can get the Z5 + buy a good (if you are not satisfied with yours) screen for the price of the of the AX100. That alone is worth it. The HD7100 is more expensive than either and does not appear to have any better PQ (no justification for the higher price).

Another choice would be the Epson 400, which is priced very close to the Z5 (see Art's review of it and http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=719568). The 400 is very close in brightess to the AX100 (and PQ similar to the Z5's) and, like the Z5 and AX100, has generous lens shift and zooming capability.

Bulliten: See http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9625696&&#post9625696 for the latest price drop on the Epson 400.

Based on what I've read, my choice is the Z5 (when my finances will allow). The only thing that would change my choice would be if a new, under $2K, 1080p PJ, with similar PQ, is announced at the time I'm ready to buy (with an adjustable offset or fixed offset that would fit my existing setup). I'm not holding my breath on that happening.

I don't know how the Z5 slipped past my radar, but I never really considered it. It has the same mounting flexibility as the AX100U in terms of lens shift and zoom. If (when?) my AX100 goes to crap with color issues, maybe I should return it to Costco for a Z5. Awesome.

I'd never really considered the Z5, but with a 25% price drop I see it's a killer bargain. From what I've gleaned from various reviews, the Panny is probably a slightly better PJ, but for the price the Sanyo is a great deal.

Please consider your money savings and the fact that the Z5 has 2x Zoom, which the panny hasn't. You might consider buying from a dealer that has a better warranty in the first year than Sanyo or buy a total independent warranty from a third party.

I spent my money saved on an OPPO...hehehe

Man, the more I read about the Z5 the more I'm wondering why I'd want to keep my AX100. The only real advantage the AX100 has is brightness, and I'm wondering a.) is it even that big a difference in real world usage (I do want viewing in ambient light occasionally), b.) does brightness make up for massive color problems and c.) would I like to save hundreds of dollars?

The answer to b.) for me is no, but right now my AX100's red/blue tinge is pretty minor. If it worsens any, back to Costco it goes. The answer to c.) is yes, I would, but I'm also willing to pay more if the AX100 is appreciably brighter and my color issue doesn't get worse.

I can't believe this wasn't on my shortlist when I was doing research. I'm such a fool! Thankfully... Costco.

I'm relatively new to AVS forums but what I have seen here can only be described as utterly crazy.

There are people who spend literally months trying to figure out how they can save a few bucks on a projector ....and then they miss the deadline for a $200 rebate. Well, somehow I'm in the same boat but at some time you gotta make a decision.
I've dreamed about a PJ for years now and I simply decided that it was silly to wait any more for the perfect deal.

I read the reviews and spent time interpreting them. You gotta know that these reviews have subtle hints that reveal some deeper issues of a product sometimes....

We have to take risks sometimes also. Yeah, buy COSTCO and bring the non-performing stuff back! Here in HI they only carry one PJ if you're lucky and you don't want to buy THAT ONE anyway.

I took a gamble and ordered a Z5 from VA which will be here in a few hours. They gave me free shipping to HI, which is unheard of, and I hold that as a good omen.
I never felt comfortable with the reviews of the AX100, there was something in the descriptions/reviews that scared me off somehow and therefore I went with the Z5.

Now that there are all these problems with the AX100 I feel justified. But in reality I might still get bitten by the QC-bug. I hate the uncertainty, even $1299 is still a good chunk of money that can feed a family for a while.

I guess we all love illusion, a drastic word for our tendency to get lost in movies etc. I know I'm rambling here....but I was up all night.

I just wish that all our dreams come true sometime, even if it takes another lifetime!

If the SDE wasn't so nasty on it, I would have ordered a Z5.

I don't know why, but the Sharp XV-Z3000 seems to be overlooked around here. It's price is between the Z5 and the AX100 and it has better PQ. The problem is placement, though. It has no lens-shift and a 1.15x zoom but the offset is not as bad as other DLP's in this price range so no need for a high ceiling.

If the SDE wasn't so nasty on it, I would have ordered a Z5.



LOL...

There always seems to be someone that posts rubbish about the Z5.

How close were you from the screen? 5 feet?

I project a 106" screen and SDE effect is NOT noticeable until you are 10 feet or closer. WHICH IS TOO CLOSE.

It is perfect for viewing from 13-18 feet away and has very nice picture quality.

