PANASONIC PT-AE8000U (US VERSION) PT-AT6000E (EUROPEAN VERSION) IFA BERLIN 2012 New LCD 1080p 3D... - Page 9

I think that you should wait for reviews here at avs before you cancel or return your order. Are you blown away by the JVC because of the blacks or how bright or sharp the picture is? I had the PT-AE7000 and I find the picture very bright (in fact too bright for me even in Eco mode) and has plenty of pop, plus great 3D. I find the blacks decent, may not as dark as the JVC, but I love how bright and how much pop the projector has. I'm also waiting for the PT-AE8000 to arrive and I will most likely stick with it.

so it's now the 25th..has anyone got a confirmation email that your product has shipped?

chasiliff, honestly, I know the JVC models are nicer according to reviews, etc. and I think you'd be happy staying there...but...I'm speaking from reviews only and this Panasonic 8000 will be my FIRST projector, so take me with a grain of salt.

purbeast, I'm anxious as well to get gaming on the 8000 and get you and others feedback on lag input. I am honestly nervous...but am hopeful. We'll see. I did get my Carada 118" Brilliant White up on the wall and the 9 year old Sony 60" rear projection with stand moved out. It's looking awesome, just doing a visual comparison on size difference. I'm pumped. Supposedly the projector ships out this week...based on B & H Photo's "expected ship date" listing (even though I ordered from projectorpeople.com).

Attached an image of the Carada on the wall. Planning on getting that light out of there and putting recessed lighting on the sides of the screen. Anxiously awaiting the projector.

Paint the walls and ceiling a dark grey/black, and put a dark area rug on the floor. Minus that, your ANSI contrast is really going to suffer.

You didn't leave room above the screen for a center channel speaker...or is that a screen that you can put a speaker behind?

I haven't heard anything from AGI yet, but Projector People had this

Availability: Shipping 10/1 or sooner. Order yours today!!

B&H did have 9/24, now they have no expected date and they're closed today and tomorrow. They're also closed the first week and a half or so of October, so they likely won't ship until they re-open on the 10th.

Froot,

Your picture is going to border on unwatchable due to the loss of ANSI contrast. All those walls/ceilings will reflect/scatter light right back at the screen, & your black levels will be, well, not black.

I just went through a similar process & was horrified that my contrast literally dropped to 15:1 for scenes with a lot of white & just a little black.

I was able to up that contrast 3-fold by simply going to a HP screen (Da-Lite High Contrast High Power) & by putting 2ft of velvet extending out from the screen. If you don't want to do that, at the very least a retro-reflective screen like the HP will really, really help in your sort of room. A matte screen will just not work with all those scattering (white) surfaces.

Wanted to ask a question based upon Froot's post above. I too am waiting to purchase this projector but am torn between going with a Gray screen with a .9 gain or with a brilliant white screen with a 1.0 Gain.

This projector will be going into a room with dark painted walls and recessed canned lighting with a Lutron Switch that has a gradual fading dimmer etc.
The room is already plenty dark and would love for some AVS people to comment on what they would go with based upon the specs we now know about this projector?

With 500,000 to 1 Contrast and 2400 Lumens would I be better off going with a white or gray screen?

Would I get darker blacks by going with a gray screen, or with the contrast ratio the way it is "out of the box" would I already have great black levels to begin with and would be better off going with a brilliant white screen which would then give me better color?

Thanks AVSers your comments will help!

With a dark room, I would stay with a white screen. A grey screen would be on a projector with poor blacks or with a room that needs to cut down on ambient light. It sounds as if the Panasonci would need neither in your set up, plus more light is better for 3-D, so I wouldn't go with anything under unity gain.

Hmm. I just preordered the 8000 from Visual Apex, and the guy I spoke with said this wasnt true! He said that even with zooming it could easily go above the screen top since the projector's vertical lens shift range is a full100% of the projected image.... Curious about this, I looked in the AE-8000 manual on line and could find nothing about a limitation of the projector in zoom mode....
Can you give me a link or point me somewhere where I can read more about this? I'd like to be sure I purchase the right extension for my mount....

He is wrong, been this way since the 4000 and common knowledge.

Yes the lens shift will alow you to mounnt the projector way above the top of the screen. But if you want to use the lense memory to go bewteen ratios the electronic shift that is used to center the zoomed image will not. I guess he is kind of right in the fact that you could manually adjust the shift with the control on the project each time. But then that kinda defeats the purpose of lense memry. I have heard that you can get by with an inch or two above depending on how far away from the screen you are, further aways gains you more.

