I need some help...I have been asked to make suggestions to a friend who is installing a new home theater set-up. Money is no object for them but they want the best possible picture from a DLP front projector. Ease of use is KEY. It needs to be a unit that just switches on and needs no frequent focus adjustments. The screen is 106" diagonal. Their installer has suggested the Mistubishi HC5000. But when I looked it up it only sells for $4,000. I would like to suggest something double that. I'm sure a better picture can be found in a higher price range. This is for the summer home of a very well known musician who will only use it a few times a year... but they are not technically inclined so SIMPLICITY of use must be the priority.

Please email me at BrianH9249@aol.com... Thanks for any advice.

If simplicity is the key than it doesn't matter which projector is installed. The most important thing will be the control system. How is the system going to be controlled? No projector needs focus adjustment after initial setup unless it is physically moved/bumped/ etc.

The best possible picture from a DLP projector is the SIm2 HT5000. It will certainly please the ego of anyone that can afford it at around 50k.

BTW that Mitsubishi projector is an LCD.

For 5-10K, I think that the Sharp XV-Z20000 is the best choice. It needs calibration when setup, but after that it's just a matter of turning it on and selecting the desired source. The BenQ W10000 would be another obvious choice.

For 10-20K, I'd go for the the Marantz VP-11S1.

For 20-30K I'd go for the SIM2 C3X. This is a 3-chip DLP and very bright. It is currently 720P, but rumors are that they will unveil a 1080P version in a couple of weeks.

For about 50K, I'd go for the SIM2 HT5000, a premium 1080p 3-chip DLP.

I need some help...I have been asked to make suggestions to a friend who is installing a new home theater set-up. Money is no object for them but they want the best possible picture from a DLP front projector. Ease of use is KEY. It needs to be a unit that just switches on and needs no frequent focus adjustments. The screen is 106" diagonal. Their installer has suggested the Mistubishi HC5000. But when I looked it up it only sells for $4,000. I would like to suggest something double that. I'm sure a better picture can be found in a higher price range. This is for the summer home of a very well known musician who will only use it a few times a year... but they are not technically inclined so SIMPLICITY of use must be the priority.

Please email me at BrianH9249@aol.com... Thanks for any advice.

If money is no object and the installer made that suggestion then he's a total idiot and shouldnt be employed for the job.

With a blank check then professional help or advice is worth looking at. The system really need to have balance between image and sound, so you would be looking at a new sound system. A new screen with masking would also be warranted. Its at this point that many "money no object" statements usually run aground.

You say he is "installing" and it seems the screen has been decided already. He needs to stop NOW and get some idea of his total system. How does he know the screen is suitable for the PJ etc etc. What are the sound requirements?

I'd also recommend the HT5000. Ease of use is no problem with a fully integrated system. With the 5K and installing a system that maintains balance in terms of sound, screen(depending on size), lens and install you should be able to complete for around $100k if the room is not too big. If the room is small then the 1080 C3Xe will suit better and could be balanced out for less. If the room is large and needs a large screen and the attendant sound, the budget will be way over those figures.

If money is really no object, then head over to the $20K forum, where you'll receive plenty advice.

Are you an installer? Why would he ask you for advise? Do you want to spend 2x more of his money because you think is will give him a better picture or better ease of use?

I need some help...I have been asked to make suggestions to a friend who is installing a new home theater set-up. Money is no object for them but they want the best possible picture from a DLP front projector. Ease of use is KEY. It needs to be a unit that just switches on and needs no frequent focus adjustments. The screen is 106" diagonal. Their installer has suggested the Mistubishi HC5000. But when I looked it up it only sells for $4,000. I would like to suggest something double that. I'm sure a better picture can be found in a higher price range. This is for the summer home of a very well known musician who will only use it a few times a year... but they are not technically inclined so SIMPLICITY of use must be the priority.

Please email me at BrianH9249@aol.com... Thanks for any advice.106" diagonal is way too small for a money-is-no-object setup. Might as well go with an LCD or plasma that's over 100".

Have him compare an 11 or 12 foot wide screen to a 106" diagonal and see if he still wants the 106".

Skyranch:

Has the screen been purchased yet. If not, suggest to your friend that he spend his money on a fixed height 2.35:1 setup, ideally with masking. He won't regret it. As far as projector's go, tell him to wait a few weeks as several new models will likely be introduced. If he can't wait, the BenQ 10000 or Sharp 20000 would be good choices. For ease of use some sort of a control system would make operation simple. Tell him to consider Crestron or AMX.

the 1080 C3Xe will suit better What's that? The C3X isn't 1080. Unless I missed something big :)

What's that? The C3X isn't 1080. Unless I missed something big :)Not yet it isn't. Wait a couple of weeks. . . .