If the SDE wasn't so nasty on it, I would have ordered a Z5.

I don't know why, but the Sharp XV-Z3000 seems to be overlooked around here. It's price is between the Z5 and the AX100 and it has better PQ. The problem is placement, though. It has no lens-shift and a 1.15x zoom but the offset is not as bad as other DLP's in this price range so no need for a high ceiling.
This is the kind of post that devalues this forum.
You think you'regetting quality feedback, but a troll comes in and could throw off all the research.
You wanna hear reviews form PJ owners, even better guys who've owned more than 1, and you get an obvious flamer biased view wonderiing why we're not talking about his. pussay.

I project a 106" screen and SDE effect is NOT noticeable until you are 10 feet or closer. WHICH IS TOO CLOSE.

It is perfect for viewing from 13-18 feet away and has very nice picture quality.

First of all Corey, I'm glad the Z5 worked for you. I've only mentioned my opinion on the matter because, guess what, the thread is titled " Opinion requested (AX100 or HD7100 or Z5)". Maybe I made it sound like it but I really don't consider my opinions as facts and I never meant to hurt anybody's feelings so I'm sorry if I did.

The thing is, I've considered all these projectors before buying mine and I was this close to buy the Z5 but didn't precisely because of the SDE and the fact that I sometimes like to sit very close when gaming for a more immersive experience. I could do that with my old AE700. I'm not upgrading to lose functionality right?

To be perfectly honest, I didn't even see the Z5 first hand but the SDE was clearly apparent in the pictures from the PR review. It was also mentioned by several members of this forum and in all the reviews I've read. This was enough to stop me, especially when other pj's in the same price range don't have as much pixel visibility. On the other end of the spectrum, one of the "flaws", so to speak, of the AX100 is that it has a smooth picture. The Sharp I bought is sharper than the AX100, doesn't have as much pixel visibility as the Z5, and being a DLP, has a slightly better ANSI contrast. I felt it was perfect for me.

This is the kind of post that devalues this forum.
You think you'regetting quality feedback, but a troll comes in and could throw off all the research.
You wanna hear reviews form PJ owners, even better guys who've owned more than 1, and you get an obvious flamer biased view wonderiing why we're not talking about his. pussay.


Wow. Just wow.

This is the kind of post that devalues this forum.
You think you'regetting quality feedback, but a troll comes in and could throw off all the research.

I'm not familiar with the Sharp XV-Z3000 so I can't comment, but I can say with certainty, that the Z5 *does* suffer from screen door which is unacceptable by most who like to sit less than 2X the screen width.

I've seen the Z5 myself, and found the screen door problematic for distances closer than 2X the screen width. You can read many other professional reviews from *good* reviewers (like art from projectorreviews) who came to a similar conclusion as mine.

Friendly advice: do *not* buy the Z5 sight unseen.

If you can resolve the fan noise, the XV-Z3000 is truly an excellent projector, quite possibly the best selling in the $2500 or less range, thanks to it's combination of great out of the box color balance, excellent black levels and very good shadow detail, combined with plenty of lumens!

Of the projectors out there selling for under $3000 this Sharp is definitely one of my favorites. It's ability to produce black levels rivalling other DLP projectors that use the Darkchip3 processor instead of its Darkchip2, plus excellent color out of the box, and lots and lots of usable lumens, make it one of my two favorite projectors in the price range.

That's why I'm wondering why it's not more popular around here. I couldn't care less if I'm the only one who bought one because I just love it. But this is the second projector I buy so I know how confusing and somewhat stressful it is. It costs a whole lot of money and if my conclusions can help others then I'll be glad.

Please consider your money savings and the fact that the Z5 has 2x Zoom, which the panny hasn't. You might consider buying from a dealer that has a better warranty in the first year than Sanyo or buy a total independent warranty from a third party.

I spent my money saved on an OPPO...hehehe

The Panny does in fact have a 2:1 zoom but that's neither here nor there.

This thread has predictably turned in "mine's bigger than yours" and the Z5ers are winning. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

But you may note that the OP is long gone.

I have the Z4, and I sit 12ft back from a 106 inch screen. The pq is great, and no screen door. This is my second Sanyo, the first was the Z2, no problems.