I am about to purchase my first projector for my light controlled theater room that we finished recently (see images below).
I have three questions / concerns:

1.) I love a very detailed image and I have read Art's reviews of the PT AE7000 and it seems that it a bit soft compared to some of the Epsons and JVCs and of course compared to the DLP. Do any AE7000 owners have any first hand experience comparing the Panasonic to other recent model brands as this is one area that I feel is difficult to compare in Art's reviews. There is only a photo of a PS3 menu screen that typically varies in color, zoom and image.

2.) Can a projector be too bright for my room or do I just use my HD "calibration" disk to dial down the brightness?

3,) I want to buy from a company that will back up it's products as I have heard Epson owners having issues with defective projectors being replaced over and over again with another defective unit (maybe the unit works but the image quality is degraded in some way ... at least for us "videophiles")

I'm a recovering Epson 8500ub owner. I had one new one and about five refurbs over the course of 2.5 years -- kept getting the pink tint on the edge, a degenerative problem, on unit after unit. Yes, Epson's replacement plan is fantastic, but when their product doesn't last more than a few months, it's not worth it. At least I never had to replace a lamp.

So I've pre-ordered the ae8000u, and I'm hoping for a more reliable experience. I'd like to be ready when it comes, so I was wondering if anyone has information re: mounting. Are the 8000's mounting holes in the same configuration as the 7000, for example?

I planned on putting the center channel on a speaker stand BELOW the screen angled up. I have a VP 150 from Axiom Audio and did not want to re-purchase the on-wall version of it...because it would be a beast to mount above the screen.

I'm going to have to do that, yeah. I like farsider3000's room color...would that be dark enough for my area or should I go darker, considering everything in the picture. Ceiling though? Ugh...my wife is NOT going to be happy about a ceiling being black and/or dark grey.

As User7007 mentions the thought process of the gray versus brilliant white, I researched and was told to go brilliant white since the gain wasn't THAT much higher...and I'd be fine.

Now you have me deeply concerned my picture is going to be washed out and look like complete crap and feeling like I shouldn't have even gone with a projector...and stuck with what I know better, a basic flatscreen TV. Should I have purchased the GRAY screen to assist with that...or...as you mention a "matte screen" with "all those scattering (white) surfaces" be corrected if I just PAINT the walls dark gray and/or black as Scott B states?

If there was some way you could verify and guarantee that the warranty/purchase would transfer over (maybe by even calling and talking to AGI, not sure how this would work), there is a chance I would be interested in purchasing it off of you at that price. However I do want to wait for some real world feedback before I make my decision on what I am going to end up purchasing.

Don't second guess yourself. Once you experience HT via a projector, you'll never be able to go back to direct view.

And relax...your HT doesn't have to be complete on day one. You can deal with the walls and the ceilings later. Building it out incrementally is part of the thrill. Jump in, the water's fine.

^^^^ This!!!

When I built mine out 3 years ago I had the "everything had to be perfect" mindset. Well, as you can guess...it wasn't! Little did I realize during the rush of initial construction that it was MORE fun to analyze what I had and incrementally upgrade where needed. So over the past 3 years I've spent time upgrading the receiver, swapping out the furniture, adding acoustic paneling, and even changing the cooling system (needed more A/C to keep the components cool). Now I'm amped as I'm waiting for my pre-ordered PT-AE8000U to ship (replacing my AE4000U). Next on the list...I may have to think about replacing my 120" 2.35 DIY screen...

Yeah, what he said. Also, some sheets of foam board with black fabric can address the part of the ceiling immediately over the PJ (which is the most important). Some dark drapes on either side can improve that. You can get a great improvement without picking up a can of paint. Of course, once you are deeper into front projection, you'll be making the room a cave....

Froot,

Is this a main living area of your house? Just trying to understand why the wife does not want any dark paint on the wall. The muted blue that I used works very well and it does not look like a bat cave. But it is fully light controlled with no windows so we can get it completely dark.

I am a gamer (driving and FPS) so I am also looking for a projector that has low lag. My wife and I love our movie room and our daughters love having friends over and love playing with the electric chairs. I think once everything is in place and as long as it is tastefully done your wife will be won over.

I also agree with JamesN... It took me about a year after the room was completed to add my Noctua ultra quiet fan that cools my receiver (triggered by the temperature), add the acoustic panels, adjust my subs and I am still doing things. I still need more acoustic panels and I want to add a third sub at the back of the room.

I still need to know how people feel about the AE8000 sharpness vs the JVC X70, Epson 5010 and the Sony 95.

