Panasonic PT-AE4000 MSRP $1999 - Page 210

M. Zillch... I honestly don't know why you're being even a little argumentative and/or defensive with me, except that it's almost expected to be argumentative and/or defensive on these forums. But my experience is real; it is extremely frustrating and has happened with FOUR OUT OF FOUR different Panny projectors (counting the one that came with a dust blob from the factory that I returned).

And of course "environment" is a factor, but my explanation about my home environment is meant to illustrate that my situation is about as ideal as one can get, in terms of cleanliness and dust.... and yet I've still had this series of problems.

I offer my account not to say "this is what happens to every single Panny projector"... I even stated that many people probably don't have any issues at all. Great. Instead, I offer my experience up as food for thought.

So there's no need to argue with me... or to put me in my place. My experience is what it is. And unlike so many posts on these forums, it's not opinion. It's fact about what has happened to me and FOUR OUT OF FOUR of my Panny projectors.

Is there any online guide that show us how to clean the dust blob with lots of pictures in the AE4000? My unit got quite a few dust blobs due to my on going house renovation.

How many non-Panasonic projectors have developed dust blobs in your environment?

I've never owned a Panny 4000. But based on what I've read in this thread, you should do the following if your projector is susceptible to dust blobs:

- Invest in a room air filter. Make sure it has a real HEPA filter, and not an electronic one.

- Put a cover over the projector when not in use. Make sure it covers the exhaust port. Because that's where the problem is - there's no filter on the exhaust port. (There's only a filter on the intake port.) So when the unit is off, dust can wander into the exhaust port and settle on the arrays.

Good question... One. An old Canon 4:3 standard-def projector that started my whole obsession before I moved up to Panny's. It had no problems whatsoever... but of course, the image was nowhere near the same league as the Panny (although it cost almost the same amount of money!)


I used to do this religiously on my Panny AE1000, and it still developed its blob. I actually thought putting the cover on and off right over the various ports might be disturbing and creating dust there, so I stopped.

I appreciate the advice, however!

It's not quite what you're asking for, but these are the links that I've found most helpful and informative... although I've personally never had any actual success getting rid of a blob without sending the unit to Heartland. Although these links refer to the AE2000 and AE3000 respectively, the same applies to the AE4000:

POST #1831:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...3#post12501773

POST #3253:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...86232&page=109

Good luck!

Investing in a room air cleaner is sound advice. I started using my Panny Ae 4000 in April. I invested in a blue air 550e and have not experienced any dust blobs at all. I read volumes on the effectiveness of air purifiers and the Blue Air models are very effective.

Make sure you check the specs on any model you are considering and be sure that you buy a large enough model to cover the size of your theater.

Thanks for the recommendation... I'm literally going to look into it as soon as I hit "submit reply"!

Just wonderng if this is a shelf mount or ceiling mount? Seems the shelf mount crop up with dust problems more often. Sounds like your room conditions and mine are about exactly the same. So far I have 300 hours and no problems with dust, ceiling mount. When the projector is on you can definately see the dust in the air looking at the light beam, but it has not been an issue.

Yeah, I think you're right... mine's a shelf mount. It makes sense that this fact would make it more prone to dust... I'm just surprised at how "prone" it is!

And by the way, I keep the room so "dust free" (even without an air-filter, which I'm now looking into) that when the projector's on, you can see a few isolated dust motes floating in the light beam, but it's definitely not a "swirl" of dust. It's a little crazy how obsessive I've been, and yet the problem still plagues me.

Interestingly all the "ads by Google" at the top of this very page are now for air purifiers yet I myself haven't searched for that, in years at least....Wait, they've changed yet again: Kitchen Aid mixers, a local A/V salon in my city, and "Projector Deal of the Day"

Guess their algorithm keys off not only one's personal searches and cookies but also that of the other forum posters as well

Regarding air purifiers which can help although not eliminate dust (unless you invest in converting your room into a million dollar "clean room"), Consumers Union, the publishers of Consumer Reports magazine, did an expose (spelling?) a few years back that showed that the majority on the market made by Sharper Image and the like were complete junk and even if left at full power for days couldn't take a significant dent out of room air dust. They do however successfully fool their owners that they are working (who will then write positive reviews on the web about them) because their filters indeed become soiled and need cleaning after a short while, but this is akin to running a white gloved finger over the top of a piano, looking at the dust on the tip and proclaiming, "Look, I just cleaned the dust off my Piano, see!"

They said real air filters that actually work are the size of window mounted, full sized air conditioners and that anything smaller could be assumed to be junk.

Just a heads up for all.

I can't imagine having to buy an air purifier to go along with your projector purchase. Malarkey!

I have 3 dogs & 2 cats and have probably the dustiest living room on this forum. So far no air purifier and no blobs. There's probably so many factors at play and luck is one of them.

How about the filter on your heating/AC blower? Would that make a difference? I say this and tomorrow there will be a blob.

I totally agree with this sentiment. It's ridiculous that I'd have to spend an additional $300 (minimum) to take the little bit of dust out of my home theater. I'm just not going to do it. I'm going to "suck it up" and live with the blob and future blobs that will doubtless appear. Being a perfectionist only leads to unhappiness, and I'm otherwise overjoyed with the Panasonic's image.

Glad to hear you're having no problems, despite dogs & cats in the house! I think "luck" is a huge HUGE factor in all of this.... and that's a little ridiculous in a $2000 item.

I agree, and hopefully Panasonic's next iteration of the 4000u will solve this issue. I knew full well in advance of buying the 4000u that this was an issue. That's why a took a proactive stance and bought a good air purifier before I mounted my 4000u.

For me the air purifier was a sound investment simply because I have not experienced any dust blobs. It's nice having a relatively dust free environment as well. The Blu Air does what is says it does.

