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Panasonic PT-AR100 MSRP$ 1,999 - 4000U replacement... kind of - Page 24

post #691 of 929
5/22/12 at 4:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr.G View Post

If you go this route I'd be very interested to learn of your results.

It is currently a tossup between the the Epson 8350 and the AR-100U (with ND filter). I promised my offspring to have the cave ready for a grad party in August. In the mean time I am watching the deals which will probably tip the scale in one way or another.....
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post #692 of 929
5/23/12 at 7:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Outerlymitz View Post

Okay help a noob out here :-). I searched and searched but never found a definitive if the AR100u is capable of displaying on a 2:35.1 screen? Or does it just change the aspect ratio on a 16x9 screen to fit 2:35.1 material? I just purchased this receiver and now trying to decide what screen to buy. Thanks people!

A few people have tried doing 2:35 on a CIH screen using the AR100U with mixed results. Do a search in this thread using 2:35 as your keyword. The AR100U lacks the motorized lens shift and zoom of the older PT-AE4000 projector or the new 7000 model. Everything is a manual adjustment so if it's ceiling mounted it's a hassle. Read the owner's manual for all of the display options, my impression it's a compromise solution but it can be done, just don't expect the same results as with a more expensive projector or anamorphic lens. It was nice of Panasonic to include these options with the AR100U projector but it's not really what this projector was intended for IMO.
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post #693 of 929
5/23/12 at 8:19am
Yeah you can do "poor-man's" CIH with the zoom and lens shift, but as stated it's all manual and would be a pain to change it around all the time. I got my AR100U dialed in on my current 16:9 screen and I'm not touching it again until I go to a larger screen size.

I do like that it will auto-adjust for 4:3 material so I don't have to actually press any buttons to change aspect ratio like I did on my old SP4805 projector.

When I move up to the larger screen (wall paint and black borders, same as current screen) I'll probably do some type of manual masking system to block out the letterbox bars of 'scope material and 4:3 material. That will at least make the screen look better IMHO, and I'll be using actual black velvet this time instead of black fleece. I also plan on using individual pieces of thin baseboard material, wrapped in velvet, and secured to the wall with velcro - as opposed to my current screen frame which is 1x4 poplar all cut and mitered and secured together on its own, and hung like a picture frame. The 1x4 with fleece is too deep as compared to a thin piece of baseboard with beveled edge, which will eliminate any shadows from the projector position.
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post #694 of 929
5/26/12 at 12:35am
Tagged for a future AX200 upgrade.
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post #695 of 929
5/27/12 at 1:02pm
I'm trying to decide between an AR100 and AE7000U.

I had an Epson 3010, but a dust blob, input lag, and noisy iris have me looking elsewhere.

I'm looking for people's experience with fan noise. I'm a bit picky about noise and the projector sits 4 feet above my head.

The AE7000U is supposed to be quieter than the AR100, but it also has reports of a high-pitched whine.

With the AR100 in eco mode (which still has plenty of light for my use), how noisy is the fan? How does it compare to other things around the house or projectors? Does the noise come out the front, side, or back?

Thanks for any help.
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post #696 of 929
5/28/12 at 8:20pm
I have the projector about 4ft above my head and i don't hear a thing. It is super quiet
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post #697 of 929
5/29/12 at 8:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by monkey View Post

I'm trying to decide between an AR100 and AE7000U.

I had an Epson 3010, but a dust blob, input lag, and noisy iris have me looking elsewhere.

I'm looking for people's experience with fan noise. I'm a bit picky about noise and the projector sits 4 feet above my head.

The AE7000U is supposed to be quieter than the AR100, but it also has reports of a high-pitched whine.

With the AR100 in eco mode (which still has plenty of light for my use), how noisy is the fan? How does it compare to other things around the house or projectors? Does the noise come out the front, side, or back?

Thanks for any help.

You seem to be super picky about fan noise so I don't think you'll be happy with the AR100U. This projector has a bright 280W lamp which is correspondingly a hot lamp which needs sufficient cooling. In full power mode the fan noise is quite noticeable, in eco-mode it can be heard but not to the point that it bothers me and (like robzillaa) I sit with the projector about 4 feet above my head and during normal TV or movie viewing I don't really notice the fan. The fan noise is also noticeable when the projector cycles through the different inputs like component and HDMI but quiets down again after locking into a signal.