It is NOT the main living area...yet is downstairs in my man-cave...where I have my pool table, arcade, darts, etc. It is completely underground with no windows...so light-controlled for sure.

Looking at your pictures had me excited for my room...and the possibilities. I love your ceiling and how it angles up like that (I have that in my bedroom). Recessed lighting I'm seeing is a must...and as others have stated...I need to get out of the mindset that it must be perfect on day one. I too have that mindset...and need to let it go....yet...honestly....I did let it go as I've been incrementally upgrading the room anyways.

I talked to my wife and she wasn't opposed to "an accent wall" as she called it...and painting JUST those walls a dark gray. The ceiling she was highly opposed to...so maybe a foam board wrapped in black velvet (as the outside of the Carada screen is...sorta) would be nice from the ceiling if bouncing light really becomes a problem.

And as for me doubting myself...it's just the new factor of a projector. I'm committed for sure...the screen is up, old television and stand is GONE...and projector on pre-order and all cables (30 foot HDMI, new CL2 in-wall speaker wire, etc.) is already at the house...so...I'm definitely committed. I just want to do it right...and mount the projector from the ceiling, fire it up and be decently happy...and not pissed I can't read my health bar in Halo because it's washed out by light.

I am hoping to be pleasantly surprised...which I'm positive I will be...given this projector and the screen's reviews/reputation.

Im in the process of having my basement remodeled - including a dedicated theater room. I'm lucky because my significant other is all for the room looking and acting as a dedicated theater with theater performance first. We just had the theater room painted - its a very dark blue. I mean so dark its almost black! And the ceiling is going to be painted black. And there are no windows. That room is going to be pitch black when the lights are off. Which is a good thing because the screen is very close to the ceiling and side walls.

Just pre-ordered my 8000 and I'm really looking forward to seeing what it can do!

No, don't be discouraged. I'm just saying it may require some more work/thinking.

I'd just go with a HP screen to help with reflections.

Yes painting walls/ceilings matte dark finishes will help immensely if you have a matte screen; even for a HP screen.

I just became a fan of the HP screen once I saw the gorgeous pop... like that of a Plasma, etc., as has been mentioned. I quantitated the effect as well & the contrast went up significantly; the benefit compared to a matte screen would likely be lower in a dark room, of course.

Furthermore the HP screen will help with 3D.

And it has no texture.

The only downside is viewing angle, which I don't care about much b/c I'm not trying to entertain many guests most of the time. When I do, I will plan on having them sit further back (the cone obviously gets larger as you go further back, so more people will fit within the 20-30º viewing cone if they sit further back).

I was told these first shipments are arriving at retailers starting tomorrow if not already. Shipping should start tomorrow or Monday at the latest.

Froot:

After a few years of HT hobbying, we tend to go a little anal-retentive about our setups (part of that CONSTANT progressive upgrade thang) so take our relentless fussing with a grain of salt.

When you get your new projector, don't worry about perfection. Whip that puppy out of the box, put it on a TV tray, run a cable across the floor, and fire it up. After several minutes of childish giggling at how fantastic this thing is, followed by another several minutes of jaw-dropped wonder, you'll have enough HT adrenaline flowing through your veins to motivate several months of incremental improvements.

Two years ago I moved from a condo in L.A. to a house in Las Vegas, and one of the big reasons for the change in lifestyle was to get back into a house where I could have my own theater again. Currently, my wife and I are finishing one of the walls as a large projector screen and having a great time working on it together. (My projector from L.A. is already ceiling mounted.) It will be several years before my theater is fully built out, but I'll have lots of viewing and tinkering fun along the way. As a hobby, home theater isn't a destination, it's a journey.

Temp charge from AGI just hit my credit card, so it's happening.

Seeing as Froot is getting a lot of good feedback on what his HT setup is going to be and he's getting an 8000, and I'm 99% getting an 8000, is it okay if I post this here?

http://www.avsforum.com/t/1431289/noob-looking-for-some-advice-recommendations-for-my-first-ht-setup

That is a thread I started yesterday after a couple days work of taking pics/measurements and making a detailed drawing of my layout. I'm too looking for feedback and suggestions on my current plans for my first HT setup in my new home. And hearing some of the feedback he's gotten about color, I'd suspect that others will have some of the same comments about mine.

So if you wouldn't mind taking a peak at that thread and posting over there if you had any feedback, it would be much appreciated.

Additionally, if cross posting is not allowed here like this, mods please let me know and I will erase this post.

Let the games begin. Projector People show the 8000 as "in stock". Visual Apex still shows "preorder".