I spent months agonizing which projector between the Epson 8500 and the Panny 4000u. The Panny won because I wanted a projector that emulated widescreen without having to bother with an anamorphic lens and sled. If Epson would have offered a PJ with this feature, I would have an Epson mounted on my ceiling.

The Blu Air has delivered what it claims it will. My theater has the cleanest air in my home. I practically never need to dust surfaces, maybe once a month. No dust blobs since I mounted in mid April.

I'm seriously considering the BlueAir purifiers, despite my reservations which are based entirely in principle... and I greatly appreciate all the advice!

I guess BlueAir beat out HDAir, huh? (I couldn't resist)

Dear Santa,
My wish list for the AE-4000's successor:

1.) Discrete IR codes for each lens memory location.
2.) Unlimited electronic vertical and horizontal masking settings (to eliminate lightspill above and below the screen).
3.) 3-D

Pleeeeease?

#1 can be done now with a IR to RS-232 adapter. I use it all the time, you still see processing but that is it, one button click.

#2 Would be pretty pointless if electronic as there will still be light coming from the projector as it will just be it's 'best' black. If they made a mechanical mask internal to the projector before the lens then it would achieve what you wish, bu I guess it's unlikely.

'Best' black is okay for my needs. The existing electronic masking just doesn't extend far enough into the active image area.

I love my PT-AE4000. My wish list would make it perfect (feature-wise) in my eyes.

Finally pulled the trigger! I've been waiting a year, reading the pros and cons, and waiting for the price to drop, I am so excited. I got a fabulous deal on this one from Visual Apex, best price I've seen out there, and it will be delivered to me by Christmas! Free shipping too. I can't wait! I hope it's as great as everyone says, I was leaning toward the 8700UB when I saw the price drop on this one. I hope I made the right choice! Thanks for all the great advice. I'll let you know how it goes once I get it all set up. Glee, glee, glee - happy happy Christmas to me. =)

WOW, nice price!!! Wish I had the dough right now!!!

Is this project able to still produce good images if projected on a bare wall? I am considering a projector vs a Samsung 55" LED to save floor space and get something a bit mobile.

The wall-to-the-sofa distance is approx 10 feet and right now painted with a dark blue color. If I go this route, I would probably get Screen Goo for the entire wall.

Hello Lucidenigma, I just purchased a PT-AE4000U and at this time projecting on a bare white wall in a basement media room, not totally light controlled about 17' using a shelf mount about 6-7 feet off the floor. My GOD! I'm thoroughly impressed. I have not done any kind of calibration using the normal eco mode masked out a 115'' 2.35:1 screen size. I'm no video expert. I own a 60'' Pioneer plasma which is a awesome TV and that is the video quality that I strive to achieve in a projector and I have to say this unit is damn close in my eyes. I would have to say it doesn't quite have the pop that the Plasma has but I'm thinking once I get the screen and do the calibration i will be a lot closer to the image I'm looking for. This is my first projector and I'm very happy with this unit.

What you propose is entirely doable and practical. You should do a bit of reading on the 'DYI Screen Section' sub-forum. It is down about five or six sub-forums beneath this 'under $3000 US MSRP' sub-forum. There are multiple threads on do-it-self screen painting with various formulations of paint. I believe many are superior of Screen Goo...

I'm going to be ceiling mounting my projector onto a soffet that is basically empty where the projector is going.

The soffet has an outframe of 2x4s but the cross supports are only 1x2s.

I was thinking of two options, and I'd like input from anyone regarding these two options or any other ideas.

1) Mount directly to the soffet, possibly strengthing the soffet.
- Upside... easy installation.
- Downside... worry about strength of soffet.

2) Mount to the framing on the floor above the soffte (approx 12") and run the mount tube through the soffet and to the projector.
- Upside... strong installation into strong framing.
- Downside... worrying about walking or running on the floor above shaking the projector and difficulty of installation.

Any ideas if mounting to the floor above is big risk for the projector shaking?

Thanks!

Isn't the soffit attached to the floor joists? If it is, then it won't matter whether you attach to the soffit or the floor joists. But I wouldn't attach to the 1X2s.

Can anyone confirm that this is in fact correct? Or better yet, point me to a document that shows this?
I have scoured the user manual and I can't find any reference to how a 24p source is displayed.

The brochure makes a reference to 96Hz, but it's under frame creation, and this is not something I want:

"For 24p signal input, three frames are calculated and interpolated for each existing frame, to enable 4x speed (96-Hz) display. There are four modes (mode 1, mode 2, mode 3, and off) to choose from."

In other words, I want to avoid 3/2 pulldown judder, and 24/48Hz flicker, but I do not want frame interpolation. Is it really possible to have a 96Hz refresh rate without frame interpolation? Is this what the "off" setting does?

I have a very similar setup, and have used a motorized lift to drop the projector out of the soffit. It does shake if someone walks upstairs while it is down. It's not a big issue for me though, since it's only my wife and I and we usually watch movies together, so no one is upstairs when the pj is operational.

Interesting... I definitely considered that at some point, or even leaving it up there with it shooting out the front, but the placement wouldn't work.

Here is a (bad) video of the soffet. I guess I'll need to just create a cross brace from one beam to another, but didn't want to cut up my ceiling too bad. Guess that's not really an option though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxT216UU9QQ

I wound up cutting two holes in the soffit bottom, each about 24" square, next to each other. One for the pj lift to drop from, the second for me to stick my head and arms into to install everything. While both were open I did the lumber bracing, installed a surge protected outlet for pj power, and ran all video cables from the pj to my receiver location. If your drywall cutout is done cleanly and you keep the cut out piece, you can put that drywall piece back in place when your done.