Quote:
Audible Noise

Noisy! Not surprising, all the exceptionally bright home projectors tend to be these days, when running at full power. Panasonic, like some others, chicken out, and don't provide an audio noise rating for lamp at full power, but they do claim 29 db in eco mode.

How does that translate? Well, the quietest projectors around can break below 20 db in their eco-modes. Most average projectors try to be under 30 db at full and in the low 20's in eco. Other bright projectors though tend to be in the low 30's at full power, and you can count the two closest priced Epson projectors, the Acer H9500BD, and for that matter, most of the under $1000 DLP projectors. If the new Epson 5010 (2400 lumens claimed) is noticeably quieter than the Panasonic, when both are at full power, I'd be surprised. On the other hand, that same Epson, and several other projectors similar in noise at full power, are likely still a bit quieter than the PT-AR100U in eco. 29 db in Eco-mode is not a spec to be proud of in your basic home entertainment projector.

On the "bright" side, this is, (again), a family room, bonus room type projector first. More family oriented environments tend to be noisier, than a dedicated theater, so most of you won't think twice about the fan noise, at least in eco-mode, where this Panasonic is still brighter than just about all the competition at full power.

http://www.projectorreviews.com/pana...ce.php#audible
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post #698 of 929
5/29/12 at 4:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mtucker View Post

..........When the AR100U pricing went from $1300 before $300 rebate to $1000 with no rebate, they canceled the rebate even though the dates were still valid on the rebate form. Just for kicks I sent in my rebate form even though I got it for $1000. Worst case I'm out a stamp and 15 minutes of time. I don't think they will send me $300, but maybe as a consolation they will extend the warranty..... it was worth a try.

That was fifteen minutes well spent. I got my $300 rebate check in the mail today even though the rebate was allegedly cancelled well before I bought the projector and sent the rebate form in. That dropped the price down to $700 for the AR100U. Sweet!
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post #699 of 929
6/4/12 at 11:44pm
Hi Guys, looking at getting this to replace my 60" Panasonic ST30 in the living room. Will I lose much in PQ with the change?
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post #700 of 929
6/6/12 at 4:48am
Have a look here.

http://www.avsforum.com/t/1358778/panasonic-pt-ar100-msrp-1-999-4000u-replacement-kind-of/630#post_21941174
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post #701 of 929
6/6/12 at 2:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr.G View Post

Have a look here.
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1358778/panasonic-pt-ar100-msrp-1-999-4000u-replacement-kind-of/630#post_21941174

Is that a Panasonic ST30 is it? How does the projector compare with lights ON?
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post #702 of 929
6/7/12 at 6:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kopkiwi View Post

Is that a Panasonic ST30 is it? How does the projector compare with lights ON?

No, it's not the ST30. I have both a plasma and the AR100U in the same room because I don't believe in wasting bulb life on ordinary HDTV shows, also I don't generally watch TV during the day. I know some people want to get rid of their HDTV's and go strictly with projection and that's a personal choice I understand, it's just not mine.

I usually power up the AR100U after 8PM and watch it until around midnight, Blu-ray's or movies and shows streamed off Netflix, Amazon Prime, HuluPlus or VUDU.

We often watch with 6 track lights on in the room but dimmed down and not directed toward the screen.

There is no projector that can compete with light directly on the screen. For an example of this projector on during the day check this previous post.

http://www.avsforum.com/t/1358778/panasonic-pt-ar100-msrp-1-999-4000u-replacement-kind-of/450#post_21692045
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post #703 of 929
6/7/12 at 6:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr.G View Post


A few people have tried doing 2:35 on a CIH screen using the AR100U with mixed results. Do a search in this thread using 2:35 as your keyword. The AR100U lacks the motorized lens shift and zoom of the older PT-AE4000 projector or the new 7000 model. Everything is a manual adjustment so if it's ceiling mounted it's a hassle. Read the owner's manual for all of the display options, my impression it's a compromise solution but it can be done, just don't expect the same results as with a more expensive projector or anamorphic lens. It was nice of Panasonic to include these options with the AR100U projector but it's not really what this projector was intended for IMO.

Hi so it seems that there is no advantage for the 2.25:1 function in terms of ease of use, between the ar100u and the epson 8350.
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post #704 of 929
6/7/12 at 6:43pm
Thanks mate, perfect pictures. Seems like a light cannon and would go perfectly IN CONJUNCTION with a TV.
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post #705 of 929
6/8/12 at 7:07am
Greetings all,

I am about to purchase one of these fine projectors and have a quick question. Do you think this would do OK at around a 12-13' throw distance on an either 120" or 135" screen? It will be in a living room with white ceilings and some off-white walls (and exposed brick) and some definite ambient light. Is that configuration possible? Will it be too bright?

Thanks, Phin
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post #706 of 929
6/9/12 at 6:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phineas View Post

Greetings all,
I am about to purchase one of these fine projectors and have a quick question. Do you think this would do OK at around a 12-13' throw distance on an either 120" or 135" screen? It will be in a living room with white ceilings and some off-white walls (and exposed brick) and some definite ambient light. Is that configuration possible? Will it be too bright?
Thanks, Phin

White ceiling, white walls, ambient light. Basically the kind of environment this projector was intended to contend with. The light can be dialed down with eco mode and different presentation settings. You will have to decide on a screen size since the calculator shows you're pushing it to get 120" from 12 feet and 135" from 13 feet. 120" from 13 feet would be a good compromise and easiest to zoom and focus.
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post #707 of 929
6/9/12 at 4:22pm
This model really ticks all the boxes as far as my firs projector and placement but am concerned about its reliability from this forum. Has there been any update regarding their firmware.
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post #708 of 929
6/10/12 at 7:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by activeight View Post

This model really ticks all the boxes as far as my firs projector and placement but am concerned about its reliability from this forum. Has there been any update regarding their firmware.

Are you in the right thread? Have you read through any of the posts in this thread? This has been a very reliable projector with only a few people having a problem or complaining about something. A firmware update? Why?
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post #709 of 929
6/10/12 at 10:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by activeight View Post

This model really ticks all the boxes as far as my firs projector and placement but am concerned about its reliability from this forum. Has there been any update regarding their firmware.

Huh?? Reliability? Firmware update? where is this coming from?
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post #710 of 929
6/10/12 at 5:04pm
Sorry guys, yes that was supposed to be in the acer h9500 bd thread. Somehow I placed in this one accidentally.....
And I have discarded the idea of the acer so....smile.gif
Edited by activeight - 6/10/12 at 5:17pm
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post #711 of 929
6/10/12 at 11:40pm
I've found the ar100u for sale here: http://classifieds.ozfreeonline.com/index.php?pagez=show_info&id=991551
Do you think its suspect. There is a substantial price difference.
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post #712 of 929
6/11/12 at 5:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by activeight View Post

I've found the ar100u for sale here: http://classifieds.ozfreeonline.com/index.php?pagez=show_info&id=991551
Do you think its suspect. There is a substantial price difference.
Grey market?
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post #713 of 929
6/11/12 at 1:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr.G View Post

White ceiling, white walls, ambient light. Basically the kind of environment this projector was intended to contend with. The light can be dialed down with eco mode and different presentation settings. You will have to decide on a screen size since the calculator shows you're pushing it to get 120" from 12 feet and 135" from 13 feet. 120" from 13 feet would be a good compromise and easiest to zoom and focus.


Thanks for the reply. Is there any disadvantage to operating at the minimum throw distance for a screen size other than the brightness? Do I lose any detail by maxing out the wide-angle zoom?
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post #714 of 929
6/12/12 at 7:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phineas View Post

Thanks for the reply. Is there any disadvantage to operating at the minimum throw distance for a screen size other than the brightness? Do I lose any detail by maxing out the wide-angle zoom?
Quote:
Question: How do I know the best distance away from the screen to mount a particular projector?

"I was wanting to know the best distance to mount the 8500UB for a 100″ dia. screen? I know the range but would you recommend going all the way back to the 21′ of the range or would you say that around 15′ would be good enough?"

Answer: There's no "best" place. Full wide angle is brightest, but will have the most optical distortion (slight curvature, etc. - minor stuff), whereas full tele, the dimmest, will have the least curvature. Wide angle positioning will give you more roll off in the corners and sides with high contrast and high gain screens, or, when further back, less. Also, where you sit will determine where the projector will be quietest. You've got enough lumens for a good, rear shelf mounted performance for movies, so it's up to you. If going wide or tele, I would probably avoid going the maximum, and, if you can, back off 5 or 10% if possible (just figuring that the lenses are not going to be at their very best at the extremes).

http://www.projectorreviews.com/advice/Projector_Reviews-FAQs/advice13.php
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post #715 of 929
6/12/12 at 8:14am
Great. Thanks for the info Mr. G.
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post #716 of 929
6/13/12 at 3:08pm
Ok, I pulled the trigger on the AR100U. I've had it for just about two weeks now. For those just who missed my last post, I bought the projector as an upgrade to the AX@))U. I have done absolutely no tweaking to the factory settings except for playing with the Motion setting and Detail Clarity settings. I've been feeding it Netflix, Hulu, BluRay, and video games through and XBox or a PS3. Here are my thoughts and questions....

When I first fired it up I was pretty blown away by just the dashboard screen of the PS3. Super bright and crisp. I watched Ink Heart (BluRay) with my niece and was very impressed with the picture, but the motion was very blurry, almost choppy at times. My heart sunk a little, but then I discovered the Motion Effect setting, turned it on and solved most of my woes.

Watched a few episodes of Community on Hulu+ (PS3) which looked absolutely stunning.

Then watched The Woman in Black (BluRay) and have to say, with a dark movie like this, the blacks are lacking. However I knew this projector isn't known for it's blacks. I'd rather have a light cannon than a projector I can only use in a cave.

Then came This Means War (BluRay). Not the best movie in the world but holy crap DIGITAL NOISE!!! Looked like the screen was covered in flees. So ridiculously terrible it put me instantly into buyers remorse mode. Tried turning the Detail Clarity off (read somewhere this can cause digital noise)....didn't help. After the movie I decided to read a review on the BluRay. The image quality of the BluRay received very low scores do to digital noise. Sigh of relief.

But...now I've watched a few other BluRay discs that were reviewed well including True Blood and it still seems very noisy, especially in skin tones. This happens only when watching blurays, everything else is clean and crisp.

Is there some setting I should tweak to help clean up the noise? Also, for those who have tweaked there projectors to perfection, what exactly did you do? I never even touched the settings of the AX200U as I was very pleased right out of the box.

So far I seem to be very pleased with some things, and very displeased with others. Has anyone else experienced a crazy almost unwatchable amount of digital noise?
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post #717 of 929
6/14/12 at 3:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by o CUBBY o View Post

Ok, I pulled the trigger on the AR100U. I've had it for just about two weeks now. For those just who missed my last post, I bought the projector as an upgrade to the AX@))U. I have done absolutely no tweaking to the factory settings except for playing with the Motion setting and Detail Clarity settings. I've been feeding it Netflix, Hulu, BluRay, and video games through and XBox or a PS3. Here are my thoughts and questions....
When I first fired it up I was pretty blown away by just the dashboard screen of the PS3. Super bright and crisp. I watched Ink Heart (BluRay) with my niece and was very impressed with the picture, but the motion was very blurry, almost choppy at times. My heart sunk a little, but then I discovered the Motion Effect setting, turned it on and solved most of my woes.
Watched a few episodes of Community on Hulu+ (PS3) which looked absolutely stunning.
Then watched The Woman in Black (BluRay) and have to say, with a dark movie like this, the blacks are lacking. However I knew this projector isn't known for it's blacks. I'd rather have a light cannon than a projector I can only use in a cave.
Then came This Means War (BluRay). Not the best movie in the world but holy crap DIGITAL NOISE!!! Looked like the screen was covered in flees. So ridiculously terrible it put me instantly into buyers remorse mode. Tried turning the Detail Clarity off (read somewhere this can cause digital noise)....didn't help. After the movie I decided to read a review on the BluRay. The image quality of the BluRay received very low scores do to digital noise. Sigh of relief.
But...now I've watched a few other BluRay discs that were reviewed well including True Blood and it still seems very noisy, especially in skin tones. This happens only when watching blurays, everything else is clean and crisp.
Is there some setting I should tweak to help clean up the noise? Also, for those who have tweaked there projectors to perfection, what exactly did you do? I never even touched the settings of the AX200U as I was very pleased right out of the box.
So far I seem to be very pleased with some things, and very displeased with others. Has anyone else experienced a crazy almost unwatchable amount of digital noise?



I have had mine since November and I have never seen what you describe.
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post #718 of 929
6/14/12 at 8:01am
I agree with 'iolmaster' and I purchased my AR100U in January, it's displayed none of those problems.

You say a stunning picture with Hulu+ but noisy picture with PS3? My first hunch is that this is where your problem lies. Try a different Blu-ray player.

How does the PS3 connect to the AR100U? Does the signal go through a AVR first? If so try a direct connection. Eliminate all other possible culprits before blaming the projector but if none of these changes solve your problem return for a replacement.

Edit: Also remember that the HDMI cable that worked for your 720p AX200U projector may not be up to snuff for the 1080p AR100U. Try a short 6 foot HDMI cable between the PS3 and AR100U to test.

-
Edited by Mr.G - 6/15/12 at 7:21am
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post #719 of 929
6/15/12 at 11:13am
Thank you for the replies. I feel like I'm going a little insane as I had very high hopes for this projector. I'll go ahead and try movin' things around a bit and see how it works. I don't have another bluray player other than another PS3(slim) that lives in the bedroom.

Here is a little more detail on how I've got things set up....

I've got a Denon AVR-1910 with a 15ft 24AWG CL2 High Speed HDMI® Cable form Monoprice to the projector (the cable is less than a year old).

I have a 40gig launch PS3 (5 years old) going into the receiver using another Monoprice hdmi cable (6ft).

Also have a XBox 360 being fed into the receiver the same way.


I use the PS3 for all video needs, Netflix, Hulu+, and BluRays. My internet connection is not the greatest so I never actually reach HD when streaming Netflix or Hulu. This may be why I don't see any noise other than on BluRays.

This is the review that I read from Projector Central that lead me to believe this is just how this projector performs....

"Digital noise. When compared to other home theater projectors in its price range, the AR100U displays an above average amount of digital noise. In fields of solid color, a subtle dancing noise is often visible, causing the picture to shimmer slightly. This effect is more often exhibited in bright areas of the image, and is also more evident in standard definition than in high definition. While the AR100U has not one, but two noise reduction circuits, they do not completely eliminate the problem. Keep in mind that driving noise reduction too hard will result in a loss of fine detail. The AR100U loses less detail than most projectors, but the loss is still evident."


So, I'm not sure if I'm seeing something out of the ordinary or if I'm just lookin' for it. Possibly starting with the This Means War bluray which was so bad, that now when I watch something even the slightest amount of noise drives me crazy. However I don't ever remember seeing anything like this on the AX200U. But that could be due to the difference between 720 and 1080. I dunno. I'll try to maybe get some pics of what I'm talking about this weekend so that maybe you guys can let me now if I've got a lemon, or I'm just insane....
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post #720 of 929
6/16/12 at 7:28am
Cubby, I remember one other instance of someone complaining about digital noise (like in the Projector Central review) and I believe he ended up returning the projector. I can honestly say I've never seen digital noise on my AR100U, the picture is solid. I use a Sony BDP-S350 for Blu-rays, Toshiba A1 for HD-DVD, WDTV Live and Roku for streaming Netflix, Amazon, Hulu+ and VUDU HDX - all in high definition. I connect all of these devices to my Denon 2309CI AVR with 3 and 6 foot Monoprice cables and the receiver goes to the AR100U with a 40 foot HDMI cable I bought from Blue Jeans 6 years ago. I don't use any of the noise reduction modes.

I would try using the PS3 slim on a 6 foot HDMI cable to the AR100U, if it's still displaying digital noise I would conclude it's a faulty unit. However I would like to see photos of the problem if possible.
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AVS › AVS Forum › Display Devices › Digital Projectors - Under $3,000 USD MSRP › Panasonic PT-AR100 MSRP$ 1,999 - 4000U replacement... kind of