I'm not familiar with the Sharp XV-Z3000 so I can't comment, but I can say with certainty, that the Z5 *does* suffer from screen door which is unacceptable by most who like to sit less than 2X the screen width.

I've seen the Z5 myself, and found the screen door problematic for distances closer than 2X the screen width. You can read many other professional reviews from *good* reviewers (like art from projectorreviews) who came to a similar conclusion as mine.

Friendly advice: do *not* buy the Z5 sight unseen.


Definitely some *anti-Sanyo* folks on this forum?

You must have 20/10 vision to see SDE effect at 18 feet?

If I was as worried about SDE at all I would have bought a DLP projector but then we would be talking about "rainbow effect" instead of SDE.

In a perfect world, I would be a millionaire and have 100,000 to spend on a home theater so it would be PERFECT in every possible detail. But alas, I am a working man with wife and children. So, I am quite happy with the bang for the buck I dished out for the Z5.

When I get a chance I will post some screen shots.

I watched Underworld Evolution the other night in HD and it was nothing short of spectacular for a home theater on a budget....

Get back on topic guys! Keep the insults out of here...

Kyser

The Panny does in fact have a 2:1 zoom but that's neither here nor there.



I realized my mistake shortly thereafter. I read too much in too short a time. without proper glasses.

My blood pressure went up today when I read that the UPS driver decided that he couldn't find my address and is bringing it back to UPS in town.
Our security guard in the building saw him in his truck outside. It was raining really hard and the driver was probably "water solvable". So he drove on, not even leaving a note.

Now I have to drive to the airport tonight to pick up my Z5, a trip of 50 miles in the bad weather. For this "service" I paid $63 shipping from California!

I called UPS locally and let them know in no uncertain terms what I thought of their service...that was satisfying...I'm surprised they didn't hang up on me after I called their guy a DUMB DRIVER...to hear that surprised shriek on the other end was PRICELESS!

Thanks for all the replies!

FYI X=2999 CDN

And my choice was:

None of the above :(

I took a risk and went for the TW700 :) (japanese version) Can't wait to see it!

I can see SDE really slightly and only occassionally with my Z5 sitting 10' back when watching a 70" picture, but it is primarily only noticeable on plain backgrounds (plain blue sky) or on clouds. How much you see SDE also seems to vary depending on your calibration and your focus. I didn't notice the SDE at first, but I have spotted it a few times now. Of course if I walk right up to the screen, then I can see it very visibly.

From normal sitting distance, the SDE appears rarely and very faint, and all you really see is on plain backgrounds you might notice the sky isn't perfectly smooth.

I still prefer the sharper image of the Z5 over the smoother image of the Panasonic or a Mits DLP, regardless of a very rare bout with SDE.

well, let's remember also that the SDE visibility is largely dependent on your resolution. If you use an OPPO up-converter to 720p than it's not an issue anymore really. The wonderful thing on the Z5 is that you can actually change the focus by a tick also in the menu and the effect goes away pretty much.

The TW700 looks like a good choice, very uncommon is USA though, but well liked in Europe from what I hear.

well, let's remember also that the SDE visibility is largely dependent on your resolution. If you use an OPPO up-converter to 720p than it's not an issue anymore really. The wonderful thing on the Z5 is that you can actually change the focus by a tick also in the menu and the effect goes away pretty much.

The TW700 looks like a good choice, very uncommon is USA though, but well liked in Europe from what I hear.


I went for the TW700 because I seem to do everything differently. :). The Epson seems amazing and different.

But I think the best Canadian deal is the Z5+free lamp+mounting bracket + 30ft HDMI cable for about CDN $20XX or US$ 17XX pretty much everywhere. This is with a 3 year legal Sanyo Canada warranty. I'm not sure how Sanyo Canada is at honoring the warranty as opposed to Sanyo US.

Ironically I was hesitant about the Sanyo because of the warranty issues but I bought a projector with none instead! Not a very rational deicision on my part :)

The Cost** HD6800 package is decent also considering the return options that comes with it.

Congrats on making your purchase and I look forward to a thread touting your choice.

Best of luck.

Congrats on making your purchase and I look forward to a thread touting your choice.

Yes, I think it is in order to congratulate since there are just too many people here who talk and talk and talk and never pull the trigger.

There are probably quite a few that will realize Feb, 1st that the $200 rebate on the Z5 is GONE, it's OVER! :mad: