Looking for Some Opinons from the group on an upgrade from 4:3 system...

Hi all... first I would like to say thanks to the group for the wealth of information I have received over the years in reading this forum.

I have been in this home theater hobby for more than 15 years and gone through my fair share of equipment. I have started with a Kloss Novabeam CRT projector, then to a Barco CRT, a hand full of business LCD projectors, and my last projector being a Sharp Notevision PG-M20X DLP projector.

I have had a really great experience with this Sharp M20X. Initially, I had some problems with the light flickering, but the service and support from Sharp was stellar, and they replaced the unit twice until it was working properly. This 1024x768 DLP with 3x color wheel, 1900 lumens, and 1000:1 contrast has produce very good image in my somewhat lighting controlled environment. Unfortunately at 37db, the cooling fan is noisy.

My primary video source is the HTPC...using now a linux based XBMC setup over DVI connection, displaying ripped DVD and Bluray content.

Alas, my current M20X lamp has expired and now I am trying to decide what to do next. The replacement lamp is almost $500, and I am thinking it could be a good time to upgrade to another projector at this point since the M20X is about 9 years old.

I am currently projecting onto a 100" (60"x80") 4:3 Da-lite Cosmopolitan Electrol motorized screen with hi-gain surface.

Most of the newer HT projectors are in the 16:9 / 16:10 format while my M20X is a 4:3 unit. I don't have too many options for changing the screen due to several issues. I am using Niles in-wall speakers, and they are mounted very close to the edge of where the 4:3 screen drops, and due to the location of the wall studs, there is no option to move the speakers further out to accommodate a wider screen.

So I can either:
- Replace the bulb on my old M20X projector
- Replace the projector with another 4:3 projector
- Replace the projector with a 16:9 projector and reduce my image size to 92" (45"x80") and reduce the drop of my existing screen ... or replace the surface material to get the proper black framing.
- Replace the projector with a 16:10 projector and reduce my image size to 94" (50"x80") and reduce the drop of my existing screen ... or replace the surface material to get the proper black framing.
- Other suggestions?


Regarding replacement projectors, I have been looking at the following, and would appreciate your comments.. I made some comments compared to the existing M20X projector.. trying to stay in under $2000 budget too.

The LCDs, Will they be bright enough due to less lumens? How will I like LCD vs DLP ... I had initially chosen DLP due to less screen door effect, but I assume LCD has made some significant improvements in this area.
- Panasonic AE4000 (1080HD 16:9) - heard that dust is a problem here..true?
- Epson PL Home Cinema 8100 (1080HD 16:9) - do they really achieve that contrast level??
- Epson PL Home Cinema 8500UB (1080HD 16:9) - Is it worth the upgrade over 8100?
- Epson PL Home Cinema 705HD (1280x800 WXGA 16:10) - should I take the 16:10 compromise? - will it be too noisy at 37db?

The DLPs seem to have Similar brightness, improved contrast over the M20X
- Optoma HD20 (1080HD 16:9) - will it be too noisy at 34db?
- BenQ W1000 (1080HD 16:9) .but only 2x colorwheel
- Vivitek H1080FD (1080HD 16:9) - Seems quiet at 26db..but only 3x colorwheel (same as M20x)??
- Optoma HD66 (1280x800 WXGA 16:10) - will it be too noisy at 32db?

- ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS?

Sorry for the long post, but I thought I would share as much as possible about the setup to get the most effective feedback.
Thanks in advance!

Art,
Thanks for your feedback! I agree with you... I think the 4:3 replacement does not make sense. I was not sure how practical it would be to change my screen... but after a brief discussion with the Da-Lite guys, It seems that I can just purchase a new roller with screen material and put it into my existing 80" case.

So now the choice is if to do 16:9 or 16:10 setup. I was hoping to not loose too much screen area... Changing my 100" 4:3 to 16:10 changes my viewable space 94" (reduction of 10" of height) ...and to 16:9 to 92" (reduction of 15" of height).

Considering that most of my material is wide screen it shouldnt be too much of a compromise, but I still do use some 4:3 material as well.

At this point, I think I have mostly ruled out the replacement bulb or a replacement 4:3 projector.

Any other thoughts? Thanks Again for your help and post.
regards

Thanks all again for your great feedback.


@reconlabtech
There really is not much of an option for re-engineering the room. I think I will just compromise on a less complicated solution. I am just now learning about the Vivtek... are they good units? never heard of them before.

@bud16415
I think at this point I have convinced myself that if I am replacing the projector, I will do an upgrade to one of the HD solutions which are not 4:3... but thanks for the vote of confidence!

@TrickMcKaha
I hear ya!!! BIG=BETTER!! but unfortunately, there is no way to re-engineer the room or speaker placement. I have the screen dropping down in front of a large window (dual purpose... save space and block light) and due to the wall studs, there is no other positioning of the in-wall Niles speakers. Furthermore, when the screen is rolled up, the area immediately in front is a high traffic walking area from the entrance to the room then passing through to the kitchen, so I cannot put anything on the floor or _on_ the walls that will stick out. Going higher on the walls, is a curtain that would also block the speakers... So I am really kind of stuck.
I am planning to simply change the roller and screen material in my existing 80" wide unit and drop down a few inches to 94 or 92 inches. Now I just need to decide if 16:9 or 16:10.


@dcdtn
I did some research and spoke to someone at DaLite regarding replacing the roller and surface area of my 100" 4:3 cosmopolitan Electrol... and it looks like for just under $200 the part can be ordered, and the install should not be too complicated. It could be a better solution to get the correct screen masking for you than creating some other masking solution to the old screen.
Regarding the unit placement, it is ceiling mounted, however, I have some felixbility in the positioning. The beams in the ceiling run parallel to the direction to where the screen is, so in theory I could mount the projector almost anywhere along the way... just pop another hole in the ceiling and fill the other one in. I already have the cabling in place with a lot of slack.
What does the lens shifting get you?
I have not yet looked at the AX200... are you happy with it?


Now that i have figured out what I am doing with the screen... I need to make some decisions on the replacement unit.
I have removed some from my review list and added some.

I am interested to: [MY GOALS]
- stay at around the same brightness level (or increase) my old M20x ~1900 lumen;
- improve on the contrast to get that high impact image (looks like most are much better anyway);
- reduce the noise of the fan (37db);
- Prevent visible rainbows (one of the selection criteria in my M20x was its 3x color wheel which was better than most of the 2x which were available at the time)
- Prevent visible convergence issue. Are the 3 panel LCDs subject to alignment problems?
- Stay under $2000 ... I can do a little bit more if it really worth it, but that's my budget.


~$ 700 - Epson PL Home Cinema 705HD (1280x800 WXGA 16:10 3LCD 2500 Lumens 3000:1 CR) - will it be too noisy? How will I like LCD after appreciating DLP all these years?
~$1000 - Optoma HD20 (1080HD 16:9 1700 DLP Lumens 4000:1 CR) - will it be too noisy? Rainbows?
~$1000 - Vivitek H1080FD (1080HD 16:9) - Seems quiet at 26db. Sounds like a good option.. but I have never heard of these guys before... Vivtek any good?
~$1000 - Panasonic PT-AX200U (1280x720 2000 lumen; 6000:1 CR)- I understand its been on the market for ~3 years now, wouldnt I be better off with something newer technology? Specs look very good though..
~$1500 - Epson PL Home Cinema 8100 (1080HD 16:9 3LCD 1800 Lumens 36K:1 CR) - do they really achieve that contrast level??
~$2000 - Panasonic AE4000 (1080HD 16:9 3LCD 1600 Lumens 100K:1 CR) - heard that dust is a problem here..true? Wish it came in a white case Will I be disappointed with the drop in brightness?
~$2300 - Epson PL Home Cinema 8500UB (1080HD 16:9 3LCD 1600 Lumens 200K:1 CR) - Is it worth the upgrade over 8100? Will I be disappointed with the drop in brightness?


I really appreciate your input.
best regards,
Steve