There is always the D75 to look into in the review thread by Jason.

Richard

What's that? The C3X isn't 1080. Unless I missed something big :)

You did indeed.

Don't forget to check out this machine. We've been watching the hell out of our dVision 1080p projector - it throws a beautiful picture!:)

dVision 30-1080p
500-5,500 ANSI Lumens
7500 : 1 Contrast With IRIS
1920 x 1080 Pixels

Digital Projection's new dVision 30-1080p features cutting edge DLP display technology utilzing a .95" DarkChip3TM DMD for native 1920 x 1080 resolution. Dual seven-segment color wheels produce a user adjustable 500-5,500 ANSI lumens and 7500:1 contrast. Connectivity to input devices is provided via Digital Projection's VIP image processor, an external video processor featuring the Realta integrated circuit from Silicon Optix. Among other capabilities, the VIP employs true 1080i to 1080p de-interlacing, HQV video enhancement, dynamic noise reduction, adaptive scaling and 10 bit processing, all tailored to optimize the performance of every source presented to the dVision 1080p display.

http://www.digitalprojection.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=34&Itemid=61

Don't forget the BenQ W10000, see my earlier thread.

IF you truly want the best then it has to be a three chip DLP! Take your pic based upon the size of your wallet.

Regards

Paul

If money is no object and the installer made that suggestion then he's a total idiot and shouldnt be employed for the job.

With a blank check then professional help or advice is worth looking at. The system really need to have balance between image and sound, so you would be looking at a new sound system. A new screen with masking would also be warranted. Its at this point that many "money no object" statements usually run aground.

You say he is "installing" and it seems the screen has been decided already. He needs to stop NOW and get some idea of his total system. How does he know the screen is suitable for the PJ etc etc. What are the sound requirements?

I'd also recommend the HT5000. Ease of use is no problem with a fully integrated system. With the 5K and installing a system that maintains balance in terms of sound, screen(depending on size), lens and install you should be able to complete for around $100k if the room is not too big. If the room is small then the 1080 C3Xe will suit better and could be balanced out for less. If the room is large and needs a large screen and the attendant sound, the budget will be way over those figures.

If money is really no object, then head over to the big boys forum, where you'll receive plenty advice.


I'd have to agree that a consumer looking for "state-of-the-art" and being suggested a $4,000 projector is being done a disservice. It's a basic of sales that you don't suggest things for the customer based on your wallet. If the customer wants "the best", then it's not 'your' job as the salesperson to interpret that thru the lens of your own pocketbook. Qualify the customer and see what "the best" means to them. If all they read about are the ads in big box stores where projectors top out under $5,000, then the suggestion was a valid one, though I'd have made another suggestion at the price point. If the customer has made it clear that they have money to spend and want the best the industry has to offer, then the advice given was waaayyyyy off.

Someone coming into my shop asking for "the best" would only be the beginning of the process. Do you watch more movies than TV? If so, a 2:35 set-up might be of interest. If it's the other way around or there are kids at home and 1:85 movies are the norm, then a 16:9 screen is the way to go. Next would be seating distance and desired picture size. In this case, we have a 106" image. Most anything will make a watchable image, so now you have a buncha options, as the light output from any credible projector will work on that size screen. Now we need to know if there is a need to watch with some modest room light or if the lighting will always be very low when watching. If it's the former, then we need a projector with some big light output so that there is a watchable image with room light. I'd start with one of the big Runco's, either the flagship single chip model, the VX-6000D (with lenses the equal of the $250,000 SC-1), or one of the 3-chippers like the VX-22D. These will POP even with modest room light on that size screen. If the room will be mainly dark and the room color is dark, then options again abound. The above Runco's are still killer, and will be plasma-bright at that size. But the customer may like the image of a D-ILA like the Meridian's. They don't have the light output of the Runco's, but they are plenty bright in a dark room at that size screen, and some prefer the more "film-like" look of D-ILA's tougher to see pixel structure.

Now for all the salesguy haters out there ;) I'm not saying these are the only options. At the lower price points, the Sony Pearl (soon to be replaced), and the JVC RS-1 are good options. At mid price points, I like the Marantz's an awful lot. At higher price points, Digital Projection & Sim2 make some nice projectors, though I am not as familiar with them as I am with those I display.

Ultimately, you just need to make sure the person is educated that projectors are like anything else, and the analogy I frequently use is digital cameras. You can get a point and shoot 6MP for $300, or you can spend $3,000 on one. What gets better? The image processing, the optics, the control of the light path, etc. This is why specs are ONLY the starting point. Specs don't begin to cover the quality of the lens or the ability of the video processing to produce an artifact free image. And products with seemingly the same video processing chipset can perform radically different. There are different versions of a chipset a manufacturer can use and the care of their implementation can affect their performance meaningfully. While a higher price doesn't always mean a better product, more often than not and like anything else, you get what you pay for and you need to educate the customer and let them make the value judgments for themselves.

i'm stunned to see a $4000 lcd (lcd !) projector proposed to someone saying money is no object

a home a theater is a project, be it it has a $10K or $100K budget.

a balance must be found between audio video acoustics design unless the client is a video freak or audio freak at the expense of the other.

for $30K i would propose for instance this: (all prices are Euros converted to dollars, i don't know the US retail prices)
estimated room size : 6x4meters x 2.5m ceiling (very standard)
SONY VW60:$3999
16/9 100" wide screen mat white velvet frame:$700
acoustic ceiling (as in cinemas) by Rockfon ($35/sq meter installed): $840
ONYO 875 THX receiver: $1499
NAD C272 POWER AMP: $799
KLIPSCH RF63 RC64 RS62x2:$3895
VELODYNE SPL1200R subs (2): $3000
NAD CD player : $500
SONY PS3 $499
TOSHIBA AX2 HD DVD player (Europe X1): $699
cables $600
MIDDLE ATLANTIC rack ERK 4025 with 4 RSH custom shelves/plates: $1,000 (approx)
ceiling mount heavy duty $200
floor carpet (placed)$720
walls carpet (placed)$800
front side walls acoustic panels (100hz-16Khz): $850
bass traps raiser (built) $ 600
cinema seats : 7 (2 rows: 4+3) $3500
installation 1day 2 people (electronics, screen speakers cables): $600
TOTAL: $25,300

there are many variants.
but a system must answer several objectives:

full hd projector with high contrast
HD sources
ample power
ampl Low FQ capacity (with THX twin subs capacity)
capable speakers (especially with acoustic treatment)
AV receiver withHDMI 1.3 EQ independant bass management
nice screen size (250cm wide)
quality CD stereo listening (whenever user wants to just listen to quality stereo on his HT system)
acoustics and looks (though here it's basic, no special wood structure, columns etc)
seats capacity for family and friends

note lighting and independant electric supply isn't included

audio + acoustics are very important. often too neglected by videomaniacs.

and now a $100K system :D

projector: SIM2 CX3 1080p $29995
screen: 400cm scope mperforated screen curved $5995
ISCO III lens $5500
DENON THX PREAMP $7500
QSC POWER AMP DCA CINEMA 1622x3 $ 4500
QSC POWER AMP DCA CINEMA 1222x2: $2000
CD PLAYER DENON $850 (sacd too)
JBL 4675D MAINS LCR $5000
JBL 8340 surrounds x6 $1800
VELODYNE DD18 SUBWOOFERS 2: $8000
CINEMA SEATS 15 seats $500 each: $7500
CUSTOM PJ MOUNT $250
MIDDLE ATLANTIC RACK $1200
BELKIN POWER CONDITIONER $600
RAISER 3 rows bass traps: $1200
front screen rear wall treatment (panels) $1200
side walls panels $2000
cabling $1200
remote control philips pronto $1000
installing programming 2 days $1600
TOTAL : $88,700
not including carpeting lighting acoustic ceiling dedicated electrical system (!)

Spending more is not always the answer. The truth must be told once again the best picture I have seen from a DLP is the OPtoma HD80 for under $3000. I can guarantee you that your friend will not be disapointed. I currently was in the market and was not using price as a factor and to my sheer enlightenment I was able to view this projector. My current system is comprised of very high end electronics Wadia transport, Levinson pre amp, AVP2 surround processor, ReveL Salons, Electrocompaniet Nemo monoblocks, Lavry D/A converter, Velodyne subs, actually all speakers are powered by monoblocks and more but you get the hint etc.....I was using a 9 inch CRT previous and went to all the dealers to see what was out in digital and thte projector I mentioned came out on top. Now I did not see any 3 chip 1080p but I did see 3 chip 720 p.

Put this projector in and do not tell him the price until after, there is a lot of hyperbole about the latest and pricest. I feel obliged to tell more people about this unit just because it really does produce a better picture than the $10,000- $15,000 projectors. I would be willing to put my money where my mouth is!!

The only reason I posted some of my equipment list was to keep away the so called "no it alls" that need name recognition in order for that persons post to be of any merit. I spend money $$$ on AV equipment when it deserves to be spent.


Good Luck and search the HD 80 here at AVS for more info.

Joey

Thats quite a few I've seen that say this machine is one of the best performers for $3000. Looks like a lock if you need DLP at that price point. Seems like a great machine.

Always nice to see a happy owner.